Richard Grosvenor

Just having a little look on YouTube and found these videos of FH70's in action. Going from firing to APU mode. It's good to see that even with about 8 men it still takes about 4 minutes. It takes me "on me todd" about 15! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1ixoo_PU2f8 And firing. The force of that recoil! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjjn4vhzzbE Richard

Hmmm.....always a good one. He was often visiting a sick relative in hospital when I needed to get in contact with him when I was buying the ZIL. But back to the insurance, Footman James seem to have made a few mistakes lately. Last week I had to renew my car insurance with them. I did it over the phone with my debit card and all was well. The following morning I had three letters from them. The first one was a "we have pleasure in enclosing your insurance policy" letter. The second one was a letter saying they couldn't renew my insurance because my card wasn't authorized. The third was another "we have pleasure in enclosing your insurance policy" letter. After a very quick phone call to the bank to be told everything was fine and a very very long call trying to get through to Footman James they eventually admitted they had put a much higher amount on my card than they should have, then realising what they'd done refunded it but when they'd tried to put the right amount in, my bank thinking something might be a bit dodgy locked the account. It's good to see that some banks still look out for their customers but it's a shame to see that Insurance companies don't have phones that can dial out when they cock up and need to contact with you!! Richard

Or maybe the crane has been slewed 180 degrees ;-). I wouldn't be at all surprised if the crane wasn't still in use when those pictures were taken. Richard

I miss read that the first time. Damm I was disappointed with that picture. Loverly trucks though :-) Richard

It's a shame I missed it again this year. I was entered with the FH70 and the Ferret and was going to bring them up on a low-loader. Unfortunately at the last minute the low-loader got booked for a paying job so I couldn't borrow it. Richard

It's unfortunate, but part of me thinks that a certain MV dealer might have had an inkling about it. Whats an F50 by the way? Regards Richard

I've just renewed the Militant, Ferret, FH70, LandRover and 2 trailers with Footman James all for the very reasonable price of £122.85! Regards Richard

Why thank you. I quite like it. It's completely a toy and not used for work at all. People just think I'm a bit eccentric! I know what you mean about the standard of driving from other road users. And it's not always from car drivers! Other lorry drivers can be very inconsiderate at times. I've only held my artic licence for just under 2yrs and only drive part time but am often surprised at how bad some drivers are. I'll often have lorries speed up when I'm over-taking on a dual carriage way or motorway. And I don't know why! If I'm on a motorway I set the cruise control to 55mph sit there quite happily bopping away to the radio and if a lorry tries to overtake and is struggling I just drop it back a couple of clicks and let them past . But I'm sure there are plenty of drivers who think that their mirrors are only to be used when they're reversing! You do see some funny sights on the road though don't you. I'll always remember one night coming along the A14 which was empty except for me and another lorry a good distance in front of me. Then this little old Escort comes chugging by be all loaded up, just as it passes the lorry in front it suddenly brakes and shoots up a slip road, the lorry swerves into the outside lane but as I start to think what a prat I start hitting debris! There's shoes and knickers and stuff all over the road because this little Escort was so loaded up that the tail-gate catch just gave up the fight! The look on the coulpes faces! :-) Regards Richard

I forgot this, Tesco say they have trackers on their units and trailers so they can see where you are and what speed your doing. Now I never really believed this until a few weeks ago. I drive for a sub-contractor so I use his units with Tescos trailers. This one night it was very windy and when one of the other drivers stopped for his break the air suspended cab on his truck was really rocking about so he thought it was a lot rougher than it really was. A while latter the boss got a phone call from the Distribution Center asking if that driver was alright because they'd been watching him and he was only doing 30mph on the A14! Mind you, both him and me hit fallen trees that night, I got away with no damage ( luckily as the boss was behind me at the time ) but the other chap did £700 worth of damage to his unit! Regards Richard

Personally, I genuinely believe that 40mph on a main single carriage trunk road is too slow for today's traffic and vehicles. I'm not thinking for a minute that it's safe to tear through built up areas at 50mph. I'm on about major trunk roads, round here we have the A47, A17, A52 to name just a few that all have long stretches where it is completely safe to run at 45-50mph, but we can't. Most of my driving tends to be for Tesco who are very hot on speeding and allow plenty of time for deliveries but even so huge ques build up behind us. Only last Thursday night someone nearly killed themselves trying to overtake, I was on the A47, 40mph, another lorry in front of me, double white lines, car coming the other way and the prat behind pulls out! And then he nearly hits the trailer pulling back in! One thing I really would like is for the 40mph limit to be more known about, not only by car drivers but also other LGV drivers, I've lost count of the times I've been hounded by other trucks! On the back of my Magnum I've had a sign done stating the speed limits, which helps a bit. While we're on about speed limits does anyone know what the speed limit is for a transit sized van on a main single carriageway road? It might surprise some people. Regards Richard Ps. Photos of Mally will be about shortly. I am seriously thinking of selling her as I just don't have the time to do much with any of my vehicles. If anyone is interested get in touch

Now I don't know if you know, but the speed limits for LGV/HGV's on a main single carriage way road is only 40mph. Now this is dangerous as it causes huge tail-backs with car drivers taking massive risks to overtake trucks and no doubt getting very angry at the "stupid, ignorant truck driver who is stopping them getting where they want to be!" Now we don't want to be stuck at 40mph either, but with tacho's recording everything there's not a lot we can do about it. But....even though it won't do any good ..... there is a petition on 10 Downing Street's site asking for it to be raised to 50mph. It would be nice :-) http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/HGV-increase-MPH/ Regards Richard

Yeah, apparently it's due to the fact that the MOT process is now computerised. Because the test has to last at least 40 minutes ( if it doesn't the computer will not accept the test has been done ) and as so many small village garages have stopped doing MOT because of the added expenses, added to the sheer amount of vehicles on the road now days there is simply not enough time to test every vehicle eligible each year. Another idea being proposed is to make all test stations like HGV test centers where the vehicles go down lanes conveyor belt style and the test lasts about 20 minutes. Having seen how slick an HGV center is and the speed and efficiency that the vehicles are processed, to me this has to be the way to go. Regards Richard

Well the other week I was sub-contracting for Tesco driving an old bruiser of an Iveco Cursor. I tipped the first load, returned to the DC to change trailers but just as I was about to drop the trailer the gearbox got stuck in 4th gear. I tried the usual things like shouting at it and giving it a good thump but nothing worked so I called the boss man and left it for him to look at and blagged myself a nice brand new Tesco Merc Axor to finish the shift. On returning to the Iveco the "fix" was to drive it home ( about 20miles ) in 4th gear ( 15mph ) ! And this was at 2.30 in the morning! Believe me, I have never been so worried about falling asleep at the wheel or having someone run into the back of me before. And I will never complain about the Militant only being able to do 30mph again. Regards Richard Ps. It was the syncro ring breaking that caused it to stick in gear. And it wasn't me that broke it. I just happened to be driving it when it broke. :-)

I'm going to look really stupid here but.....I thought RSSRobot AND Neil both had brought an OT-90 off Richard and it was just coincidence that they were both ready for collection at the same time, but they're obviously one and the same. My head is hurting now! ;-) Richard

hmmmm.......I can't think why. He's not normally like that ; ) Regards ( with tongue slightly in cheek ) Richard Ps. Glad you finally got it all sorted out Neil.

Yeah :-( but I think the rear body ended up on my MK1 so at least all wasn't wasted Regards Richard

Many Thanks Guys :-D Richard ( 33 ! :-( )

:-) Ha Ha! I see now. There's two levers, one is short and stubby and the other is longer and more like a pumping handle. Now, being a logical sort of person I presumed that the long pumpy lever was the one for pumping it up and the short stubby one was the on/off lever. BUT...I forgot, this is the army, and so as to confuse the enemy if it ever fell into the wrong hands the short stubby one is the pumping handle and the other one is the on/off. :whistle: And it seems to work 8-). I couldn't get the pressure past 2000psi without an extension bar but I'm sure once I find something that fit's it should work fine Thanks Richard

Yes that's exactly whats on our generator. :-) I'll have a good look at the Hydraulic starter, there is an instruction plate on it but the only problem is the sticker which says if the switch is on or off is missing so I don't no if it's not building pressure because it's open or because of another fault. Saying that I haven't checked to see if it's full of oil. Hmmmm...I could go and do that now....better than sitting here eating nuts and pringles! If I need them instructions N.O.S. I'll give you a shout. Many Thanks Richard

:rofl: :rofl: :whistle: Richard

Hiya, one night this week I was waiting to pull out onto the A47 and a low-loader carrying an OT-90 came past from March direction heading towards Peterborough . I presumed it was yours being delivered Neil. Good luck and get well soon, Richard

That's it, thats what ours is. I've had a little play with the hydraulic start thing but didn't realise it could take that many pumps. If it ever gets warmer I'm going to have a good look at the generator. Oh...tried touching the two wires on the sender unit. Nothing. So I geuss the next step is to start checking the wiring :dunno: Richard

Oh right. That sounds easy. I will give that a go tomorrow Thanks Tony :-) Richard

I've heard of this but don't really know how to do it. Yes it's an electrical gauge on the main switch panel Thanks Richard

Yeah I think both of them points are true. I have to say I have never used Easy Start on anything, never needed to, and the generator starts easily without it. It certainly sounds as if it's the start pilot as Richard said, but it doesn't look like the one on the Unimog. Thanks guys for the advice :-D While I'm on about the generator, the only thing that doesn't work is the fuel gauge. How do you check to see where the problem is? I haven't really had a good look at it yet either but will probably start at the sender unit. Richard Oh nearly forgot, don't think I'm being rude by not replying for a while, I'm driving artics every night until Chrismas 8-)