Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[McBryce]

Talking of ponies....mine's busted.....well it's 'ers actually and took a few days to find just where the coolant leak was coming from.....f'ing plastic tanked radiators ! 

New aftermarket one sourced today and fitted tonight with just a block flush required in the morning before hoses back on and fill with new coolant. Once I enjoyed this stuff but not so much anymore. 

Still, nearly 20 years outta the original in a Commodore VXII is not too bad for an alloy and plastic POS.

Managing to contain coolant for 20 years of vibration, temperature-cycling, dirt etc. without a leak is quite an achievement. Why is it a POS? How many other parts of the car failed or had to be replaced before it?

McBryce.

[tautech]

Talking of ponies....mine's busted.....well it's 'ers actually and took a few days to find just where the coolant leak was coming from.....f'ing plastic tanked radiators ! 

New aftermarket one sourced today and fitted tonight with just a block flush required in the morning before hoses back on and fill with new coolant. Once I enjoyed this stuff but not so much anymore. 

Still, nearly 20 years outta the original in a Commodore VXII is not too bad for an alloy and plastic POS.

Managing to contain coolant for 20 years of vibration, temperature-cycling, dirt etc. without a leak is quite an achievement. Why is it a POS? How many other parts of the car failed or had to be replaced before it?

McBryce.

Alloy and plastic radiator....not so much the car. As Rob says the V6 motors were a tricked up Buik donkey bored and stroked (I think) to 3.8L and the VXII like ours was the last of them before they went to a 3.6L V6.
Bit more economical yet a bit more grunt too yet like with any new donk a new set of problems to get on top of.

[med6753]

The 310 Fan Mount is put back together and tested. Since this unit in no way meets the latest UL and CSA standards I took great pains to check over the harness for overall condition, made sure there was no accidental reversal of hot and neutral, and made absolutely sure of ground integrity. So while it looks ancient 1950's it's safe.

The pilot lamp is an old school 3/4 inch mount. Damn near impossible to replace. Most pilot lamp mounts today are 1/2 inch or 3/8 inch mount. So I put it together for now without the pilot lamp. I'm going to cut it apart and use the 3/4 mount bezel and bodge something together.

I still have to make up the cable between this unit and the scope. The original was dry rotted and unusable. I don't have the parts. Will visit local home center today.

This fan pulls the air through the scope and then exhausts it through the front. Nice. Hot air right in your face. 






   

[Specmaster]

Talking of ponies....mine's busted.....well it's 'ers actually and took a few days to find just where the coolant leak was coming from.....f'ing plastic tanked radiators ! 

New aftermarket one sourced today and fitted tonight with just a block flush required in the morning before hoses back on and fill with new coolant. Once I enjoyed this stuff but not so much anymore. 

Still, nearly 20 years outta the original in a Commodore VXII is not too bad for an alloy and plastic POS.

Managing to contain coolant for 20 years of vibration, temperature-cycling, dirt etc. without a leak is quite an achievement. Why is it a POS? How many other parts of the car failed or had to be replaced before it?

McBryce.

Basically because its a Vauxhall/Opal Vectra under the skin but the Roo's did put a bigger engine in it, which seems common place over there. Where we had 4 cylinders, they would manage to wedge a 6 in the same space.

[Specmaster]

The 310 Fan Mount is put back together and tested. Since this unit in no way meets the latest UL and CSA standards I took great pains to check over the harness for overall condition, made sure there was no accidental reversal of hot and neutral, and made absolutely sure of ground integrity. So while it looks ancient 1950's it's safe.

The pilot lamp is an old school 3/4 inch mount. Damn near impossible to replace. Most pilot lamp mounts today are 1/2 inch or 3/8 inch mount. So I put it together for now without the pilot lamp. I'm going to cut it apart and use the 3/4 mount bezel and bodge something together.

I still have to make up the cable between this unit and the scope. The original was dry rotted and unusable. I don't have the parts. Will visit local home center today.

This fan pulls the air through the scope and then exhausts it through the front. Nice. Hot air right in your face. 

   

They designed just for you Med, to keep you warm in the winter when you sit in front of it using it for hour after hour 

[med6753]

Talking of ponies....mine's busted.....well it's 'ers actually and took a few days to find just where the coolant leak was coming from.....f'ing plastic tanked radiators ! 

New aftermarket one sourced today and fitted tonight with just a block flush required in the morning before hoses back on and fill with new coolant. Once I enjoyed this stuff but not so much anymore. 

Still, nearly 20 years outta the original in a Commodore VXII is not too bad for an alloy and plastic POS.

Managing to contain coolant for 20 years of vibration, temperature-cycling, dirt etc. without a leak is quite an achievement. Why is it a POS? How many other parts of the car failed or had to be replaced before it?

McBryce.

Basically because its a Vauxhall/Opal Vectra under the skin but the Roo's did put a bigger engine in it, which seems common place over there. Where we had 4 cylinders, they would manage to wedge a 6 in the same space.

I think the Commodore or something similar was the basis for the latest Generation Pontiac GTO. I know the basic body came from OZ.

In GTO trim it was available only with a 5.7 liter Chevy V-8.

[bd139]

Needs more apocalypse.

[med6753]

Looks almost identical to the late 1960's Version of the GTO.

[med6753]

Edit to add
https://www.topgear.com/videos/top-gear-tv/monaro-vs-300c-vs-s-type-r-part-22-series-5-episode-1

Road test of street cars on beach sand? How asinine.  And what made them think that a Chrysler 300 was in any way competitive with those other vehicles? It was nothing more than a giant turd ghetto cruiser.   

[xrunner]

This fan pulls the air through the scope and then exhausts it through the front. Nice. Hot air right in your face. 
   

Nice work. Yea right in your face - at least the scope is comfortable. Wonder why they didn't have a vent in each side instead of the front? 

[Specmaster]

Edit to add
https://www.topgear.com/videos/top-gear-tv/monaro-vs-300c-vs-s-type-r-part-22-series-5-episode-1

Road test of street cars on beach sand? How asinine.  And what made them think that a Chrysler 300 was in any way competitive with those other vehicles? It was nothing more than a giant turd ghetto cruiser.   

Maybe because they thought it was based on a chassis from Mercedes with hemi engine which normally fits muscle cars?

[sb42]

This fan pulls the air through the scope and then exhausts it through the front. Nice. Hot air right in your face. 
   

Nice work. Yea right in your face - at least the scope is comfortable. Wonder why they didn't have a vent in each side instead of the front? 

Dry eyes weren't much of a problem because eye movement was barely audible over the fan noise?

[McBryce]

A full Fluke calibration setup for anyone who can pick it up (literally). Postage probably isn't a valid option: https://www.ebay.de/itm/184520879082

I have no connection to the sellers any of the articles I link to.

McBryce.

[med6753]

Edit to add
https://www.topgear.com/videos/top-gear-tv/monaro-vs-300c-vs-s-type-r-part-22-series-5-episode-1

Road test of street cars on beach sand? How asinine.  And what made them think that a Chrysler 300 was in any way competitive with those other vehicles? It was nothing more than a giant turd ghetto cruiser.   

Maybe because they thought it was based on a chassis from Mercedes with hemi engine which normally fits muscle cars?

Nope. It was aimed at the gold chained home boys who couldn't afford a Cadillac. A soft ride so it wouldn't crack their side bitches makeup. And it was so freaking heavy that even with a hemi V-8 it couldn't get out of it's own way.   

[capt bullshot]

A full Fluke calibration setup for anyone who can pick it up (literally). Postage probably isn't a valid option: https://www.ebay.de/itm/184520879082

I have no connection to the sellers any of the articles I link to.

McBryce.

Duisburg, not a big deal to pick 'em up. The 5215A is quite an impressive beast (1100V at 100kHz), very interesting. Anyway, I'll pass. This stuff is too heavy and large for me.

[Specmaster]

Edit to add
https://www.topgear.com/videos/top-gear-tv/monaro-vs-300c-vs-s-type-r-part-22-series-5-episode-1

Road test of street cars on beach sand? How asinine.  And what made them think that a Chrysler 300 was in any way competitive with those other vehicles? It was nothing more than a giant turd ghetto cruiser.   

Maybe because they thought it was based on a chassis from Mercedes with hemi engine which normally fits muscle cars?

Nope. It was aimed at the gold chained home boys who couldn't afford a Cadillac. A soft ride so it wouldn't crack their side bitches makeup. And it was so freaking heavy that even with a hemi V-8 it couldn't get out of it's own way.   

The only car of that trio I'd want is the Jag anyway, how about you?

[med6753]

Edit to add
https://www.topgear.com/videos/top-gear-tv/monaro-vs-300c-vs-s-type-r-part-22-series-5-episode-1

Road test of street cars on beach sand? How asinine.  And what made them think that a Chrysler 300 was in any way competitive with those other vehicles? It was nothing more than a giant turd ghetto cruiser.   

Maybe because they thought it was based on a chassis from Mercedes with hemi engine which normally fits muscle cars?

Nope. It was aimed at the gold chained home boys who couldn't afford a Cadillac. A soft ride so it wouldn't crack their side bitches makeup. And it was so freaking heavy that even with a hemi V-8 it couldn't get out of it's own way.   

The only car of that trio I'd want is the Jag anyway, how about you?

Nope, the Jag is not my style. Besides, reliability ain't it strong suit. The Monaro/GTO clone.

[mansaxel]

The 310 Fan Mount is put back together and tested. Since this unit in no way meets the latest UL and CSA standards I took great pains to check over the harness for overall condition, made sure there was no accidental reversal of hot and neutral, and made absolutely sure of ground integrity. So while it looks ancient 1950's it's safe.

Nice job! 

One thing, though, if it is truly safe, then it shouldn't matter whether phase or neutral is on a given point, as long as ground is right. It's not a bleepin'  All American Five, right?

Myself, I believe that always treating phase and neutral as two dangerous sides of a single-phase circuit is the only proper way. Three-phase plus neutral, that's another thing. Oh, yeah, I forgot, you don't have that domestically in your country... 

[capt bullshot]

Right now I'm in a teams meeting.
Someone apparently is new to this technology, and has a laptop only (no headset / mic). Rather difficult to understand. Someone else had a good advice: "Just shout into the mic, then we can hear and receive you.".

...


No, doesn't work that well. Why do I want to run away shouting out loud now

[tonyalbus]

FNIRSI 1C15 Folow up of the black/yellow 5012H  ... but now 110 MHz ,hopefully doing more then half of it.. 
Review comming soon

[med6753]

Short interconnect cable built up.



Done. And that fan is LOUD. 

[med6753]

Nice job! 

One thing, though, if it is truly safe, then it shouldn't matter whether phase or neutral is on a given point, as long as ground is right. It's not a bleepin'  All American Five, right?

Myself, I believe that always treating phase and neutral as two dangerous sides of a single-phase circuit is the only proper way. Three-phase plus neutral, that's another thing. Oh, yeah, I forgot, you don't have that domestically in your country... 

Very true. As long as you have a good ground. But it would still be unwise to have the hot and neutral reversed say on one of those rear outlets.

[mnementh]

Talking of ponies....mine's busted.....well it's 'ers actually and took a few days to find just where the coolant leak was coming from.....f'ing plastic tanked radiators !     New aftermarket one sourced today and fitted tonight with just a block flush required in the morning before hoses back on and fill with new coolant. Once I enjoyed this stuff but not so much anymore. 

Still, nearly 20 years outta the original in a Commodore VXII is not too bad for an alloy and plastic POS.

Managing to contain coolant for 20 years of vibration, temperature-cycling, dirt etc. without a leak is quite an achievement. Why is it a POS? How many other parts of the car failed or had to be replaced before it?

McBryce.

1) Alloy radiator core is approx 40% higher thermal transfer for the same volume in an engine compartment.

2) Plastic tanks are necessary to isolate the core electrically from the grounded body of the car due to clogging caused by electrolysis. This is also why we have the pink coolant.

3) The same electrolysis also clogs up copper/brass radiators unless they run their entire lives with only pure distilled water in them. It just takes a little longer.

4) Plastic/alloy radiators are 100% recyclable, and in a profitable manner.

5) Brass/copper radiators are full of lead, so not recyclable and ultimately a toxic waste product.

6) Most of the copper/brass automobile radiators in service for the last 3 decades have been recored... the only part of the original radiator left are the tanks, which you get NEW with a modern radiator.

The commonplace hatred for modern radiators is entirely misplaced; they are better all around. FULL STOP.  The majority of brass/copper radiators never lasted any longer than modern alloy/plastic radiators... the difference is that ignorant dumbasses could patch a hole in the brass.

So, because you can't do a ghetto-fab fix with the aluminum cored rads, ignorant folks that live on booty-fab rather than proper repair hate them.

mnem
Ignorance is curable; dumbasses will not learn.

[shakalnokturn]

Done. And that fan is LOUD. 

WHAT ?!?

[vk6zgo]

Talking of ponies....mine's busted.....well it's 'ers actually and took a few days to find just where the coolant leak was coming from.....f'ing plastic tanked radiators ! 

New aftermarket one sourced today and fitted tonight with just a block flush required in the morning before hoses back on and fill with new coolant. Once I enjoyed this stuff but not so much anymore. 

Still, nearly 20 years outta the original in a Commodore VXII is not too bad for an alloy and plastic POS.

Managing to contain coolant for 20 years of vibration, temperature-cycling, dirt etc. without a leak is quite an achievement. Why is it a POS? How many other parts of the car failed or had to be replaced before it?

McBryce.

Basically because its a Vauxhall/Opal Vectra under the skin but the Roo's did put a bigger engine in it, which seems common place over there. Where we had 4 cylinders, they would manage to wedge a 6 in the same space.

Nah, nothing like it!
Maybe you are thinking of the post-closure "pretend Commodore"!

The 1999 is a much larger car overall, & was designed  as a "north-south" engined RWD car from the outset.

The very first Oz Commodores had the basic Opel Commodore body/suspension structure, but it was heavily "Australianised".
After the big Belmonts, Kingswoods  & Premiers of the late '60s to mid '70s, it was a very much "downsized" car, more like Holdens were up to about 1968.

Unfortunately, after they saw the slightly downsized, but still big, XD Ford Falcon taking market share, Holden "lost their nerve", so Commodore's "bloat" began!
By 1999 it was quite a big car, just a tad smaller than an XJ Jaguar.