tracteurtom

[quote user="Russethouse"]tracteurtom, perhaps you should read through this thread before commenting : http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/2/1283412/ShowPost.aspx#1283412 Everyone, including Maisie Day is aware the circumstances are far from ideal but the OP is doing the best she can in the circumstances and will rectify the situation as soon as possible. Not sure what you mean 'cats look after themselves'? [/quote] I dont see why I should have to go searching the Forum to find an explaination as to why someone is trying to get rid of a litter of pups to anytakers !  Hidding behind "free to GOOD homes" just to get around forum regs stinks IMO.   I stand by my original statement. 

How irresponsible of you.  I just hope you've learnt a lesson from this and taken steps to ensure you have no more little accidents.  Cats OK, they just look after themselves, but dogs no way, and mongrels grrrrr [:@]

Thats interesting Dave, thanks for the info.  As I said, I've not looked closely at the LRs, but I have at Nissan 4x4s and they are not straight forward at all.  May be next time I'm in the UK I'll pick up a Disco and see if it can pay for itself, but then there is the problem of the crap diesels in them  [:(]

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] inspected regularly by a qualified tyre specialist, such as a tyre dealer, who will assess the tyre's suitability for continued service. Tyres which have been in use for 5 years or more should continue to be inspected by a specialist at least annually.   [/quote] and where does one find one of those that doesn't have an interest in selling you a new set !!!![:D]

[quote user="gosub"]......... unless they showed signs of wall fatigue/cracking. [/quote] and they will if you look close enough. 

You will have to declare them with your channel crossing co.  The tunnel is best for this IMO.  They will most likely just look at them through the car window (no big deal) and the crossing is quick and you stay with your charges.  But you MUST declare them and of course you must be able to demonstrate that they have confortable arrangemenmts for traveling with water and food should you be asked by some do goody jobs worth (not a problem I imagine !!).  If there is some sort of issue that arises re restricting animal movements then you will not be able to cross the Channel with them - no argument.  This could spoil your day - but on the bright side there's plenty of mice in France !  If you want some give us a call.  I was drowning about 10 a week a couple of month ago !  The traps have quietened down recently in the Chicken and Turkey houses, but the rabbits seem to have a few friends I need to sort out ....

Dont what ever you do connect the o/ps of 2 electronic t/fs together.  Those things are fragile enough (more Chinese rubbish).  The o/p freq is nothing like 50 Hz and probably not sinusoidal, the only thing that would happen is a smell of burning as they go into melt down ! Why not buy another string of lights, full set for a handful of euros ?  Last lot I bought have x5 20 W lamps and a proper transformer, cant remember the price but it wont have been much (I dont like spending !).  Alternatively,  go LED.  Not checked them out properly yet, but I'm sure you can get LED versions of the 12V/20W halogens.  Check the load and my guess is you could have more lights than Blackpool Illuminations for 60 W worth !

Misable sods arn't they.  I mean, they just dont know how lucky they are to live in a nice quite place were there is nothing to do ! At 16 its usual for kids to get a summer job, earn a few euros.

[quote user="Russethouse"][ No need to imagine : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/7492011.stm [/quote] No RH, his real smile, the one inside his head, those are just boring press pics - the one of DC with LH says it all (I dont want to do this anymore ..... Boring old arse !).    and that Jenson Button needs a kick were it  hurts as well, that or get rid [:(] Yes F1 has become a bore, the hosepipe thing is a good idea !.  I call it Formula round and round, shame really I use to be a big big fan.  I think since the death of the great Arton Senna, F1 as been in self destruct.  However young Lewis is worth watching, he has the knack I think, but like Schumacher, nobody on the circuit comes close so the race more often than not becomes boring.  Now Mansell vs Senna vs Prost in turbo cars ................. WOW [:D]

I'm still trying to imagine Lewis Hamilton's smile after his spectacular drive today - he must be half way to the moon by now ! Not seen a drive like that since Schumacher.  All the others were just alsorans by comparison !

[quote user="ErnieY"] If you had been in the Porsche following me a on a local club a month or so ago when we were going b*lls out down an 8km twisty mountain road at the end of which my brakes had totally boiled and gone (even with silicon fluid) I think you'd agree [/quote] No not me I afraid, though would love it to have been [:D][:(]  Know what you mean about a big smile after a hard drive [:D] Re silicion brake fluid, get it out of your brakes its not as good as a top spec mineral, no matter what it says on the bottle.  Use it in the clutch, thats all its good for if you speak to those in the know.

Very interesting thread.  Dave in your breakdown of the Disco swap you dont mention the problems associated with the steering.  I've not looked at the Disco, but other 4x4 solid axle vehicles have these problems, and I guess the Disco also: 1) LHD / RHD steering boxes are different; 2) Front axle is different (swivel housings and panhard rod location) meaning you need to replace the lot; 3)  Panhard rod is located on the opposite side of the chassis (same side as the box for obvious reasons) so you will need to relocate / weld the bracket to the chassis. 4) Check out the diff ratio of the replacement axle, its probably different, so you will need to swap the diffs. This is big time work, not half a day stuff and locating the bits in a breakers is difficult and when you have found the bits, they will be expensive.  Also any welding work to a 4x4 chassis needs to be done professionally and will raise a CT Inspector's attention.  Beware !  Bulkheads are typically LHD or RHD specific also, so there will be some messing to sort that lot out.  You may need to fabricate a reinforcement plate to go behind the pedal box.  You will need the LHD throttle and clutch cables, or plumbing if its hydraulic.  Its not impossible, but I think Dave's take on it makes it sound a lot simpler than it is and cost effectiveness more due to luck than fact as even breakers in France charge a fortune for bits, 4x4 stuff in particular is expensive.  Probably the key is selling the vehicle when its done, you dont have to put up with the problems you didn't sort  !

Depends what they are going to be used for ?  I would say at 10 years, even if they have been in dark dry storage they are way past their best for serious road use.  But as a shopping car or a tractor / 4x4 off roader or to put on a car to sell, they'll be fine.  Stick them on ebay, buyer beware and all that I wouldn't mention the age not unless asked. Ernie, I'd look to change those 8 year olds also if you do anything more than local low speed trips.  Even then old tyres are risky.  I was told that if you are involved in an accident and that you are found to have defective tyres, the blame can very easily be yours.  Any serious motorist looks after their tyres and changes them if in any doubt about their effectiveness.

If any of you Gite owners has a cat I'd recommend that you are VERY wary about having terriers as guests.  Jack Russells and their like are cat killers, there is no stopping their determination, until the cat is dead, the terrier will not rest.  Trust me, I know.

[quote user="ErnieY"] in practice they sh1t about 10 times more than they eat   [/quote] thats impossible, not unless you have some antimatter sheep   [:D].  'nowt wrong with a bit of muck, so long as its not on your shoes eh !

Wow Christine, yes that does help, thanks.  Funny how asking something in English that makes perfect sense is an insult in French !  I think I'll just stay away from that little 3 letter word as my Franglish is well mixed up  [:)]  Its a beauty of mechanical things and animals, they dont answer back and make you feel a fool (or should that be con [:D]

Hahahaha, that explains a lot, thanks Albert !  I wondered why the french go all coy when I talked about air c0n and insist on calling it clim  [:D] That'll be today's word for me. It just shows how careful you need to be - if in doubt, say nowt !

[quote user="sueyh"]Wish I could say the same for my lavendar bushes - the bunnies keep eating them....!  Little fatherless fiends....! Suey [/quote] Give Antipesto a call and ask them to use the Bunvac600 (I think thats what its called).  It runs at 600 rpm - thats rabbits per minute [:D][:D][:D]

Its done it again !  Is c0n some swear word or reference to genitals that I've missed out on ??????  Please explain !

No problem Melmoth, I'm pleased you found it useful.  If you need anymore info, just post. and thanks for saying thanks, its much appreciated, something thats not to common on this forum I've found.  [:P] to those that dont [:)]   Why did the spell checker kick out Air Con ?  Thats Air Conditioning or A/C or clim in french, bizarre.

I'm just wondering how you make bacon from goats ...... and shredding brambles with a brush cutter is fine, they die off in the sun and leave lots of little bits to get in the mower tyres - haha  Dead brambles are worse than live ones ! Re tractors.  Well, decide first on what you need.  Normal or mini size (or super large - yes !!!); Tractor width; 4wd; horse power; cat 1 2 or 3 3 point lift; power steering; hydraulics over the standard stuff; front bucket; cabin; ROPS ( a must); independent PTO.  Air con (only kidding, you wouldn't be asking this q if you were in the market for a tractor with A/C !). These are the basics.  All cost but if you buy the wrong tractor, it'll cost you more to retro fit. 2nd, consider 2nd hand over Chinese.  Whilst the Chinese ones look attractive, lots of bits, not much money, there are really only toys being of poor quality and  made to a price IMO .  A good make (MF ; JD ; Deutz Fahr ; Claas/Renault etc)  will last practically for ever whilst the Jimna / Stiromar things will be lost in a hedgerow, dead due to poor quality engineering and no parts and no one prepared to buy it off you.  However 2 nd does require some mechanically knowledge to keep it running.  Jap tractors (Kuboto etc) are good, but the price of parts will make you cry ! A well kept good make 2nd hand tractor will keep its price (and can even increase in value), assuming you dont pay over the odds for it in the first place. Have a drive around and look in the local agricultural places.  Loads of 2nd hand available for 1000 euro up.  Dont worry about the age, its condition you are looking at.  How many hours ?  A good make simple 40 year old with 8000hrs (1k - 3k euro) could be just what you need ?  Alternatively, if you are going to be doing alot of tractor work, a more complex 20 yr old with 3000 hrs (5k euro +) would be a better choice.  Check out ebay and the local papers, loads of stuff available and some bargains too, but as always keep your wits about you.  Many a farmer is looking to make money and ripping of those english seems to be a favourite sport !  The problem with not buying local is transport.  Many tractors weigh 2 tonne minimum (not Chinese though - says something I think) and not many cars can tow at that weight.  Don't forget the price of tractor tyres when you buy 2nd hand (ouch !). If all you want is to mow 8000m2, then look at the big sit-on mowers with a proper transmission, could be just the thing ?   However, if you do get a tractor, a benne(transport box) makes a great wheel barrow replacement and there is always something else to buy.  You find you suddenly have the means to prepare large areas of ground, make and turn big bonfires etc etc etc - I'm currently in the market for a giro, 800 euro min ! A word of warning.  Get someone to show you how to drive the tractor as they do not handle like a car and sadly, accidents (nasty ones) are all too frequent.  Do a Google on tractor accidents / tractor roll overs / tractor bias weighting and prepare to be shocked.  A ROPS is no good if the seat belt is not used or working ....

I suspect that a car with the fog light on the "wrong" in the UK would fail an MOT, whilst a car with the fog light on the "wrong" side in France will pass a CT. This is so annoying, because of cheap skate car manufacturers saviung a few £€$, if they would just fit a pair of fogs and a pair of reverse lights, all would be good.  But no, thet save that money by making LHD and RHD specific wiring looms and you cannot swap around.  To get the fog/reverse lights reversed you will need the correct lamp lenses and also to run some cable between the 2 [:(] The respective laws for car lights are complex and different from one country to the next.  For example, I own a 4x4 with a spare tyre on the back door, now would you believe it, but because, at a certain angle the RHS rear light is obstucted, the manufacturer has to fit lights in the bumper !!  I'm looking for a pair of rear lights that include all so that I can get rid of those pesky bumper lights (Spain or was it Afica spec ebay is a wonderful thing !) .  I'll bet a CT inspector doesn't even notice [6]

I've been searching for some time for a supply of a liquid sterilizing fluid such as Milton, the tablets would do, but prefer the fluid.  I need to sterilize some large plastic buckets used for jam/jelly prep and honey storage, so the fluid needs to be odourless and food safe.  Milton is ideal, as used by many a beer/wine maker, and of course those baby bottles !  But can I find it in France ?  I've even tried a Chemist and they said they could order something, but not quite sure just what and as our French is not up to understanding subtle details, I walked.   So, anyone know of a source of food grade sterilizing fluid, or is it that its just not used in France - I can't believe that ......  Or maybe they just rely on steam ?

With all this talk of pickled walnuts I feel I must mention that they are, well shall I just say, an acquired taste [:P]

and yes it would pass a CT with RHD headlights.  You just get some words on the CT telling you that they dont conform to french regs.   Not sure what happens when you go for CT no 2 if you haven't changed them by then though [:D] It worth noting that the rear lights on many UK cars dont conform to french regs - the fog and reverse lights are the wrong way around, but no one mentions that one !