From: Barry Lovelock
Date: 01 Nov 2002
Time: 08:51:30
Remote Name: 81.98.81.131
Bill is absolutely right about the BSW threads in the aluminium and there's no need to replace them at all - the bolts/setscrews that is - the threads in the ally have often long gone already by previous overtightenings.
As to the hub puller, it just must be screwed right on, even if it means half an hours work with a needle file restoring the threads. It makes a sickening crunch as it comes off, fortunately, the threads that are removed so forceably are usually those in the puller itself! It would be a brave man or a true engineer who would say they had never done this wrongly.
Watch out too for the minimalist engineering in lots of places. One such critical area is the riveted-on wheel studs to the hubs. They are often in the last stages of terminal failure, yet they can be made any stronger (sometime you find them welded) as there is not enough clearance to beef them up.
Don't let this put you off. One of the charms of the Seven is this very basic approach to life that maybe only vegetarians can appreciate completely - that it is possibly to build a car which is quite practical with 10 bhp and 6 cwt, whereas my new one has 231bhp and weighs 31 cwt!
Barry.