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This is my new project, a Sachs Diesel Howard Gem. I wasn't going to do anymore Gems for a while, however through my Website I was offered this one totally free of charge, and whats more its a runner! I've decided to restore this one on a limited budget, - ideally under £100,as in the past I've tended to get carried away with my machines, I think Keri would have a fit if she saw what I spent on G206. It arrived in my yard today, upuntil then I hadn't even seen it. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is. If it hadn't already been repainted, I may of left it as it was.

What revs are the engine doing, most hydraulic packs are designed to run at just over 3000rpm. Try letting the engine warm up for a full 3 minutes before moving the load lever across. Looking at the photo it looks like a 5 Hp Honda? These work very hard to run hydraulics. Also if it still stalls I'd whip the head off a grind in the exhaust valve. Its a pity your not closer to me as I could put my flow gauges in the line and see exactly what is happening.

Thankyou for your kind offer of help, after reading your post the other day I have already put things in hand with them. Will have to see how it goes as all insurance company's are loading the premium.

About 5 years ago I purchased two hayterettes on eBay for about £20 in the end of Febuary. The one was a runner and the other I wanted as it was a 1960's example. I waited about a fourtnight until people started cutting their grass and I sold the runner back on eBay for nearly £90. Wish I could have luck like that all the time.

I can think of a few more choice words!

I've tried basically everyone. Some are even declining to cover me. At the end of the day it's a 1.7 diesel, the same as I've been driving for the last 5 years without incident. I'm 36, I've Got 5 years no claims on this, 3 other policies with 5- 10 years no claims, plus I'm insured on 4 other vechicles. I live in a low rated crime zone.The last time I had an accident was in 1999. I don't know what the hell is going on. I've also got the settlement letter from their insurance accepting full liability and the report from the police stating they are pursing the 3 red party for a careless driving conviction! The other thing is even though I've had rear seats in the written off one for five years, and bar one insurer I've never till now even had an eyebrow raised, suddenly it's become a big no-no to insure them! If anyone else is hit by a 3rd party make sure their insurance gives you at least a couple of grand to cover the insurance hikes!

Well, not happy to say the least. Just come take out new insurance and have been told that because I've been involved in an accident- even though the other party admitted full liability, that my premium has basically doubled!!! I've tried all the online site and the local brokers and they are all coming back the same!!! Apparently because I was driving home and hit buy a young twat I'm more of a risk to cover!!! Life's a real bitch at times!

Sounds a good idea! Maybe a few Bond type gadgets will keep them away in the future. Lol

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For anyone who's interested ,today I managed to purchase an almost identical van on a 61 plate. The one big plus is this one has aircon, which my smashed one was sadly missing. Just got to collect it next weekend and then fit the rear seats over Christmas. This newer one is even tidier so will hopefully be around for a long time to come. Just got to watch out for low flying Passats! Lol

Thanks, I'd rather of not had the hassle but if you work it out the vans only lost about £300 a year scince I bought it so not so bad. The only downside is late replacement seem to of increased slightly in price, I'm guessing because Vauxhall no longer make them new.

Well, after a bit of discussion with the insurance company i think I've come out of this ok. We've agreed at just shy of £1800 plus I get to keep the remains. A big up to the assessor who spoke up for me in relation to the vans pre accident condition. Just got to find one in as good a condition as this one was, but on the plus side I've literally got a van load of spares for it.

Well the police have finally taken a statement. It turns out the looney behind the wheel was only 17. The police say they haven't got enough evidence to do him for dangerous driving but they have got enough for careless driving which will still result in a ban as he had obviously been driving for less than two years and this means disqualification at 6 points instead of 12. I have no sympathy for him at all.

with Honda carbs, two little tricks that I picked up over the years to stop the carb flooding is to take the float needle out, give it a spray in carb cleaner and then wipe the seat of the needle back and fourth a few times with some coarse rag, similar to terry nappies material. Also try refitting the carb bowl and tightening it up with the fuel turned on and running out. Don't know why but particularly the last thing seems to work well?

Well the assessor has been, he reckons it would cost at least £6,000 to repair the damage! Ouch, as the most I've seen one of these for sale is £2,000 it'll definatley be written off.

Thanks, it did make me jump a bit but I'm still here which is the main thing.

Well the latest in this saga is their insurance company rang today to say they were going to collect the van to assess it, then charge us for collection, storage and its return. You can imagine the jist of my reply! The long and short of it is they have till early next week to wrap it all up otherwise they are going to get charged for a hire van, taxis, trauma and whiplash etc. They rang back an hour later to say their assessor would be with me tomorrow morning.

It won't ever get repaired, the damage is actually worse inside the cabin, and something has twisted as the bonnet gap has moved. The little I understand about metal,it must of been seriously weekend. It was a hell of a clout at impact. The item I hope to save above everything is the rear seat conversion. It's a bit of a ball ache to remove the extra floor fitted to vans but If I've already got the complete outfit then my options to replacement vans becomes much more wide as allmost no mark 5 Astra vans were converted. I'll have to see what I get paid out but I quite fancy a sportive Astra as a replacement as the spec is much higher, but I'll probably have to put a couple of grand towards the payout.

Just been thinking, does anyone know if I have to give ownership to the insurance company when they write it off? As there is an awful lot of newish parts on this van and I'm thinking it may be worth keeping and parking up at the bottom of the yard as the replacement will be the same model? And thus give me a good source of parts.

The assessor should be coming out next week and I'll see what I can do. The one thing on my side is this has a very rare( for a h type Astra) rear seat conversion so I may be able to talk them up. They may struggle to find a decent replacement.I'll let you know what happens. However I'm going to have to get the claim wrapped up quickly as my insurance renewal is due in only about 3 weeks and until the claim is proved they will wipe out my 5 years no claims and also have a claim pending so the premium will be through the roof!

Yes the a pillars on these Astras must be made out of steel girders! It hasnt moved anywhere near as much as the bang indicated. The boy racers were in a vw Passat so not a light car by any means. The roof has given a fair bit, but the rest isn't too bad. Still drives ok, but a bit difficult to see where you're going.

The problem is that on paper the van is almost worthless, so I'm only entitled to have back what a nearly 9 year old van is worth with 160k on the clock. I bought this off the original owner with a new gearbox ( early 6 speeds had a problem with the one bearing failing prematurely)fitted , when it was less than 4 years old. It has been maintained reguardless of cost in this time, recently it's just had 4 new michealen tyres, new shocks, bushes and springs. Full service and a valeting inside and out. With the mot this came to over £500. I'm that pedantic that I even go round every month or so touching up stone chips, if there's any. It's even had a very expensive bumper protector fitted to the rear, so the load area is like new. It had full Vauxhall history up until I bought it, however it looks like it's had allmost nothing scince as I've done most of the oil changes etc myself.( every 5k) unfair I know, but what can I do?

IT happened just off the A465 about 2 miles from my work. They took a sharp bend I would estimate doing at least 70-80! Luck was obviously on my side as it could of been much worse. Only 2 nights earlier my 4 year old son was in the front seat on that very road. Looking at the damage to the roof he may not of been so lucky! With things like this I can see the arguments for raising the minimum driving age to 25 and restricting the power of the car they are allowed to drive. One problem I'm up against is even though I'm totally not at fault the insurance company will probably only give me about £700-800 for the van due to its age and highish mileage, what replacement am I going to get for that? Still at least I'm still here, that's the main thing.

Was it to his registered ebay address? if so I think you may have some protection? I could be wrong though. Also have you got a signature off the carrier stating the goods were received in good condition? If so the small claims court would probably rule in your favour.

Pre accident it was a very tidy little van.