Richard Grosvenor

Well I had a decent look at it today. Apparently according to the instruction plate you use Ether Capsules. There's two plungers, one has a screw top which you remove and put a capsule inside, you put the lid back on and push the plunger down therefor piecing the capsule. The other plunger is then used pump the ether into the engine. But...there was no capsule in it so it obviously doesn't need it even with the weather like it is at the minute. From memory, thinking about it now, there is a place to store the capsules in one of the lockers. I'll have to have a look and see if there's any in there. Regards Richard

I see. Thanks guys To be honest I haven't had a really good look at where the ether is put. Today was the first time I used it. Normally it fires up on the first turn of the switch, and it probably would have today, but as it was very cold I thought I'd give it a pump. As the generator is marked up with SFOR I geuss it has seen some proper cold conditions! It's got a BIG straight six BTW, the same as used in larger Ford tractors. 8-) Richard

I may be stupid but where / how do you buy ether? The reason for asking is we have an Ex-MOD 20 KVa Generator powered by a Ford 6 cyl diesel engine. In the instructions it says in cold weather to pump some ether into the engine before starting, there seems to be some still in the pump but I'd like to get some ready. Ether's not the same as Easy Start is it? I've always been told never to use that as the engine can become hooked on it regards Richard

And if you're driving a truck with a Jake Brake they sound loverly coming down a hill! :-D And do people really turn their engine off while coasting? :shake: Richard

I'm not 100% sure but I think if you're down rating it's just a paper exercise. You get a form from VOSA, fill in the new details and take our vehicle a long to the LGV Test Station of your choice, hand over £25 and after giving it a quick look over they print off a new plating certificate. That's what I did with my Magnum, well in reverse anyway. It had been down rated to 23 tonnes but I needed 28 tonnes, so as nothing had been done to it it was a 15 minute job to up it. It's a bit more involved if you need to up rate it over what it was when manufactured but that's not what you need is it. Regards Richard

There's one I often use at work to decribe a pond pump that is no longer fit for it's purpose. N.F.G. I'm sure you can work it out! :whistle: Richard

LOTUS = Lots of Trouble Usually Serious :tongue: Richard

Is it one of them AEC armoured command vehicles ? Richard

Hmmmmm...... I don't know then. I've got an old digger that fits on the back of a tractor and that has weird hydraulics, to slew you have to be using one of the other functions at he same time. I wondered if yours might me similar. There's no mechanical locks on the arm is there? Richard

I'm not an expert on hydraulics by any means but have you tried operating/closing the red valve while operating the spool valves? Maybe it could by some sort of safety device in so much as you have to use two hands to operate the crane. :dunno: Richard

Not just my favorite war film but my favorite film full stop is Empire of the Sun And this is without one of the best scences of any film I've seen IMHO. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bej9Pmx7U0c Richard

Have you checked the ignition switch? Sometimes my Ferret ( and the Militant for that matter which has the same type of switch panel ) will just clonk when operating the starter. A quick wiggle of the ignition switch always cures the problem. It seems to do it if ignition switch is fully "on", if it's turned back a couple of degree's it's fine. I'm guessing it's just because of wear. Regards Richard

I may be very stupid but.....what are these Spider things that are now on the forum? :? Richard

On the way to Cambridge earlier tonight I saw 4 vehicles which must have been going there. There was a low loader with 2 Bren Gun carriers and what looked an Austin staff car which I'm guessing might have been from the East of England Tank Museum and a then there was a rather nice Jeep being driven by some suitably dressed occupants. Richard

yeah I wondered that! Is it for the front hatch on a Saracen? Richard

I'm fairly sure this is true. It's a medical a abbreviation. T.U.B.E So for the ladies out there if you ever go to the doctors or hospital and they request they give you a T.U.B.E tell them to get stuffed Totally Unnecessary Breast Examination ! :-D Richard

:-D Well I have an idea ! Did anyone else see the Top Gear special the other week when Clarkson and May drove a Toyota Hi-Lux to the North Pole? Clarkson invented a "Bumper Dumper"! There you go, Problem solved! ;-) Richard

I think it's the nipples on the rear hubs that are lubricators for oil rather than grease. But oddly the front hubs must have grease rather than oil :?. Luckily I've not had to put any oil in the rear hubs as they've always been fine. Probably best to stick with what the book says even though any lubricant has got to be better than no lubricant . With the regards the un-loader valve, I had a look in my illustrated parts book to see if it showed the valve in any detail.....but it didn't! Regards Richard

The rear body is right but the canvas part looks a bit too tall. Either that or mine is too low :? ! Poor old thing! Just sitting there rotting away :-( Richard

I see what you mean. I think it's missing a rear cross member and the "spades" for the winch. . It does make it look funny. Richard

I don't know. But..I'm sure mine has the same. From memory it's on the sill below the side door :dunno: I can't remember the name that built the rear bodies, does it begin with a T ? It wouldn't explain the T on the tyres though would it if they're connected. Regards Richard

They certainly are! 8-) Hi Simon, nice to have another Mk1 Militant owner on here :-D. Makes a change from all them WW2 US stuff :whistle: ;-) Richard Ps. I got your message, I'll do a proper reply tomorrow when I've got a more time. Heroes season finale is about to start.

Well I was close! :-D Richard

Doesn't SP in the number plate stand for Special Prototype? Richard

hmmmm....that's interesting then. I wonder if it got a bid on it? It would be quite nice to own, and it would certainly be a crowd puller at shows, just not sure if it would go easily through our gate as it looks a lot wider than a standard artic trailer. I keep looking on their website but they haven't posted the results yet. I might have to give Graham a ring and see what he has to say. :whistle: Richard