Myrtle's Manifold Malfunction

As I wrote the other week, poor Tango has been laid up after breaking a spring, and then requiring some extensive TLC. She is getting on a bit now, so replacing almost everything suspension wise was the best option, as after all she is my daily go to car for getting to work and back.

So whilst Tango has been out of action I have really enjoyed using Myrtle, my 65 Bug, to potter about in and get me to and from work. I am still getting used to her clutch, so have been experimenting with different routes, not so much going to work, but on my return. So far I have not been brave enough to tackle Watergate Bends LoL.

Anyhoo the other day whilst arriving at work and parking up on Richardson Road I decided to air Myrtle out. It's fun seeing the wee car sitting on the deck as she looks tiny compared to more modern cars, and she gets some admiring glances.


I used my mobile phone and the Airlift Performance App installed and selected my low height preset, which is "0" psi in all four corners. This is when I noticed that 3 of the bags had completely aired out, however my driver's side rear was still reading around 20 to 30 psi. As I had to go into work, I just had to leave Myrtle.


When I finished work upon getting in Myrtle, I used the AirLift controller which I have situated inside Myrtle's glovebox. I selected my high preset, which is roughly 95 psi all around. I noticed that the two front bags went up to the preset pressures, as did the passenger rear, however the driver's side bag was bobbing up and down on the controller screen, going way past 95 psi and then dropping back down to a lower pressure.


Fortunately I was able to drive Myrtle home and upon arriving at our street get over the giant speed bumps...fucking hate those things.

I then had a little mess around with the controller as Myrtle stood in our backyard, to no avail. That driver's side rear bag was having none of it. I then went on to try different fixes, such as recalibrating the system. Resetting the manifold, by removing the plug on the manifold. Removing and replacing the fuse. Releasing all the air from the tank and then trying to reinflate the bags. Well nothing worked.

Following all of this I went online to try and get in touch with AirLift Performance, however I couldn't find an email for them upon their site, just a telephone number.

Fortunately, I had an old email address from when I had a problem with my phone connectivity through the app, and the guys at AirLift were trying to help me. It was something to do with the Samsung updates and the Bluetooth connectivity. So I fired off an email, keeping my fingers crossed that someone would reach out.

I tried calling the supplier where I got the Airlift system from, Limebug, however there was no answer and I also emailed Limebug, that was on the 31st May, and they still haven't responded.

I got a pretty quick response from AirLift, so was well pleased, as like I say I wasn't even sure I had the correct address. So over the course of the last few days I have been corresponding with a very helpful guy named Kevin. Kevin has gone through my problem and suggested I try a few things to establish the fault.

My dad and I swapped the RR & RL lines on the manifold as Kevin suggested, and immediately I got a pressure sensor fault.

Upon sending Kevin a few small video's of the fault and what was happening, he asked me to send my original receipt and informed me a new manifold would be sent out under warranty.

So that is where I am at with Myrtle. Hopefully it will just be a case of fitting the new manifold and jobs a good'un.

Getting back to Tango, what a nightmare with delivery of parts. UPS, better known as "Useless Parcel Service" has fucked up yet again. The last 4 deliveries we have had off them, we have had issues each time. This time they haven't even bothered delivering the parts, instead they have decided to send them to some Amazon delivery depot. That is after sending 3 emails of course to say that the parcel was at a local pickup point down at Tanfield at some shop. Go down to the shop and guess what, no parcel.

Back in August of 2020  my mate Brian, the designer of the Bartlett Tendon, sent me a knee over to trial for a few weeks. It was delivered by UPS, well kind of. Now, this knee is probably in the region of 8 to 10K. The delivery driver thought it would be a good idea just to leave it at the back gate.

 

Oh! I will just leave it here, should be safe???

It's soooo far to walk all the way to the door, I will just leave it here

 

A week earlier, he had not delivered a parcel, or even bothered to slip a notice in through the letterbox, so I missed a parcel and the sender was not happy as they then had to pay the import duty. Oh! And he also came back with another parcel and decided to leave it on the spoiler of Grandma, my Beetle. The DPD man who was delivering actually saw it, picked it up and delivered it to our door. I mean, imagine if I had gone out in my car, I would never have known it was there.

The bloke down at UPS now knows my dad by sight and just sights when he sees him, LoL.

Finally got Myrtle's Steel Smoothies done.

Well, that is another job done on Myrtle, having just got her steel smoothie wheels powder coated and new tyres fitted over at The Wheel Specialist in Durham, more on The Wheel Specialist in a moment.

Myrtle with her Smoothies all coated

 

Those following Myrtle's progress, here upon my blog, will know I bought a brand-new set of 17 inch SMA alloys for Myrtle and the chew on my dad and I had fitting them.  I also wanted a set of steel smoothies and waited ages for Just Kampers to get the 8x15's for the rear. I would have preferred 8x7's but hey they were not available. I bought the new wider wheels, way back around the November of 2020.

8x15 Smoothie

 

The wider smoothies came in a silver colour. I wanted them gloss black, so always had this as a to-do job. I was unsure of what size tyres to pop on the new rims. When I was on Facebook and using the VW forums, a few people recommended 195's and some others 205's. My dad popped over to a local scrapyard and managed to pick up some second hand tyres, one of each in the sizes, and we experimented with how they looked on the rims. To be honest, I wasn't best pleased with either size, they just looked way too stretched.


Anyhoo over two years passed by with both my old front skinny wheels and my new wide wheels lying in our shed. I then decided to bite the bullet and ordered some Kumho Ecowings for the front and rear. Getting 145/65/15's for the front and 205/60/15's for the rear. Once the tyres arrived, I was again dragging my heels in getting the powder coating done, other financial things occurring, so I kept putting off getting the wheels done. Eventually, after having a good look around and getting various quotes to get the wheels coated, and the tyres fitted, I opted to take them to The Wheel Specialist. This was after a recommendation from Ash over at the General Garage at Anfield Plain.

Little black & white shot of Myrtle

Firstly I visited the Wheel Specialist's website and got a custom quote, and then the following day I got a courtesy call to inform me of my nearest dealership. As I spoke to the friendly lady on the phone, she transferred me over to the Durham branch and as I explained what my wheels were and what I would like done the helpful advisor informed me that the quote would change slightly as steel wheels require a lot more prep work. I was happy with the quote, which was £278, this was to powder coat the wheels gloss black and then fit the new tyres that I was going to be providing, along with new valves and finally balance the wheels.

VW Beetle 1965  steel smoothies

My dad and I dropped the wheels off on the 8th of April and I awaited eagerly for their return. Unfortunately I had to wait a little longer than expected, however this was not the fault of The Wheel Specialist, as when I spoke to the advisor he informed me that he had been having a nightmare getting a hold of new valves for the old 65 rims. Apparently the holes in the rims for the valve are larger than newer type wheels. The new valves are also quite  expensive, at £18 pounds each.

The Wheel Specialist

The Wheel Specialist

 

So a little longer waiting, and then  I received a call to say my wheels were ready to pick up, my dad and I headed off to collect them. I was over the moon when I saw the wheels. They look like new, with a very shiny gloss black coating, not only that the tyres I opted for, for on the wider back rims, although stretched look far better than the trial ones my dad and I experimented with from the scrapyard.

Wheels now coated in the back of Ern's mobile skip

New hubcap clips to rivet in place

Upon getting the wheels home, I had to order some new hubcap clips. When these arrived, my dad pop riveted them in place. This was instead of using the rivets that came with the clips. Just meant less trying to tap the rivets in place with a hammer and accidentally chipping any of the coating. Wow! Getting the hubcaps over the new clips was a right pain. Originally, we didn't think they were going to fit. You see, we have secured studs into the hubs of Myrtle, rather than using bolts. It just makes it that much easier to mount each wheel when changing them. What we were concerned about was that the wheel nuts would prevent the hubcaps from sitting in place, as the studs are that bit longer than an original wheel bolt. I am also running 1-inch spacers on Myrtle, and she has the short axles which came on the swing axle 65's.

Much happier with the Kumho and how they look on rims

Full set of wheels coated

Myrtle can air up and air down, and there is no catching of the inner or outer wing lip, with the 1-inch spacers and the 8 x 15's fitted. 

We had a few technical issues on today's drive to get some petrol from Cost Co and when parking up at Waldridge Fell to take some photo's, in that Myrtle appears to be a lot lower on her driver's side rear. I think it is because she has been standing so long, not getting used, the old girl is just a bit stiff. I will try and get out in her a lot more and work on getting used to this clutch adaption I have had fitted, so that I can drive her as an amputee.

Myrtle VW Beetle, 1965

Myrtle aired out on the grass

Myrtle 65

Myrtle 65

Myrtle 65

Almost the end, a little feedback about The Wheel Specialist. They offer a first class service, the staff are very friendly and know their stuff. The quality of their work is first class and as mentioned their turn around is quick, it was just unfortunate that the valves for my wheels were hard to source. I was pleasantly surprised that the quote remained the same, and that I didn't get charged for any extras, as in the valves. Oh! And a very nice touch is the aftercare, you get a 12-month warranty and I also got 2 friendly reminders via email to check my wheel nuts, after driving my car, as the wheels need to bed in with the new coating applied.

If I require rims refurbished, coated etc I will most definitely be visiting these guys again.


Oh! And to finish off, to save me writing another blog.... Poor Tango, my Smart Car is unwell. After driving along the front of the RVI the other week when I had finished work. Approaching the roundabout near Exhibition Park, poor Tango broke something on her front suspension, following falling down a huge crater of a hole or bump in the road. I have spoken to lots of my colleagues at work, and they all say the same about this stretch of road, it's a nightmare, and know the exact place.

Oh! The Wheel dear poor Tango

New wishbone fitted

Poor wee Tango

 

Anyhoo Tango is laid up in our backyard...disassembled, as my dad and I attempt to reconstruct her. Tango has snapped her driver's side front spring, and it has gouged her tyre. So I had to get a new one, Grrrrrr! Still loads of tread on the old one. Upon closer inspection as she is getting on a bit, 11 years old now, we decided to fit new dampers/struts, a damper rebuild kit, new springs, drop links, ball joints and bottom wish bones, oh and brake dust backplates, so quite a tidy sum.


Going to have to use Myrtle for work tomorrow, so hope she behaves herself and not too cold in the morning as no heaters, LoL

A Buzz over to Hedley Hall Woods

 The weatherman said it was supposed to rain today, so when I eventually woke up, after having yet another restless night, I was quite chuffed that the sun was shining through my bedroom window.

I immediately formulated a plan of attack. Casual garb and a venture out on my Buzzraw, with her new battery. I hasten to add, I had forgotten to put the bike back on charge, so there were only 4 of the 5 charge bars showing, but I figured this would be enough for a relatively short ride.

I retrieved my two Alpkit dry bags from the cupboard, thinking they would be ideal to carry some gear. I had decided to take a light jacket, just in case the weatherman had got things right, a pair of gloves and my GoPro Hero 9, along with my mini tripod and a little stand I had bought for my camera a while back. It is handy as I can just place my camera in the stand, and it offers me the choice of tilting the camera either 30 or 40 degrees, quick and easy. I also made sure I had a spare GoPro battery and of course my mobile phone, so that I could use the quick app. Oh! And as I am now pretty much blind without my gigs I popped on my old specs... I know it ruins my street cred, and I look like a geek. I figured it was better to be able to see where I was going. Hedley Hall woods has quite a few trees and I have had been attacked by them in the past.

 

Coast Cycles Buzzraw

A little pic of my Buzzraw across the road and then I was off, away up the farmer's trail. The first pictures, I tried to get, were by using the GoPro's Time Warp feature and then editing them using Wondershare Filmora and the snapshot feature. It is so difficult trying to take action shots when you are on your todd.

 

Out on the Buzzraw

 

I followed the same route as the other day when I went out on the wee bike. That day it was Brassic. I crossed the Chester Road, amazingly getting straight across, and headed down to Shield Row. Cutting under the C2C and taking a little trail down by the houses at Causey Drive, making sure I shut the gate after I went through.

Causey Drive and a little cut through at houses

This wee trail brings you out at the rear of the Bluebell pub and from there it was down the Beamish Burn bank, my speedo reading 26 mph. As I reached the bottom of the dip, I had to then climb up the bank past the Black Bull and the Aston Workshop. This required me to pop the Buzzraw to level 5 and maximum assist. I can normally ride up this bank on a regular bike, however on the Buzzraw as I am so cramped it really fatigues my good thigh, on level 5 I can get up nee bother.

Coming out at the back of the Bluebell

 

At the end of the road, I was at the Causey Arch Road and took the footpath up the hill, following a guy on a cyclo cross bike. He was out the saddle grinding away, I was sat down in level 5 mode and cruising behind him.


I then turned at the top of the bank, right and followed the Hedley Lane road (just used Google Maps to establish the name of that road). I once tipped a pickup truck on its side along this particular stretch of road, losing control of the car in the wet. The wee Morris Marina pickup was my first car, after passing my test. As I recall after getting the car Hiab'ed out from the field, it cost me £8 at the scrapyard to repair the damage LoL.

 

Hedley Hall Woods and the car park

 

Turning into the newly constructed car park at Hedley Hall woods, I got my GoPro out and set it up. I had to wait a little while for various folk to vacate the area, mostly dog walkers. This was a common theme throughout filming, however, I just waited until they were out of shot and I could set up each of my shots.

 

Car park all been done up, and you can see new trails been put in

 

 

The sun kept going behind the clouds, so this made shooting footage difficult, and I spent a great deal of time waiting for just the right moment when the sun would appear again. Looking at the display on my mobile phone whilst using the GoPro app, at certain times the picture looked really dark, yet when the sun appeared it became almost too bright.


It takes quite sometime to keep going back and forth for the camera. Although I was out most of the morning, I knew the majority of footage would be of my riding backwards and forwards to pick up my camera. The end video would only be a few minutes long. To be fair, that is long enough, people get bored watching anything over about 5 minutes on YouTube.

 

Buzzraw & Sculpture

 

Pretty Cool

I discovered another new sculpture today, of a lady with a horse, it looked pretty cool, so I took a few pics. Just after this as I was messing around trying to set my camera up, being lazy as I didn't want to get off my bike, I lost my balance to my right-hand side and fell over. Part of the reason I  didn't want to get off is because I have different clipless pedals fitted to the Buzzraw, and man they are a real pain in the arse to clip in and out of. As I picked myself and my bike up, checking around to see if anyone was laughing, I noticed my foot had gotten twisted beneath my Bartlett Tendon, good job I brought an ickle FWE multi tool. A quick unloosen of the Allen bolt on my pylon, and then I straightened up my wonky foot and re-tightened the stud.

 

Wonky foot

fwe multi tool

 

As I popped back on my bike, I noticed my battery had dropped to 2 bars of charge, so I decided to make the next shot the last before heading back home. As I was following the newly constructed path, it came to an end, with a barrier in place. This meant I had to follow an off-road trail through the wood, knew wearing my gigs would come in handy, as I managed to avoid getting twatted by various tree branches. Eventually I found my way back onto the proper trail and was soon on my way back home, again heading along the Causey and onto the Beamish Burn Road. This time I cut along to Beamish as if going towards Beamish Hall, trying to conserve my battery for the big hill and climb up to Beamish Museum." Oh! Crap" it's gone down to 2 bars now". Level 5 to get up to Beamish and a combination of level 4 and 5 up towards No Place, cutting up the trail to take me home via the Farmer's trail. I was now on level 1 LoL!

Just as I was coming through the new estate almost home, I heard a “beep” and my bike's display was telling me No Battery  left. Managed to just get home. Only covered just over 11 miles whilst out playing. My bike wasn't fully charged, and I had pretty much used her on level 5 all morning, plus whilst filming and fannying on with my camera, and chatting to various folk my bike had been turned on.

Love this wee bike, it is so much fun, just wish I had either been smaller or the bike was a bit bigger.