Bristols in Los Angeles

[RGSchmitt]

Hi all -

We are planning to have a "Bristol picnic" tomorrow, Nov 7 at Woodley Park (Van Nuys) at the French & Italian car show, meeting at my '69 Alfa (red with black hardtop), around noon. This should include Greg Woog's 411 S2 and Geoffrey Herdman's 405 drophead. As some may know, Geoffrey and Hilary are taking a "long drive" in their Bristol.

Join us if you are in the area!

Bob, Burbank

[Peter Grace]

Hi



I'm away until Tuesday night. Call me on 0272 820 000 or Sue on 021 511446 or email suepepper@xtra.co.nz



I will be checking my emails, but only at the end of day.



P

[Peter Grace]

Hi



I'm away until Tuesday night. Call me on 0272 820 000 or Sue on 021 511446 or email suepepper@xtra.co.nz



I will be checking my emails, but only at the end of day.



P

[johndschaefer]

I will be there as well in my '69 Citroen DS 21, so will look for you all.

John

[RGSchmitt]

Hi all -

The Southern California subchapter of the BOC had a mini-picnic at a French & Italian car show, some Burbank car-chat and dinner which included Geoffrey & Hilary Herdman (405, car show entry refused!)), Greg & Jola & Strother Woog (411 S2, ditto), Bill & Beth Watkins (former owner, 4 Arnolt Bristols), Bob Schmitt & Shannon Miller (Frazer Nash, excused absence) and John Schaefer (Bristol fan). Didn't get many photos, but here's a few:

Picasa Web Albums - Bob Schmitt - 10DPG

Geoffrey & Hilary will continue their drive through North America, either due south, southeast, or east, eventually to South America.

It's a cliche, but "Good Show"!

Bob

[RGSchmitt]

Geoffrey Herdman and Hilary and their 405 drophead are now in Guerrero Negro! If you are curious, check Google maps.

Bob

[Bellerophon]

Reading the last newsletter on Geoffrey Herdman's problem with his starter
solenoid, I wondered what happened to his starter handle ? Bristol engines
start very well with a handle which the car should have.
My regards,
Bellerophon

[RGSchmitt]

According to his trip diary, the starter packed up and was fixed in
Boone, North Carolina. The solenoid needed replacement in Oregon
and was replaced quickly and economically. I am surprised!

My Frazer Nash has the starting handle and I suppose I'll try it...someday.

Bob

[Hydroglen]

My dear Bellerophon,
I could not agree with you more. Years ago when I bought my 400 I asked A
Blow to get me a starting handle as it was missing. He did and when I picked
the car up a Spencer Lane-Jones garage there it was. I was delighted and
asked if anybody had tried it. It was if I had offered them arsenic! With a
look of horror they said no. I took the handle out and offered it around for
somebody to try. They all backed away as if I was waving a sword of doom and
declined to try it.
As I was ligning up the handle with the dog drive on the crank, I sensed
that they all thought I was quite mad. Why would anybody want to start a car
with a hand crank? Well I like the simple pleasures in life.....and I wanted
to make sure it worked and the handle and dog drive were properly oriented.
I had never seen a 400 before, having just bought it ( from pictures) but
figured it could not be that different from my 6C Alfa. I had my wife sit
inside and retard the ignition. Gave it a couple of turns and nodded for her
to turn the key, and with one good upwards pull it was running.
Cheers,
Dorien

[johndschaefer]

Amazingly, my Citroen DS sold new in 1969 still came with a factory fitted starter handle. I've used it a few times too! Fantastique! I wonder if that was the last make/model so fitted - anyone know of anything later?

[julf]

Land Rovers came with starter handles well into the 1970's.

Julf

[Bellerophon]

Well I am amazed, I was brought up in the time that all cars had starting
handles and no one thought twice about starting an engine by hand, even the
big ones, this reminds me of the storey of mice and men!
Now how on earth do you turn the engine in the correct position to set the
points without a handle?

For those people who have never tried to start a car this way the thing not
to do is to wrap your thumb around the hand piece, keep your fingers
together turn the engine slowly until you can give it one sharp lift upwards and
hey presto. With a Bristol you can retard the ignition if you are not
certain but it should not kick back, so I hope some of you will have the
courage to give it a try you never know when a starter motor will pack up.
Best of luck,
Bellerophon

[Rubbond]

Isn't it something to do with the fact that modern engines won't run
anyway if the battery is flat?
Plus the fact the crankshaft usually faces one of the front wheels....

[UK6]

The start of it all......
In addition to setting the points, I find that the crank handle is useful to
set the valve clearance. My 3.5L SS can be hand cranked - the 7:1
compression helps! Interestingly my dizzy is set to fire at 10 deg bef top
and I don't need to retard to start.
Has anyone started their car by flicking a suspended rear wheel?
- the old bikes could be started this way!

Brett

[dave dale]

Originally Posted by UK6

The start of it all......
In addition to setting the points, I find that the crank handle is useful to
set the valve clearance. My 3.5L SS can be hand cranked - the 7:1
compression helps! Interestingly my dizzy is set to fire at 10 deg bef top
and I don't need to retard to start.
Has anyone started their car by flicking a suspended rear wheel?
- the old bikes could be started this way!

Brett

Yes Brett - I have done this in my younger days, when desperate. I once heard of someone ( maybe apocryphal ) who started his E-type Jag thus, with devastating consequences. The lesson here is don't try this trick if the axle has a limited - slip diff.

BTW, another reason that modern cars preclude the use of a starting handle is because the lower profile bonnet necessitates that the radiator is kept low and thus it covers the crankshaft. Some older cars got around this problem by having a custom made hole in the radiator.

Dave Dale.

[peterg]

With my SAAB I could jack up the front wheel, put it in gear and turn the
engine by hand. Presumable the same would apply to a rear wheel on the
Bristol?

Yes, modern cars will not start with a dead battery because of the way the
alternator output is regulated (same with modern bikes).

Yesterday exercising the 403 I heard 'bonking' from in front of the
steering wheel. It was quickly traced to a wind screen motor which had
detached itself from three rubber legs which mounted it onto the car. Is
there a glue that I can use to re attach the motor? Currently it is wedged
in place by a piece of wood I begged of some chaps working on a traction
engine.

Oh the joys of modern motoring!

[Michael Oram]

Hello peterg

Replacement wiper mounting brackets are on ebay :-

ALVIS-BRISTOL-AC CR-CRT- DR1 WIPER MOTR MOUNTING NEW on eBay (end time 23-Nov-10 07:04:51 GMT).

Have used one myself and look the part.

Regards
Michael

[peterg]

Thank you Michael,
I hope it does the job.
After the wheels the next job will be to eliminate the miss fire which I
think is carb related.
Regards, Peter