My lovely Austin Metro has finally been packed off to the scrapyard and I've
bought a cheap Citron AX as a replacement.
Of the many things wrong with it, the most frustrating has been the spare
wheel cage. The securing bolt had been tightened up to the limit of the
thread and seized in that position. After spending all day trying to shift
it with the lousy wheel brace supplied, I finally bought a nice strong
hacksaw blade and sawed through the cage and (eventually) the bolt.
Replacing them with bits from a scrapyard.
Daft design, if you ask me. If you must have the spare underneath the car,
then at least give the screw that holds it a nice hexagonal head to grab
hold of like Ford. Better still, stick it in the boot floor like a metro...
I've smeared the new bolt with lots of grease and not tightened it anywhere
near as tight as the old one.
What can I do now to stop it from seizing again?
Also, how do I stop the local scallies from sawing through the cage and
stealing the spare?

David.

(Reluctant owner of a French car)

The message <dbbifj$kgm$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>
from "David Linley"  contains these words:


> What can I do now to stop it from seizing again?


Copper grease - it's exactly the sort of thing it's intended for.


> Also, how do I stop the local scallies from sawing through the cage and
> stealing the spare?


Chain it up.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

"Guy King"  wrote in message
news:313030303432373942D962B863@zetnet.co.uk...

> The message <dbbifj$kgm$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>
> from "David Linley"  contains these words:
>
> > What can I do now to stop it from seizing again?
>
> Copper grease - it's exactly the sort of thing it's intended for.


Sorry to disagree Guy, but the bolts don't sieze, metal to metal, which is
what copper grease is bsically designed to prevent. They sieze due to
corrosion from being sprayed with water, salt laden in winter, coupled with
lack of use over a period.
Copper grease gives little protection against corrosion in a hostile
environment. More than no lubricant at all, but like most greases it gets
washed off if frequently sprayed with water. Better protection is given by
using a waterproof grease. Doesn't wash away or emulsify, even in running
water.
Mike.

David Linley wrote:


> My lovely Austin Metro has finally been packed off to the scrapyard and
> I've bought a cheap Citron AX as a replacement.
> Of the many things wrong with it, the most frustrating has been the spare
> wheel cage. The securing bolt had been tightened up to the limit of the
> thread and seized in that position. After spending all day trying to shift
> it with the lousy wheel brace supplied, I finally bought a nice strong
> hacksaw blade and sawed through the cage and (eventually) the bolt.
> Replacing them with bits from a scrapyard.
> Daft design, if you ask me. If you must have the spare underneath the car,
> then at least give the screw that holds it a nice hexagonal head to grab
> hold of like Ford. Better still, stick it in the boot floor like a
> metro... I've smeared the new bolt with lots of grease and not tightened
> it anywhere near as tight as the old one.
> What can I do now to stop it from seizing again?


Motorcycle chain lubricant spray. Sticks like..... er.... grease to a
motorcycle chain!



> Also, how do I stop the local scallies from sawing through the cage and
> stealing the spare?


Carry it in the boot?
 

> David.
> 
> (Reluctant owner of a French car)


-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

The message <42d961a6$0$6269$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net>
from "Mike G"  contains these words:


> Copper grease gives little protection against corrosion in a hostile
> environment.


I used to use it on LDV Convoys which had a drop-down spare wheel which
was far more exposed than the one on Citroens - just behind the front
wheel. Some of 'em stayed there for four or five years (check the
pressures with an extension wossname) and they came down no trouble at
all and still had plenty of copper grease in 'em. I've used it on cars
with the same results, too. 

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

"David Linley"  wrote in message 
news:dbbifj$kgm$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...

> My lovely Austin Metro has finally been packed off to the scrapyard and 
> I've
> bought a cheap Citron AX as a replacement.
> Of the many things wrong with it, the most frustrating has been the spare
> wheel cage. The securing bolt had been tightened up to the limit of the
> thread and seized in that position. After spending all day trying to shift
> it with the lousy wheel brace supplied, I finally bought a nice strong
> hacksaw blade and sawed through the cage and (eventually) the bolt.
> Replacing them with bits from a scrapyard.
> Daft design, if you ask me. If you must have the spare underneath the car,
> then at least give the screw that holds it a nice hexagonal head to grab
> hold of like Ford. Better still, stick it in the boot floor like a 
> metro...
> I've smeared the new bolt with lots of grease and not tightened it 
> anywhere
> near as tight as the old one.
> What can I do now to stop it from seizing again?
> Also, how do I stop the local scallies from sawing through the cage and
> stealing the spare?
>

Very common Citroen problem. I've had a couple seize. Once you've got it 
replaced make sure everything is lubricated as others have said. Secondly 
the thingummy that the screw screws up is basically a bent bit of mild steel 
so you might be able to strighten it to release the wheel (At least on 
Xantias, BXs, XMs and Pug 106s it is).I drove around for ages with the wheel 
held on the secondary catch and the cage secured by a few lengths of 
electrical cable passed back into the boot via the hole where the screw used 
to be after I treated it to Mr Angle Grinder.

-- 
Malc

"Your mother can't climb stairs"
Dalek playground taunt

"Guy King"  wrote in message
news:313030303432373942D978DA22@zetnet.co.uk...

> The message <42d961a6$0$6269$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net>
> from "Mike G"  contains these words:
>
> > Copper grease gives little protection against corrosion in a hostile
> > environment.
>
> I used to use it on LDV Convoys which had a drop-down spare wheel which
> was far more exposed than the one on Citroens - just behind the front
> wheel. Some of 'em stayed there for four or five years (check the
> pressures with an extension wossname) and they came down no trouble at
> all and still had plenty of copper grease in 'em. I've used it on cars
> with the same results, too.


I believe you. I can't argue against your personal experience.
All I can say say, is that I use a waterproof grease at work to protect
bright steel mould inserts, which are cooled by a flow of water at mains
pressure. Even after months of 24/7 running, when removed, the inserts show
no signs of rust, and still have their coating of grease.
I don't know of any conventional grease, including copper based ones, that
could withstand that sort of treatment without getting emusified and washed
away.
Hence my suggestion.
Mike.

The message <42d97af4$0$6306$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net>
from "Mike G"  contains these words:


> I don't know of any conventional grease, including copper based ones, that
> could withstand that sort of treatment without getting emusified and washed
> away.


Fair enough. Waterproof grease is splendid stuff - used in in trailer
bearings one and got some on a pair of jeans - never got it off.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

Thanks for all the advice so far.
I've used copper grease.
Hopefully with regular checks it won't seize again.

David.

"David Linley"  wrote in message 
news:dbbifj$kgm$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...

> My lovely Austin Metro has finally been packed off to the scrapyard and 
> I've
> bought a cheap Citron AX as a replacement.
> Of the many things wrong with it, the most frustrating has been the spare
> wheel cage. The securing bolt had been tightened up to the limit of the
> thread and seized in that position. After spending all day trying to shift
> it with the lousy wheel brace supplied, I finally bought a nice strong
> hacksaw blade and sawed through the cage and (eventually) the bolt.
> Replacing them with bits from a scrapyard.
> Daft design, if you ask me. If you must have the spare underneath the car,
> then at least give the screw that holds it a nice hexagonal head to grab
> hold of like Ford. Better still, stick it in the boot floor like a 
> metro...
> I've smeared the new bolt with lots of grease and not tightened it 
> anywhere
> near as tight as the old one.
> What can I do now to stop it from seizing again?
> Also, how do I stop the local scallies from sawing through the cage and
> stealing the spare?
>
> David.
>
> (Reluctant owner of a French car)
>
>


If you were a boat owner you'd use a stainless steel bolt, preferably with a 
stainless nut too. Seawater is a major source of corrosion and stainless 
items are commonly used on boats. You'd have protection against the salt on 
the roads in winter.

Rob Graham

"Guy King"  wrote in message
news:313030303432373942DA287D89@zetnet.co.uk...

> The message <42d97af4$0$6306$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net>
> from "Mike G"  contains these words:
>
> > I don't know of any conventional grease, including copper based ones,
that
> > could withstand that sort of treatment without getting emusified and
washed
> > away.
>
> Fair enough. Waterproof grease is splendid stuff - used in in trailer
> bearings one and got some on a pair of jeans - never got it off.


We're not interested in your sexual exploits, thank you.
Mike.

The message <42da6fc0$0$35815$892e7fe2@authen.white.readfreenews.net>
from "Mike G"  contains these words:


> > Fair enough. Waterproof grease is splendid stuff - used in in trailer
> > bearings one and got some on a pair of jeans - never got it off.

> We're not interested in your sexual exploits, thank you.


Tried a really harsh scrubber, too.

-- 
Skipweasel.
Ivor Cutler - "Never knowingly understood."

David Linley wrote:


> Also, how do I stop the local scallies from sawing through the cage and
> stealing the spare?


Don't worry, they won't bother their arses sawing, its much easier just 
to bend the bracket at the end of the bolt out of the way.

Douglas