Just a quick update on the Deuche. Even leaving the car unused for well over a week it never fails to start on first turn of the key. I still find the old battery's voltage reading of a healthy 12.8v a bit of a mystery though. I've never come across it before, but it was clearly a duff battery. Anyway, it's less than 93 miles before the car reaches 275,000 miles. It was sitting on 70,100 miles when I bought it almost 21 years ago, in April 2002.

What a little trooper. Way more miles on it than mine.

If well maintained and used they can reach lot's of miles.

Another little drive out this afternoon. Engine started first turn of the key again, after sitting for over a week (last used a week Friday). It's now 60 miles short of 275,000 miles. One thing that needs attention is some adjustment to the clutch. It's engaging as soon as I lift the pedal and it's affecting smooth gear changes, with second gear in particular, but not exclusively, a bit crunchy at times. I'll get a spanner on the adjuster before I use it again. Can someone just remind me which way the nut needs to go to bring the adjustment further up the pedal? Ta in advance.

Is the clutch stiff? It may not be returning correctly. Perhaps paint some grease on the exposed inner cable under the gearbox.

A thrust bearing that is collapsing can cause this as well.

Take a look at the pedal rack, as that can wear.

Check carpet is not moving up under the pedal

The complete clutch was replaced 25k miles ago. The previous one lasted 250k miles and was replaced when the engine came out to replace the barrels and pistons (yes, I know it can be done in situ). It's most likely an adjustment to the cable after the clutch has 'settled'.

I started again at the deuche at eight o'clock this morning (2.2 degrees). There is rain predicted later. I tried to put the other drum on and it doesn't go at all. I think I adjusted the jaws to a minimum. But no, the bolt to adjuster was rounded. So I'm going to get the welder in the cellar and weld a rod on this bolthead. So I can turn the adjuster. Het drum goes on finally, I bled the braking-system. After reassembling the car and putting away all the tools it was 11 a.m. pff

The Deuche has been sat outside with a cover over it for almost a month. This afternoon I removed the cover, car bone dry underneath it, and it fired into life with the first turn of the key!! I took it on a roughly 30 mile drive out towards Inkberrow and back, and it performed beautifully. It's now back under the car cover until another day... Hopefully not quite as long as the last slumber.

Mine has been in the garage for almost a year now, i have to take for MOT soon so i have to get it out. Hope the battery survived....

Has been two weeks since I last used the 2CV. It fired up on the first turn of the key this morning and ran sweetly over a 20 mile journey which saw it officially reach 275,000 miles.