Over the last couple of weeks id been noticing a stronger and stronger petrol small from the garage. Always a worrying occurrence but since i'm in preparation mode for winter and the opportunity to drive the car is going down i wasn't to worried. I was thinking id fix it in Spring time
However yesterday there was nice weather so i drove to work. Arriving the smell of petrol was really bad. Peering under the car i was met with a worrying site petrol dripping rapidly from near to the back axle, a big puddle was rapidly appearing. Now i am somewhat paranoid when it comes to fire in the last year i've managed to set the car on fire when i changed the battery and the heater switch just recently melted while on a weekend trip so you can imagine my worry. The nearest really good morgan garadge in 500km away so i was somewhat in a tizzy.
However after a little search on the internet i found a local garage that said yes they could actually work on morgans. Apparently they have a guy with 25 years of experience on old vehicles, not the best i could have hoped for but at least someone that new there way around a spanner and didn't need to plug in a computer to find out what is wrong with your car. The garage was only 5 minutes away and after a short examination it was found the petrol pump was squirting petrol from the outer casing and the small rubber tube connecting the petrol pump to the metal fuel line was also split. I was allowed to stand and observe the investigation and get under the car and 3 other mechanics also just happened to come and have a look. Its amazing how the car just draws attention.
The garage will keep the car indoors over the weekend and fix on monday. The petrol pump costs 300 euro and they will take just 100 euro for the job so i'm pretty satisfied with the support and help i got there. It will also mean my wooden car will be somewhat less of a fire risk!!
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Autumn Mog of Hell Trip
Autumn in Norway is coming to a close and soon snow and ice will cover the land, really cant say i'm looking forward to another Norwegian winter. In such times the Morgans are packed away in garages and we get to tinker and fix them for the next season. To round the 2013 season off the Mog of Hell group of Morgan owners decided to take one last trip.
On Friday evening i drove the children and my wife to the airport. While i would be off gallivanting around Norway and Sweden my family would be visiting Granny for the weekend. I therefore had the entire evening alone at home. Silence is golden and even better when enjoyed with a fine bottle of red wine. The next morning came all to quickly and although the entire week had been blue skys and sunshine this Saturday morning was cold cloudy and wet. I spent 20 minutes struggling to get the shrunken roof on and then drove to stjordal where i met up with Karl/Berit and new members Johanne and Einar who had purchased a 1998 4/4 just a couple of months ago. Our membership had just increased 25% that's impressive growth!!
After introductions we headed North up the E6 to Vradal circa 70km away where we met with Hans Kristian and Randi driving down from Namsos. The group was together, we where missing our last member but he was collecting his new roadster from the Morgan dealer in Oslo so could be forgiven for missing this event.
After coffee and a couple of waffles had been consumed we decided to take down the roofs and headed east towards Sweden. Although Autumn is short in Norway the country side and colors can be astoundingly beautiful at this time of the year. The drive to Sweden was great if somewhat wet and soggy. The road was good and twisty through country side and small villages with the occasional gigantic pot hole to test the famous sliding pillars some work. But we where Morgan owners from Hell so the roofs stayed off and we pushed on.
After about another 80km we finally arrived at the Swedish boarder. Another opportunity for a small break to stretch the legs and take a few photos.
Apparently there is some discussion of where the actual boarder is. It is only marked with a small sign which basically tells you your in Sweden. The only difference really is the colors on the signs change and the speeding fines are lower. Students have been known to move this sign further east every few years and the Swedish police eventually have to go and put it in the right place every few years. Not sure if the story is true but it beats having wars to settle boarder disputes.
We continued into Sweden but a short time later we pulled over at a suitable spot and whipped out coffee and sausages. At this point we realized we had forgotten to bring a small table and some chairs so we had to stand and eat, very uncivilized, we have learnt for next time though. It started to rain again and since we where now on the Swedish side of the boarder we mounted the roofs, anyone seeing us would naturally think we where Swedish Morgan owners so we figured having the roof on wouldn't harm the Mog of Hell reputation!!
The drive continued and the weather only got more miserable, however this didn't concern me as much as the very strong burning smell emanating from my car. I was used to this smell as i have managed to set the car on fire before, i really need to buy a fire extinguisher! I pulled over and popped the hood but couldn't track down anything there. Returning to the drivers seat i investigated further and found that the the switch that controls the heater had had a major melt down, checking behind the dash resulted in burnt fingers and finding out the switch on the front of the dash no longer had any mechanical function, it just sort of wobbles up and down but doesn't actually switch anything. What ever had burnt out had done such a thorough job that the mechanics were completely gone. As far as i could ascertain i was in no danger of immediate fire, it seemed to be cooling down so we continued on our way.
Another hours drive through Sweden took as back to the boarder. Here there is a supermarket specifically for Norwegians to go to for cheap beer and meat. We parked up which drew quite a lot of attention and then loaded up on some beer, goodies and meat. Upon returning to the car i found out that the rain had done a good job of going horizontal and the passenger seat was making an impression of being a swimming pool The only thing i had to mop up water was my woolly Morgan hat. After a few minutes of trying to mop up as much water as possible i gave up accepted that this trip was just going to be an exceedingly wet one and go with the flow.
We continued on our way in worsening weather, crossed the boarder and headed towards Meraker.
At Meraker we took a dirt track into the mountains. This road was more pot hole than road so we crept ever so slowly up into the mountains to our overnight accommodation at Kirkeby fjell hotel. Even driving really really slowly was still a bone jarring and teeth shattering experience.
As soon as we arrived Berit produced a few cups and we all had a dram of something which tasted slightly aniseedy and sweet and extremely alcoholic. We toasted the drive packed up the cars to be as water proof as possible, which is not very and checked into our cabins. The cabins where of very high quality with electricity, running water stocked kitchen and electric/wood heating. We all met up for a beer to discuss the days events and enjoy being dry. However once the beers where drunk it was decided that being dry really wasn't all that great so we retired to the outside hot tub for some hot bubble massage, beer, wine, and more shots. A table was placed next to us with a big brass bell so when ever we wanted something we just had to lean out and ring and our every desire was catered for. I'm considering trying the same at home but i'm somewhat in doubt my wife and children will be as service minded!! It could also be dangerous for my health.
A quick sauna and shower later left a short time to prepare for dinner. We where greeted with white wine and relaxed in a lounge area before entering the restaurant.
Dinner was delicious with fish as a starter, and various home made deserts. However for me the highlight was the main course with local lamb, wild mushroom souffle and local vegetables that had been marinated and caramelized. The food was superb! With dinner was a wine menu which accompanied each course to perfection. We retired to the lounge to rest our very full stomachs have coffee and spirits. A fantastic end to a fantastic day. Unfortunately lack of sleep, great food, lots of alcohol, the long drive and mountain air had rendered me to a virtually unconscious state and i had to retire to bed before midnight otherwise there was a danger of me turning into a pumpkin.
Morning dawned and proved to be another wet and soggy day. Breakfast started at 9.30 and despite the hugh dinner the night before we still managed to sit for close to 2 hours eating, drinking coffee and relaxing. Eventually however it was time to pack up the cars and make our ways back towards Trondheim, just a 90 minute drive in yet more rain bought me back home. The car was soaking both inside and out, the roof has been removed and is drying indoors. The entire car is filthy and will need a thorough clean inside and out as well as the switch repaired at some time. However that is for another day when its not so wet and miserable, now its time for a cold beer and to reminisce on yet another great trip this year in 2013. Roll on season 2014 !!!
On Friday evening i drove the children and my wife to the airport. While i would be off gallivanting around Norway and Sweden my family would be visiting Granny for the weekend. I therefore had the entire evening alone at home. Silence is golden and even better when enjoyed with a fine bottle of red wine. The next morning came all to quickly and although the entire week had been blue skys and sunshine this Saturday morning was cold cloudy and wet. I spent 20 minutes struggling to get the shrunken roof on and then drove to stjordal where i met up with Karl/Berit and new members Johanne and Einar who had purchased a 1998 4/4 just a couple of months ago. Our membership had just increased 25% that's impressive growth!!
After coffee and a couple of waffles had been consumed we decided to take down the roofs and headed east towards Sweden. Although Autumn is short in Norway the country side and colors can be astoundingly beautiful at this time of the year. The drive to Sweden was great if somewhat wet and soggy. The road was good and twisty through country side and small villages with the occasional gigantic pot hole to test the famous sliding pillars some work. But we where Morgan owners from Hell so the roofs stayed off and we pushed on.
After about another 80km we finally arrived at the Swedish boarder. Another opportunity for a small break to stretch the legs and take a few photos.
We continued into Sweden but a short time later we pulled over at a suitable spot and whipped out coffee and sausages. At this point we realized we had forgotten to bring a small table and some chairs so we had to stand and eat, very uncivilized, we have learnt for next time though. It started to rain again and since we where now on the Swedish side of the boarder we mounted the roofs, anyone seeing us would naturally think we where Swedish Morgan owners so we figured having the roof on wouldn't harm the Mog of Hell reputation!!
The drive continued and the weather only got more miserable, however this didn't concern me as much as the very strong burning smell emanating from my car. I was used to this smell as i have managed to set the car on fire before, i really need to buy a fire extinguisher! I pulled over and popped the hood but couldn't track down anything there. Returning to the drivers seat i investigated further and found that the the switch that controls the heater had had a major melt down, checking behind the dash resulted in burnt fingers and finding out the switch on the front of the dash no longer had any mechanical function, it just sort of wobbles up and down but doesn't actually switch anything. What ever had burnt out had done such a thorough job that the mechanics were completely gone. As far as i could ascertain i was in no danger of immediate fire, it seemed to be cooling down so we continued on our way.
We continued on our way in worsening weather, crossed the boarder and headed towards Meraker.
A quick sauna and shower later left a short time to prepare for dinner. We where greeted with white wine and relaxed in a lounge area before entering the restaurant.
