Lewis Garner

Hi Iain,

The Scammell isn't exactly what you'd call speedy either!

Regards, Lewis

Hi chaps,

Thanks very much for that. I would hazard a guess it's a heavier weight than 10W but you could well be right. It was definitely worth asking on here before any damage was done, so thanks again.

Regards, Lewis

Hi all,

We were told this was 20-50 engine oil. Can anyone confirm this?

Best regards, Lewis

Hi all,

Whilst dad was in Yarmouth on business his hotelier pointed out a Ferret that was for sale locally by a commercial van business, he went to the village of Catworth in Norfolk to have a look at it. It's up for £3500+VAT. If any other enthusiast stumbles across it, it's certainly not worth a look for that money.

It's incomplete, the engine is seized, the seats have parts missing, five bins are rotten beyond repair, one mudguard is completely rotted through and it has no batteries. Some of the exhaust components are missing, it only has a dummy .30 cal in the turret, not a deac 30. cal as advertised. However it does have 5 very good tyres on it. Looks like the brakes could be inoperative as there's a breeze block chocking the wheels. Basically this is a £1500 scrap Ferret, and one for a brave restorer too!

Maybe Chris might like to take it on as another project! :-D

Thanks and regards, Lewis

Thanks very much, there's a mystery solved :-)

Regards, Lewis

Hi chaps, can anyone identify this in our Spartan? Dad and I seemed to think it may be a mount for an SA80?

Regards, Lewis

We set off in the Ferret and then decided to turn back a mile down the road as it started to hail, no joke :cry:. There's always next year!

Luckily I caught all three on More 4 last night, a very interesting programme indeed. Between £500-600 million spent on Blue Streak, and it never flew as a missile. . Dad and I were wondering only the other day how this country ever managed to feed our efforts in the Cold War.

Regards, Lewis

Very nice! What I'd do for a Cent gun tank......

Regards, Lewis

Our Ferret hatches seem to be stuck open for the moment, I still don't trust them though!

The most painful injury I've had so far was when the bullet catcher box fell off the mount thanks to two ba**ards swinging the Bren round, hitting me on the head (a corner too). To add insult to injury, they climbed in the vehicle despite there being signs all over it telling them to stay out! I was furious to say the least! :-\

Regards, Lewis

That's very true, most of joe public seem to think anything under 45mpg is shocking .

There seems to be a fair amount of interest amongst younger people. I just don't know where I'm going to get the money to fund all the vintage/military kit I want. Luckily we already have access to storage facilities so that's a bonus. In a way I suppose it all depends what background you come from, we can only work to 'advertise' MVs to the public, or people who are thinking of buying a classic vehicle. I believe there's many vehicles you can get into the hobby on cheap, even if it is only a Landy. :-).

Sites like this are a godsend to the MV movement, a place where we can all come together, gain/give knowledge, help others out and organise events. No disrespect to the MVT but it seems they could do so much more. In past years we've often thought of having a get together of vehicles in the Beds, Herts and Cambs area, but of course nothing has ever materialised.

Regards, Lewis

I can't see why there's a problem with the name, people seem to have a problem with everything these days. Most people my age are horrified that I go out shooting. Where's the problem in that?

Just had a read on Wikipedia about it, hopefully they can turn out another impressive film on 40 million dollars.

Regards, Lewis.

Hi Chris,

That sounds a much better way of doing things. After warming up it starts easily (as you'd expect) and idles quite cleanly feathering your foot on the throttle at approximately 470rpm, so we think the idle could do with knocking up a touch. That's roughly what it should be if I remember correctly?

Has anyone tried heat wrap for the exhaust in the engine bay? Just an idea for keeping the temperature in there down.

Regards, Lewis

Hi Chris,

Thanks very much indeed, in that case we may not bother. From cold it bursts into life immediately, then once the fuel that's already in the cylinders has been used, it takes some goes to get going. I have heard of CVRT owners pumping the throttle pedal to get some fuel in there. Surely that isn't wise? Fuel pump is definitely working okay too. Maybe I should get a video of a cold start, and you can see for yourself.

Regards, Lewis.

That's interesting, I have only briefly looked at the pivot. I see it's a piece of pie to adjust too.

Also, does anyone have/know where we can buy a choke cable? That would make cold starts easier!

Regards, Lewis

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the replies, all good sound advice. The track tension definitely looks to be about right. Hopefully if the weather stays kind this week we may get a little more practice in. I definitely spoke too soon :-D.

Regards, Lewis

Hi Chris,

Thanks for that, better to be safe than sorry at the end of the day. I did get off and check everything, watching dad do a lap of the yard looking for anything unusual. Didn't seem to be anything wrong.

Those plugs were definitely a good move. We also discovered one partially blocked jet in the carb, the main jets were fine. Last week we went and bought another 40 quidsworth of fresh fuel too.

From cold it fires up a lot easier. We didn't want to adjust anything prior to getting it hot, obviously it starts and runs much better when it's warm, but the idle just seems too low. Just feathering your foot on throttle it ticks over okay, take your foot completely off and it stops. I think this might be due to the throttle rod which joins to the pedal being slightly bent, so maybe an adjustment is needed.

Regards, Lewis

Hi all,

Today dad and I took the Spartan for its first real run. Everything seems to be okay except a loud clatter from the left hand track in anything above 3rd gear. Could this be that the track needs tensioning? It looks correct. The drive sprocket seems to be tight too. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Lewis.

Should be going to both Rushden and Stoke with the Ferret. Fingers crossed we'll have another dry year at Stoke and not the usual mudbath :undecided:

About 7 years ago when we bought our Ferret from a collection in North Wales, I remember seeing one of the 'German half-tracks' made for Guns of Navarone. It was Universal Carrier chassis on the back, with a crude body built over and wheels attached to the front! :-D

Regards, Lewis

The 'bling' Ferret was putrid! Does anyone know who owns it now? No offence to them if they're on here :-D

Regards

T62? One of my all time favourite films, the 'crush scene' definitely stays with you!

Some serious kit you've got there :cool2:

Very nice! :-)