Possibly suicide is the only way out - Series 3 info request

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DaninLids

DaninLids

Member
Posts
75
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Hi all,

I've just joined the forum after many moons of looking at all the helpful advice having just become an owner of a Series III.

It's 29 years old (A-Reg), van type (just windows in the door at the back - none on the sides) and a 2286 diesel.

Basically I got it for an absolute bargain and did my test drive on a ploughed field. Everything works and it has a decent bit of MOT left to run... however...

...can anyone confirm that the following are normal and not faults/mechanical nightmares:

1. First gear is basically useless - especially at roundabouts. You set off, get to 3mph - whereupon it reaches the maximum speed in that gear and you have to change up to 2nd, by which time it's doing 1mph. Should I be setting off in second gear on the road?

2. Acceleration is laughable at best, dangerous at worst - people on push bikes could beat it to 20mph easy. Is this normal?

3. Not being used to the sound of basically sitting in a ground-based Lancaster bomber I am changing gear to the engine note and going into 3rd around 25mph whereupon it slows down and starts to sound like it's thrashing itself to bits at around 30mph - at this point I go into 4th and it starts going backwards. Should I press ahead with 3rd to about 35 (if it will do that) and then go into 4th only on flat and downhill stretches?

4. Top speed seems to be about 40mph - I did 16 miles in it from Allerton Bywater to North Leeds when I bought it and going uphill it virtually stops and going flat out downhill it gets up to about 40 (absolute top end). Is this normal in the diesel? I was definitely in 2wd high ratio by the way.

5. Can the position of the hand-throttle alter the performance of the vehicle? In other words if it's set all the way to full power will that add to or be overridden completely by the accelerator pedal?

6. On the steering column there is a knob that pulls out very much like a choke and like a smaller version of the fuel cut off knob you use to stop the engine - once pulled out I couldn't get it back in and have no idea what it is for as the character on the end has long since rubbed off. Eventually I did get it in but am still none the wiser... any clues on that?

7. Whilst driving it I hated it. I couldn't believe what a fool I'd been in buying it, insuring it and had palpatations about the massive costs that will be coming my way.... however.... now it's sitting on my drive in all its magnificent glory and sounds like a Lancaster bomber on take off when going I love it again. Is this love/hate relationship normal?


Thanks all.
 
May have been a petrol in a former life and that was the choke and its rusted so badly that it stuck when you pulled it...open the bonnet and see if theres a cable that isnt connected to the engine...

Everything else is normal. Prepare for deafness and major dental work within 6 months if driving more than 1 mile a day.
 
I reckon it has been converted from a petrol and the choke cable has been left in. Does it pass through a hole on the side of the steering lock casting?

By the way, when i picked my series 3 up i drove it from North Yorkshire to Gloucestershire. All the same feelings went through my head. Love it now though (even though i have been rebuiling it ever since!!)
 
DaninLids said:
Hi all,

I've just joined the forum after many moons of looking at all the helpful advice having just become an owner of a Series III.

It's 29 years old (A-Reg), van type (just windows in the door at the back - none on the sides) and a 2286 diesel.

Basically I got it for an absolute bargain and did my test drive on a ploughed field. Everything works and it has a decent bit of MOT left to run... however...

...can anyone confirm that the following are normal and not faults/mechanical nightmares:

1. First gear is basically useless - especially at roundabouts. You set off, get to 3mph - whereupon it reaches the maximum speed in that gear and you have to change up to 2nd, by which time it's doing 1mph. Should I be setting off in second gear on the road?

2. Acceleration is laughable at best, dangerous at worst - people on push bikes could beat it to 20mph easy. Is this normal?

3. Not being used to the sound of basically sitting in a ground-based Lancaster bomber I am changing gear to the engine note and going into 3rd around 25mph whereupon it slows down and starts to sound like it's thrashing itself to bits at around 30mph - at this point I go into 4th and it starts going backwards. Should I press ahead with 3rd to about 35 (if it will do that) and then go into 4th only on flat and downhill stretches?

4. Top speed seems to be about 40mph - I did 16 miles in it from Allerton Bywater to North Leeds when I bought it and going uphill it virtually stops and going flat out downhill it gets up to about 40 (absolute top end). Is this normal in the diesel? I was definitely in 2wd high ratio by the way.

5. Can the position of the hand-throttle alter the performance of the vehicle? In other words if it's set all the way to full power will that add to or be overridden completely by the accelerator pedal?

6. On the steering column there is a knob that pulls out very much like a choke and like a smaller version of the fuel cut off knob you use to stop the engine - once pulled out I couldn't get it back in and have no idea what it is for as the character on the end has long since rubbed off. Eventually I did get it in but am still none the wiser... any clues on that?

7. Whilst driving it I hated it. I couldn't believe what a fool I'd been in buying it, insuring it and had palpatations about the massive costs that will be coming my way.... however.... now it's sitting on my drive in all its magnificent glory and sounds like a Lancaster bomber on take off when going I love it again. Is this love/hate relationship normal?


Thanks all.
Click to expand...

The ground lancaster statement made me laugh a lot :D

The diesels are pretty noisy and slow. An Overdrive will help, but I think mine is only doing about 50 with it engaged.

Save your pennies for a 200tdi engine or in the short term a range rover or discovery diff helps the top speed a bit. :)
 
First gear can be a bit low - useful to get you going but you want to be in second fairly quickly. Your engine sounds a bit down on power, well worth giving it a service. Diesels are a bit of a mystery to me - and many others, so you might want to have a specialist look at it. You will fall hopelessly in love with olde worlde motoring!

My petrol measures 85dBA at a steady 45mph - not quite Lancaster bomber but enough to want to think about exposure levels!
 
I like posts like this. I felt exactly the same when I bought my 2286 diesel! I was initially convinced that there was some hidden power and it wasn't set up properly. I've had her 8 months and i'm still looking for that 'hidden power'!
I have 750x16 tyres on long wheel base wheels which help with the gearing a little. I occasionally set off in 2nd gear if flat or slightly downhill but usually find that first feels better but change swiftly. I do feel bit conscious of being a bit slow on modern roads but I want her as she was born and don't want to transplant a 200di engine.

I wanted the raw experience - so much so I spent days removing the sound insulation and horrible black tar it was glued on with to bring back the metal inside. It makes her more fun being noisey as I drive lots of miles in a company car all week long! If its your daily driver then you might appreciate the insulation I guess!

When running / warmed up I keep the hand throttle closed as this closes the inlet butterfly and allows more brake servo pressure I believe. All the other points you mention seem perfectly normal to me.

Just try and appreciate her for what she is...a piece of motoring history that you actually 'drive' rather than 'operate' like modern stuff. I've honestly had to learn to love mine and there are some rare days I think I really shouldn't have bothered too!
:)
 
mine is a 2.25 diesel aswell with rrc diffs and a series 2a gearbox

1st is a short sharp blast to a massive 10mph then 2nd is another short blast to 20mph then 3rd is some kind of wind up right up to 35 near40 mph then 4th is like a cruiser taking me to a bone shaking eye watering 55mph

yep shes a diesel injected suicide machine of a 4 wheeled run fer freedom and a joyride for the soul
 
DaninLids said:
Hi all,

I've just joined the forum after many moons of looking at all the helpful advice having just become an owner of a Series III.

It's 29 years old (A-Reg), van type (just windows in the door at the back - none on the sides) and a 2286 diesel.

Basically I got it for an absolute bargain and did my test drive on a ploughed field. Everything works and it has a decent bit of MOT left to run... however...

...can anyone confirm that the following are normal and not faults/mechanical nightmares:

1. First gear is basically useless - especially at roundabouts. You set off, get to 3mph - whereupon it reaches the maximum speed in that gear and you have to change up to 2nd, by which time it's doing 1mph. Should I be setting off in second gear on the road?

2. Acceleration is laughable at best, dangerous at worst - people on push bikes could beat it to 20mph easy. Is this normal?

3. Not being used to the sound of basically sitting in a ground-based Lancaster bomber I am changing gear to the engine note and going into 3rd around 25mph whereupon it slows down and starts to sound like it's thrashing itself to bits at around 30mph - at this point I go into 4th and it starts going backwards. Should I press ahead with 3rd to about 35 (if it will do that) and then go into 4th only on flat and downhill stretches?

4. Top speed seems to be about 40mph - I did 16 miles in it from Allerton Bywater to North Leeds when I bought it and going uphill it virtually stops and going flat out downhill it gets up to about 40 (absolute top end). Is this normal in the diesel? I was definitely in 2wd high ratio by the way.

5. Can the position of the hand-throttle alter the performance of the vehicle? In other words if it's set all the way to full power will that add to or be overridden completely by the accelerator pedal?

6. On the steering column there is a knob that pulls out very much like a choke and like a smaller version of the fuel cut off knob you use to stop the engine - once pulled out I couldn't get it back in and have no idea what it is for as the character on the end has long since rubbed off. Eventually I did get it in but am still none the wiser... any clues on that?

7. Whilst driving it I hated it. I couldn't believe what a fool I'd been in buying it, insuring it and had palpatations about the massive costs that will be coming my way.... however.... now it's sitting on my drive in all its magnificent glory and sounds like a Lancaster bomber on take off when going I love it again. Is this love/hate relationship normal?


Thanks all.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a really good one there, I should hang on to it. I wish mine was that good.
 
Just a thought, you've not got in low-ratio (red knob should be forward on road) have you?

Not driven an NA diseasel for a while but they weren't all that bad. You do need to learn to drive differently though, work more on mirrors and plan your gear changes and lane changes using a calendar and sundial. Look out for mobility scooters and old tractors to practice overtaking... Its not like driving a modern car where you can nip out of junctions without a care.
 
Yes a diesel is gutless, even by the standards of the day, and the pull knob on the steering lock is the stop control, it should stay out until the key is turned then go in. if they break then people tend to replace them with a standard cable and drill a hole in the dash, hand throttle does no more or less than the foot throttle. you will learn to love it.
 
Thanks very much everyone - great info.

It was a little more perky today to be fair but it does not like hills - and that's being kind.

It is now covering my drive in a thick film of diesel which someone who knows half of nothing about cars said was a broken return valve. No idea what that means.

It gives off a fair bit of smoke too. Not clouds but definitely leaves a whitish trail behind me.
 
I picked my 1980 diesel up from ten minutes up the road and wondered what the hell I'd let myself in for all the way home. The girlfriend following me In a cloud of black smoke did too. However it's now had a service and I've got used to driving it and I now love it. They are very very slow but they have plenty of character and plenty of uses!
 
i would recommend doing a redex treatment to her, could have deposits built up in the fuel system. preventing her from giving it her all.
had a similar power problem with my 2.25 3mb.
also try testing the compression on all cylinders make sure all the pressures are within the recommended ones.
 
You'll hopefully come to grips with it :D, mine was a 6cyl petrol, now converted to diesel (S3), the pull knob (choke) is now the stop cable. I know they are always considered slow and noisy, but 40mph:eek:, mine will do 70 easy, and a bit more if I want, with no overdrive.
I rarely use 1st, and acceleration isn't bad.(No smoke either!)
Maybe this will be an incentive for you to start fiddling:rolleyes:. Out with the spanners and the hammer my man :D
 
:D
Antni said:
I picked my 1980 diesel up from ten minutes up the road and wondered what the hell I'd let myself in for all the way home. The girlfriend following me In a cloud of black smoke did too. However it's now had a service and I've got used to driving it and I now love it. They are very very slow but they have plenty of character and plenty of uses!
Click to expand...

The smoke should clear after a few minutes. I took my OH to the cinema in mine which is a grand total of 2 miles away and she turned round and said she wanted her name taken off the insurance!

Also she expressed some cocern at the fact that was a considerable gap between the doors and the body :D
 
bakerstreet said:
:D

The smoke should clear after a few minutes. I took my OH to the cinema in mine which is a grand total of 2 miles away and she turned round and said she wanted her name taken off the insurance!

Also she expressed some cocern at the fact that was a considerable gap between the doors and the body :D
Click to expand...

I thought my missus was bad, at least she had a go at driving it....gave up after quarter of a mile and several missed gears though.
 
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