Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

Wrecknett · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 15:44 Post subject:

Hi Pete Nice machine quick question who fitted your towbar, it is the same as mine except mine is twisted and can I h*** get it straight.

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petemillis · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 709 Location: Brighton, UK

Fitted the towbar myself. When I first offered it up I thought it was going to be wrong so revisited the fitting instructions and figured it out properly.
Did you fit yours or get someone else to do it? There are a couple of spacer pieces and if these are put in the wrong places then the towbar will be a bit wonkey donkey or droopy.
PM me if you like.
_________________
Pete
1995 Delica Space Gear Exceed (PE8W) in LaGuardia silver with chrome tints and BIG round things.

Wrecknett · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 21:20 Post subject:

Hi Pete yes it is down on one side but can not see why . Your square bar at the back seems to be sitting correctly mine is down at one side and tilted back. looking at it the holes seem to be drilled wrong cos if I take out one bolt at each side I can level it up. The guy who fitted it a large towbar fitting set up in my area said it came from Watling towbars.
Dave

petemillis · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 709 Location: Brighton, UK

Dave, give me a call tomorrow morning on 01273 382456 and we can compare fitting live! It sounds to me like spacers have been put on in the wrong place. I initially thought the end plates had been drilled wrong and ended up drilling 2 more holes myself, before realising I'd put 2 of the spacers in the wrong place. I'd be happy to talk to you about it.
_________________
Pete
1995 Delica Space Gear Exceed (PE8W) in LaGuardia silver with chrome tints and BIG round things.

Wrecknett · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 19:59 Post subject:

Hi pete Thanks for that will ring when I can, I am at work tomorrow until about 14.00 but will ring until I catch you in . I can see what you mean if I put 2 spacers in 1 side and 1 in the other that might level it up.
Thanks Dave

Oldskool Beat · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 19:33 Post subject:

Hi Wrecknett

My towbar is also Watlings.

The dealer fitted it and it looked just like yours sounds :? if you know what I mean Laughing

I got in touch with Watlings and they refitted it for me (free of charge :D )
just had to take my Deli to them 8)
_________________
Beat Smile

I will not be held responsible for any loss of limbs or any other damage to Deli' or persons.
I am in no way a mechanic or auto electrician.
Just trying to help ;)
L400 LWB with toys headbang

Wrecknett · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 19:51 Post subject:

Hi Beat I am at the other end of the country to Watlings I think. I can see what is wrong I think but it has been sprung ito place and the bolts tightened. I need a full day at it to study it. If I could drop the left hand bracket on the eye down that would do for now. Pete might have the instructions. Just seen a L reg Super Exceed for sale up here with blinds wish I could win the lottery. I have got to go and have a look.
Dave

Oldskool Beat · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 19:58 Post subject:

Might be worth seeing if mine is fitted the same as Pete's.
The LWB model is slightly different on the chassie tho' :?
_________________
Beat Smile

I will not be held responsible for any loss of limbs or any other damage to Deli' or persons.
I am in no way a mechanic or auto electrician.
Just trying to help ;)
L400 LWB with toys headbang

Dave C · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 731 Location: Northants

fitted a watlings bar to my L300 and had to slot one of the holes slightly to true it up,may weld it all together to prevent any movement in future
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Star Wagon super exceed auto(Now sadly gone),Galaxy Ghia 130,Hyundai i800

Wrecknett · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 21:25 Post subject:

Yip Dave C I think I will have to slot mine on one side

Dave C · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 731 Location: Northants

did it for me added repair washer and then star type lock washer.Good luck
_________________
Star Wagon super exceed auto(Now sadly gone),Galaxy Ghia 130,Hyundai i800

Ginja Nutz · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 347 Location: Norwich,

Hi,
When I fitted mine, I had to file the towing eyes to flatten them to allow the spacers to fit properly against them.
I also found I needed a spacer on each side (about 10mm high) where the 'Z' shape bracket bolt through the chassis - I used large square M10 roofing washer from B&Q to do this.
Once I sorted these points, it all came together and is upright and square. :D

I decided to assemble it on the floor before I fitted it - just as well 'cos there was a spacer missing !

_________________
Any information in this posting is correct to the best of my knowledge and I accept no resposibilty for any actions or results based upon it.©

Wrecknett · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 22:39 Post subject:

Cool Ginja thats exactly what they have done to mine . Now I see said the blind man. That would tilt it staight and if I drop the left side thats it.
Cooooooo Laughing

Wrecknett · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 22:43 Post subject:

Ginja You do have to drill the top hole in the loop at each side cos i will have to slot one of them, cos they have been drilled.
Dave

petemillis · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 709 Location: Brighton, UK

I think the "putting it together on the floor thing" doesn't help it go on straight. Provided the spacers and bar go onto the towing eyes correctly it will be straight. You then put on the bracing bars last and crank them up really tight . If you have these on first then it makes it REALLY difficult to fit the tow bar brackets in the correct place and you can't level up the bar properly..
_________________
Pete
1995 Delica Space Gear Exceed (PE8W) in LaGuardia silver with chrome tints and BIG round things.

Ginja Nutz · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 347 Location: Norwich,

Pete's right - The last parts to fit are the 'Z' bars (as per their instructions). (In fact I didn't get the job done in one go, so drove around for a week with these missing one).
They have to be 'persuaded' into postion, but their shape will allow you to tension the bar once you've got the bolt to line up with the hole on the chassis.
I found fitting the washers I mentioned earlier allowed it to fit flat against the chassis, thus allowing the fixing bolt to line up 'square'.

I only assembled it on the floor to make sure I had all the bits and also to get it straight in my mind which bits went where.

I slotted only one of the LH bracket M8 clearence hole by 1mm or 2mm to get a good fit (if I remeber correctly).
I found it was better to assemble it with all the fixings 'loose'. Then tighten them up in turn, making sure the bar stayed square. The 'Z' shape brackets do not affect the attitude of the towbar. They add the 'belt and braces' to the towing eye fixings.

Before any of this, I drilled and tapped a series of M6 holes, and used cable clips to secure the cable, rather than tiewrapping around the whole bar.
I have also hung my foglight of the side of it, to prevent damaging the light when offroad.
The final things I did was fill (with expanding foam) the opening on the tow hitch mounting plate frame, painted the whole lot in smooth H*mmerite and the W*xoyled the bracketry underneath.

I must say now that I think the towbar is a good quality heavy duty towbar and I found Watlings extremely helpful when I contacted them about assembly and my missing part. :D
_________________
Any information in this posting is correct to the best of my knowledge and I accept no resposibilty for any actions or results based upon it.©

Wrecknett · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 22:01 Post subject: Last Towbar Post

Hi everyone I think I have got it, it needs to be dropped down to the bottom of the eye on the passenger side so I will take the second bolt out and elongate the hole good word I used to be a toolmaker 200 years ago. Thanks Beat and Dave C I will ring tomorrow Pete
Dave

alan S · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Gosport Hants

Hi all
we have got the same hardware on ours,fitted at the dealers (badly) and had the same problems plus it wasn't even bolted though the tow eyes!
I feel the Z bars where they meet the chassis rails could be a weak point but I have not seen any distortion as yet.
we have probable covered about 1000-1200 miles towing and not needed to retighten/adjust any fixings.

regards
Alan
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Alan & Christine
94 Space Gear Exceeds
Green over grey deceased
Silver delivered
It's not DELICAte
founding member? of the rollover group

terriermad · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Forest of Dean

Towequipe have changed the design of there towbar so that it no loger has to be fitted to the towing eye as this is what causes the most problems,its very neat and took me under an hour to fit,no bad for a woman!,so anyone looking for a towbar i Can't recommend them highly enough

Wrecknett · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 18:53 Post subject:

Just spoken to Pete by phone, its okay I have got it it sorted . It will be fixed Alan. Has your gearbox been fixed.