Grumpee1 wrote:

What a day: thought I'd just blank my valves - shouldn't take long after all I've read the instructions and it seems fairly straight forward.

So into access mode and away we go; no problems with the airbox everything off, rag shoved in the intake, now for the 8mm bolts, couple of rags shoved in and out with the old draper 1/4 drive set that's been fine for 20 years. First bolt and the socket slips - must have been off square. No, its worn out! Quick search through the tool box no luck. Fortunately Screwfix is only 1.5 miles away and not all of it's uphill so, out with the pushbike, blow up the tyre and away. Time I got there I was - had to hang onto the downpipe for a while to keep from collapsing!

Got the socket, downhill on the way back - happy days.

First bolt no issues. Second bolt tight but one good crack and its gone but so is my new socket - its just disappeared, can't see it anywhere!! Start looking and end up with sump guards off, wheel off, inner wheel lining out, heat guards off - still cant find the thing. Try a magnet that sticks to everything but no socket.

Gave up when my neighbour came home and lent me his socket, the rest of the job was done without any more issues until Mrs Grumps came home and casually asked if I was sure I'd looked everywhere

My question to the collective was going to be whether there was a likely spot for the thing to be hiding, and whether it was likely to jump out and trash something as soon as I started it up. The question is now mute as when I had cleared up and went in for a beer the fridge was bare and I wasn't going to ride that pushbike to Asda!

I went for it over the speed bumps and it seems Ok - I guess time will tell

I hope you had a few beers after that

You can buy a flexible magnetic wand which has a light built into the head. I bought one of these on a whim and low and behold it is one of my favourite tools now!!