C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive Forum - Archive Section => General Archive => Complete Archive => Welcome To The Forum => Topic started by: Richie on 09, January, 2012 - 20:35:11

Title: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 09, January, 2012 - 20:35:11
Hi all
I Have just purchased a C5 from Ebay. I used to ride one at Porthmadoc campsite in Wales in the late 80's and always have fond memories. The C5 I have purchased is totally complete and comes with mirrors, manuals, keys and loads of spare parts. I have spoken to the seller who says it has been in his family since 1985. He just says that that it has been in dry storage for many many years but look forward to picking it up next Monday!
Will be on the forum a lot for help to get it back to mint.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: kamilb1998 on 09, January, 2012 - 20:42:52
Welcome to the forum Richie! Hope you enjoy the C5 and it brings you many smiles per mile :D

You'll like the forum and the meets. I'm a newbie myself but the kind & welcoming lot off here made me feel very welcome at the first C5 Alive event I went to. I'm sure your experience will be the same.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 09, January, 2012 - 21:31:04
Cheers buddy.
Cant wait to get the C5 and start working on it.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Lancealot on 10, January, 2012 - 19:38:49
Hi Richie, welcome to the forum we are all here to help. Post some pictures when you get it.

Lance
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Karl on 10, January, 2012 - 20:20:20
Welcome to c5alive mate  8)

If you need any c5 related help this is probably the best place to do it  :D
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: radiomarty on 12, January, 2012 - 15:40:10
Hi and welcome - have a good look through the forum and you will find lot's of tips and help  - would be great to see you along at one of the events too - any probs don't be afraid to ask - Regards Radiomarty
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: thedesigntailor on 12, January, 2012 - 20:58:43
Welcome Rich

Sounds like you got a good'un there - may I ask how much? You'll probably have a few teething troubles if it's been sitting in storage so long but these guys are the people to be able to help if you do :D.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 13, January, 2012 - 16:17:15
It had just gone onto Ebay with £175 starting price and I asked a few questions about it. Totally original and complete.
The seller must have just sat down in front of his computer and replied straight away giving me his phone number so I had a conversation with him. Agreed on £225 and he put on a BIN price as it was his first time selling on Ebay and wanted to do it properly. Whilst I was on the phone to him I purchased it straight away so I knew I would get it.
He says there are no cracks and no damage to it inc manuals, spare parts, keys, mirrors and the pull up reflector.
Pick it up on Sunday!
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: thedesigntailor on 13, January, 2012 - 21:28:46
Bargain!
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Karl on 14, January, 2012 - 06:00:10
Sounds like a good one, dont forget to post some piccies on the forum  ;)
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Lancealot on 14, January, 2012 - 08:30:46
Nice one mate, I was watching that one and am glad someone on here has got it.... :D :D :D :D :D

Lance
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 16, January, 2012 - 16:53:39
Picked up the C5 last night but can't seem to be able to load any pics on at the mo!
Its totally original with spare keys, no damage just the odd scratch, wing mirrors, 2 manuals, spare belt, spare nylon gears, charger, high level reflectors x 2 and even came with the original battery! Even has the original tyres which I pumped up today and went for a little spin, pedal power style!
As it has the key operated connector that fits to the battery is it best to get a battery terminal converter, then use the battery cover and charge it with the C5 charger?
I have plugged in the charger and no lights appear on it. Do the lights only come on when it is charging and when the charging is complete or should there be some sort of power light?
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Karl on 16, January, 2012 - 17:19:40
There are some things you might want to sort out on your new purchase over the next few months , certainly before you put it into use  ;

Brake cables - really essential and worth the small cost of replacement for peace of mind.
Drive Belt - if it is the original then the rubber might be perished , could be worth replacing before belt slip
Gearbox - if it hasn't been recently serviced then a good greasing of the cogs is always a good idea.

Not wanting to scare you,  I'm just a firm believer in prevention is better than cure  :)

The original battery charger should show a red light whilst charging and a green light when complete, with a full charge taking about 8hrs. These chargers are very old now and I wouldn't leave one plugged in unattended.

My advice would be to fit one of our wiring kits and keep the original keyswitch in a box . Our kits are really easy to fit and open up the choice of battery you can use, plus you feel good having rewired your c5 all by yourself  ;D. Due to their age, I find the Sinclair keyswitch assembly a little temperamental and unreliable. Since our wiring kit is "plug and play" ,with no permanent alterations, it also means if ever you come to sell it you then have the option of transferring it back to original and selling off the wiring kit. Just a suggestion  ;)

It does sound like you have bagged yourself a real bargain , well done mate  8)
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 16, January, 2012 - 17:27:44
Hi there Richie .I live in Ilkeston not far from you if you want any help just ask and if you have time come and see  me some time  with the C5 .....bye Chas
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: thedesigntailor on 16, January, 2012 - 17:39:10
The wiring kit is a must - If you put the battery in the wrong way round (or the wrong order I think) apparently you can fry the electrics. The wiring kit protects you from this and has saved my bacon a few times.

Really does sound like a bargain Richie. Will you be coming and showing it off at the A.E.R at Santa Pod event in May?
http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2139.0
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: thedesigntailor on 16, January, 2012 - 17:40:49
PS - for uploading photos you are best trying www.yfrog.com or www.flikr.com
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 16, January, 2012 - 18:32:24
I thank you all for your comments.
So far I need to sort out the C5 as 'prevention is better than cure'.
Right then, what battery do I buy and where do I one of your wiring kits from that a fool can sort out cus me and electrics aint the bet of friends! Simpler the better in my book.
Once the battery is sorted and the wiring kit is sorted then if it still doesn't work than thats a couple of things ruled out.
I have tried to get on the C5alive shop but the computer aint having it. 404 error!
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Karl on 17, January, 2012 - 08:23:00
I thank you all for your comments.
So far I need to sort out the C5 as 'prevention is better than cure'.
Right then, what battery do I buy and where do I one of your wiring kits from that a fool can sort out cus me and electrics aint the bet of friends! Simpler the better in my book.
Once the battery is sorted and the wiring kit is sorted then if it still doesn't work than thats a couple of things ruled out.
I have tried to get on the C5alive shop but the computer aint having it. 404 error!

Richie , send me an email of what you want and I'll sort it for you  :)  (karl@c5alive.co.uk)

The shop has been taken down for a rebuild and maintenance etc. but all the items are still available  ;)


For info on batteries , I find type 063 and type 065 very useful. Check out the tried and tested section of this forum for reviews of the various makes we've all been using.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: thedesigntailor on 17, January, 2012 - 12:21:54
I'm pretty pleased with my battery http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2144.0

But keep in mind that I'm a new C5 owner too so this is my first battery. Been getting me to work and back with no probs even on the coldest days.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 21, January, 2012 - 10:35:01
I have had a play with the key operated ignition and decided to buy a C5alive wiring kit. Once that is all fitted I can then get a battery and off I go!
What are owners experiences with batteries remembering that I will have a C5 wiring kit and not the standard set up.
cheers
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 21, January, 2012 - 10:42:37
My C5 is still running on the original Sinclair Tyres which show cracking and I don't want to go too far as I don't fancy pushing it back home with 3 flats!
The tyres I have found are the Schwalbe tyre which are about £45 which include the inner tubes.
What do people pay for them and are there alternatives?
Thanks
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: thedesigntailor on 21, January, 2012 - 12:36:32
You will find lots of discussion about batteries here (http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=13.0). My favourite is this one (http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2144.0) but there is no standard that people use.

Schwalbes are the tyre of choice which BooBoo (who is C5alive owner Karl) sells these and may have a better price then you found else where.

There is normally an ecommerce shop that we get all our parts and accessories from but its down for a rebuild at the moment :)
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 21, January, 2012 - 14:03:51
Cheers for your comments
I was going to give Karl a break as he has been sorting me out with the C5alive wiring kit which I will have next week.
Once that is all fitted and the C5 moves WITHOUT pedal power I will ask him about sorting me out with the tyres.
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Retro Andy on 22, January, 2012 - 10:12:56
Welcome to the forum Richie, you will find once you have the C5 alive wiring kit on and a good battery its the best way to keep your C5 easily on the road, I had problems trying to use the original key switch (difficult to keep a good connection all the time)
P.S They are easy to fit and come with instructions a fool can follow (I did) and you can keep the old key switch and wiring for if you ever decide to refit them.

Retro Andy.   
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: Richie on 26, January, 2012 - 16:40:49
C5alive wiring kit fitted.
Battery lights on pod all lit. (right side)
The far left and right yellow lights on the left hand side of the pod stay on and the coloured ones just flash. Motor tested directly against the battery and it works.
Still a way to go to get it working!
Title: Re: Hi all
Post by: radiomarty on 27, January, 2012 - 16:03:39
Don't worry bud you will soon be up and running  :)