Breakdown

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Well my car woes continue. After having to rebuild the brake servo and change the alternator it was now the turn of the fuel pump. This had the added advantage(not) of failing 45 miles from home at a car show in the Scottish Borders.
This was especially frustrating since it was one of SNG's " fit and forget" electronic submersible pumps. I only replaced the original 18 months ago and it has barely covered 1000 miles since.
SNG have asked for it back so they can check it over and repair if possible. Hopefully they will agree to do this free since upgraded parts should not fail so soon. Watch this space. These pumps are currently out of stock and will not be available again until early July.
The result was that I had to be trailered home for the first time in 31 years of classic motoring.
In the course of my investigations I also managed to loose the carbon brush from the king lead in the distributor cap, fortunately a fellow S1 owner came to the rescue on that one. Unfortunately he didn't carry a spare pump-some peope never go out prepared!
Once I arrived home I realised what a struggle it was going to be to push the car up a 60 foot long driveway.
This got me thinking about installing an electric winch in the garage-possibly mounted on the frame of the 4-post lift. Has anyone done this, ideally with a 240V unit?

[cactusman]

I carry an SNGB pump as a spare not done the winch thing....

[mgcjag]

Hi Alan...have just a hand operated winch just to pull the car from outside the garage onto the 4 poster if needed, just attach it with a rope the the cross beam.....however have thought of an electric winch....i have one for another car to lift the roof on and off......plenty to choose from and as your just pulling it dosent need to be too powerfull, ideally just set it up as and when you need it rather than a fully fitted job... Steve

[christopher storey]

Alan : in the event of a failure to proceed I just drive it on the starter motor in 1st or 2nd gear in short bursts of 3 seconds or so with a 10 second rest between. Then a quick session with the battery charger quickly restores things!

Don't be too horrified by this: before I rebuilt my FHC my party trick was to put it in 4th gear, switch on, press the starter button, and each cylinder would then chime in as the car moved away in stately fashion!!

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Christopher

Yes that's how. I got the car into the garage. Although a winch would have been easier and less stressful.

Alan

[mystery type]

Reminds me of when I used to remove the sparkplugs, put it in gear and move my old rover using the starting handle

Speaking of breakdowns, what cover do other owners use for their E types?
I have breakdown included with my insurance, thankfully never had to test it.

[Vonkie]

As the big day draws nearer, you guys scare me more and more. Sometimes I think "breakdown" would be an apt name for the forum. "E Type Victims Support Group" would do as well.

I have a realistic expectation of experiencing several inconvenient breakdowns in severely inconvenient locations, especially in the initial teething months, and my main worry in such a case (apart from the fact that this would probably entail months of waiting for a part to arrive from the UK and for someone to be good enough to help me with it) is getting her from the scene of the crime to the hospital. One would not want to tow, and hoisting, even with nylon ropes, can damage her badly.

Not quite sure what the answer will be for me, except hope and fear. Breakdown cover is not really an answer to this, unless it comes with assistance, but that would probably make the premiums ridiculously expensive. It's not the expense that comes with the breakdown that bothers me (that is par for the course on an ongoing basis); it's the practical reality of an inconvenient breakdown.

Presumably interspersed with moments of sheer joy.

Watch this space. Meantime, there's a nightmare called "breakdown".

[mgcjag]

Hi Frank...whats the problem with towing or winching onto a trailer/flatbed.......just make sure you only attach a rope/strap to the lower wishbone.....dont worry too much.. Steve

[Vonkie]

Thanks Steve

Ja, but many things can go seriously pearshaped in such a process. Especially if I have anything to do with it.

Just found a nice insurance package that includes roadside assistance even for non-risk events, i.e. your common garden variety run of the mill "the damned thing has stopped" type of incident. That's worth quite a bit for me.

I try not to worry. It's less worry than the flipside of ecstatic expectation.

F

[ALAN COCHRANE]

My breakdown cover is part of the benefits package that comes with my current account. Fortunately I upgraded this to "get me home" which has now paid for itself after Sunday. Although there was one depressing moment when the recovery driver received a call from "Mumbai Calling" to say that we didn't have the full cover but was promptly put straight by our driver who already knew we had.

I always carry two pvc covered tow ropes with d shackles on them. One to loop through the lower wishbones and the second to attach to the mid point of the first. This is exactly what the recovery driver did with his straps when he winched to car onto the flatbed which impressed me. He explained this wasn't the first time he'd picked up an E-Type from this event.

So no problems about towing as far as I'm concerned, although this was the first time I'd actually had it done.

Alan