In case you were wondering where I had got to, I've had an excellent fortnight on both the Isle of Wight and Cornwall. 2500km and the aircon has had some real hammer. No complaints from the Townace except that the ball in the clinometer has started to rotate to the right. I get to see the gauge about once every 200 miles. Yes it's laughable but has anyone stripped one of these things yet? If so any handy tips to pass on? The compass has never worked properly either so I may as well scrap the whole pod if it's not fixable.

regards
Ian

- (#5280) Ian Dunse, 27 Aug 02

Ian, I've seen pictures of one. The globe is geared to a pair of brass bob- weights. Sounds like one has come loose or something.

- (#5281) david miller, 27 Aug 02

Until I got my Masterace, I always thought that this was one of those "lie detector" devices for American Presidents. No wonder they are a bit dodgy.
Lucky you Ian. I expect that very steep hill out of Ventnor gave your clinometer a bit of hammer. I know that my Masterace struggled a bit earler in the year in sunny IOW.
I am due to strip mine down because I have busted one of the adjusting knobs (not that they seem to do much good). If anything dramatic is revealed, I'll let you know.

- (#5282) John Davis, 27 Aug 02

Thanks guys. I think its a job to be left for a rainy, Sunday afternoon. While the sun shines, the grass needs cutting, weeds pulling .......

Ventnor, Blackgang, yes some pretty steep hills round there, could have been one of them.
BTW Townies were as common as cabbages on the IOW this year yet only saw the one in Cornwall, plenty of Spaces though. Funny that.
- (#5294) Ian Dunse, 28 Aug 02

I've just bought a Royal Lounge with one. It has spun right round 180 deg (was ok when I got it). Appears to have a groove in the back I presume should prevent it turning, how the hell you get it back though????? Still when the lights are on at night it's nearly bright enough to light the passenger seat. As for the compass, when I switch the ignition on it spins wildly then just seems to stop at some random point and stay there.

- (#5528) Dave B, 13 Sep 02

finally got around to having a look at the clinometer. sure enough it's a plastic ball rotating within another plastic ball separated by a thin film of transparent oil. this appears to be filled via a filler hole which is then plugged with a wax seal. a groove in the back of the inner ball suggests some form of guide on the inside of the outer ball. it's all sealed up and can't be stripped of course. i had the idea of drilling and inserting a peg, which i araldited in position to restrict the rotation of the ball to its intended path. trouble is when i got the ball back in the correct position for matching up with the gauge, it stuck. possibly due to the original peg that came adrift. i don't know. anyway at least it looks better in a fixed position than looking like a "wobbly eye".

the upshot is that the fix should have worked but didn't and despite these things being sealed. wonder how much a replacement would be, and if i could source one ..... ?

- (#5854) Ian Dunse, 16 Oct 02

Ian - Mitzi Shogun and Pjaro or whatever they are called have them - looks similar, may be one of the same make/design and more chance of finding one in a scrappy.

- (#5855) Clive, 17 Oct 02

Oh right thanks Clive. I'm sure these things are the first to get ripped off but useful to know. Maybe one of these yards that strip down themselves and you buy off the shelf, may be a better bet.

- (#5856) Ian Dunse, 17 Oct 02