WHAT TO CARRY IN AN AUSTIN SEVEN

Notes from a DA7C Technical Forum

 

General - for Everyday

Spare Petrol

Engine Oil & Funnel

Water

Warning Triangle(s) (legal requirement in some countries)

Flashing rear-light torch

Spare Inner-Tube & Valve/Valve-tool

Pump & Pressure Gauge

Good Car Jack (make sure it fits under with a flat tyre)

Block of Wood (brake)

Wiper Blade

Set of Bulbs (legal requirement in some countries)

Spare Fuses

Spare plugs

Spare core plugs (two sizes)

Spare Battery - small

Voltmeter or test lamp

Electric wire with crocodile clips

Handbook

Tow Rope - to help ‘moderns’

 

First Aid Kit (legal requirement in some countries)

Fire Extinguisher (legal requirement in some countries)

Torch

Sun Glasses

Brolly/raincoat

Mobile Phone/Useful Numbers incl. breakdown

Old Blanket - lying on

Overalls - Disposable

Rubber Gloves

Hand Cleaner

Cloths - various/Chamois

Towel

Pen/paper - for your Article!

Camera

Envelopes & your contact details

DA7C Membership Forms

Details of your Car - display

DayGlow vest (legal requirement in some countries)

A7CA Breakdown Register of national helpers.

 


 

Tools –for Everyday

Wheel brace

Set of Spanners - Whit/BSF incl. a thin ring spanner for prop-shaft nuts

Dynamo Housing box spanner

Adjustable - small/large

Stilson - small/large

Mole grips

Small Vice

Plug Spanner

Wire Brush

Tyre Levers & Inner tube repair kit incl. talcum powder

Screwdrivers - small/large

Pliers - thin & wide nose

Cutters

Junior Hacksaw

Knife/Scissors

Tank Tape

Rad-Seal

Rain - X

Nuts & Bolts - various

Wire to clean jets

Jet key

Feeler gauges

 

 

 

Short Touring

Spare Specs - if needed

Fan Belt

Spare dynamo brushes

Grease Gun & Spare Grease

Maps/Satnav/Compass

Hammers - small/large!

Punch(es)

Hub-puller/spanners

Plug-scraper/Feeler Gauge

Gasket Goos - see Leek on Leaks pp 8/9/10 DA7C Newsletter June 2003

Instant Gasket and gasket-sheet

Liquid Metal

Insulating Tape

Exhaust Bandage

WD-40

Distilled Water

Rad-Flush

Screen Cleaner

Split Pins

Core Plugs

String

Wire - various

Cable Ties

Ratchet Straps - various!

 


 

 

Spares - Why Carry Them?

 

The most common causes of breakdown were discussed in DA7C Newsletter Feb. 2005 pp 10/11 but are, in order:

Fuel

Electrics

Mechanical

Body

 

General Points:

Wrap and protect your tools/spares from water etc.

Make sure the spares fit your car

Keep your key spares in your car - you always break down on your own! But share ‘big spares’.

Always “check your nuts” before a Run!”

And the top tip from the man who travels the World? - Keep a note/map of where you’ve put all your spares!

 

Vince’s Big List of Spares:

 

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:  TELEPHONE Nos. for HOME and BREAKDOWN AGENT

 

RECOMMENDED SPARES:

Electrical:

Spark plugs

Points 

Condenser

Rotor arm

Distributor cap with leads

Distributor gears with pin

Distributor complete

Magneto with leads (timed !)

Electrical wire

Ignition coil

Spare bulbs

Fuses

Dynamo brushes 

Dynamo complete

 

Engine:

Carburettor complete

Petrol pump complete

Petrol pump diaphragm

Head gasket set

Base Gasket set

Valves (inlet/exhaust)

Valve cotters/caps

Valve pins/caps

Valve springs

 Head studs/nuts

Sump screws (deep hex head)

Sump drain plug

Oil filler cap

Core plugs (large/small)

Cam follower with tappet screw

Big end bolts/nuts

 

Brakes:

Brake cable end cap with bolt

Brake shoes with linings (2)

Brake pull off springs (2)

Brake lever with cotter

Brake pivot pin

 

Chassis:

Front spring ‘U’ bolt with nuts

Rear spring ‘U’ bolt with plate and nuts (2)

Two short lengths of spring to use as brace.

Front spring shackle complete

Steering arm (crack tested)

 

Axles:

Inner wheel hub with good studs

Wheel nuts

Half shaft complete with nut and split pin

Rear hub outer fitted to shaft with key

Hub gaskets

Differential gaskets  

Wheel bearings (small)

Wheel bearings (large)

King pin and pinch bolt

 

Cooling system:

Fan belt  

Radiator hoses

Jubilee clips 

Radiator seal

Radiator cap

Transmission.

Fabric coupling

Special bolts for above

Carden housing.with pin and blocks

Hardy Spicer replacement kit

Gear lever 3&4 speed (yes they do break)

 

General:

Wiper blade

Inner tube

Tyre valve

Puncture repair kit

Exhaust clamps

Binder steel wire

Oils (incl. the rear axle)

Grease gun with grease

Petrol

Flexible petrol pipe with clips

Gasket jointing compound

Insulation tape

Valve grinding paste

Rapid Araldite

Super glue

Locktite

Split pins

Abrasive paper

Woodruffe keys

Misc. Nuts/bolts/washers

 

DESIRABLE SPARES (for the more serious repairs):

Con-rod with cap and new nuts/bolts

Piston with rings and gudgeon pin

Crankshaft with rods

Big end shell bearings

Centre main shell bearings

De-clutching lever and pin

Clutch friction linings

Clutch springs

Crown wheel and pinion

Main leaf (rear spring)

Torque tube (pre‘28 cars—these break!)

A good book for passenger to read

Translation book of car parts

 

TOOLS:

Combination spanners 1/4”-1/2” BSF

Sockets 1/4”-1/2” BSF (3/8” drive are best)

Wrench for above

Magneto spanners

BA Spanners

Screwdrivers...large, medium and small; electrical/neon

Pliers

Plug spanner

Hammer medium (say 12oz)

Hammer large  (say 4lbs)

Tyre levers

Car jack (check that it will lift car with flat tyre)

Wheel brace

Tyre pump

Wire to clean jets

Jet key

Feeler gauges

Stillsons or large adjustable spanner

File

Valve lifter

Hub puller

Torch

Gloves/hand cleaner/cleaning rag

Knife

Mole grips

Wire brush

Test meter

Any tools special to your car.

Paracetamol