h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Regarding the cast iron parts, you can get the same bits in machined aluminium. I know all the 'experts' say don't use it because it's not as sturdy, but if you use the brass parts with 1/16" india rubber gaskets what you find is not only a reduction in weight but also stops the whole assembly vibrating so much when you put the throttle up.

The 'brass' is an 'aluminium' in disguise...

I tried that, but it failed the emissions test.

That is sound advice - unless you want to straighten your toes as well

Well, for emissions control what I've found is that porcelain inner fittings seem to make for a much cleaner burn. And if you add some hydrogen peroxide (some! NOT some more - at tour own peril) the exhaust seem to go all invisible and non-smelly :

*switches a t for a y ... verrrrry stealthily*

I seem to have a y left over, and am short of a t

*mulls over*

Would you go so far as to use bone china, Santra? Maybe from - say - Royal Doulton?

Doulton? Aw maaan... I've always used the kaolin stuff from Ifö, and that's been very nicely working all this time. Great tip about the peroxide though. I tried, and it works much better than rubbing the surfaces with a baking soda solution.

And it's cheaper than waxing, too. That's according to the leading zookeepers' social media site.

The last time I tried that, I found one of the burners was blocked by a dead spider - a small one, not a Tegenaria gigantea.

You have to look out for spiders eggs if you use the hyena fur handle, but of course it lasts longer than the aardvark.

The aardvark fur handle may come with ant eggs though

I could see that might be a little awkward...

*the inspired sneaks off to create a poem here:
F69196/T6410113 posting 3178

let's try this instead: http://h2g2.com/user/U176638/conversation/view/F69196/T6410113/page/159/#P110838355

Anyone here have experience of a leaky Pacific flush valve?

Indeed, yes. Those old dual flush bayonet fittings are difficult to reassemble.

I had trouble replacing the gasket. Apparently they are made in a now extinct polymer, and, to boot, only available in imperial measures.

Yes
And they tend to leak...
Which is not good if you are on a water meter!!!

Managed to replace the cistern with a syphon flush one.

There is a reason our Victorian forebears stopped using valves and went to syphons.