After leaving a friend home in Belfast this morning (at an ungodly 7am, to avoid the city closure due to annual marathon), on starting her up to go home, I heard an almighty metallic clatter. A quick under car inspection revealed that my exhaust had snapped it's center section, and was now dragging on the ground. If it was the back box, I'd have simply pulled it off. However, I made use of my yearly breakdown insurance at £25, and got a recovery truck to fetch us and bring us 10 miles home.

Not only that, but when home the guy then managed to suspend the broken exhaust pipe using some wire I had in my garage, so at least it's now mobile to get properly repaired. Bad timing for me as not only bank holiday weekend, but I'm being admitted to hospital on Tuesday for an operation so will be out of action for a few weeks. Oh well, she deserves the rest until i manage to get her fixed...

Sods law on the timing, but sounds like a decent recovery guy at any rate.

And speaking of recovery, best wishes for your hospital admission!

2 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Sods law on the timing, but sounds like a decent recovery guy at any rate.

And speaking of recovery, best wishes for your hospital admission!

That's very kind of you, thank you. I'm dreading making the call on Tuesday morning as instructed to ensure they still have a hospital bed free. I'm sure it'll be fine...

8 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

That's very kind of you, thank you. I'm dreading making the call on Tuesday morning as instructed to ensure they still have a hospital bed free.

When in that situation, I find myself torn between an irrational hope there won't be a bed ('cos none of us like going into hospital!) and the more rational hope that there will, because you want the issue sorted!😀

All the best, anyway!

9 hours ago, StephenFord said:

I'm being admitted to hospital on Tuesday for an operation so will be out of action for a few weeks. Oh well, she deserves the rest until i manage to get her fixed

I wish you both well and trust that you both get put back together soon. Good luck 👍

Was up on ramp this morning in my local tire/exhaust shop, apparently it's repairable but mechanic off today. Explained my health situation and manager kindly offered to collect car sometime next week, repair & return to me. I'm extremely lucky with local car services. He said the temporary repair would last ages but just be very noisy! LOL

 

Well it's official, I now own a cut'n'shut!! That's what I love about this tire place. Most would simply unbolt the faulty exhaust, throw it in the bin, and bolt on a shiny new one. This guy has an amazing talent with an angle grinder, and welder. Using off cuts of a good exhaust, he pieced together using talent, bendy bits & straight bits to make a really strong exhaust. He spent 2 hours doing it and it was a joy to watch. He also even fixed on my new 'boy racer' trim which I've had for ages. Now, down to just one car to get fixed...

 

 

 

That's what I call good service! Wouldn't consider opening a branch near me, would they?😀

The poor guy had hair when he first started looking after Stephen's car 🤣