Freelander 1 Mrs has now purchased a FL1

Driving with low rear tyre pressure will cause VCU heating and damage to the IRD. Get them tyres sorted ASAP

Joe_H said:

Sorry is I got the wrong poster name before Turboman (doh)
Ooooo very very nice. !. We seriously seriously considered a Canal boat and were planning on having one built at Salterforth in Lancs. Then we decided that the 'yott' option was better as we wanted to see a bit of Europe - also - it was love at first sight for the boat . Did consider the french canals at one time also. After 10 years full time live aboards most of the 'joy of the water' was diminished and we 'swallowed the anchor' and went for a rental property in Portugal. I bet you have a super time with it! . Nice choice mate.
Joe

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Ours comes from Wigan, about ten miles from where it is currently moored!
I like seagoing boats as well, but it is an expensive game, and swell and tides can limit windows for usage, so we decided to get a canal boat.

It is possible to get a narrow boat craned out and trucked over and put in the French canals. Might consider it at some stage, but we still have about 2000 miles of the UK system to cover first!

Turboman said:

Ours comes from Wigan, about ten miles from where it is currently moored!
I like seagoing boats as well, but it is an expensive game, and swell and tides can limit windows for usage, so we decided to get a canal boat.

It is possible to get a narrow boat craned out and trucked over and put in the French canals. Might consider it at some stage, but we still have about 2000 miles of the UK system to cover first!

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Sorry to the OP for going OT here (I will take a look at the boat 'fred' )
Yup, boats are like standing in the shower and ripping up 20 quid notes !. another analogy is a hole in the water you throw money into.
The northern canal systems are simply beautiful - leeds - liverpool especially. It is amazing how it becomes a different world. Enjoy mate. to hell with the cost (we spent well over 120k on her including the original refit, maintenance and upkeep in 10 years (not including marina fees etc !). Also the market bottom fell out in 2008 for used 'yotts' but hey - it was worth every penny . No pockets in shrouds eh ? , so I sell one money pit and buy a landy money pit - ah well - such is life haha - loved the time on the boat and love the landy so to hell with the cost.

Joe_H said:

Sorry to the OP for going OT here (I will take a look at the boat 'fred' )
Yup, boats are like standing in the shower and ripping up 20 quid notes !. another analogy is a hole in the water you throw money into.
The northern canal systems are simply beautiful - leeds - liverpool especially. It is amazing how it becomes a different world. Enjoy mate. to hell with the cost (we spent well over 120k on her including the original refit, maintenance and upkeep in 10 years (not including marina fees etc !). Also the market bottom fell out in 2008 for used 'yotts' but hey - it was worth every penny . No pockets in shrouds eh ? , so I sell one money pit and buy a landy money pit - ah well - such is life haha - loved the time on the boat and love the landy so to hell with the cost.

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Nice one !
You should have seen us waiting for the Biscay crossing - 7 weeks in Falmouth hoping for a #window# for 'Biscay ' no change ! - that was July 2004 ! - finally got a 34 hour 'window' - went from Falmouth to Cameret sur Mer in N France - then waited until bloody ! OCTOBER for a good 'window' of weather for the 3-4 day crossing of Biscay. - had to cope with the Raz de Sein - but that was a pussy cat if you time the tides right ! .
We crossed in October 2004 and had - amazingly - SE winds for 3 days ! - hardly touched the sails - (Ketch) just Genoa and Mizzen = no main ! - still had to furl the Genoa at times as we were hitting hull speed (around 7 knots ! _ too bloody bad - 6 knots was far more comfortable and far less bruising !!!!! )
Arrived in #La Coruna'# IN 3 days and 2 hours ! - never touched the sails apart from avoiding a **** of a fishing boat and - yes - a submarine !! - a beautiful sail.
Sailed through the vast Spanish trawler fleet - true gentle men who waved and parted company as we sailed though them (no other option really as they were so wide spread !!. a 20 NM Wall of fishing boats - they had no issues ans we had great chats on the VHF> !!!
utter gentlemen !. Deep joy

The Channel du Four was a different thing - great day - but we hit 12 knots hull speed fue to the tide !!! - stacks of French patrol boats taking the **** really - once you start down that route - you have no alterative but to GO !.
Again - a once (for me) in a lifetime experience I would not be without
Joe

Hi again thanks for the replies.

Front near side wheel, suspect bearing, but wouldn't be surprised at a seizure caliper, but as they are being powder coated they will be stripped and serviced accordingly.
By the time I get back from work, everything should be done.
Git history with the vehicle but nothing for the last 3 years
As for the boat yes it is a good in, I have done some proper sailing too, but not like your crossings and never owned a yott!
As Turboman said, 2000 miles of canal system to cover, the Leeds and Liverpool is a really nice canal from what I have seen of it so far.
Well aware of the saying for a boat, like a hole in the water, and for landy's, so I have half a boat and 2 freelanders.
I must be a muppet!

And I do agree with Wammers about cars in Blackpool. My house is a mile from the sea and wind can be horrendous all that salt air!

Just heard from garage wheels are back and he said they look really good, he sounded surprised.

Nothing wrong with calipers, he hasn't had time to check wheel bearing or CV joint as yet, though I can't think of anything else, we had a chat, decided not to repair seat as yet as the upholsterer is busy at the moment and I think wiring loom is there for heated seats, it is nothing major just cracked leather on the offside drivers seat edge.

He rang me today because he was concerned of the price of the gearbox oil, £50 guy at LR said I have worked here for 9 years and never sold any. I have given the go ahead but guessing that there are cheaper/ better alternatives the oil is called ATF all I can think is Auto Transmission Fluid, been in a lorry all day so a bit hot and bothered if I had been at home I would of come on here first, but the wife is excited, and in my book 'A happy wife, is a happy life!'

The best fluid for the auto box is Carlube ATF-U. This is half the price of the LR stuff and far exceeds the original LR spec. It's available on line for £25 per gallon

Nodge68 said:

The best fluid for the auto box is Carlube ATF-U. This is half the price of the LR stuff and far exceeds the original LR spec. It's available on line for £25 per gallon

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Thanks Nodge, I was dawdling down the M6 at the time and had to make the call at the time. I will look it up.

Well I made good progress back up the M2/25/1/6 today.

Got to see the progress. Rear bumper done, looks new. Low levels of oil in Diff, no problems with Hub, bearings, CV joints. We have New rubber, reconditioned wheels, a light service of the transmission, new disks and drums, nothing wrong with pads or shoes, components in rear look good.

Next up is the drums, as they are new they look great, but mine lasted a day before rust, so having hers treated and painted with heat proof paint, living in Sunny Blackpool close to the sea an 'all.

The Mrs is excited !

:-/

Close up o the wheels

Bigger brothers and sisters, awaiting collection or treatment.


Edit:
Light service on transmission:
Oil was low on diff, been topped up with fresh, to check for leaks!

I will give the car a run upon return, change this and look at the oil that comes out, looking for metal shavings, listening for noise on the way,

Well its back.


Still possible trans problems. small leak on rear diff, possible pinion gear problem, Mrs so happy with it I haven't been given access to a test drive!

I will report back

Now that looks handsome!

Nice
Mike

I like the rims.

Nodge68 said:

I like the rims.

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Yeah, they look great, au natural or powder coat.

Powder coat, as in ya face or subtle as you like

Budget update:

The work I have had done comes in at the moment £1400. Now I have not the time, space to do this work.

Think my first bid ( on the phone, annoyed ) of £2200 for this vehicle was correct, I can live with 25, possible IRD change ( worst case scenario )

Still happy,

I now have work to do on mine, fuel cage replaced and poly bushes to be added, i have the parts, mine has also developed a brake fluid joint leak, would like to spray the underside of both vehicles with ACF50. Keeps the salt air out.

Lovely looking car, not surprised her indoors is happy. Health to drive.

Joe I was very interested to hear your findings re OWU test with your refurbed VCU. The last Freeby I bought felt very tight in both 1st and reverse so I suspected the VCU was shot. OWU test showed 3 minutes so I refurbed it myself and it is now around 30 seconds and on slippy ground kicks in instantly. Funny thing is I found afterwards the tightness turning was mostly caused by a sticky front brake so now I don't know how bad it really was. The previous one I bought showed no issues while reversing but OWU test was 2 minutes, once again after a refurb it was around 30 secs and working perfectly. If yours wasn't locking on slippy ground the guy must have been using the wrong fluid, I used 100k CST which was advertised as correct for a Freelander VCU.

Lucky guy having someone else detail your Hippo!
I spent a good part of last weekend claying, cut polishing and waxing the front half of mine. (also a black facelift, but 5 door)
Unfortunately it now looks so good I will have to do the back half as well!

Well I got to drive it today, took it on the motorway and no noises from anywhere. So all good there.

OWU test soon but now away for a few days on the boat. Did I read somewhere it is a 36mm socket required for OWUT ?

Rich, that's good going, unfortunately I work away from home, so always have something to do, especially at ths time of year, needed ths health checked and on the road.