robin craig

So, just to revisit this subject and clarify, if doing an engine swap we need to make one of these up or are the mounts machined to a standard that will ensure correct alignment of new engine to the gearbox? Thanks in advance Robin

Andy M dont get me started Robin

Steve, Welcome to the forum, nothing you can ask is stupid. Maybe start a thread of your truck and some pictures and where it is at now? Thanks for joining Robin

We have had an od last couple of weeks and time has not been available as hoped. We have a dry erase board with a big list of tasks to be done allied to the fluid flywheel part of the project in as much as once it gets moving then it needs to be a proven unit after really no use for many years since coming to the collection. So we are back to basics proving systems and the like and as per instructions making it smart and functional. We are still waiting for the fitting to be able to pressurise the fluid flywheel and hold pressure as per the manual. So, all the universal joints were checked and the splined joints checked and no excessive play there. we will grease later. next the bevel boxes and their pesky breathers, such a small item, such a big consequence. We pulled all four and proved them, well nearly, the front right, predictably as it is the hardest to get at, was locked solid. It is now sitting in a special liquid. The others have been cleaned and put back in. The master cylinder seems ok, the brake lines themselves are good and the wheel cylinders will be next once we have some caps as we dont want the system to drain out if we have to remove the cylinders. We are missing some hull inspection plates and we are going to have some made unless anyone can point us to a supply of them. The rear vertical armour was very iffy and less than perfect as far as bolts holding it on and vacant holes dont impress. So we removed some mangled caged nuts and I have new ones coming in and they will get welded on. The brake flex lines (outside the hull) are just about done, so new ones are being ordered. The whole series of linkages for the throttle we freed up to the point of being smooth as silk now. The rear drums are off and the hubs draining. New oil for there. The interior is getting cleaner slowly. All good progress. Robin

I agree with Chris aka Sirhc, but then he taught me what I know, and I am 5 hours behind you folks so sorry for being late to the dance! Mark, good track tools are worth their weight in gold and make it easy. I find all the CVRTs we work on vary in the ability of the tensioner to keep things tight, it is a detail that I worry about the most after fluids as a thrown track is just plain ugly. Have fun Robin

I was re watching this clip as I had a nagging doubt about something I saw, and sure enough at minute 1.20 there is a round fendered trailer being towed behind the Land Rover. I'm not even sure about the Land Rover. Can anyone comment on what trailer it was or might have been? Robin

Glad to see you have the tanker home now. I fully believe the use of the big Landoll trailer was the best possible decision rather than a suspended tow. The truck is a complete unknown. Love how your knowledge is getting you right at it. Curious question, do you think that the lack of water and that coating in the tank stopped it rusting? Was there any moisture in the tank, is the tank vented or sealed at the lid? Robin

John, I have mentioned this elsewhere before, but there are some agricultural parts that do the same job. While Sirhc (Chris) may have some talk to your local tractor dealer or jobber for parts. I have shown a link here http://www.beaconsandlightbars.co.uk/search.php?mode=search&page=1 Regards Robin

Far? Bunkum! We are only a hop skip and a jump, it is round the corner from Toronto. Come, will be well worth your while. Robin

Great Stuff, will you be coming up to Aquino in late May at Oshawa, Ontario, Canada? There will be a number of running Ferrets there and some really wonderful folks too Robin

Well, we got into another project last night for a while and did not have a full night on the Ferret. We hummed and hawed over the seal issue last night for the whole time we had so made no physical progress on the job. Our decision has been this. The seal we removed had a very thick single lip and the seal was very old and hard. We have spoken with some tech folks here and we have taken into consideration the considerable knowledge that Richard has shed on the subject and formed our conclusion and direction. The seal we are using is double lipped and is of a modern design with a good spring support ring. We are going to continue as is and know and understand what Richard has said and we will feel rightly stupid if this all goes pear shaped and we have a leak down the line and have to pull it all out and have have a washer made to fit the seal we used. So a decision means next week we can get this job going back together. I have cages for the rear armour nuts to source asap as we will be repair those when the pack goes back in as well. More next week, and our considerable thanks to Richard Farrant for his input. Regards Robn

Dear Stephane, I am recognising that as an ex BATUS truck so I am thinking that you are in Alberta, Canada perhaps? I have the contact info of another gentleman who owns a TM near to you. Regards Robin

Congratulations Roverman aka John Take care of it and here is the thread that was started on the vehicle up until now http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?42222-71-FL-84-Land-Rover-1-tonne-FC-LHD-Sankey-wide-track-trailer-49-KC-33-FV-2381/page7 Robin

there is something in my brain that says that wheel and tyre size was common to some other vehicle. what I can not place sorry for the confusion Robin

I am hoping that the new owner has an idea of what he has bought and his responsibility to the history but maybe he does not. In the end it is a financial transaction and my involvement ends at the exchange of monies and paperwork.I have to buy a box of tissues. He has a friend coming up to buy a vehicle locally and will use that as the tow vehicle for a rental trailer and haul the 1 Tonne home. This will all be over by the end of play on Wednesday or at worst by Thursday lunchtime. Yes Tony, I have my sights on a V8 110 LHD and even though it may take me a year to buy it the trailer will sit sweetly behind that and I will be happy. Sad and gutted and elated all in one go around. Robin

Well, I am in somewhat of a better frame of mind than I was last week. I had some lengthy considerations over Christmas and finally came to the conclusion that the 1 Tonne is not for me and it should go to a better home. I advertised the vehicle on a North American forum a week ago and was deluged with buyers wanting the vehicle. I have finally come down to ground and have reluctantly but I feel wisely agreed to let the vehicle go. I am not the slim trim young man I was and middle age has not been kind to me and fitting behind the wheel is not easy but not impossible but it is not comfortable. I vetted the buyers carefully and feel the buyer in the Southern US is a genuine chap who will take good care of it. I will encourage him to post in here. So the truck is going but the trailer is staying, I have plans for that behind a faster more modern Land Rover in about a year. Thank to everyone for their help including my chum Andrew. The whole bittersweet taste was made worse last night when I received my copy of James Taylor's book on the 1 tonne, in which I have credits. Oh well Robin Craig

Dear Rob and others, I had a conversation with Rob by email last year on the subject of the wheels for the 105mm light gun and if he knew of a source for spare wheels as it is common to the 1 tonne Land Rover 101"FC prime mover. I had assumed, wrongly it seems, that the Land Rover used a six stud wheel because that is what the gun had, to provide a spare for both the gun and the truck. Today, while reading James Taylor's book on the 1 tonne I noticed a picture on page 35 shows a prototype pulling the 105mm gun, upon closer inspection I notice the gun has a 5 stud wheel but the Land Rover has six studs. So, from this, can we assume that the final design of the gun was changed to suit the design of the Land Rover? Comments please? Robin Craig Canada

Thank you for clearing that up Richard, Will advise progress as it happens this week. Robin

where abouts on yours is the printing that you show on the second picture. I have one I am trying to identify. Thanks Robin

Richard are you saying that the seal I should find or cross reference for is MIS112? Is that the letter I or the number 1 between the M and the S? Are you saying that there must be contact with the seal from the start once installed? I am more than happy to be educated, that is what this forum is about, Lord only knows that I do not know near a percentage f what some of you folks know. Thanks in advance Robin

Zero Two Five thank you for those photos, BATUS is a bit of a hobby horse for me. Here is my mates 109 that I helped him with pointers for the cam scheme, your picture shows he needs antlers to complete the job! Robin

Dear Steve, maybe there was an interaction between my meds and too much Christmas cheer, thanks for taking my rant so well and not sending a mini nuke my way Robin

What a wonderful barn find and Christmas present all rolled into one. It is like you have found a time machine. What will happen to the original vehicle you went to look at, will they throw that in as a bonus? Will watch this with interest, good luck Robin

Guykay, we have been talking about this and will revisit the subject at my Saturday breakfast with my chum and we will physically look at it on Wednesday night if we get to work that night. Will report back, and in the mean time I am hoping that perhaps others will post their comments on this, I am by no means correct on everything in life, witness two ex wives . . . Robin

I tend to agree with Diana and Jackie, what is so lacking in your vehicle as manufactured? I don't like altering things for the sake of altering them. Honestly developing a higher standard of driving and you will brake less because you are anticipating other peoples actions better. Spare yourself the time wasting of spinning spanners for nothing and leave the machine well alone. Has there been a rash of Ferret accidents because of poor brakes? Where will this stop? Will you be wearing a full face crash helmet and fitting inertia reel seat belts next? I am troubled very deeply where that kind of thinking takes people and we see only too often in various classifieds "original @#$^& for sale, fitted with upgraded engine, brakes, new hard top and rock sliders" and now they wonder why people don't buy it, because it isnt original! Your vehicle will loose value in my books the more you muck it about in a way that can not be put back to original. Now that I have had my rant and said what I feel I can honestly say I bear you no malice or ill fate, just sharing my opinion, in my usual blunt way. Robin