Workshop manuals, a waste of time?

[HDQQ]

In the good old days Haynes manuals were more comprehensive than they are now. Some tasks that used to be described in detail are now simply covered by an explanation that such-and-such a component needs to be repaired by a specialist. That's not really a criticism of Haynes manuals, they're no doubt stating the truth.

[Barry]

Funny thing, rooting round looking for my bricklayers chisels to whack the bricks in the support wall for the patio,  I came across my old xenon timing light .... my god i have not used that since 1989 ...

They were quite cheap and effective under the bonnet to keep out the sunlight. Used to use one with the Renault and I painted a white line on the flywheel to help see the mark.
Those were the days. Now the timing is computer controlled and dynamic according to speed, load etc.

[patman post]

Such things amuse us and can give a sense of achievement — I remember a cousin telling how he inherited two Vespas and bought another one to use as spares (none of them were working). It turns out one was genuine Italian, the other built in France, and the donor machine made by Douglas in the UK. He did eventually get one going — probably the British version...

[papasmurf]

^^^
But it calms the irritation of f**king up the repair...

Well it turns out the ignition coils I need are unobtainium. I have had the problem before with another old Japanese motorcycle. The modern replacements are 80mm centres on the attachment bolt holes. The original equipment ones are 100mm centre  on the attachment bolts holes. The first bike  I adapted to fit using Meccano.  That won't work this time. But I can still get around it.  There is some wiring differences. After a lot of internet searching, I came up with some "destructions," how to wire in the new ones. (No instructions came with the new ones.)

The law of sod dictated after I fitted the news spark plug caps and put the lot back together, the bike started on both cylinders straight away, it has not done that for 20 years.

[patman post]

^^^
But it calms the irritation of fucking up the repair...

[papasmurf]

Robert Pirsig's  'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' was an enjoyable read**.

But has stuff all in it that is any use for maintaining a motorcycle.

[patman post]

Robert Pirsig's  'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' was an enjoyable read**. For some reason, thinking back on his narrative, I get the distinct impression papasmurf and Pirsig could possibly share many traits...

**Thoroughly recommended — I've decided to read it again...

[johnofgwent]

Funny thing, rooting round looking for my bricklayers chisels to whack the bricks in the support wall for the patio,  I came across my old xenon timing light .... my god i have not used that since 1989 ...

[papasmurf]

It was a case of turning the cap slightly and retighten.

Fortunately the motorcycle I am about to attack with spanners has CDI ignition.

[Barry]

Can't remember if it had advance and retard on the distributor?

It was a case of turning the cap slightly and retighten.

[papasmurf]

Hillman Imp, take the bumper off and slide the engine out

OK if you had a box of shims to do the valve clearances.

[Nick]

although I was forever tinkering with the distributor to stop it pinking.

Can't remember if it had advance and retard on the distributor?

[Barry]

Hillman Imp, take the bumper off and slide the engine out

The Haynes manual came in handy when those 2 rubber doughnuts needed replacing which transferred the drive to the wheels.
It was quite an easy car to work on, although I was forever tinkering with the distributor to stop it pinking.

[Nick]

I remember using Haynes manuals when I had a Hillman Imp, a Hillman Avenger, Talbot Samba and Renault fives, and they were very helpful. However, now I'm driving a Korean hybrid car, all I do is fill up the screenwash now and again and take it for service once a year.

Hillman Imp, take the bumper off and slide the engine out

[papasmurf]