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This thread proves that the old fashioned repair and mend attitude of old isn’t quite dead. Also the availability of spares open to those that have a mind to do it has allowed me to keep certain things running that others I know would have just bought a new thing and thrown something repairable away.
While a lot of stuff has got worse in terms of disposability/lack of repairability, widespread internet has certainly made finding spares easier when they exist, and things like YouTube videos have made figuring out how to fix things much easier. A couple of years ago, my boiler was leaking. I found a YouTube video of someone repairing the same fault on the same model of boiler, including which parts needed replacing. Googling the part numbers helped me track them down at a local plumbers' merchant. Cost about £15 to fix.
I seem to remember there's new legislation forcing white goods manufacturers to make spares available, and make fixing them easier without voiding any warranty. So there's hope yet.
Not me who actually fixed it but I was there and I gave them a hand...
From this
To this
This wasn't good enough for me
So now like this until they pull the K Wires out on Wednesdsay
The casing of the TV remote from the cottage we stayed in last week. The cottage may have been dog friendly, but the dog clearly wasn't cottage friendly...
No pics, but my repair was an homage to Gorilla Glue and Sugru.
Kettles are almost universally shitbags, probably in the Shitbaggery Top Three along with toasters and printers. Well played, CZ.
It's not quite in the league of washing machines, mowers, tumble driers, coffee machines (or hands for that matter) but the rim of my specs split open a few days ago and the lens promptly fell out. Been wearing old spares for a bit; pishing rain outside all day means I've found a while to carefully apply a bit of araldite to the frame and the edge of the lens. Hopefully it'll at least cobble them together long enough to last until I can get to the optician and organise replacements.
Our greenhouse after Eunice visited.
Last thing i repaired was the garage window, removed the framework to fit new wooden frame, so that i could stick a cheaper window i found local into it.
Usually repair stuff all the time, from kids toys needing resoldering or rewiring, to water damaged external lights and crap, put up a temporary lean to last summer, have this summer to now do it a bit more permanent, reason for the temp job was just to see how the structure worked for us.
I’ve just re-siliconed the shower cubicle if that counts.
Replaced the suspension top mounts on the Mini yesterday. Pretty pleased with myself for that one, def the biggest job I've done on a car so far.
Following on from my recent (BMW) Mini repair above...
I've done quite a few fixes to it since buying it last June;
- Repaired the motor that controls the drivers electric window (involved dismatling much of the door)
- Repaired gear linkage
- Stained and resealed roof (mohair, convertible)
- Replaced drivers door check strap
- Replaced a duff parking sensor
- Replaced battery in spare key (soldered in, very finicky)
The brakes are binding a little, so once the weather improves, thats the next job. There's also still an intermittent issue with the parking sensors which needs tracking down.
661 knee pads with a bit of sewing.
Put a new radiator in the blingo. However, I could only get 4litres of antifreeze in it,and the system holds 8l, so I mustve missed something
And the circular saw at work wasnt circulating the cutting fluid so I took the pump apart and cleaned it,works fine again now
Sewed the crotch in some trousers
Replaced the accessory holder on the Dyson
Redid the silicon round the bath
Tightened the toilet flush handle into the cistern at work
Installed a stairgate on my toddlers room
I lose track of the things I fix because of my 2 year old's enthusiasm.
Fence. It isn't going anywhere anytime soon due to the immense strength of my repair. Apparently it looks "Horrendous" according to the boss but even storm Eugene and their twin sisters can't shift it now! #proud #WishIknewhowtopostphotossoyoucouldlaugh
Wahoo Kickr. Last bearing change and new key lasted a few 1000km.
Oven flashing an error code at you? Someone on YouTube has probably made a video explaining why and how to fix it.
I had this with my dishwasher recently - googling showed that the error code was a blocked pump, and the likely cause was something stuck in the filter. There was something stuck in the filter - the foil from the top of a wine bottle had fallen in there. Easiest fix ever.
Less easy was my recent road tubeless experience. Not a repair as such, but logging here in case it helps anyone else. I'd noticed that one of my road tyres was fitted backwards, and in any case the sealant was due for a top up so I thought I'd refit the tyre while I was at it. Big mistake.
The tyre resolutely refused to pop, even with the valve core removed, soapy water applied, and using a CO2 cartridge. I then tried a friend's compressor, with exactly the same result. Next was trying an inner tube, even then the tyre wouldn't completely pop all the way round, this was at 120 psi. My next effort was a different tyre, again with a tube. This popped, so I left it overnight. The next day, I carefully levered one side off, removed the tube, fitted the tubeless valve, refitted and pumped the track pump with teenage enthusiasm. Success! The unsuccessful tyre was a Schwalbe One, and the successful tyre was a Hutchinson Fusion 5.
Last night: Lowers service on some Fox 34s.
Later this week, once the new thermostats arrive: the espresso machine
Ongoing: redecking a Claridge-built International Europe dinghy. Currently stripping it down and taking the topsides back to bare wood, patterning the foredeck, main bulkhead and mast enclosure bulkhead and wondering if I'll be able to get the dings in the hull refilled in time to sell it before the Nationals in June. It's one of two Europes in the household - luckily the other one is in good shape. I've got my eye on a Lange hull in need of work next so I can finally get away from composite boats.
Put a new radiator in the blingo. However, I could only get 4litres of antifreeze in it,and the system holds 8l, so I mustve missed something
Airlock?
maybe- how do i find out? I dont know that the fan actually works, and i did what haynes suggested bar the 'engine block bleeder' which i didnt find
Also the turbo on the blingo was on the blinko. I cant get at it so I sprayed the EGR and thatfixed it after a while, but it also goes into limp mode (?)- less than 3000rpm- when it gets wet- so I need to spray the engine sensors with something again
@alric I think you need to find that engine block bleeder. Maybe ask on an owner's forum? Running the engine with a big airlock is very likely to overheat parts to a damaging degree.
id agree if Id managed to get the engine temp above 80 ever. I do try sometimes.
Thers nothing quite like sitting there at 99mph all day, to make you want to warm the engine up
The diesel injector pump on my digger has been leaking for a while so tried to get someone to recondition it. No chance. Everywhere full for months ahead. Found a place doing all the bits for a full rebuild and a couple of YouTube videos and thought why not give it a go. How hard can it be?
Very, is the answer.
Still I eventually got it all back together and found it didn't work. Took it all apart again and rebuilt with alignment marks 180 degrees out and tried again. Bingo!
Probably the most stressful repair I have ever done and took a good 6 hours or more.
Miele vacuum cleaner flytipped next to a box of junk. Broken bag holder and had been used without a motor filter but otherwise sound. Stripped, cleaned, missing parts ordered.
Will go on eBay.
@alric Sorry, I've never had to do it, so not sure of the specifics on the blingo. As Greybeard says, berlingoforum.com is your friend. Re. the turbo, yes, sounds like a damp electricals problem somewhere. If the turbo is actually on the blnk, a CHRA replacement is fairly straightforward. This is from memory of donig it on the 1.6HDi, which I presume you've got, though could well be different on later variants anyway.
Nice one @b333k34 !
Mrs TNW pulled the dishwasher top rack out - rack falls off rails. Wheel has come out of rail. Closer look: end stop has come off rail. Find end stop in bottom of dishwasher. Metal pin holding end stop has corroded through. Replace pin with artfully bent welding rod. Job jobbed.
A rear wheel which was mangled by rear derailleur needing 8 spokes replaced and trued. My first self repaired wheel.
Part done last weekend and put in frame and realised dish was out but not enough to stop riding.
Made a dish tool this weekend and fixed the dish. Satisfying job which I'd built up in my mind as top difficult for me.
bled the dropper lever, finally, works like new
Ikea type drawer was falling apart so some woodglue and its all good
got a bluetooth 5 dongle, now my headphones and keyboard finally work. Fixed the Display Port issue on the computer, now my 'broken' monitor works!
Repaired the eldest lad’s treasured Yoda lightsaber he brought back from Disney in Florida a few years ago. It split at the bottom and required dismantling, trimming of the blade and associated lights with a bit of light soldering before drilling and cutting to allow it to be reassembled. Works perfectly but is now about 3-4 cm shorter.
Best bit was he helped and used a few tools as we did it together
TV remote. Not sure what the plastic is (recycling group 7) Superglue to begin with, reinforced with epoxy, just in case 🙂
Turned 3 old and/or very knackered rear mechs into a single fully functional mech for the hack bike, now have indexing that works on all 9 gears instead of 6 or 7 and some kicking. 30 minutes work. Got the bits for a hope vision 2 rebuild in a bag downstairs, not been touched for 3 years, but needs doing.
Exterior security light required new lamp (5x7 LED array) as one had popped, rendering the whole thing useless. 12 euro from a local electronics supplier and a tweak of the circuit board (new array uses slight less powerful LEDs.) saved me 160 euro for a new one. (live in the middle of nowhere, without the security light its dark out there).
Next one is the flood and spot lights on the deck, this winter hasn't been kind, couple of joints need redoing, and an LED driver or three is needed, thankfully they are only a couple of euro each.
Plus some new woodwork on the roof (did the garage a couple of years ago, the house roof needs doing now, hopefully can manage without scaffolding. Also going to remove the external shade on the first floor window that's been flapping around for 3 years, spares are about €450, i've not used it for 10 years (probably why it's dead)
One of the cane seats in my Old Town canoe went through last week during some litter picking on the canal.
Not really sure why they use cane but anyway..
Weaved me up a new one with some polypropylene webbing. 🤘😊🤘
Have to do the other one now too.
Last thing? That would be the doorbell. Vacuumed out the fluff, lightly lubed the bolt and stretched the spring a little.
Now we no longer get the randomly timed second tone long after the caller has left.
Saw your canoe seat on Instagram kayak23. We've got an old but useful little raffia covered stool that's going the same way, I might copy that. Are they all individual lengths stapled to the frame?
Saw your canoe seat on Instagram kayak23. We’ve got an old but useful little raffia covered stool that’s going the same way, I might copy that. Are they all individual lengths stapled to the frame?
Ah, cheers. 👊
Yes, initially I was going to go for a continuous wrap style.
Having bought 10 metres of webbing I assumed it would be plenty.
Nope.
Not enough.
Bought 50 metres instead and used an individual length approach.
Works really well.
You can see the attachment on the underside here.
It's dead easy actually.
I think I'm going to have to make a stool like it now! 😊
Found a dewalt sliding mitre saw in a skip with the flex cut off last week, figured I would take it apart and see if the motor had burned out as they can be replaced relatively cheaply.
Nothing suspect found so I added a new flex and it works perfectly, even the blades decent.
I love skip dipping.
I finally solved the annoying creaking whilst pedalling on my commuter/gravel bike.
First thought was bottom bracket, and bearings were indeed trashed so replaced, but still it creaked on.
Pedals off and regreased...still it creaked on.
Seatpost/saddle off, everything greased and reassembled...still it creaked on...
Check cassette lock nut...still it creaked on...
Give up and put up with it for a year.
Noticed that one of the bolts on the rear rack was a bit loose. Tightened...and the creak dissappeared.
Aaaargh!
The other day I pulled a little old timing clock (what they used to use for time and motion studies) out of the skip at work. Big clear out going on. I like the look of it and could also find it useful for excercise timing. Anyway it was totally seized up so I brought it home, took the back off and a few liberal doses of GT85 had it running nicely. I just need to work out how to calibrate it now as it is a tad fast.
I just need to work out how to calibrate it now as it is a tad fast.
Bung a picture up of the movement, someone will probably help. I've done various clocks and watches, it's not generally hard. Clock Tuner app on your phone might help.
Actually, put up a picture of the whole thing, I'd like to see it.
Just finished taking out and clearing the jets on the gas hob.
I finally solved the annoying creaking whilst pedalling on my commuter/gravel bike.
My desktop (mini-tower) PC just fits between my desk and the bookcase next to it. Desk - PC - bookcase - fitted wardrobe takes up that entire wall, I couldn't have designed it better. If the room was 2mm shorter it wouldn't have fit.
There seems to be some sort of weird edge case situation where if I put my hand on the desk next to the mouse, the PC buzzes / vibrates. It's so tight on tolerance that if I try to replicate it with my other hand so I can listen for it, I can't; yet so loose that I've had the PC out and in bits multiple times and wedged bits of card here there and everywhere but it's made no difference. Something as simple as putting my hand on top of the case stops it, momentarily. It's driven me round the bend, this has been going on for over a year.
I finally tracked it down this week. It's one of the plastic blanking plates covering a 5.25" drive bay.
This week, a bog brush, wifes vanity case and a soffit blown out in the last fierce winds.
Actually, put up a picture of the whole thing, I’d like to see it
Would love to but don't have the wherewithal to post pics
Sorry
Have I really posted an image?
A puncture on my commuter, earlier today.
Tumble Dryer.
Drum stopped turning, with a worrying buzz. Wth the door switch defeated a bit of a spin got it going.
New capacitor for about a tenner. Works a treat.
Also repaired door switch I broke 'defeating' it.
Currently fixing Oh's Astra estate after a comprehensive mot fail.
New anti roll bar drop link, after stripping the front strut for a non existent faulty top mount.
New n/s rear wheel cylinder
New rear shocks
Awaiting flaring tool to replace corroded brake pipes. Should be fun
Have I really posted an image?
Yes you have, and that's a beauty. Well worth the effort to rescue that! Not sure squirting it with GT85 is in the big boys book of horology, but I reckon that'll run well for years now.
In the process of replacing a 'blown' double glazing panel in a window. Cost of £40 + my labour. Actually quite easy to do.
This home-made Telecaster I finished a few months back had a problem because I'd cut the nut slots on the 2 lower strings a bit too deep. If you're quick, you can mix a bit of baking powder and superglue and build up the slots before it fizzes and sets on fire.
I did this yesterday, re-filed it and it's playing (and tuning) just fine now.
Done a couple of repairs this week that pleased me. The washing machine has been throwing a check detergent error and not draining properly for months. I’ve had it apart a few times and cleaned out the easy to reach hoses, but always left one that I couldn’t work out how to remove. Finally bit the bullet and got it off. Sure enough, totally clogged up. Now it’s clear and the machine runs like new again.
I bought an office chair cheap at the start of the pandemic and the recline bit broke after a year and then one of the legs bloke last week. I was all set to take it to the tip when the wife asked if it could be repaired. Turns out the under seat parts of office chairs are pretty standard and I found a place selling the bits. A bit of measuring to check I got the right parts and now it too is as good as new. Ok, I spent £70 on parts to fix a chair that cost less than £100 new, but that’s still better than chucking it in the tip right?
20 year old Mountfield petrol mower wouldn’t start this morning, it normally starts on the third pull. Took out the spark plug and it was thick with carbon and grime so cleaned it off with a wire brush and sand paper, mower started first pull and is now running better than it has for years.
I was particularly pleased as this was the first bit of maintenance I’ve ever done on this mower, and I’ve not taken the spark plugs out of anything for about 30 years 😀
I just fixed a puncture by patching a tube. Hey! I know! nothing significant, but I think it's the first one I've done in about 4 years, as all bikes are tubeless. Except the Rise Pro which turned up with big fat innertubes.
you can mix a bit of baking powder and superglue and build up the slots before it fizzes and sets on fire.
Every day really isn't a school day any more so I'm super happy to learn that trick. Just hope I remember it next time I need it
The big 12 ton press tools that make volvo A-pillars. Absolute **** of a job too.
Every day really isn’t a school day any more so I’m super happy to learn that trick. Just hope I remember it next time I need it
Be careful not to breathe the fumes! 💀💀💀
Garden trug with a broken handle repaired with an ancient piece of rope.
just replaced a broken spring in the wifes arm chair.
Our oven gloves, which are nowt special, were cracking on the palms where they get hot and the insulation was coming out and getting stuck to anything you touched with them. I had some bits of thick canvas spare, so decided to patch them. Frankly, I regret this now, since I used cotton thread so it doesn't melt, and it was a nightmare to get the sewing machine set up with this and a big enough needle to get through the canvas, then in the end I only hemmed one edge on the machine and had to hand sew round the outside because it was so thick, which took forever. Still, it's done now.
Fixed a leak on the boiler last week too - dripping out of the hot water pressure differential switch. £3 diaphragm kit an hour carefully taking it apart, cleaning the corrosion and re-assembling with new o-rings and silicone grease, and it's sorted.
In the process of replacing a ‘blown’ double glazing panel in a window. Cost of £40 + my labour. Actually quite easy to do.
Tell me more - I have one to replace that has cracked over winter
Oh, I need to do that with my trug.....
Car.
Threw a wobble a few weeks ago. Didn't start first time and was running rough. Had to drive back from Wales, and had no power the way back. Not until I was home did it throw the engine MIL. Popped in the ODBC II reader, crank sensor failure. Symptom's seemed right. Onto ebay and found a set of two (crank and cam) sensors, brand new in box Nissan ones for £45. Only difficulty was removing the crank sensor - suction alone, and position took an hour of wriggling whilst on my back, hand up between drive shafts. Both 'old parts' had serial numbers ending 0 and 1. New parts were 3 and 4. Hmm.
Replaced 0 with 3 and 1 with 4. Thinks about it, and my car should have had a sensor recall many years ago - never had it, so I'm guessing these two were the revised parts. Cam sensor was stiff to remove, same issue, but it was at the top of the engine and I could grip it properly.
Changed plugs too as it had come home on default settings and they were black. Car started fine but was a bit rough - reader said Cylinder 3 misfire. Ah - had the occasional misfire before on cylinder 3, so ordered a new ignition coil for £25. Fitted that and all tickety boo.
Blooming handy having an ODBCII reader just in case !
Oh, I need to do that with my trug…
Only took me about a year and a half. It was mainly still useful with one handle.
My car mending skills are no way up to yours mind!
Car battery change on the wife's car. As usual a 5 minute job became nearly an hour as the nut on the clamp holding the battery in had stripped and was just spinning freely. Ended up having to take the whole air filter box and hoses out to then remove the battery tray, cut free the clamp and replace with some random bolts found in the bottom drawer of my toolbox.
Then a headlamp bulb replacement that is accessed from the wheelarch but even with the wheel turned fully there's still not enough space to remove the access panel so I had to jack it up enough to drop the wheel out of the way.
2006 Smart Forfour, based on the Mistsubishi Colt so should in theory be fairly standard.
just repaired our teak garden table, the joints on the surround come unstuck after 22 yrs and needed tying together with metal straps screwed across the joints. Decided to sand and oil it as well mmmm linseed 🙂
LED downlighter. When I fitted them, I thought "all integral, no bulb to change if it goes... but it's supposed to last 15,000 hours so should be fine". After about 5 years, one went out, supplier no longer trading, units not available. So took it apart and realised there's nothing to it (the driver module is separate) just 3 LEDs soldered to a board with (failed) heat conducting glue on the back to transmit to the heat sink. Only 3W total. The LEDs were available on eBay at £2.50 for 10, so identify the dead one, solder a new one, new heat conducting glue and it's all fine.
Saturday night fun fixing punctures. Slightly trickier than a mountain bike tyre.
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Last thing I repaired was the annoying issue with my LG smart TV not connecting to WiFi. Back of TV off... clean WiFi module and reseat connector... reassemble... job done! 😎😆
I seem to remember there’s new legislation forcing white goods manufacturers to make spares available, and make fixing them easier without voiding any warranty. So there’s hope yet.
There is, most of the manufacturers are screaming and shouting and whining about it...
My washing machine failed before Xmas. Unfortunately getting a replacement drum assembly was impossible (the weld between the drum and the hub that carries the drivebelt etc failed).
That was only 18 months after the dishwasher controller turned its insides into its outsides.
Apparently a model that has an easily available and cheap controller (€30, about 10 screws and 2 connectors to change it).
Of course, that doesn't apply if your machines serial number ends with 7 or 9, in which case they were manufactured in a 3rd party facility, and the insides bear no resemblance to any other model in the range, or anyone elses range either and no spare parts are available, anywhere.
(I'm guessing the internals were from a manufacturer who usually only manufactures for their own local market. So i could have found a controller but it'd have taken 8 weeks to be posted and attracted a 500% import tax and cost £100 in shipping.)
So that's a couple of repair failures.
The deck lights are working now though.
Just completed the repair of all the verges and fascia boards round the roof of our house, 13 lengths, 32 corbels, about 40m of cast iron guttering and Christ knows how many brackets ground, refurbed and painted. Taken 13 months in between other jobs.
Nearest I've got to a before and after comparator but before the commander in chief decided she wanted MOAR CORBELS.
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https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q3zuWssrc27rKFcb8
@stevet1 It's really easy. Just get a decorators multi-tool and you can prise off the 45 degree angle which hold the glass unit in place. Then measure the glass - LxWxD and thickness of each pane.
Order the unit and when it arrives, cut the old one out by slicing through the neoprene seal and buy some kind of sticky neoprene gasket to refit it. I added a couple of screws and glue to hold the panel in place but that is it.
Repairing/restoring this Georgian bay window panelling.
It's the second bay I've done in the house, having done the first almost exactly a year ago.
Ripped out by the builders.
I can't believe the brickwork in some of these old houses. It's more like dry stone walling! Nothing was flat, nothing was square... Ughhh 😂
Lined, panelled and trimmed
This is on the left of the house what I done a year ago after painting.
Looks rad now it's got curtains etc.
Spent a chunk of time on Saturday fixing the rattly steering on a mobility scooter that my dad was given for free. Turns out they just use a threaded bike headset so no special parts required.
He had his first outing on it to the vintage vehicle rally at Carlisle Airport yesterday and got on pretty well with it 🙂
Next project will probably be acquiring and modifying a wee trailer to carry it as it's a heavy wee sod to lift into the boot of my car 😆
Repair? Restore?
Pool spent 8 weeks without power…
It was fairly simple to pump it out, chlorine wash and now refill, but satisfying compared to the $2000 quote for the work.
Replaced every stupid alu nipple on my rear wheel with brass ones (several had cracked). Used a bit of Lego to help true
Nice tool! I have a similar non-Lego version.
next thing seems to be the electric shower which has developed an intermittant, 'keeps running' fault. suspect limescale build up in a valve somewhere 🙁
It's really not a problem that family and friends give me their broken Gaggias:
It means that when mine stops working there will be a part I can salvage to get it going again, and at the same time, inspires me to finally fix them all, like I've been promising for ages but never had the time.
There was somebody on this forum who wanted one. Maybe in a week or two...
The bottom of the garage door. Was/is pretty knackered so marine ply to the rescue. Not finished yet but the routing has ruined me. Front on it all lines up.
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On a much less grand note I did a neat bit of sewing (third repair) on my Brisker gloves a week or so back. They'll last at least another year.
my beerlingo stopped dead on the first corner.
I got recovered 500yards, the recovery guy said it could be cambelt slipped, so that was the first thing to check. That all lined up
Fusebox/es next, the 20A fuse for the ECU etc was blown. With a new fuse it started, but I got 5 yards and it blew. So with a few packs of fuses I tried disconnecting things one by one, removing the ECU, testing wires etc. I'm useless at electrics but the thought of driving along and losing the steering and brakes suddenly was too scary for me to try driving again without finding the real problem
Eventually I took out the battery box,there was the main ECU cable/s, rubbing against the battery tray,had worn through the wiring. Abit of tape and a connector, and its back to normal.
Took me a couple of lovely weekends searching the web for wiring diagrams, and trying different things. Couldnt have got to work if the neighbour hadnt lent me his car