Thanks Karl

Coolair do a "Hurst" type spacer, as shown above which is basoically just a folded bit of steel. I can make that easily enough but would brace the corners a little.

A machined one would be very nice though, possibly made of precious metal or, if not, aluminium

I was going to use washers to gauge the height.

Cheers
Steve

Evening all

Not a lot to report today. A couple more packages arrived , but more on those in a future update.



It's Beavers night………. which means I get to have a ……………………..beer ( I know what you were all thinking )

but earlier I did a bit of snagging……. I've been struggling with the rear indicators. I've checked my wiring and that's all correct. The S/H rear units are in good order but a bit corroded, so I spent some time sorting out and cleaning the terminals and making sure there's a good earth. Still nothing at the rear It was looking like the switch might be goosed. I could redirect the power from the main terminal to HR and HL on the switch and it worked. So switch internals………Yesterday I'd come to the decision that I wouldn't bother with using all five wires but would use the power from VR and VL. Today though, I thought I'd have a more "in depth" look at the switch There had been a bit of "chattering" from the relay now and again so I reasoned that perhaps the switch was dirty rather than broken. I squirted lots of electrical cleaner into it and used the airline to blow it out. Every now and then a rear light lit up

So, in order to get at the internals a bit better, I removed a spring (didn't want to bugger it at this stage though. These switches are expensive and I knew I could use it just using the front outputs) Sorry about focus…..



and then, in for a penny etc. I removed the two smaller springs This meant that all the little levers were more accessible and I was able to get inside with bits of sandpaper to clean the contacts.



An hour or two later and after lots of air and spray and I got it working perfectly I put the hazard wires back on and, bingo, they all work

Taillights are also working, main beam warning light now works…..on low beam…….. as the new fuse box lacks a terminal where it's needed (on the high beam fuse way) but annoyingly has extra terminals on the low beam fuse ways I'l swop those around…….

I've now got only two faults to rectify………..

The hazards still only work with ignition….I thought I'd sussed that but no………and

the warning light for the indicators only works if it's grounded….and there's no ground on the speedo for the indictor warning light It works by having an ignition switch live to one side and live from the flasher unit to the other. Hence….12v both side…….no current flows and it's not until the indicators are switched on that the bulb loses it's 12v from the flasher unit and lights up, flashing asynchronously with the indicator bulbs……..I think………I'l get my anorak….

Anyway…….happy with how it's looking. Should be easy to see when broken down in a lay-by



That's all for today.

Cheers,

Steve

The spacer on our bus is a 5mm high square box to raise the shifter enough of the floor, without it the shifter can't move when it's bolted down, it came with the shifter when we bought it, hopr this helps.

wizard 1066 wrote:The spacer on our bus is a 5mm high square box to raise the shifter enough of the floor, without it the shifter can't move when it's bolted down, it came with the shifter when we bought it, hopr this helps.

Yes thanks.

It seems that there were two sizes of spacer, dependent on the depth of the cup. I'm planning to pack with some washers to gauge the required height before making/buying one.

Cheers

Steve

I've just got in from my cave where I have been chasing my own electrical issues. It looks like we are both at very similar stages of our (very radically different) builds and it got me thinking.... what are you doing about interior?
Will you be making your own or is this something you'll farm out so you can get The Sheilas kombi on the road asap?

Build a pseudo sundial riviera...?
Drawings on vintagebus.com?
SteveT made a lovely interior...

Cleverchap wrote:I've just got in from my cave where I have been chasing my own electrical issues. It looks like we are both at very similar stages of our (very radically different) builds and it got me thinking.... what are you doing about interior?
Will you be making your own or is this something you'll farm out so you can get The Sheilas kombi on the road asap?

It's a process that's still evolving!

What we know so far is that there will be a Rusty Lee full width bed, which we have. That will be installed by me, but Ian at P&M Taylor will do the upholstery at the same time as doing the headlining - there's not much of the roof left

There will be an overhead locker in the back. I may make that but will cost it up against my time etc.

Rear corners will have a angled storage pod each, housing speakers at the top and a pocket below. This will remove the problem of fitting the cards around the bend in the rear corners.

I'm speaking to Fabrik Mike about door trims and panels. I like the look of his wares and Ian will trim them for us. Not sure about around the Windows. We've made them look good so will probably leave "in the paint."

Sun visors trimmed by Ian. Table mount set in floor, we think.

At the bulkhead we're still scheming, but think that there will be a removable, cuboid, multifunction unit housing water supply with a tap at the top. Shelf on side for a bowl and another lower shelf for cooker - so this will be outside when in use. I may make but will again cost up.

Dual buddy seat next to this unit and single buddy seat will clip in when unit is removed , so we can maximise passengers when required.

As said, still evolving, but first time I've put it down in writing! We'll see how it finishes up.

Your/anyone's thoughts?

Steve

Location for propex in the division cupboard....With gas bottle for cooker?
SWMBO...first question...was does it have a working heater for when we are in bed...
No not just me..

I'm looking at doing my own interior as I've already got the material. It would consist of a top locker, 3/4 R+R bed and chest style fridge inside a short side cupboard next to the opening doors. Behind this (towards the rear of the kombi and below the top locker) will be a tall unit that will have a couple of lockers for storage. A table will be mounted on the long side panel but moveable for when the bed is up. I feel it would be nice to have a Devon style swing out cooker. In my experience sinks don't get used as all campsites have wash up areas, so they just take up valuable space.

I'm trying to find dimensions for the swing out cooker unit and the short side unit if any one has them to hand *hint* *hint*

This is very similar to what I'm considering.

That looks good. Agree with you about sink. We're planning a water spout to fill a kettle, but just a plastic bowl on a shelf for any "wild camping." The bowl can be taken to the wash up areas.

What are you doing at bulkhead end?

Bulkhead end would be just the Devon style swing out cooker unit for now, with a sideways sliding top to maximise bench top/food prep space. I'm considering a shallow unit alongside the cooker but experience from my previous interior reminds me space for getting changed (especially when the bed is made up) is always restricted.

Evening all

Slow progress I'm afraid. I've had a couple of days where I just can't get going and nothing seems to go well

I've spent ages chasing an electrical fault. The indicator warning light wouldn't flash. I've Googled, drawn diagrams, looked up flasher relay internal wiring etc. etc. but it wouldn't work. I thought perhaps I had a faulty flasher relay. Probably hasn't helped that I've fitted one with a separate warning light output for indicators dash lamp and trailer warning lamp, but as I saw it, it should still work I even understand the +ve to both sides of the bulb set up which took a little thinking about but I get it now

So, with this problem bumping along, I decided to put the split charge relay stuff in, which required more research and I also need to get a leisure battery. Any recommendations people? I'm looking at a 115A one on offer at Halfords if it will fit.

My VWLooms.com split charge kit came with no instructions and although a nicely made product, it's a bit "universal" so I decided to "bespoke" it a bit



It also lacked a fuse to relay link but as I've shortened the main wire considerably I can use the offcuts to make up what I need. Just need some terminals now so that's on hold. It soon became obvious that I would need to make up a plate to mount everything on. I'd seen one somewhere on another thread so I plagiarised it. Still….better than copying Out with the disc cutter and paint etc and a bit later on I'd come up with this. Just needs powder coating now but I'll get everything mounted first. I'm planning to add alight and 12v cig lighter output and they've been ordered



Regular readers will remember that I posted this photo a few days back



The small packet was just a few bits from Autocraft, but I opened up the larger one next. Can I just take a moment to thank Simon at Red 9 Design? His Company's customer service has been outstanding. I bought a secondhand R9 front end off this forum a couple of years ago. It was still on the pallet and never fitted but there have been changes over time to improve the product. Simon has sent me all the parts to bring it right up to date I have bought a rear unit off him but nevertheless, great customer service So this is a brand new steering column and linkages to replace the previous one….and this one is chromed



So another step backwards to fit the new column and linkage but it was good in the end



and the new column doesn't have a hole for the horn wire so I'll have to go the wireless route with a dash button backup. While I was underneath the bus, I sorted out a post for the Butty's Bits throttle linkage return spring. I think it looks neater than the stainless steel tie clip supplied



Another day dawned and I seemed to have been awake most of last night thinking about the indicator problem but this morning I awoke with a new thought. Have I really got 12v on both sides of the bulb? So I checked it out and I hadn't

I took out the speedo to have a better look. Here's the back of it



Now, the spade terminal at the top looks like an earthing point…..but it isn't. It's insulated from the casing…here's a closeup



It's supplied to the spade by keyswitch live (Ignition)


but the spade should connect with the bulb holder…..but it didn't…….


nothing, rien, nada….or that's what I should have…... but there was a resistance 432 if you can see that?



I can only assume that when the unit was reworked, everything gets coat of lacquer, which insulates a bit like the lacquer on a coil, and that the lacquer wasn't removed between the bulb holder and the spade terminal…..strange though, but definitely no continuity. so I cleaned up the offending areas (obviously not being able to get to in between the spade and the bulb holder) and soldered in a connection



put it back in and I've got an indicator warning lamp Here's a celebratory vid. Note the dash lamp flashes asynchronously with the actual indicator lamps



Still puzzling over the indicators being supplied from the key switch live and the hazards from the permanent live, but I'll get there soon Just something else to annoy me I finished up tonight fitting a lock to the rear door and the rubber guides to the cab doors. Boxes are definitely diminishing

Then I decided to fit the front badge………… I've got all the correct bits, but the posts aren't really long enough…..perhaps it's the half inch of filler on the front clip but, joking aside, another problem. What's wrong with them being just a half inch longer?….that would be too easy I guess. So I ended up putting a thread on them and that worked on three fixings I need another metal clippy thing but smaller than the ones supplied…...

That's it

Cheers

Steve

Fantastic progress, looking great too

rusty1962 wrote:Still puzzling over the indicators being supplied from the key switch live and the hazards from the permanent live, but I'll get there soon

So you can leave your hazard lights flashing with the keys out, and you cant leave your indicator going when you park up and wander off