Useful bits in case of breakdown.

[Firstandbest]

Hi

Thinking of Thenay and any long run ... can the team suggest a useful set of parts to take in case of breakdown - even for the breakdown engineers to use?

On second thoughts , it would be awful to be stranded in some french village until help arrived

Thanks.

Mark

PS (In addition to spare bulbs, hi viz vest, warning triangle etc)

 

[Lobster]

Gaffer tape.
Cable ties.
WD40.

Thats about all I actually carry. You could start carrying all sorts of bits - thermostat, water pump, dizzy cap, plugs, points, drive belts and the like but decent routine maintenance might well tell you of a possible failure of some parts. And you can be fairly sure whatever fails will be the thing you haven't got anyway!

 

[Azazello]

I was thinking of a survive kit to bring with me... In addition to the usual toolbox in my car...

 

[angel]

In addition to Lobster's essentials:

Fuel pump
Complete distributor with new points and condenser, pre-set.
Water pump and dynamo/alternator belts
Top and bottom radiator hoses
Fuel hose
Iron wire
Spark plug lead
Ignition coil
Spark plugs
Clutch and throttle cables
Tyre inner tube

These are the parts I carry on long trips, and most of them cost me nothing, they are parts from scrapped R4s, tested to check they work OK.
They may seem a lot, but they can be stored in a plastic box 50x30x20 centimetres, with room inside for the car's tool box and some other tools like breaker bar with 17,19 and 24mm sockets, hammer, some more ring spanners etc.
And in the unfortunate event when something that you don't have breaks down, don't worry. Some French farmer will always have the odd abandoned R4 in his backyard, and offer you the part you will need to continue to Thenay. And who knows, it may be that 1961 4L he bought new...

 

[Firstandbest]

Angel! That's brilliant Thank you

 

[pepper]

Or in my French farmers case, it'll be a part of his 4 Bye Bye, which he bought new and now uses as his wheelbarrow around his farm.

 

[stork]

Here is the general parts list that is given to the participants of the Peking to Paris rally. Now I know it is a lot, but these guys know what they are doing!
Some of the spares will not apply to the R4 (like leaf springs, slave cylinder) so just exchange that for shocks (rubber stops. etc) and clutch cable.
Anyway enjoy reading! And I hope this helps!

COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT
• Warning Triangle
• Tow Rope
• Two spare wheels
• 1.75 Litre AFFF Fire Extinguisher • First Aid Kit
• Tent and sleeping bags
• Ground sheet for leakages
• High visibility Jacket
• Hand held torch
• Head lamp for both crew members
RECOMMENDED GENERAL
• 1 wiper blade, Wipe Arm
• 1 Wiper Motor Brush Kit
• Halda Drive Wheels and Cables
• Bungee Straps
• 2 or More Inner tubes
• Tools, Workshop Manual
• Torch and Batteries
• Funnel and fine filter
• Petrol Can
• Water Carriers
• Foot Pump or Compressor
• Strong Jack, flat piece wood
• Plastic Sheet
• Strong Wheel Brace
• Spare Wheel nuts and studs
• Body Filler (isopon or chemical Metal)
• Welded Link chain and Strong Nuts
• Bolts to fit links
• Large +small Jubilee clips
• Exhaust Clamp
• Nuts and Bolts to fit car
• Fibre and copper washers
• Jump Leads
• Work Light
• Folding Sand shovel
• Sacking /rubber mats if stuck in sand
CONSUMABLES
• Engine oil (Mongolia)
• I Litre Dot Brake Fluid
• Exhaust Bandage and paste
• Short piece of exhaust pipe - cut in half to
fit exhaust
• Hose Bandages
• Cable ties, plastic and metal
• Rapid Araldite/Radweld
• Insulation Tape
• Tank Tape, WD40 Oil
• Disposable Gloves
• Insulated gloves
• Hand Cleaner/Baby Wipes
• 1 Litre General Oil.
SPARES LIST
• Alternator or Dynamo
• Repair Kit for above
• Regulator
• Plug Leads
• Coil Lead, Condenser
• Coil, rotor Arm
• Ballast resistor
• Points, Spare Screw
• Distributor Cap and Input Lead
• Full set light bulbs
• Map Light and Potti Bulbs/Spark Plugs,
electrical wire
• Selection of terminals
• Fuses, Electrical switch
• Insulation Tape
• Spare Ignition Key –Separate from car
• Spare Key Fuel Filter cap.
• Steering and Suspension:
• Front shock absorbers (or Inserts)
• Rear Shock Absorbers (or Inserts)
• Track rod ends
• Spare leaf spring-rear
• Spare front spring.
• Metal bolts to repair shock absorber
mountings
• Brakes and Hubs
• Front and Rear wheel bearings
• Front and rear pad shoes
• Master Repair Cylinder Kit
• Salve repair cylinder kit
• Brake Pipe Blanking end or spare
• Brake pipe, split pins
• Engine and Transmission:
• Water Pump (share with team mate)
• Complete Engine gasket set
• Engine Core plugs
• 1 rocker and push rod
• Exhaust Valve, Inlet valve
• Clutch Master cylinder-repair
• Clutch salve cylinder – repair
• Prop shaft joint, Half Shaft
• Speedometer Cable
• Accelerator cable
• Fan belt, (stretched belt)

 

[Azazello]

And maybe another car to bring all that stuff?

 

[godlike]

I only carry cables with me if my accumulator dies.

 

[stork]

Hehehe, yeah that is a lot of stuff! But it is a 12,000 kilometer journey... and one has to carry everything with them cause in Mongolia (8 days across deserted plains) if you break down you have two choices, bow out or fix it!
Again this list is for extreme endurance rallies, and just a good list to help check things off that you need and don't for shorter runs.
Most of the car spares (bottom of the list) can be packed up in two boxes. Biggest parts will be the hardest to pack i.e. water pump, shocks, breaks and hubs. Everything above the Spares list can be packed up in another box as well save for the jerry cans etc. All it takes is a day of planning and fitting the spares in the boxes. You would be surprised how much you can fit in a small space given some time and patience!

 

[Pavel]

Brothers Marreau recommendation

Hi guys,

here is a recommendation from brothers Marreau - the French entrants of the rally Paris Dakar with their Renault 4. If you want drive to the world´s end:

LES RENAULT 4 DU BOUT DU MONDE
(B.-C. Marreau, ... 10.1979)

Le lot de bord
- un jeu de durites ;
- une bobine ;
- un jeu de courroies (vérifiez que ce sont bien les bonnes car il existe plusieurs longueurs) ;
- un allumeur complet ou un jeu de vis et un condensateur ;
- un régulateur ;
- un jeu de bougies ;
- un faisceau d'allumage ;
- une pompe à essence ou un nécessaire de réparation ;
- une dynamo ou un alternateur ou nécessaire de réparation ;
- une cartouche de filtre à huile ;
- un élément de filtre à air ;
- un kit réparation carburateur ou un carburateur ;
- un cardan avec goupilles et chasse-goupilles (nécessaire sur ancien modèle) ;
- un câble d'accélérateur ;
- un câble d'embrayage ;
- un tirant de chasse avant ;
- pales de ventilateur.
Ce lot est le minimum de ce que vous devez avoir à bord pour un long périple. Il n'est pas inutile et il serait même conseillé d'avoir en plus :
- un mécanisme d'embrayage (disque et butée) ;
- un triangle supérieur avant ;
- un amortisseur arrière ;
- un amortisseur avant ;
- un joint de culasse.
Ces pièces peuvent être neuves ou provenir d'éléments de récupération auquel cas il est nécessaire de vérifier leur bon fonctionnement.


Best regards Pavel

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

RENAULT 4 TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
(B & C Marreau, October 1979)

To carry on board:

• set of hoses
• coil
• set of belts (check they are the correct length)
• complete ignition kit, or a set of points and condenser
• regulator
• set of spark plugs
• set of ignition leads
• fuel pump or repair kit
• dynamo/alternator or repair kit
• oil filter
• air filter
• carburettor or repair kit
• universal joint with pins and a drift (for older models)
• accelerator cable
• clutch cable
• front tracking rod
• fan blades

That would be the minimum you should have on board for a long journey. In addition, it is advisable to carry:

• clutch mechanism (disc and plate)
• front wishbone
• front shock
• rear shock
• head gasket

These pieces could be new or used, in which case you must check they work properly.

 

[stork]

Thanks for the translation! I wonder if they took any Sinpar parts?