Cowvahlo

Member
Due to work, kids, a divorce (yippee) I've somewhat neglected my poor Landy. She's been left standing for 18mths and the time has come where I can work on her.

Question is, what should I do to give her the once over before attempting to start her?

I'm assuming change and check all fluids and levels and I'm guessing the brakes are going to take some freeing, is there anything else?

Thanks in advance.
 
My experience is that you just do a cursory fluids check, and try to start it. I'm amazed by how many just do!.....
Just exercise the systems:-
Brake pedal hard? Pump the clutch - if it feels right, engage a low gear and find bite. Engage reverse...... I usually try and move seized drum brakes backwards first to avoid any self servoing.
 
My experience is that you just do a cursory fluids check, and try to start it. I'm amazed by how many just do!.....
Just exercise the systems:-
Brake pedal hard? Pump the clutch - if it feels right, engage a low gear and find bite. Engage reverse...... I usually try and move seized drum brakes backwards first to avoid any self servoing.
Champion, my gut feeling is that she won't take much starting but could be completely wrong!
Would you change the fluids (oil, etc) or just top up? Tbh most of the oil is now in a congealed mess underneath the landrover so will need topping up anyway.
 
Check it has oil. You don't really need to fuss much. 18 months is not really a long time.
I had one petrol ono start second spin after hand priming the carb with the pump. It had been sitting at the back of a barn for 13 years. It clattered like crazy until the oil moved, then worked - unserviced by the owner - for another five years before the heel on the points wore away.......
 
I think my 19j had sat for two years when I got my hands on it, there was the biggest cloud of black smoke I've seen for ages so make sure your neighbours windows are closed
 
Where has it stood for the 18 months did it have plenty of anti freeze in it .
Check water level 1st as if it has frozen could have water in cylinders ie block crack or gasket failure.
If water level ok I would take supply of stop solenoid and turn engine over to move oil around 1st then refit and go for a start.
 
Where has it stood for the 18 months did it have plenty of anti freeze in it .
Check water level 1st as if it has frozen could have water in cylinders ie block crack or gasket failure.
If water level ok I would take supply of stop solenoid and turn engine over to move oil around 1st then refit and go for a start.
She's been stood outside the house on the street, luckily there was plenty of antifreeze in as if just changed all the oil, water, etc about a month before I stopped using her.

What do you mean by take supply of stop solenoid?
 
Pull the wire off the stop solenoid on the injection pump so engine will not start this allows you to turn it over with starter motor to get some oil to flow.
Then refit and start.
 
Well, pleased to report that once I topped the oil and water up I gave her a go...plenty of charge still in the battery and abbot 10 seconds of turning over (one key turn) she fired up!! Very little smoke out the back, sounded sweet as anything, brakes fine as well, nowhere near as seized as I thought.

Can't wait to give her a run out again!
 
Well, pleased to report that once I topped the oil and water up I gave her a go...plenty of charge still in the battery and abbot 10 seconds of turning over (one key turn) she fired up!! Very little smoke out the back, sounded sweet as anything, brakes fine as well, nowhere near as seized as I thought.
I'm not in the slightest bit surprised. Pleased for you though!
 

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