Fuel problem, fault find strategy help please.

[jellypig]

I've done no more with fueling issue that caused me to start the thread (except there is a new pump sitting in the boot ready for fitting) but I am a good way on the road to sorting the Otter switch and the subsequent damage I did to my radiator.

Whilst I was happy to sort the 3 studs to the Otter switch on my own, the small pipe next to the top hose was beyond me.

So I took it to a local radiator repair place, and they to use the phrase from the 1980's TV Ad "quoted me happy" and they recored the radiator inside 48hrs for a very reasonable price. They told me that my old core had about had it, and had been leaking a while, but overall am really pleased with the quality and speed of their works.







For info, I'd taken the radiator off and next day straight round to there place. They'd removed the fan cowels to do their bit and reinstalled them though obviously they now need a bit of fettling to match the rest.

I've not been around here long enough to know if we are permitted to name drop for good customer service , but if we are I'd be happy to recommend them. I will definitely be taking other rads there on demand.

Radiator isnt back on the car yet, because as no doubt we all know, remove something that size, and it creates the need to fettle where it sits/brackets, grants access to other areas and unleashes a whole host of "whilst I was in there" jobs...

[JagWaugh]

Wow. The boiling out with Alum is really cool. I hope I don't need to do that, but it sounds exciting!.

It really is the coolest thing. I learned it from my other hobby - watch and clock repair. Boiling a screw out of a (brass) watch plate only takes an hour or so, and perhaps half a cup of solution... Large car parts are a bit more time and resource hungry, but still... neat as heck.

Andrew

[Gfhug]

Andrew, off topic, if I ask nicely, you don't happen to be able to make a new balance for a 1940's Rolex?

Geoff

[JagWaugh]

Geoff,

Sorry mate, neither my eyes, nor my hands are good enough for that kind of stuff anymore. Case and pair pocket watches are about as small as I do nowadays, and it has been a while since I actually made any of the smaller parts.

Have you tried contacting the BHI? There are still people who do that kind of work, but it isn't going to be cheap. Are you sure it is the balance, or just the staff? If staffs are still available then any proper watchmaker can replace it.

Andrew

[Gfhug]

Thanks Andrew, not so far found anyone who can do the work through any of my contacts, will keep searching. It's a rather special watch because of the original owner, a lady ATA pilot who flew Spitfires etc.
Regards
Geoff

[JagWaugh]

Did you try ringing the BHI?

http://bhi.co.uk/find-a/how-to-find-a-professional/

What about Rolex themselves, have you tried them?

Andrew

[Heuer]

BHI is just a few minutes from me - nice place to visit although they are unable to undertake repairs themselves. You need to take the watch to a Rolex authorised dealer and ask for it to be returned to the Factory for overhaul. Rolex, like all the major watchmakers, are immensely proud of their heritage and are more than happy to assist in the repair of its early watches. It make take a few months but it will be worth it. All my 1960's Heuer watches have been back to the factory for overhaul with superb results.

[Gfhug]

Trying to not let the topic drift too much, thank you both Andrew and David. I had sent the watch to an authorised Rolex repairer, but Rolex didn't have or wouldn't supply the parts. Hence looking like a balance staff needs making (or back to Rolex with a blank cheque ).

Will try the BHI for an independant repairer.
Maybe we should start a watch thread as enough of us seem to like quality watches?

Thanks
Geoff

[Heuer]

Rolex won't supply the parts to anyone, the watch has to go back to Switzerland. Expect to pay ?700 - ?900 for the work but you will have a watch for life and a very valuable one at that.

[PeterCrespin]

Rolex won't supply the parts to anyone, the watch has to go back to Switzerland. Expect to pay ?700 - ?900 for the work but you will have a watch for life and a very valuable one at that.

Sort of...

Twenty years ago I took my GMT Master to them when I was in Gen?ve on biz and they sent it back with a GMT Master II face and other not-quite-matching bits. I brought it over here a few weeks ago and am now looking for an overhaul place in DC so I can return it to my son's custody in good nick. Always struck me as odd that a cheapskate like me somehow didn't mind spending as much servicing that thing as you'd pay for a new mass-market timepiece from someone else

[Nick]

I used to use approved service agents for repairs/servicing until I realised that the Rolex UK service centre is in Bexley, Kent and they have a counter service. Worth the journey (or a telephone call).

Nick

[rossbraithwaite]

Hi Matt,
Sent you a PM
Ross