Servicing Ramp

For the benifit of Mouseflakes and any one else that's interested, I have attached some pictures of my ramp. If you look at them its self explanitory, I have used it for 30 years + and I think the wood needs replacing! Its just the right height for working on the brakes/suspension and I have a stool which I can sit on work underneath.

Peter.N.

This post has been edited by Peter.N. on July 07, 2007 04:37 pm

I hope you are not planning to replace the current planks by modern scaffold planks. I wouldn't even risk standing over that sort of gap after 3 years, much less 30!

I could do with something like that - your making me jealous.


This post has been edited by Assich on July 07, 2007 07:58 pm

No. Theres a local timber yard that has some 9" X 4" but I have yet to find an effective way of joining two pieces together, side by side. Any suggestions?

Peter.N.

Well they keep saying the wood glu is stronger than the wood itself. Sand well, stick and clamp. Maybe a few bolts with timber connectors as well would be a good idea.

I had thought of that, but don't think wood glue is very strong out in the rain, unles you know of one that's not water soluble. I had thought of deeply countersinking long screws but i'm not sure if that would be very strong - thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Peter.N.

100% waterproof wood glue (paratan eurathane glue) or (everbuild eurathane glue) they both come in a tube like silicone, the are 100% water proof, not water resistant, water proof slightly flexible and gap filling ,also will work on wood upto 30%moisture content, i prefer the everbuild version, on soft wood use on both surfaces and get them clamped or screwed before it starts to foam, you have about 10/15 mins, as its moisture cured, i use it on the ash body kits i make for the mini countryman,s/ (travelers) they will glue any porous material, non porous needs to be rough sanded to get a key, price is about £3.50 to £5.00 a tube shelf life is only a year if your lucky, i hope this helps,,,,,,,,,terry tryed to post some pics of what i laminate up but could not??

If your wood is 4" thick then you can put 10 or 12mm bolts through with timber connectors on top of the glue, they are like washers but have spike that go into the wood and stop it turning compared to the bit it has been bolted against. Use 2mm thick repair wahers. That plus waterproof glue and you should be fine.

Thanks for that information - as I have said before - you learn something new every day!

Peter.N.

Hi Peter

Forget gluing, too much effort. Nail on a couple of pieces of 4x2 to hold all together. Put one right across on top at the outer end of both sets of planks to act as a wheel stop. Put the other underneath at the headwall. They will both hold each pair of planks together and hold the two sets to wheel gauge. If you are really pernikity then drill right through vertically and put in some 8 inch coach bolts. If you are going to be that particular then you ought to ultasonically test the wall thickness on your 30 year old oil drums in case they are going to collapse through internal rusting.

Regards

John

I bet it's exciting driving it on!

Looks ideal Peter - thanks.

In fact, you seem to have plenty of space to work on/store cars there - if that was my drive it would be chock full of (probably immobile) French tat (or as much as my wife would tolerate!!).

John - I've been through two pairs of oil drums already!

demag - Its quite tame until you get to the drums, the LH board has started to collapse. I did once drive on and fell off the edge because my brother in law had been in while I was out, and moved the boards to fit his Mini! A 4" post and trolley jack soon restored the status quo.

Mouseflakes - I can make you even more jealous - the building to the right is a double garage and behind the hedge to the left we have a 5 acre field - sorry!

Peter.N.

Plenty of room to store Xm's for the whole forum then Peter :-)

I have indeed, but I dont think that the local conservationists would be to pleased, or my wife for that matter!

Peter.N.

This post has been edited by Peter.N. on July 08, 2007 09:17 pm