August 2016

On the 7th, I worked in the garage and sent pictures of the same to carguygarage.com – they were published!

Mini in front of art wall... — Mini in front of art wall…

Tuesday Aug 9 saw the arrival of our new jack.

On the 20th, Allen came over, and we bled and used the jacks.

I adjusted the brakes and other details on the car, and on Sunday, I planned to set off for British cars at Shaker Square.

Saturday, Allen and I had test driven Mini, and noted grinding when shifting into 1st or reverse.

I decided I could drive to Shaker on Sunday, and did so. When I arrived I told Ken Davies about the problem, and asked about a remedy. He looked at the clutch adjustment., and we observed zero freeplay. (dah!) As he was wrenching (I bring tools), I looked in the the drivers side and saw on the floorboard a clevis pin…

The clevis pins that hold the brake and clutch links to the brake and clutch cylinder pistons on a Mini are among the least accessible components in automotive history. Somehow Ken was able to insert it, and using a temporary key which I improvised from a steno notepad binding, and using a leatherman plier, we patched it.

THANKS Ken!

Checked the adjustment, all fine, as was the trip home.

At Ursuline, Ken had asked me if I might have a Austin bonnet badge. I located same this week, and told him so on the phone. He asked me what I wanted for it. “Nothing – I wasn’t going to use it.”

I gave it to him today as soon as I arrived.

What goes around, comes around, and that’s why we car people stick together…