Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

In the absence of any questions or informed comment, I will continue on with my monologue...........
 
With the carburettors back in place I needed to adjust the idle speed.  This best done by adjusting each carb independently. To do this entails loosening the coupling between the two throttle shafts. For as long as I can remember (a long time) I have used a small shifting spanner which was less than ideal, given the cramped space to work in. With the gearbox likely to be away for some time yet, the car was not going anywhere so for a change, time was not a problem. I decided to make myself a small spanner more suitable for this job. I have a box under my bench that I tend to throw small pieces of perhaps useable pieces of metal.
Starting with one of these I have made the spanner you see here. Perhaps a little over the top but to identify it I have drilled a few holes along the handle. At least not all my time was wasted and with the mixture checked and the idle speed adjusted, this new addition to my collection of necessary tools can have a home in one of the pockets of the Rapier's tool bag until it is needed again.
In my own defence, I think that the time doing this was better spent than for instance, polishing the brass rods and fittings on the carbs.
Oh yes! Drilling the holes in this spanner has reduced its weight by at least 2.5%. AND I have reduced the possibility of "rounding" the corners on these small and inaccessible nuts by some incalculable amount.
 
As at a considerably younger age, I was inclined to say, "SMILE; you may be on candid camera!"

While I am waiting to hear something of the gearbox and how far it has travelled, I am keeping myself occupied with the preparation of the Rapier for its role as an international tourist. One important part of the preparation is to increase it's luggage capacity. The demountable luggage rack has now had several trips away. All it takes to install it is to tighten the nuts on the two U'bolts around the rear chassis cross tube, plug in the extral stop/tail lights  and fit and tighten the strap around the top of the spare wheel. I must remember to give the Kangaroo an extra special polish too.