The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Any recomendations for CHEAP gell bateries?

Apparently retired hospital ones can sometimes be found?

If not the brushes, it could be the armature is dirty from arcing. If so rub it back till shiny.

Also, it could be the drive which engages the starters gear to he flywheel sticking.  Old fashioned method was a bendix drive which threw the gear into engagement along a spiral groove.  The groove could get clogged up.

I believe more modern way is pre engaged, not sure what if these vans use?

Doesn't sound good.

Have you checked your hoses?  I would suspect at the bottom or at least low down.

It could be that a hose connection cane loose or sprung a sizable leak and it heated up as the water got lower.  As the rad approached empty it cooled and the gauge dropped although the engine was still getting hotter.

Funny that, I didn't notice.

I was far too distracted by the spliff temperature gauge.

I like the idea of a controlled pre heat.  Any concerns re it taking a while to warm and taking increased electrical load at exactly the worst moment?

Obviously your climate is considerably colder than ours in the UK but I have had no problems so long as I dilute with diesel as the temperature drops.  Not very scientific, but if sub zero is expected I will put 15 - 20 lt diesel to a full tank of veg oil.  Good for our usual low single figure frosts.  When dropping to -10 or less it will still start, but sounds so lumpy for quite a while that I avoid when possible.

Ken I think runs neat veg but has a small secondary tank of diesel for starting up.  If I could be bothered this is what I would go for.  I am sure he will be along with a few details.

It would work but having a separate tank for the heater would allow for different fuel mix.  I don't know how good the heater would be on almost neat veg oil.

You know there is. 

Probably less of an essential if you are away on a break or holiday when you are likely to be out and about.  Bit different when living in a van and potentially sitting through days, even weeks of bad weather. 

Also it depends where you stop I suppose.  For myself, if it were a place where I felt the need for "security", I would go somewhere else.  That's the advantage of wheels, you can choose your neighbors.  And, if you have windows, your view.

Looks like it's the LCD controller that dictates those Vevor prices.

I think only the smallest would fit under my front seat and that would be dependent on required clearances around it.

I have resisted fitting one until now but crazy gas prices have converted me.  Hopefully veg oil prices might not rocket so much but we do get a lot from Ukraine I think.

Anyone know how thick the supplied tanks are?  I am hoping one might fit in the narrow, otherwise useless gap between cupboard an rear door.

Cheers for the dimensions.

How much recommended clearance around them?

That's good John.  I am with Flux and think I am over £200 even as an oap!

That's the trouble with just letting it run on each year I think.

I think if they had bent the shaft you would have noticed vibration right from it being done. 
They may have nicked the seal though causing it to eventually leak.

For comparison - TD version:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304348931552 … Sw51Vh1u7d

I suspect the value of yours might be as much affected by the conversion as the base vehicle.  Someone might be more likely to consider the work involved in replacing the belt or the engine knowing that the basic conversion is ready to go.

With the demand for campers, it might be worth trying as a camper for repair before stripping to a work van.