Freelander Project IV (Bertie)

GrumpyGel said:

I prefer driving manuals. I like the interaction with the machine etc.

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I feel the same way, plus less to go wrong.

GrumpyGel said:

I prefer driving manuals. I like the interaction with the machine etc.

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In years gone by, I always choose a manual box. Even when I first got my V6 FL1, I wasn't keen on the automatic only option. I even looked into the possibility of a manual conversion for it. However having driven auto Freelanders and a D3 for the last 50K miles. I've concluded that the auto is now my preference. I still think the V6 would be more involving for the driver if it were a manual, if it was road biased driving being done. However if off road or towing is required. The auto is the only sensible opinion. Besides I like CC, and that was only available with an auto box.

Tony Reeves said:

I feel the same way, plus less to go wrong.

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The manual is generally more simple to repair when things go wrong. However it can be costly to restore to good working order and is easily abused.
It's a personal preference thing I guess.
I've found the auto's more reliable and less fragile than the manual in general.

Since you bu@@ers want to jabber on 'bout manuals and autos I might as well pick ya brains 'bout the clutch pedal in my new purchase 'Blue'. As well as a slipping clutch she has a very high clutch pedal as in about an inch higher than the brake pedal and all sloppy for the first part of travel. When I checked it today it looks like the master cylinder has fallen apart and is letting the clutch rise up higher than it should.
So the questions are, is the pedal height held by the master cylinder or the pedal mechanism? Can I repair the beggar by jamming something in it to stop the end from pulling out?
If I need a new master cylinder will this do? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clutch-Ma...lander&hash=item2a69ce1121:g:VDMAAOSwpDdVB-ol Or do I need to go for a good quality one like LUK?
Thanks in advance.

Alibro said:

Since you bu@@ers want to jabber on 'bout manuals and autos I might as well pick ya brains 'bout the clutch pedal in my new purchase 'Blue'. As well as a slipping clutch she has a very high clutch pedal as in about an inch higher than the brake pedal and all sloppy for the first part of travel. When I checked it today it looks like the master cylinder has fallen apart and is letting the clutch rise up higher than it should.
So the questions are, is the pedal height held by the master cylinder or the pedal mechanism? Can I repair the beggar by jamming something in it to stop the end from pulling out?
If I need a new master cylinder will this do? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clutch-Master-Cylinder-and-Pipe-for-Land-Rover-Freelander-1-Td4-STC000020-/182163738913?fits=Model:Freelander&hash=item2a69ce1121:g:VDMAAOSwpDdVB-ol Or do I need to go for a good quality one like LUK?
Thanks in advance.

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Your clutch pedal is high because the plate is worn out. The clutch works on a fulcrum. The release bearing is one side, the plate the other. Now if the plate is thin, the fulcrum forces the bearing away from the plate. In extreme cases, the master cylinder end stop can be damaged by the fluid pressure, pushed back to the master.
The pedal is free to rock on it's pivot. So the over extended master will push the pedal as high as it can.

When you change the clutch assembly, including the master and slave, all will return to normal again.

Use an OE clutch like LUK and you'll have no problems.

Nodge68 said:

Your clutch pedal is high because the plate is worn out. The clutch works on a fulcrum. The release bearing is one side, the plate the other. Now if the plate is thin, the fulcrum forces the bearing away from the plate. In extreme cases, the master cylinder end stop can be damaged by the fluid pressure, pushed back to the master.
The pedal is free to rock on it's pivot. So the over extended master will push the pedal as high as it can.

When you change the clutch assembly, including the master and slave, all will return to normal again.

Use an OE clutch like LUK and you'll have no problems.

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Thanks Nodge, I thought it was the Master cylinder was the issue. I have the new clutch in but not bled properly yet so hopefully once done and used a bit all will be well.

Alibro said:

Thanks Nodge, I thought it was the Master cylinder was the issue. I have the new clutch in but not bled properly yet so hopefully once done and used a bit all will be well.

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I think I must have damaged the master cause I have no pedal at all now. I spent the morning trying to bleed it but no joy. it was working until I pushed the clutch in while bleeding but no longer. I've read a few threads where this has happened and it looks like the master may have been on the way out anyway as the fluid came out very black. so now I need to order a new one.
Anyone out there had any success or other wise with cheap ebay ones. They are around £50 instead of nearly £100 for a LUK.

It's not uncommon for the bleeding operation to finish off a weak master cylinder.

Since no one said anything bad about ebay master cylinders I went ahead and ordered this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300861199849?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#rwid
I think it is a reputable company so I checked all their negative feedbacks and no mention of Freelander master cylinders even though they have sold over 600.
I'll report back after fitting it.

davidsmith1307 said:

Why oh why is the Freelander body kit starting to grow on me....?

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Liking mine more and more - it's a grower, in a retro-90s kind of way LOL

Also, with the wheel arch extensions, if you wanted to fit larger wheels and tyres, this may be the best way to go?

It's been a few weeks now since I sold Bertie so I guess I've got over it enough to be able to talk about it.
Due to a change of job circumstances (I got made redundant and my company car is gone) I can't afford to chuck money and time at toys now.
Using some of my redundancy money I've also bought a business which came with a Ford Transit so I have enough going on in my life right now without adding to it.
On the plus side I sold Bertie to a good mate who loves him and will look after him well.

Sorry to hear about your redundancy Ali. I've been there myself in the past, so know what it's like. We have to make changes and sometimes sacrifices to survive. However I found when one door closes. Another opens when you least expect it.
I hope your new business does all you need and more.

Nodge68 said:

Sorry to hear about your redundancy Ali. I've been there myself in the past, so know what it's like. We have to make changes and sometimes sacrifices to survive. However I found when one door closes. Another opens when you least expect it.
I hope your new business does all you need and more.

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Thanks Nodge, so far so good. I've been a computer engineer for almost thirty years an in the last company (Fujitsu) for twenty so I have loads of experience and have been busy since the day I was laid off.
Fujitsu decided to farm out the engineering department to a third party to save a few quid I decided to jump and take a lump sum while it was an option. Not sure it's working out too well for Fujitsu tho, they sent me a letter asking if I'd like to work for them on a daily basis as the new company ain't coping. I would have but at the time I was too busy and I reckon the work will dry up very quick when the new company gets it's ass in gear.
Only problem is now I have to work for a living. When in Fujitsu we had it pretty handy.

When I jumped ship from my previous job, I did wonder at the time if it was the right thing to do.
9 years on......sooo glad I ditched the last job. It's a real eye opener finding out that money isn't everything. I've managed to keep hold of my Freelander so far, hopefully it'll stay long term, but I understand the financial pit that some Freelanders can be.
It'll all work out fine.
Mike

Skinny Mike said:

When I jumped ship from my previous job, I did wonder at the time if it was the right thing to do.
9 years on......sooo glad I ditched the last job. It's a real eye opener finding out that money isn't everything. I've managed to keep hold of my Freelander so far, hopefully it'll stay long term, but I understand the financial pit that some Freelanders can be.
It'll all work out fine.
Mike

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We still have Blue so not away from Freelanders completely . As for the job, like I said earlier I've been really busy since I left. Also the job I did has changed so much and is now so precarious, I didn't want it anymore so no regrets.

Not yet anyway.

Nooooo! Bertie's gone!

Sorry about the job, but completely agree with what the guys say: there will be a silver lining in this cloud. Glad to hear that you still have blue. And I am sure that another "toy" will come along when the time is right

rob_bell said:

Nooooo! Bertie's gone!

Sorry about the job, but completely agree with what the guys say: there will be a silver lining in this cloud. Glad to hear that you still have blue. And I am sure that another "toy" will come along when the time is right

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LOL, he's not gone completely, my mate has him and allows me to sit in him sometimes.
I have to admit it was tough going through the uncertainty of being Tupe'd to another company that I knew were going to be sh1te so the relief when I heard I was getting redundancy was incredible. I'm still happy I made the right decision and hopefully that will continue.

Sorry to hear Berti has to go, and the forced change of employment. You sound resourceful, so I think the latter will bring about new opportunities. Good luck going forward!

Jim