Riley Back From The Sandblasters
We’ve just received the chassis to our yellow 1951 Riley back from the sandblasters. With all the rust off, we can now start to build it back up.
Tag Archive: classic rileys
Monaco’s New Shoes
Scott has been fitting the newly relined brake shoes to our Riley Monaco. This has cured the squealing brakes and has now gone back to its owner.
Yellow Riley Dismantling
James has been working to dismantle our yellow 1951 Riley and fabricate a new vent panel.
Riley Problem Solving
Currently, we’re doing a lot of research into our 1951 Riley as the restoration of it will need a lot of multi-trade skills from woodwork to metalwork. Lydia has been cleaning off the glue and paint from the panels.
Once we’ve got the detail blueprints back, we can start to measure up the new parts and make them.
Riley Monaco Adjustments
Scott has been working on our Riley Monaco to remove the brake shoes so that they can be sent off for relining with a softer material. He’s also fitted a lager rubber block to the clutch pedal to make it more easily accessible for the driver.
Breaking Down The Problem
Scott has begun to take apart the brakes on our 1934 Riley Monaco to determine the issue. He’s stripped the brakes down and checked them over, cleaned and greased them. He discovered that they still squeaked, so he filed the leading edge of the shoes to a chamfered edge. Unfortunately, Scott found that the squeaking still persisted so he decided the squeaking must be due to when the shoes were relined, the material used was too hard. The brakes are set to be sent away to be relined again.
Scott has also made up a block to go on the clutch pedal to make it easier for the owner to use the clutch.
Riley Monaco In For Squeaky Brakes
This 1934 Riley Monaco has come in to address the squeaking brakes, which are making rather severe noises. We’ll start taking them apart to see what the issue is.
1951 Riley Disassembly
We’ve started on the restoration on our Riley which is in for body refurbishment and paint. Currently the fabrication bay have taken the body from the chassis and started to strip the wooden frame. Once everything has been stripped and refurbished, we will then endeavour to repaint the body.
Riley Ressurection
Our lovely 1953 Riley which broke down recently is currently being stored up at Bentwaters whilst we wait for the parts to come back. This poor classic unfortunately broke down due to loosing drive. We’ve taken the overdrive out and found that the coupling between the gearbox and overdrive was sheered. After repairing the coupling, we took it out on a test drive and found it still wasn’t running right, so on the customers request, we’re now endeavouring the remove the overdrive all together and modify the prop shaft back to its original size to run a standard gear box.
The prop shaft has been sent off to be shortened so whilst we wait, our Riley is relaxing in our hanger.
Riley Break Down And Diagnosis
This beloved Riley RMS has come in after being recovered from a break down. We understand that driving a classic can be a labour of love and at some point, you’re going to break down, but that’s what we’re here for! This Riley will be back on the road in no time.
We’ve worked on this Riley in the past making this a bitter sweet reunion. Our technicians have established the root of the break down being an issue with the gearbox and over drive components. The prop shaft flange coupling units had been fixed together via a plug weld however this meant that the two components couldn’t freely move and breath, causing pressure to accumulate and lead to the elements breaking. With no splines inside the two parts, there’s a series issue with the current mechanical workings of the overdrive which we are endeavouring to fix by adding in a flexi-joint made of rubber.
The Riley’s Getting Flashy
Classic Car Technician Tom has been rewiring the indicator relay on the 1936 Riley Merlin Nine Briggs.
“I had to remove the old indicator box as the wiring was unsafe” says Tom. “I’ve redone the wiring and restored the flashing indicator relay to get it back to it’s original look.”
There’s been clear blue skies over the Pettistree workshop today, so Tom and some of the team have been working out in the sunshine. Bright indicator lights, bright sunshine and what is sure to be a bright future ahead for the Riley Merlin!
September 2, 2020 10:34 am