C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive General Category => Welcome To The Forum => Topic started by: gertk on 18, April, 2013 - 06:42:48

Title: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: gertk on 18, April, 2013 - 06:42:48
Hi there,

Being a Sinclair computer fan/collector I just had to have one...

Just picked up this C5 last monday, it is from the first owner and in original condition. According to him the C5 has only been driven a few times round the block and nothing more.
Have not got a chance to check the electronics yet it as there was no working battery available.
I got an original NOS Oldsham battery with it (unused and dry) but after inspecting underneath the (original) caps the plates are badly corroded so I am not going to fill it up)

The accessories are still in the (styrofoam) box: an indicator set and left and right mirrors, never been fitted. Manual and some more paperwork. Even the factory approval sticker is still on the rear reflector.. Original tyres are on and seem to be in pretty good condition, brakes work and I just pedalled a few meters and it runs smooth.



Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: Luke S on 18, April, 2013 - 06:45:02
Hi and welcome to the forum. If I'm not mistaken I think there is another C5Alive member in the Netherlands.  ;) ;)
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 18, April, 2013 - 07:30:53
Welcome to the forum  (what a great find) 
 bye Chas
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: radiomarty on 18, April, 2013 - 10:37:17
Welcome to C5Alive -sounds like a very nice C5  :)
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: thedesigntailor on 18, April, 2013 - 12:03:38
I think we have a few in the Netherlands now - welcome on board.

Sounds like you have a real gem there!
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: Lancealot on 18, April, 2013 - 18:37:27
Hi and welcome to the forum,

Post so photos of your C5 and accessories before you fit them.

Lance
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: Ton C5 on 18, April, 2013 - 19:48:52
Hi welcome to the wunderfull world of the C5.
i think i saw your c5 on marktplaats :-) nice one.
if you any help in dutch, let me know.
i am in the Rotterdam area

Ton
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: BeeAeRTee on 19, April, 2013 - 10:24:37
Lot af C5's on Marktplaats last months...
Sometimes real cheap and in good condition...
:)
Good luck with it!
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: gertk on 19, April, 2013 - 18:52:12
Thanks for the warm welcome, I hope to get the C5 up and running soon.
At the moment I am investigating a suitable battery, maybe a 'cheap' one for initial testing and then one (or two) Optima Yellow Tops when all is working ok.

(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag99/gertk64/2013-04-15203557_zps91286677.jpg) (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/gertk64/media/2013-04-15203557_zps91286677.jpg.html)
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: Karl on 19, April, 2013 - 20:14:55
welcome to c5alive  8)

your c5 looks like quite a bargain  ;)
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: Retro Andy on 19, April, 2013 - 22:38:56
Hello and welcome to the forum, I like the beetle in the picture aswell  :)

Retro Andy.
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: gertk on 28, April, 2013 - 18:13:04
Today I have driven the first meters with the C5!
On a used sealed lead acid 16 Ah battery which was initially flat but after a good night charge with a trickle charger and then a few hours more on a bigger charger it had sufficient voltage again.
Had to connect this battery with some short heavy cables to the original batterylid and mounted the keyswitch.
After turning the key the pod leds came on, front and rear light were OK (seem to have the original bulbs..)
Inflated the original tires to 25 psi and propped the backend up to see if the motor would run without problems: it ran fine.
After checking the brakes functioned ok I pedalled out of the garage and pushed the button and behold: This C5 is alive!
Now just have to wait for a decent battery to come in.
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 28, April, 2013 - 20:44:34
That's great well done

bye Chas
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: Lancealot on 05, May, 2013 - 18:09:56
Welcome and good luck with your C5.

Show some more photos when you get a good battery.

Lance
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: gertk on 06, May, 2013 - 22:22:03
Welcome and good luck with your C5.

Show some more photos when you get a good battery.

Lance

You might check the Victron and PBQ battery thread  :)
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: coverman on 08, May, 2013 - 17:33:23
Suggest putting the rear tyres up to 35-36psi. The front tyre should in theory go to same pressure but you risk it popping off the rim under hard braking.
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: gertk on 07, July, 2013 - 08:52:32
Yesterday the C5 went for its 'Maiden Voyage': a 20 km round trip and it did pretty well.
I managed an average speed of 16.8 km/h according to the 4 Euro bike computer from the 'Blokker'  ;D
Battery indicator dropped a single bar on the return trip but the top speed had dropped then to 18 km/h.

Some minor issues: the front wheel hub caps resonate annoyingly at lower speeds, they drag a bit to the tire.
The rear brake started to emit an annoying squeak along the trip, squeezing the brakehandle a bit stops it but when released the squeak comes back again after a few moments. Also when braking hard it makes very loud squeaking noises now.

I also might need the wider drivebelt, the new battery delivers so much power that the drivebelt skips when pressing the button at slower speeds. I already increased the belt tension some more but it still skips sometimes.

The LED lights I put in work OK, although the front light does not have a distinctive beam pattern on the street, it lit up the road well enough to see where I was going. The rear indicators work OK, still waiting for the front 'pods' to arrive: seems they got lost during transport from China...
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: corp4 on 13, July, 2013 - 15:31:08
Hi Gertk,

like to get contact with you, this weekend i also want to buy one c5 and i live in Veenendaal where do you live?
just send me a mail if you want,
anaco@tiscali.nl   cor

Being a Sinclair computer fan/collector I just had to have one...

Just picked up this C5 last monday, it is from the first owner and in original condition. According to him the C5 has only been driven a few times round the block and nothing more.
Have not got a chance to check the electronics yet it as there was no working battery available.
I got an original NOS Oldsham battery with it (unused and dry) but after inspecting underneath the (original) caps the plates are badly corroded so I am not going to fill it up)

The accessories are still in the (styrofoam) box: an indicator set and left and right mirrors, never been fitted. Manual and some more paperwork. Even the factory approval sticker is still on the rear reflector.. Original tyres are on and seem to be in pretty good condition, brakes work and I just pedalled a few meters and it runs smooth.
[/quote]
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: gertk on 13, July, 2013 - 17:56:03
My location is Steenwijk (Overijssel, above Zwolle)
Title: Re: New member in the Netherlands
Post by: corp4 on 14, July, 2013 - 09:35:27
hi Gertk,

like to get contact with you, live also in the Netherlands,
regards,

cor
anao@tiscali.nl ;D