tools and spares to carry

Post by **gwr6024** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 11:43 pm

I have recently aquired my moggie but have never travelled more than 20 miles from home. I have now booked for the IOW rally and suddenly realised that I have no spares and no basic tools to carry with me. (not that I would know how to use them if I had them but I am willing to learn). I know that Charles Ware advertise a survival kit which seems a good idea but as I have an electronic ignition I don't know if I need a contact set, rotor arm and condenser. Apart from a jack I have recently purchased an adjustable spanner. Can you please advise me what I need to carry on this 'long adventure' I am looking forward to going on?

Post by **Chris Morley** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:30 am

KEI

, electronic ignition eliminates the need for points & condensor for sure. It also means that a failure of the electronic ignition makes a tow truck inevitable unless you can re-convert it to points etc on the roadside..

See this thread: http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... pic&t=3941

I carry a jack, axle stand, socket set, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliars, hammer (for the hubcaps), spare wires, connectors and crimping tool, fan belt & service kit (although the air/oil filters aren't necessary). You need a couple of spare 10 & 35 amp fuses and 5 amp bulbs. Also useful is black sealing tape, spare jubilee clips and a couple of ties.

Post by **gwr6024** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 8:05 am

Many thanks for the info. Brilliant website. Hope to see plenty of you at the IOW

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:27 am

If it's your first long run - carry some oil and lots of water.
Hopefully you won't need them but you should check the levels frequently on your first long adventure. If the levels don't drop then you can check them less often. I would do 20 miles, then a further 50 and so on if everything is fine. If you loose a bit of water keep topping it up frequently and you should have no problem.
It is also worth to have the car well serviced before setting off on a long journey(gearbox oil topped up, brake fluid checked and topped up etc..)

Post by **d_harris** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:24 pm

Oh, and carry a torch! You never know if you might need it.

Post by **Willie** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 8:31 pm

I think you are very brave if you own a Minor and have no knowledge
of how to use tools!! Time to learn basic car maintenance which
makes it all the more enjoyable when you can tackle the routine
tasks which keep the car running sweetly. Compared to any modern
car you can repair a Minor with a knife and fork but, apart from the
suggested spanner set and the screwdriver set the adjustable
which you have obtained will be useful because the Minors have a
mixture of different threads and nut sizes. As stated your electronic
ignition removes the need for points and condensor etc as it will either
work ok or fail completely. Many people have trouble with failing
ignition coils so a spare is useful to have tucked in the boot. A reel
of 'elephant tape' is useful for sealing split water hoses. Regarding
the water level in the radiator, it is normal for the level to be about
1+1/2 inches below the top of the filler so don't keep topping it up
because it will merely expand out of the overflow pipe. For someone
in your position I would recommend joining an organisation like the
AA etc ( the AA covers YOU regardless of which car you are in) some
organisations will not cover an old car. If you are in one of these
organisations then they will be able to fit any of the spares which
you are carrying when you have to call them out.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:05 pm

water level in the radiator, it is normal for the level to be about
1+1/2 inches below the top of the filler so don't keep topping it up
because it will merely expand out of the overflow pipe

Ah yes - should have mentined that - only worry bigtime when the water is less than an inch above the matrix - don't expect it to stay at the radiator cap.

Post by **les** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:29 pm

and a couple of ties

Yes, one never knows when one's going to get invited out!

Post by **Cam** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:03 pm

les wrote:
and a couple of ties
Yes, one never knows when one's going to get invited out!

Made me laugh that!

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:47 pm

I've been going into this big time lol..... more on the domestic side than the tools and spares side so far (just early days yet) - I keep a cute little old picnic case in the van containing:

3 in 1 oil
cunning expandable screens for the back windows (for when sleeping out in it)
bottle of collis browne tummy medicine
bottle of benylin non-drowsy cough medicine
small first aid kit including a first aid leaflet
notebook for noting details of accidents
disposable camera ditto
pen ditto
paracetamol
wet wipes for cleaning oily fingers
scissors for cutting bandages and stuff
box of matches - you never know
Rescue Remedy
small bottle of brandy
spare toothbrush and toothpaste
eyebath and sterile saline (for washing horses' hooves out of your eyes)
can opener, and bottle opener incl corkscrew
one of those cunning handwarmer thingies which you active by clicking a little metal disc
emergency sewing kit
long-lived emergency rations eg chocolate, kendal mint cake, sesame snaps
small hand towel

Also I keep a foldable warning triangle, a warm rug, a good torch and a battery-operated light for the stowing area in the back of the van, a telescopic umbrella, a hooded pack-a-mac thing (glamour!

) which is cool for when you have to lie on the ground to check the underside of the car, spare water for me and spare water for the car, oil, a spare fan belt, an appropriate set of tools, a short sturdy plank for when you need to jack up the car on marshy or dodgy ground, a bottle of engine oil, and spare bulbs for all the lights. And I wouldn't ever go out without my mobile phone ("disabled" woman - asking for trouble lol)

good thread

juliet xxxx

Post by **VikingMinor** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:59 pm

Juliet,

I feel very unprepared. I carry a warning triangle and my trusty RAC card.

Looking at your list are you a patrol person for the RAC/AA/Green Flag etc? I do hope you will be close at hand when Molly needs help.
I think my problem is that I was never in the scouts.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 10:28 pm

Looking at your list are you a patrol person for the RAC/AA/Green Flag

more like a patrol person for the WI !
I'm well impressed - I just carry tools and parts and something to wipe my hands on. (*and a phone and AA card now I'm old and boring - I once had to hitch 50 miles home after a breakdown in a Eurobox but I was young then still enjoyed a challenge

)
Not that many years ago I also used to carry a corkscrew, and non-breakable wine glasses and some wine too.. Oh those were the days

First aid kit certainly would be a good idea (and now I try to forget the news story this week of the women lying injured in the road when everyone drove around her and carried on

)

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 10:32 pm

to be a true scout i should really carry one of those gadgets for getting boy scouts out of horses' hooves shouldn't i

the bunch of stuff i carry is all developed from hard, hard experience.....

I didn't mention the essential which is a spare pair of grunds

j xxxxxxxxxx

Post by **d_harris** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:44 am

I once had to hitch 50 miles

I would run that!

Post by **VikingMinor** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:00 am

What a resoursful bunch of owners Minors attract: Hitching 50 miles, Running 50 miles, being prepared for all major events.

Juliet are you ever tempted to eat the Kendal Mint Cake and other comestibles without breaking down?

Post by **ColinP** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:51 am

And kicking around in the cars is :
(tools - small AF socket set, set of Z shaped screwdrivers, set of std screwdrivers, AF Rings spanner set, feeler guages (imperial), spare rocker gasket, points, plugs (spare set), condensor, fan belt, balck insulating tape, spare fuses, jack, starting handle.

Most of the tools fit into one of those "Boot tidies" - that stick or popper into the boot.

ALSO, one 12' x 12' plastic tarpaulin to spread under the car to collect all the bits I drop and reduce how muddy I get crawling under it! (have you ever had to work in a field/roadside & droppen the one essential bit?).
There's also a set of disposable overalls, and a roll of kitchen towels (ideal for the dipstick).

And a car rug on the back seat - in case I get stuck in the winter .
Any wonder I don't get a good fuel consumption?

Colin

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:58 am

and a roll of kitchen towels (ideal for the dipstick).

I find the front overriders are good for storing kitchen roll (shove a few pieces inside the overrider) - that way it's always handy if you're leaning under the bonnet checking the levels on a long rub and want to check the oil - saves time unloading the boot to get to your spares...

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:11 pm

jolly interesting thread - cheers everyone

and no the kendal mint cake is purely medicinal - as is the brandy - honest, officer

Post by **Willie** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 6:12 pm

None of us had mentioned an item which is taken for granted until
it breaks........a spare throttle cable! (yes,I do carry one).

Post by **d_harris** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 6:23 pm

I was on a minibus on my way to Dartmoor when the throttle cable snapped. doing 70 on a dual carriageway - that was fun.