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With a view to embarking on some long trips once we’re allowed out again I’ve been working on advice previously given on this forum to enhance the car’s dependability and fitted a water temperature gauge and a radiator thermostat bypass switch for when it gets really hot. All easily done despite...

Still managing to get out in my GTL but only the five km drive to the supermarket or to my exercise hill. And of course there are lots of people out walking and cycling to squeeze past in the local country lanes and always smiles at the R4. But preparations continue for the post lockdown...

Actually that last statement is not quite true. There is a house just three miles from here with a collection of derelict vehicles in its garden, including a blue R4 and two vans (not sure which model - I'll check next time I pass by).

An update from Scotland - I'm enjoying driving my R4, fairly locally for the moment as I build up confidence in its reliability (100% so far) before starting to broaden my horizons. The bucket list includes the North Coast 500, the Outer Hebrides, and all the Welsh narrow gauge railways. And...

Hello Ken. Welcome from the other side of the Firth of Forth. One of my sons lives in Kinghorn so it would be good to meet up. My R4 is just returning to active life after about 12 years in limbo. Gordon

A happy ending to this saga, or maybe just a new beginning - passed the MOT this morning with no advisories! And it was so satisfying and enjoyable to finally get to drive it on the open road. I was going to wait to tax it on the 1st of November but I might rethink that..........

Actually an 11mm spanner and a 13mm spanner on an 85 gtl. But it worked! Managed to lock both front wheels afterwards. Thanks again for another ace suggestion.

All working now without any noises to frighten the horses - took the dash panel out and worked teflon grease into the cable bearing. So good for an MOT - maybe. I am a wee bit concerned about the brakes. Bled them several times and all seem to be working with a firm pedal; handbrake is really...

Good call, Angel! No noise with speedo disconnected. Thanks again.

85, mph

And presumably there is no fix - just replacement?

Thanks for these comments. It is definitely howling so next step is to disconnect the cable from the speedometer and see if there is any difference.

Yet another update - after all the foregoing steps and the arrival at a conclusion which seemed to make sense it all went up in smoke (figuratively speaking!) when a further test drive resulted in the noise still being there. So after a bit of ranting and some little swear words it was back to...

A further update, and perhaps a useful addition to the pool of R4 knowledge - having checked both front wheel bearings and found no free play or any roughness I happened to notice that the offside driveshaft was also sticking a bit on each revolution of the wheel. I also noticed that the new cv...

An update - so I tried injecting more grease into the outer cv boot but this didn't make any difference. So I removed the driveshaft and again added grease to the outer joint and worked it right in by squeezing the boot. This seemed to help and the stickiness all but disappeared but when I...

Thanks for these suggestions. I've been busy on other family vehicles and was just about to start fitting the new driveshaft and logged in to remind myself which ball joint to undo in order to release the driveshaft from the hub. But before that I will now try injecting some grease into the...

Plan B - tried injecting grease into the inner joint but no discernible difference. So new driveshaft ordered from Mr Auto.

I think that I have managed to find the source of the problem - the near side driveshaft does not rotate freely; there is a sticking point which squeaks when you push past it. My feeling is that it is the inner joint that is the source. Does anyone have experience of a similar issue? My next...

This morning, after 10 years of very intermittent restoration activity (and retirement didn't help as it coincided with becoming a grandparent) I finally set off down the road for the MOT station - but didn't get very far, or beyond second gear, as a howling noise started to come from under the...

Presumably Norwegian screwdrivers aren't up to the job...........