Lewis Garner

Hello chaps, Putting it to the collective mountain of knowledge that is HMVF, can anyone identify this gearbox? At a guess I thought Saracen or Saladin but on looking at some photos now I'm not sure. Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks, Lew

Justin I'm not sure if I'm recalling correctly but on our Mk1 the spring curves back on itself and down through its own centre making its own 'pin' as part of it? Either way I can look at the parts list for you tomorrow if needs be

I got two plates off him recently Justin, very reasonable on price as ever. Richard is a hero for this sort of stuff!

I spoke to DVSA about this yesterday chaps as Tyler asked this question on my behalf, you are correct if you passed your test post 1997 they do not consider the Ferret a goods vehicle therefore it cannot be driven under the pre 1960 ruling on a category B licence

Right chaps, an update. I didn't realise that the distance clamps actually turn independently as they aren't internally splined so with some tapping they knocked round and the clamp bolts could then be removed. Unfortunately I'm really struggling to get the drive sleeves into the transfer box to slide back into the centre bevel boxes, they slide backwards and forwards easy peasy in my reconditioned bevel boxes I have to fit, unfortunately after 25 years in a field the ones on the truck aren't so easily moved!

What a pain chap, not what you need especially after just getting her all back together! We still haven't really got any further with ours, I have tried with a bloody great bar to turn the thing over and it won't move even the slightest amount. We even tried fitting a sun gear and towing it but simply dug a trench. The front cover definitely needs to come off to see what on earth has happened in there. Unfortunately in years gone by someone has taken the top off to inspect the damage and left the top plate off allowing water ingress. It's not easy

Also I don't have the EMER to hand but have found it on here and downloaded a PDF, I'll have a read through this evening

Hello Richard, in a sense yes as we removed all of the sun gears from each hub so that we could tow it into place

Hit a bit of a wall with the Stolly chaps, I'm having a real struggle removing the centre bevel box clamps as our transfer box is locked solid for some reason so I can't turn it to line the clamp bolts up with the inspection holes. With securing nuts removed, side upper bearing caps and the big adjuster clamps removed I assume the big cast front cover should pull off? I'm struggling to get ours to budge so that I can see what is going on in there!

Cheers guys, very helpful. Have got the majority of the floor up and cross beams out this evening along with radiator out. All steps in the right direction to stripping her back to a bare hull

Hello chaps, just readying ourselves for removing the engine, gearbox and transfer box out of our Stolly project. My question is, looking at the diagrams am I correct in assuming that both centre wheel stations need to be removed before it can be lifted out? Thanks

Well guys, thank you all for your advice. After 30ish years in a field and around 11 since it was last run, she fired up again today and purrs like a kitten. Very happy!

Thank you Richard, that was my initial thought so will certainly give it a go.

Right chaps, having supplied 24v to 'SOL' directly she is cranking over smoothly. I have checked 'IGN' in the junc box and am getting 24v there but sadly no spark at the plugs. Where is my next port of call? King lead off at distributor end and check there? I have to admit I'm not sure how the threaded connections come apart.

Ron thank you very much indeed for that information, I have just been reading Clive's post on ignition matters and sure enough, the wire they have hot wired in is the solenoid wire. It's all starting to make sense now! Fortunately it does turn on the handle so I might try my best He Man impression this evening and give it a few revolutions on that first.

Just to add lowfat I've only tried it on the handle with no plugs in just to see if it actually turns over. The last time she ran was at least 10 years ago so it really is a case of just getting everything moving again. Left the bores soaking for a week or so just in case but the engine is still free. I only drained around 2 litres of engine oil out of the oil tank so I suspect a lot of it is hanging round in the pipes or bottom of the engine, presuming there is no non return valve in the system?

Thanks for the replies chaps, Ron it would appear that someone has been here before, as there is a length of wire coming out of the box sandwiched beneath one of the terminals.

Hello chaps, Thought I'd start a new thread so as not to confuse my old thread on Ferret ignition troubles. I have just bought a Stalwart wreck and on hooking up two batteries am getting life to the switchboard panel (Mk6) but nothing on throwing the starter switch, not even so much as a clunk or dimming ignition lights. My question is what wire should I see voltage output on whilst holding the start lever down as I'm unsure if it's just the switch causing a problem. Clive and I went over a similar issue with my Ferret about a year ago now but it's all a distant memory! I know I could check directly at the starter with a test bulb but they couldn't really have put the thing in a worse place!. Thanks, Lew

Thank you very much Clive, no rush. Enjoy the show.

Clive, Here's hoping you are reading this. I have just bought a Mk1 Stalwart that has sat for a great many years unused and it all feels a little like dejavu again. I have connected two batteries and turned the master on, ignition on I'm getting dash lights but no cranking on swinging the starter lever. Is there any chance you could send me the wiring diagrams for ign and starter circuit as you said before? Would be very helpful Thanks, Lewis

Cheers Al, it's getting there. Had a bit of a setback in that the forward/reverse pivot had seized due to the ravages of time but it's all sorted now. Hoping to get some batteries in it this evening and go for the maiden voyage!

The offending item now repaired. Just fitted a reconditioned box we purchased a few years back.

Paul I presume the museum is also down in Hampshire? Are you doing an open weekend type thing before the official opening day or anything like that? Would be a good laugh to drive down in the MVs with a few mates for a look round. A lot of effort being put in here, keep up the good work!

Hello chaps, Bit of an update on things. I managed to get the bracket out with some difficulty. Carefully heated it at work and bent it back, unfortunately it did develop a hairline crack on the inner corner so I heated it again, ground it out and put a few blobs of weld in there. Fabricated a new pin out of some half inch stainless bar. The plan isn't to put it all back in yet as I think it's worth giving the hull a tart up whilst everything is out. Bit of a pain of a job but worth doing

Hello guys, thanks for the replies. That makes me feel a bit better! I removed the battery box last night to gain better access, I notice the handbrake cable runs through a hole in the bracket. Presumably this can be separated at the adjuster next to it and pulled back through? The linkages etc. don't look to be a problem.