Yep - time seems to go by more quickly since I retired, and even faster on the run-up to the ECM!
I started my car prep work about three weeks ago, and am hoping to have the electrical and handbrake work completed and the car back on the road by next weekend. The big project is making a "skinny hood", based on the one Malcolm Collier produced for his AK.
Here's the prototype:
It will clip to the windscreen using the standard bows and latches, and will be secured at the rear by four straps attached to the base of the outer and rear roll hoop stays. It won't keep all the rain out, but it will only take two minutes to put up and should be a good compromise between the poor visibility of a standard hood and no hood at all! I've made the patterns, and have retrieved my wife's sewing machine from the spare room - I now need to learn yet another skill!
Alan
Last Edit: Apr 10, 2017 10:20:39 GMT by Alan Browse
Post by Roel de Vringer on Apr 10, 2017 17:58:11 GMT
You posted this idea for a 'bikini-top' earlier... on April 1st to be exact. That's why i initially thought it was a joke! But No! Alan is determind to create a miracle soft-top! Wow...
Yep - time seems to go by more quickly since I retired, and even faster on the run-up to the ECM!
I started my car prep work about three weeks ago, and am hoping to have the electrical and handbrake work completed and the car back on the road by next weekend. The big project is making a "skinny hood", based on the one Malcolm Collier produced for his AK.
Here's the prototype:
It will clip to the windscreen using the standard bows and latches, and will be secured at the rear by four straps attached to the base of the outer and rear roll hoop stays. It won't keep all the rain out, but it will only take two minutes to put up and should be a good compromise between the poor visibility of a standard hood and no hood at all! I've made the patterns, and have retrieved my wife's sewing machine from the spare room - I now need to learn yet another skill!
Alan
Interested in the Electric Handbrake mod! I have just ordered an Actuator from Hollins. Is this the route you are going down? If so, how are you fixing the kit in place? I also like the idea of the ''skinny hood'' and will pinch the pattern off you. Once you have mastered the sewing, you could make mine! Charlie
I'm afraid you're behind Rob in the queue Charlie!
My plan is to make a "proper" prototype with some cheap and cheerful waterproof fabric just to prove the concept. I'll then probably get the final version professionally made in double duck - I have a local trimmer lined up!
Re the handbrake - I had electrical work to do, plus replacing the handbrake, but a mechanical one. I don't really fancy an electric one - I wouldn't trust it, and I see it as just one more thing to go wrong on a tour! I was planning to replace the Dax XJS-type handbrake with a folding handbrake from a Peugeot 806/Citroen C8 MPV. The ratchet spacing on these levers is finer than on the XJS/Dax lever, which is far too coarse. I had
I modified the lever mechanism (quite heavily!) and made up a custom bracket. All was well until I came to hook up the cable, and I then realised that this wasn't going to work. Basically, the new handbrake pulled the cable in an arc rather than straight, and as the Dax handbrake cable has a threaded metal end about 60mm long, there's no way it would bend like that. Several days' work down the pan - d'oh!
So I'm now fitting a new XJS-type one again. The ratchet spacing is the same as the Dax one, but it has a microswitch to warn when the brake is on (the Dax one doesn't, and I can't figure out a way to fit one either!), and the handle is much more comfortable to grip. I've also made an extension for the Dax mounting plate to move the lever back by about 50mm so it will be less of an arm stretch. Hopefully this will give me greater leverage, and also prevent driving off with the brake on!
To be honest I rarely use the handbrake at home - but a working one can sometimes be useful for mountain roads ......
Alan
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2017 13:17:31 GMT by Alan Browse
I'm afraid you're behind Rob in the queue Charlie!
My plan is to make a "proper" prototype with some cheap and cheerful waterproof fabric just to prove the concept. I'll then probably get the final version professionally made in double duck - I have a local trimmer lined up!
Re the handbrake - I had electrical work to do, plus replacing the handbrake, but a mechanical one. I don't really fancy an electric one - I wouldn't trust it, and I see it as just one more thing to go wrong on a tour! I was planning to replace the Dax XJS-type handbrake with a folding handbrake from a Peugeot 806/Citroen C8 MPV. The ratchet spacing on these levers is finer than on the XJS/Dax lever, which is far too coarse. I had
I modified the lever mechanism (quite heavily!) and made up a custom bracket. All was well until I came to hook up the cable, and I then realised that this wasn't going to work. Basically, the new handbrake pulled the cable in an arc rather than straight, and as the Dax handbrake cable has a threaded metal end about 60mm long, there's no way it would bend like that. Several days' work down the pan - d'oh!
So I'm now fitting a new XJS-type one again. The ratchet spacing is the same as the Dax one, but it has a microswitch to warn when the brake is on (the Dax one doesn't, and I can't figure out a way to fit one either!), and the handle is much more comfortable to grip. I've also made an extension for the Dax mounting plate to move the lever back by about 50mm so it will be less of an arm stretch. Hopefully this will give me greater leverage, and also prevent driving off with the brake on!
To be honest I rarely use the handbrake at home - but a working one can sometimes be useful for mountain roads ......
Alan
My handbrake is non existent! This is after I have had the mod done by AK. It is just solid. I believe there are too many curves in the cables so you get counter acting forces. I know two people who have gone down the electric route. Both on Gen 2 AK's. (Gen 1 with inboard brakes are far better then Gen 2) Craig Perry's car is on the AK stand and he has done the mod so I can take a look at it. There is a locking mechanism on the brake so the ignition has to be on for the brake to work. There appears to be only one issue and that is if the unit fails and you cannot release the brake! Only option then is to cut the cable! Like you, I do not use the handbrake in UK but it was missed on the Wales and Yorkshire tours last year Charlie
I can now add sewing and sewing machine maintenance to my list of Cobra-related skills - and no-one was more surprised than me to discover that it fitted OK!
Post by Charlie Freeman on May 10, 2017 7:46:58 GMT
My new electric handbrake utilising a Hollins Actuator fitted a couple of weeks ago works 100%. Easy to make and fit to Gen 2 AK. Get rid of the handbrake, you know it makes sense!! Charlie