Scrunt & Farthing

Thanks gents, I had not appreciated that swapping the rotation was that simple. I probably have enough parts to to see how this works in practice. I had assumed that the drive mechanism was handed also. Thanks for your help. Dave

I don't seem to be having a lot of luck with Magnetos! What I need is an SR4LE. Anti-clock rotation. Studying various pics online some SR4LEs appear to be clock-wise, some anti-clockwise. How can this be, surely Simms settled on rotation direction when giving it a part number? And yet there seems to be many examples of SR4LEs with either rotation and the same part number. A friend suggested they have had their oil lids changed at some point. I cannot believe they have all had their oil lids swapped for ones with the arrow (direction of rotation) pointing in the wrong direction. This seems too improbable for me. I recently bought one online, via ebay of the correct designation and rotation. Hurrah! Sadly it was stolen in transit and an empty box delivered for my trouble. Boo Hoo. The next one to pop up on ebay was pretty dirty/dusty and thus it was not possible to see the arrow on the oil lid, but was a bargain at 14.99. I like bargains. It arrived today, not stolen. Hurrah! and it works.. . Hurrah, again. the only trouble is it is a rogue SR4LE that has clockwise rotation (I could not see this in the photos). Boo Hoo, again. Anyone got ideas on these ruddy magnetos, and why the problems I experienced regarding different rotations for the same part number? Anyone got a spare SR4LE they want to sell (anti-clock), and finally the punchline: I have bought so many Simms products, I am in danger of becoming a Magneto Magnet! I will get my coat. Tonight's beer is Gluten Free IPA, I shall pour it anti-clockwise.

I feel like this section of the thread is going to be extremely informative for me. Can you wait whilst I get my beer and some popcorn before posting more on the raditator restoration, please.

What gauge is that, Andy?

Nice pics there. It certainly seems to have the dimensions of a tram body. The position of the waist rail, floor level etc. all suggest tram. What a nice thing to own.

What an excellent thread, Andy. It is the quality of threads like this, and the Gosling gentlemen documenting their projects, that drove me to register on HMVF and post my own limited efforts. I have enjoyed it enormously. Having seen the lorry in the flesh I can say how good it looks in the "flesh". Cheers Dave

How will you do the core, will you repair or make yourself? I am in similar straits myself, and surprised by the size of the number needed to have a new one made. In particular the number of zeroes in the number made me think I might need to save up for rather a long time.

An interesting picture of the hanging and cooling room of the Co-operative Bacon Factory. It did strike me though, that the bacon had little choice but to be cooperative.

Nice looking magneto there, Tomo. And the SR4X seems to be a pretty popular on ebay. Yours seems to have good caps also. I want to get mine sorted soon as I believe there is a quite a wait on getting them serviced/repaired. Out of interest, did it come with the caps, or did you have to source them separately?

Thornycroft pressure gauge on ebay at the moment, Tomo. Not sure if you need one, but here it is... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224423079990?ul_noapp=true

A fine selection of beers on the shelf there, Toby. I assume that once a moderate thirst has been built up, the evening is given up (as it should in every shed) to noisy revelry. I conjecture the bottle of Yellow-Tail at the end is reserved for its corrosive properties, paint stripping and the like. Keep up the good work. It is an inspiration for the Kent Branch of the scrap bus and lorry works.

That looks magnificent, Tomo. You must be very pleased.

You are quite correct RadioMike on both points. The chain drive gearbox was designed to appease the Met Police (pre Traffic Commissioner) in respect of noise levels. I believe reverse was achieved as you describe. Thackeray describes it thus: The first and second gear chain wheels were free to rotate on the mainshaft, gear engagement being achieved by sliding dogs. A pair of spur gears provided the necessary change in rotation for reverse gear. He also quotes contemporary correspondence and a paper by A S Hill on "Chains for Power Transmission" Brian Thackeray's book is an excellent source, but I won't spoil the ending in case others have not read it.

I would not normally post ebay finds on here, but this one struck me as interesting. It was brought to my attention by a friend. Mrs Scrunt&Farthing saw me looking at it on ebay and has gone to bed shaking her head and muttering something about a new kitchen... She clearly did not recognise it as a K-Type or she would have remarked on the type enjoying a chain-drive gear-box. Perhaps she noticed it was missing its gearbox and thus chose not to mention it. Such wisdom. I know there are a couple of committed bus-botherers on here (and some gents nearing the end of projects, with time on their hands), and this one is missing a few key items but nothing a good polish wouldn't put right. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-land-speed-racer-1921-AEC-London-bus-chassis-Barnfind-field-find-flats/284236371835

It does seem to me that all of these modern phenomenon's that so vex my driving life have one principle thing in common. In almost every case the offending vehicle has a knob behind the steering wheel that thinks their right to the road is more important than mine; that stopping distances do not apply to them; that the outside lane is exclusively for their enjoyment and that their stupid fairy-light indicators will in some way impress me to believe that they are richer, cleverer and more important than me. [and whilst I am at it, personal number plates that cleverly spell the word "BOSS"]. I have taken to flicking certain vulgar gestures in the direction of any Audi, BMW or Range Rover driver I meet. It is most cathartic and I commend it to all until the scourge is beaten.

Does a worm drive prevent you from "bump starting", due to the irreversibility (or inability to back drive) of a worm drive?

I could not have said it any better.

I think the problem you describe is not one the driver of the vehicle (so fitted) experiences, rather it is traffic in the other direction. LED lighting in my humble opinion can be a menace on the narrow lanes around here. The intensity is just "blinding" to oncoming traffic. A chum of mine has a new car with LED lights and he tells me that at night he is either repeatedly flashed or other drivers switch to full-beam... I guess as some form of retaliation. I have to say I am not surprised. Dave

They look good... and a nice old-fashioned repair, too. Dave

Indeed, Rob. My good friend "Radiator Roy" once told me that when faced with the situation one Sunday afternoon of only Master Brew in the larder or a bottle of Fernox Central Heating de-scaler in the van, he felt it best to take his chances with the Fernox. It's advice I have heeded ever since and as a consequence I am free of Limescale and operating at full efficiency.

This is a really good thread, the level of effort and workmanship are great. Whilst I am drinking my way through lockdown and winter you are cracking on and doing some really good work. I think many of us could learn a lesson here. Keep up the good work (particularly the tin-work). Dave

Nice to see pictures of it, Toby. What a cracker, it looks like you are getting on with it. I think it looks great with that full cab on it. How long is it? I could not estimate it from the photos. Dave (Kent Branch of the Leyland Scrap Bus and Lorry Works)

Yes, but Andy you have excelled yourself this week. Whilst the the absence of crane pictures is lamentable, we have had a double-whammy of DSG and portable-brazing-hearth. There can be few more stirring sights to men of our age.

No worries, Rick. I don't think digression does spoil a thread, it adds to it. Keep posting. Dave

A good point, Andy. And since we have to make new top and bottom tanks it can be incorporated into it. Some good points here. Thanks.