Nothing's ever easy is it.......

[nick_the_fish]

We're off to Spain and France this summer so I thought I would finally get around to changing the front numberplate to an EU compliant one. I'm currently 4 hours in and still going.......

 

[felix2566]

Is it really worth it?

 

[Grimbo]

We're off to Spain and France this summer so I thought I would finally get around to changing the front numberplate to an EU compliant one. I'm currently 4 hours in and still going.......

This is why I generally avoid quoting for jobs on old Ag and Plant kit...... "just jobs" got to love them .;-)

 

[Shayne]

How do you do that then ?

Must it have a Union Jack and a target on it

 

[Bob]

UK plates just stand out massively on the continent. Irish cars kind of go incognito in France especially as the font and layout is fairly similar. I can't possibly think of any other reason in the whole universe why French police catch UK cars speeding.. not even one...

 

[frank rabbets]

Years ago I needed a plate in France. Simply went to nearest garage and they printed one off. Perhaps easier to get one abroad. More regs now though I expect.

 

[Towpack]

Why not just stick one of those UK stickers on the back and peel it off when you get back? Much cheaper and a lot less faff, even without things going wrong.

 

[nick_the_fish]

Yeah, in hindsight I wish I had used the stickers on the front. The rear plate failed the MOT a few years ago so I brought a pair of EU compliant plates, and with the back one already on I figured I 'just' put the front one. The whole thing has been a bloody farce.

 

[Towpack]

Yeah, in hindsight I wish I had used the stickers on the front. The rear plate failed the MOT a few years ago so I brought a pair of EU compliant plates, and with the back one already on I figured I 'just' put the front one. The whole thing has been a bloody farce.

"Just"..........practically guaranteed to put the kybosh on any job!

 

[frank rabbets]

I rebuild 100 year + clock movements. I get people ask if I can have a quick look at their clock which has stopped. Usually because it has never been cleaned. I now refuse. Also, can you have a quick look at my leaking tap. Simple, not really, because every plumbing connection will shear. I refuse.

 

[GeekOKent]

What exactly makes a plate EU angry but is ok in the UK ?

 

[Bob]

I am also interested, forgive my ignorance, as to why this is so problematic to change a plate

 

[LandcruisingFarmer]

Unless it has changed since last summer, the plate needs to have UK and the flag on it I think. Our Volvo has older EU and stars plates, so needed to put a UK sticker on the back door like we used to do. Otherwise no problem. Never been stopped for speeding in France yet….sometimes not for lack of trying.

 

[GeekOKent]

I have a GB sticker, will that no longer work?

 

[LandcruisingFarmer]

I have a GB sticker, will that no longer work?

I think it has to be UK. For what reason who knows.

 

[Shayne]

3 weeks ago I said it’s just a broken driveshaft I will do it for you , Mercedes vito van .

Quite aside it’s all original maybe 15 years old and I needed a 3ft scaffold pole to undo every nut the APEC complete driveshaft with cv,s separated by accident and the cv bearings fell out !?!

No way to get them back in the cage so I could reassemble so your man took it back to the shop who agreed it shouldn’t happen and so replaced the whole shaft .

Careful not to separate I fought like hell to get the shaft far enough into the diff to satisfy myself but fail , jacking up the rear end to spin the wheels even even using the engine to do didn’t help . And so stupidly I put it all back together thinking if I drive back and forth gently a few times it might find its seat .

Managed about 10ft before it popped out .

Once again wheel , brake disk , calliper , wishbone all had to be removed to get the shaft out .

The bloody brand new snap ring had broke in half prevent splines going in !

When asked what he owes me I said a million pound but sad fact is it was maybe 4 hours work if APEC parts weren’t rubbish which is not his fault .