Renault 4 armee de l' air project (Robinette)

[harbourseal]

Today was a day with ups and downs.
The down was that our bridge seized to do its job. After putting Robinette back on the floor and putting a Volvo 245 on it decided that it had enough after 10 centimeters it jammed.

The up was that after rebuilding the gearbox there was only one more job left to do.
Putting in some new cross couplings on the right rear axle.
Undoing it from the car is easy.
But then undoing the 50 year old couplings took some brute force with a hydraulic ram. The rear drive shaft on the bench.

Pushing out the old coupling with a 27mm socket onderneath and a 10mm socket to push it through

Old couplings all the cups had play in them.
Placing the new coupling.

Under the hydraulic ram.

 

[JdeW]

Nice progress Robert, and what a workshop equipment you have
Hope it is heated as well as I'm momentarily freezing my *** of working on stone cold sheet metal in the farmer's shed

 

[harbourseal]

No heating Joop, but giant windows facing south. When the sun is out. It warms up quite fast.

And an additional electric heater takes the chill away until the sun kicks in.

 

[JdeW]

Ahh the greenhouse effect
Maybe I can move the project and get some more warmth from the cows in the cowshed next to my restoration spot

 

[harbourseal]

Today Robinette passed her MOT with flying colors after I put in two new headlight units and fixed a small hole in the right front axle gaiter.
I also put on some blue license plates

 

[JonathanT]

Today Robinette passed her MOT with flying colors after I put in two new headlight units and fixed a small hole in the right front axle gaiter.
I also put on some blue license plates

Looking very cool- how did you fix hole in gaiter? Repair or replace?

 

[harbourseal]

I repaired it with a dab of aqua sure.

Aqua sure is a repair glue for diving suits. Works well on rubber gaiters as long as the hole is not bigger then a 3mm.

With some excelerator it dries within an hour.

 

[harbourseal]

Found a nice addition for Robinette on e-bay.
An ancient French military first aid box.

 

[harbourseal]

I went outside today in a blazing storm.
I had to do a test drive to see if my last attempt to seal de gearbox worked.

For now it seems to have helped.

Put the roof rack on and put the first of my military props on.
An infrared light.

 

[JdeW]

I assume that beside the infrared lamp you've got a pair of infrared night vision goggles?

 

[harbourseal]

Yes, I invested a shitload of money to be able to ride through the forest without my headlights on.

 

[Jurjenz]

Yes, I invested a shitload of money to be able to ride through the forest without my headlights on.

Ideal for smuggling r4 parts through the night :-)

 

[JdeW]

Ideal for smuggling r4 parts through the night :-)

Hmm that's why harbourseal uses active infrared he always has a cunning plan and according to my memory there is and old smugglersroute from Mastbos -> Galder -> Strijbeek.
Lots of parts in Belgium and from there it's a short way to France, even more parts to find

 

[harbourseal]

Today the 176km round trip along the highway was a good test for the gearbox.
Finally all the aggravation is gone. There is no oil spill anymore.

 

[harbourseal]

Another update,
A month or so ago I did a mini service on Robinette.
Changed the oil checked the breaker points, and adjusted them. Put in new cables and bougies.
But I hadn’t had time to adjust the valve clearance.

The engine made some more noise then absolutely necessary and lacked a bit of power.

So yesterday I lifted the rocker cover and found the top of the head like I left it 2,5 years ago when I last checked and adjusted the valve clearance.


Nice and clean without any crud.

Adjusting the clearances went like a breeze.

Now she runs nice and smooth again.
Ready to drive to the south of France the coming summer.

 

[Cornish4]

I too have been fettling ma baby, usual things after the winter engine rebuild. I did the head bolts and tappets a while back, and just checked the belts and clutch cable, and generally had a look around to make sure nothing was falling off.
The trip south that Robert speaks of is the 4L and Estafette gathering at Uzes near Montpellier on the first weekend in July. We are meeting up en-route near Le Mans, and venturing south with our camping gear, and looking forward to a great time. I went last year with Derek of Renospeed and his son Harry, and it was a really nice event to go to. We were made very welcome by our hosts.
So, are any of you going to join us this year? I know it's just a fortnight before the 4L International at Thenay, so we are spoilt for choice, but if any of you fancy a trip down to this beautiful part of France I can thoroughly recommend it.
For more details check out the organisers Facebook page, or go to http://letempsjadis.fr

Regards Brian.
BTW you have until 15th May to register.

 

[harbourseal]

Last weekend I went on a mini road trip to the north east of the Netherlands.
226 km of highway and some backroads.
Before I went I adjusted the valve clearance because Robinette sounded a bit rough.

All went well with two tents camping stuff and a bicycle in the back.
Nice to be out and about.
Cycling and camping.

Sunday afternoon I made my way back home.

Robinette sounded a little rough again and lacked some power.
I thought that the valve clearance had come undone again.

Today I took a look under the bonnet and accidentally touched the air filter housing and found it loos from the carburetor still where it belonged but completely undone. With the lid still on and closed.

When I lifted the housing of the carburetor I found the 3 wing nuts that hold the housing on top of the carburetor inside the carburetor just before the venturi.
Fortunately the wingnuts were to big to fall all the way down into the intake manifold.

But it explained the loss of power and the rattling noise.

A lucky escape I think.

 

[Jurjenz]

Oeff, lucky escape indeed! Glad to you find it in time! Where did you camp? Looks like Dwingelerveld?

 

[harbourseal]

Thyencamp just on the edge of the Hijkerveld.

 

[JdeW]

Indeed a lucky escape Robert, and uhm Dwingelerveld... Hijkerveld...it sounds French to me at Pentecost I will camp in Italy in the middle of nowhere at the border of Piemonte and Liguria