Update on MG ZR and my bike

As you can probably guess I have been working on the bike, but first the car. I've been too worried to write about the problem so far, but it may be resolved, so here it is. Last Tuesday my wife and I were on the way back from Basingstoke, and the temp gauge on the car went up and down and up and down on it's own. When I got home I checked the coolant level and it was low. I checked under the oil filler cap and there was horrid gung. Now MG ZR's are well known for blowing the head gasket, so I thought "bugger", it's gone already!

Well, the internet is a great thing, but do you use it if you feel ill? I used it to try and find out what was wrong with the MG, and convinced myself it was the headgasket. With quotes from 450.00 pounds to 1,300.00 ringing in my ears, I took it to Lillywhites, my local garage (owned by the family who's son sold me the car!). I spoke to Simon, and he said he would check it out. This was Monday morning. All day Monday passed, then Tuesday, so I went in Wednesday morning, and left a message for him to call. Since he did not call I went back Wednesday evening, and the place was packed with car's!

Simon had pressure tested the cooling system, and the coolant reserve cap, and checked the thermostat was opening, and checked for air pockets in the coolant. Nothing. He ran the car up and it did not overheat. He has put it down to me not filling up the coolant (needs checking weekly!), and the sludge in the oil cap to the fact that we do short journeys and it is cold. So he suggests we use it and keep an eye on it, which we will do. And the cost for all this? Nothing. No doubt he will make some money when I take the Focus in for it's MOT in April.

As for the bike, well I spent ages on Sunday fitting the Eureka Electronic Ignition, and could not time it! So I unconnected it, put the points back, timed it and it's reasonable. Now I am having to tinker with the carburetor every time I start. Used it for two day's to work and back, when it run's it goes well, when it doesn't it will stall and so on. Doug reckons I need to strip the carb and clean it. I just want to use it!

Anyway, now you know.

Bye...