some stupid questions

[scooters]

Folks,

I'm picking up the '44 tomorrow evening and had a couple of questions for you experienced DAF owner/drivers.

Firstly - driving

In PC a couple of months ago they profiled the 33 and in the profile mentioned that you should select forward or reverse BEFORE starting the engine and not to start the engine in neutral. Can you confirm this or am I OK starting the car in Neutral?

secondly 2 stroke engines

I've only owned vespas before and the 2 stroke works by adding the 2 stroke oil to a resevoir every now and then. Is this the same wioth DAF 2 stroke engines? does the engine require any other lube other than the petroil added in this way. Also - what 2 stroke oil wold you recommend - are there any biodegradable 2 stroke oils that would work?

cheers

[Richard DAF Webmeister]

Yes, illogical as it might seem, unless you are doing maintenance work, the car should always be started "in gear". I.e. forward or reverse.

Therefore, obviously, it's a good idea to have the hand brake on, and your foot hovering (but not pressing) over the brake pedal, especially when starting with the choke out.

The reason for this, is that the centrifugal clutch starts to spin and engage at about 500-750rpm. So if you tried to engage drive or reverse with the clutch already spinning, this gives the same effect as changing from neutral to gear in a manual without using the clutch. I.e. you'll at best hear some grating of cogs and at worse, will sheer some cogs and things off.

So yes, start in gear. Sometimes, there would be a little sticker on the inside of the windscreen to remind you to do this.

However, once on the move, simple changing from forward to reverse through the neutral position is fine, as long as you don't delay moving the lever into the direction you want.

It is OK to start the car in neutral, but if you then intend to drive off, turn the engine off, and you will hear the clutch spinning to a stop. As I say, when doing tuning/other maintenance etc on the engine, then you must start in neutral, otherwise, when you blip the throttle, the car will go belting off. We have heard many such stories over the years, of people happlessly po-going along with one leg in the car etc as they try to keep up with it, or demolishing garage walls.

>:(Now then, on to your second point... You are joking, aren't you?
DAF have never, ever made a car with a two-stroke engine. Two cylinders, yes, but not two stroke!

You put petrol in the tank. As you can't buy unleaded now, it's a good idea to pop some drops of lead-replacement additive (Castrol is a popular one) into the tank. Once you have started using one make/type of additive, always stick to it and never use another, due to chemical reactions etc.

So good luck - and please assure us that you don't really think you've got a Trabbant. (They look a bit like DAFs if you half close your eyes, and are two-stroke, needing bizarre mixes of petrol and oil, and often leave a trail of smoke behind them)

[scooters]

Thanks for the clarifications - I'm pretty sure they guy I am buying it from doesn't know that you have to start "in gear" as when I mentioned it to him last week he looked blankly at me - would also explain the racket selecting "drive" when we moved off. Fortunately he has only driven it 300 miles or so and I doubt the car has been started more than a dozen times in that time.

However, quick question - the selector leaver does seem to be a bit vague. I have only toyed with it whilst the engine has been off and will report more tomorrow evening when I pick it up - any ideas suggestions?

Thanks for clarifying the engine bit as well - I was pretty sure that the car was a 2 cylinder Otto cycle rather than a 2 Cyl 2 stroke Duggie Clerk special but was getting confused and contradictory info from a work mate who's mum had had one- and no it is definately not a Trabi although Mr Glover was trying to palm a Trabi off on me earlier in the year!

DAF owner's club application form going in the post tomorrow!

[scooters]

obviously that's "selector LEVER" and not "selector leaver"

[Richard DAF Webmeister]

Phew! On all counts. You'll be most welcome, and I hope that you don't leave(r) us too soon. Good luck as you enter the Variomatic world...

[scooters]

My early adulthood was in Fife where I had the space to have a few projects on the go and rebuilt several Minis and a Hillman Imp. In 1999 I moved to London and didn't have the time or the space for my car habit. We have now returned to Scotland although I still work in the south mid week hence buying this DAF in Luton. I was looking for a project car and had toyed with several 240's before deciding the cars are too big and expensive to run alongside daily use family cars. I did then think about getting another Mini but they are expensive these days - then I was reading PC the other month when they did the article on the 33 and decided "that's for me!" cheap and easy yo repair/maintain. So I have been looking for a few months and landed on this 44 - not the 33 I was after but it has some advantages that are more suitable for the driven environment it will be performing in (mainly steep hill related!)

[daf44]

hi there.

the selector lever on mine has a LOT of play as well but if it is set up properly will still select fine.
when i looked under mine to adjust it the problem appears to be a 6mm pin going into a 10mm hole for the main link.
my guess is that there should be some form of sleeve that fits in there as there does not seem to be excessive wear there.
i will try to make a sleeve at some point but is not causing a problem at the minute, it is just a bit annoying.

as for the starting in gear, my car still has the sticker in the top right corner of the windscreen telling me this. i would not have known myself otherwise.

keep us informed

paul44

[veeruk]

Where are you picking the car up from? I am in Luton so let em know if you need help.

[scooters]

thanks for the kind offer. i think that we will be ok but it might be an idea if we hooked up at somepoint so i can abuse your knowledge.

he car is at the network rail yard on hitchin road i will drive up there - te owner is going to drive the daf to my place in harpenden and i'll then give him a lift back in my volvo.

[scooters]

btw - thanks for the help from all much appreciated

[veeruk]

That sounds good. Harpenden is only up the road. I am in Leagrave and it would be good to meet with a DAFanatic.