A JRS project thread - 1968 Citroën ID19
- Thread starter JRS
- Start date
Oh, [insert French swearing here]...
Looks like someone in the past fitted a welded-type sphere to the accumulator - they're a bit taller than the original piece, so of course getting it back out is either a 'remove the engine' job or a 'try and remove the whole accumulator assembly off the side of the engine' job.
Not honestly certain which would be easier, but since I don't have an engine lift I can only go one way.
That's gonna add some time to the job...
Looks like someone in the past fitted a welded-type sphere to the accumulator - they're a bit taller than the original piece, so of course getting it back out is either a 'remove the engine' job or a 'try and remove the whole accumulator assembly off the side of the engine' job.
Not honestly certain which would be easier, but since I don't have an engine lift I can only go one way.
That's gonna add some time to the job...
Long time no update!
I didn't change the accumulator sphere yet because everything in hydraulic country started fully behaving itself again. And I haven't updated because honestly nothing was wrong with the car that needed any more attention that the occasional bit of soldering or crimping wouldn't fix.
Right up until I lost anything resembling fuel pressure to the carb.
Figure the fuel pump isn't pumping any more. Now, the Citroën has a nice and simple setup for this. The fuel pump is a mechanical affair, mounted to the side of the engine. And changing it should be easy, right? It's visible, not tiny, the nuts holding it on are 14mm so also reasonably chunky...
...and the front left suspension sphere makes getting a tool on them completely impossible.
Having removed the sphere (good ol' chain wrench!) I then find the steering column is also a bit close for comfort.
Running over to Toolstation later today since a) they're very local and b) I can't find my 1/4" drive extensions (3/8" and 1/2" I'm golden, no idea where my 1/4" stuff is). So, to be continued. While I'm here in fuel pump country I'll treat the car to new fuel pipework in the engine bay, and fresh spark plugs.
I didn't change the accumulator sphere yet because everything in hydraulic country started fully behaving itself again. And I haven't updated because honestly nothing was wrong with the car that needed any more attention that the occasional bit of soldering or crimping wouldn't fix.
Right up until I lost anything resembling fuel pressure to the carb.
Figure the fuel pump isn't pumping any more. Now, the Citroën has a nice and simple setup for this. The fuel pump is a mechanical affair, mounted to the side of the engine. And changing it should be easy, right? It's visible, not tiny, the nuts holding it on are 14mm so also reasonably chunky...
...and the front left suspension sphere makes getting a tool on them completely impossible.
Having removed the sphere (good ol' chain wrench!) I then find the steering column is also a bit close for comfort.
Running over to Toolstation later today since a) they're very local and b) I can't find my 1/4" drive extensions (3/8" and 1/2" I'm golden, no idea where my 1/4" stuff is). So, to be continued. While I'm here in fuel pump country I'll treat the car to new fuel pipework in the engine bay, and fresh spark plugs.
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Pics to follow, but new pump is on and pumping fuel. Marvelous concept. Doesn't half make it easier to drive with an engine that runs.
That's the room I had to work with after the suspension sphere was removed. Genuinely think it might have been easier to remove the inlet manifold...
Talking of the spheres, if you've never seen one:
One of these at each corner essentially works with a ram arm to suspend the car. Fed by hydraulic pressure built up by an engine driven pump and maintained by a pressure regulator. Inside there's a diaphragm with nitrogen gas one side, the hydraulic mineral oil on the other.
Meanwhile, I changed the plugs. Here's what I found:
Reckon this old girl might have been running a tad rich on these plugs at some point?
***edit***
Picture size improved a bit.
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