Nick Bassett

Hi JK - it is a direct replacement Banner from Tayna. Yes, you're right, I probably should get a multimeter although how effective I'd be at using it I don't know! A friend has offered to pop around tonight and he knows how to operate one. I'm pretty sure I don't have a wiring diagram - not for this car anyway - I'll email you. Car is a Year 2000 Superlight R - Rover K VHPD running an Emerald K6 ECU. No immobiliser fitted - it was giving me problems, so removed in 2018 and been fine since. Re. the isolator switch it was left OFF on Saturday night, so whatever it is that is using the battery could happy carry on - at that time I didn't know I had a problem. The isolator is now switched ON and he battery completely disconnected. The only 'addition' the car has is a charging point for my mobile phone - everything else is standard Caterham I think. The only problem I've had in recent years was a Brise Axial starter motor I fitted - when starting it kept interfering with the Emerald, so I removed it and fitted the standard starter and it has been fine. Reading online, it seems others have had the same problem with the Brise, but without any firm conclusion as to what the problem was! Thank you.

A new issue with my car! My battery has been on the way out for a long time now and I keep the car on a trickle charger to ‘keep it going’, but always planning to change the battery for this Spring. Last Sunday went out for a blat – all good. Got home, waited for the car to cool down and then attached trickle charger. Next day noticed the battery was failing to accept a charge – red error light illuminated on the CTEK. Assumed the battery had finally died, although a little odd as on the blat the previous day the car was fine. Ordered a new battery, fitted it Saturday morning ready for a blat yesterday (Sunday). Started the car after fitted new battery to check all was good – no problem, fired first time. Sunday morning car was completely flat – no charge whatsoever! Fitted my CTEK to battery and left overnight – kill switch switched ON. Checked this morning and once more red error light illuminated on the CTEK. I’ve just completely disconnected the battery, reconnected the CTEK and almost immediately I get 2 charging lights illuminated on the CTEK and no red error light. Seems like something is drawing current from a new battery to completely exhaust it overnight – would that be a correct assumption? I don’t own a multimeter and would probably struggle to operate it! Short of calling the RAC, any thoughts?

Bttt

A friend of mine (& fellow 7 owner) is selling his BRZ - all details in the link below. I'm sure Simon won't mind me saying, he's looked after this BRZ (as per all his cars) fastidiously, therefore if you or someone you know is in the market for one of these, it really should be viewed. https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16506570 Cheers Nick

Lovely HPC. One of the first 7s I fell in love with was the HPC - I remember, reading, re-reading & then reading some more the Autocar comparison of the HPC & LCC Rocket. Still have that article. The VX 'Redtop' was the engine back in the day, no matter what car it was fitted to. The first 7 I went in was a HPC back in 1995 from Caterham's old showroom in Caterham - the speeds we were doing on the public roads came with a custodial sentence (I wasn't driving, I should add)!! GLWTS 👍

Thanks Jonathan 👍

Final update (I hope!) Everything back together and speedo working - massive relief! It would seem the angle drive was actually OK, it was the original worn quill that was the culprit. Why it didn't work last week, I'm not completely sure, however a friend helped me fit the circlip properly on Friday so that the drive was properly snug against the g'box and I think that made all the difference. Happy days! 🙂

Sorry, Jonathan yes I meant other than Burton. Caterham and 7 & Classics clearly get them from somewhere, I just wondered where I could source an OE part from?

An update... not all positive I'm afraid. 1. Last weekend I carefully refitted all removed parts and inserted a new quill into the existing angle drive. A short drive showed that the speedo still wasn't working. 2. After doing a bit more research I decided that an angle drive being sold by MOSS (part number 120694) was identical and significantly cheaper at £52.70, so after checking dimensionally the two ends matched mine (c. 19mm) I purchased one - arrived today. Looks good quality (better than mine in fact), but... sadly the quill is about 0.5mm thicker and the speedo cable inner, when inserted was just too small to be driven by the drive - pah! So for anyone with a similar issue in the future that's reading this, don't bother buying part number 120694 even though it looks correct. MOSS were very helpful though I have to say! 3. Next up I inserted my fresh, correctly sized quill into my existing angle drive, attached the speedo cable and spun the quill up with a drill on a low speed setting. Amazed to see that the speedo gauge functioned and showed 'speed'! 4. I'm now at a loss as to while the speedo is not working when full assembled! I should add that I have inserted the quill directly into gearbox and spun the rear wheels while lying underneath the car, and the quill turns in the gearbox, so the drive in the gearbox would seem to be serviceable. Any thoughts from others would be very welcome! Also, are there any other sources for the speedo drives? The cheapest I've found is £220 which seems like a crazy price for something that is near identical from MOSS but at less than quarter of that price! I don't mind paying a bit more to support Caterham specialists of course, but that price seems extortionate to me! My car had a new one fitted by Chris Wheeler at the 7 Workshop back in 2010 and the price charged was only about £70 - surely prices haven't increased that much have they?!! Also what has happened to Chris Wheeler /7 Workshop - I was hoping to call him to get some advice, but can't find him online or the company? Thanks Nick

Thanks Paul. Cheers Nick

That’s very kind Alex, thank you. If he’s interested I’ll pm you for contact details etc. All ok thanks… looking forward to having the car back on the road in April. Planning to go to Wilton Wake Up on the 28th April (weather permitting) if you’re interested?

Alex - thanks. It's for Simon in the yellow caged 7 that came to Goodwood with us. Hope you're keeping well? Cheers Nick

Hi all, A friend is installing a Laminova oil cooler into his K series – could those with one of the fitted please share some detailed pics on here of their own install, with a focus on pipework/placement and anything else you think useful etc? Many thanks, Nick

Ahhh... happy memories of GCSE Technical Drawing with Mr Phillips in Helston School - sadly both have gone now. I still remember everything had to be scrupulously clean before starting and your pencil had to be properly sharp - dropping it on to the back of your hand to check it was sharp enough!

Thank you Brian - just to confirm your battery is a Yuasa U1R?