Hi - have been to seen a series 2 barnfind in Devon. Very straight, was parked up in early 1980's with gearbox fault. Its all there. But, it just stinks!! Been in the family since new. Great grandson thinks great great father used some whale grease, but even playing in the barn as kids they said it sticks. Any ideas on what it could be? Driving home thinking about it as its £££££!!
I guess I asked a silly question........having used trusty Google, it does appear that fish oil was used as a very cheap rust inhibitor, although this does read as tho it was in Australia. The S2 is not that far from Plymouth, so perhaps easy access. I dunno. I'll keep questions strictly technical in future!
Turboman
Mab An Gov
Damp, rotten seat squabs, cat pee, stuff left inside that has gone off.
Hang a Mr Turtle in it for a bit, that will cover it up.
If it is OK in other ways, it shouldn't be a deal breaker. Ask for some money off because of the smell.
Not heard about fish oil before, but i guess fish don't rust!!
No question is stupid if you don't know the answer! Though if you think it's stupid then we have a speshul thread for that!!
Turboman
Mab An Gov
The oil from pressing pilchards was used for just about everything in old Cornwall.
Probably where the Aussies got the habit, many Cornish people emigrated to Oz.
But fish oil won't smell once it has dried off, so I doubt if that is the answer.
We once found a part eaten portion of fish and chips in the back of an old car, that didn't smell too good.
But Mr Turtle sorted it!
Thanks Turboman. Its definetly fish - the whole vehicle, I mean all of it! Its sat in a stone barn, in a field on the edge of dartmoor and fxxk all around it apart from moorland. Unless a sheep or pony has been taking a **** on it hourly, I cant comprehend the smell. Thats said, very very original - I've now read that fish oil was used to treat rust (well, there was very little externally), so suspect its in the box sections. Its too much £££££ for me, so I think it'll come to the market via an auction house shortly.
The oil from pressing pilchards was used for just about everything in old Cornwall.
Probably where the Aussies got the habit, many Cornish people emigrated to Oz.
But fish oil won't smell once it has dried off, so I doubt if that is the answer.
We once found a part eaten portion of fish and chips in the back of an old car, that didn't smell too good.
But Mr Turtle sorted it!
Well that all sounds about right - pilchardf!. Oz is hot, so perhaps it does dry there - Dartmoor was bleeding freezin and wet earlier. I got some smell on my hands from typically crawling around, then touched my trousers and then my jacket. The chassis had some surface rust unusually, but nothing major. Whilst driving up the M5 and now thinking about it, it was particulary smelly at the front end, where I am now guessing that pilchard juice has mixed with decades of mud, hay dust (stone barn used to store hay to feed sheep off moor if snow hits) and its all tacky.
Think your answer wins the prize of naff all, save my since thanks in resolving this. I'll be giving the owner a ring out of courtesy in the morning and explain what I've uncovered from you fine fellas - if you can say fellas now.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
Very unlikely to be pilchard oil, as the Westcountry Pilchard fishery has been extinct for a long time.
I suspect that freelances reply regarding animal urine, of one, or several species, is more likely close to the mark.
Dartmoor is freezing cold in the winter, and the farmers there are well known for not spending any money if they don't have to.
So the vehicle is unlikely to have been well looked after prior to laying up.
So I suspect you are wise to give it a swerve.
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
Its not the smell that would put me off buying it, its the probability of needing a new gearbox and anything else yet unknown. Unless you can source a cheap box and have the resources to change/fix it.
Col
Col
Many thanks for all the interesting comments. I've now spoken with the owner whom has learnt from a great uncle living in Princetown, Dartmoor that they regulary covered their farm vehicles with a primitaive chassis treatment which was bought in barrels from Newton Abbot. They understood it was a mineral oil and thinned it with fuel - but produced from what, they dont know. Vehicles were parked on railway sleepers and it was sprayed everywhere on farm vehicals. It was cheap and recommended to them from a German POW who was put on the farm. I wont be purchasing it but they will bring it to the market via an auction house. It is a real beaut, but too much £££.
Simon Perks
Active Member
It's a Landy, just get a pressure washer and go for it inside and out ...
I'd rather have your problem than the one I ended up with. When I bought my Lightweight there was thick grease/mud/sand caked on everything. A friend works at the local council lorry maintenance yard, and invited me to take it down there to use their lorry chassis wash set up - an amazing bit of kit. It did the job fairly well, but for the months I drove it before the complete rebuild it had an eye-watering smell of dog shite. It turned out that the run off from the council's dog waste heap had got into the tank for the chassis wash.
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Turboman
Mab An Gov
Any info on the preservative qualities of diluted dog turds?
Tbh I fell completely out of love with it at that point, and spent as little time as possible anywhere near it, so no idea. But there are a number of people to whom I'd strongly recommend it
