Stone

Totally agree, some of the stuff they chuck because they can't be bothered to remove it is brand new! We got a big power supply (240V in, 28V @ 60A out) with our Bedford, and I rang up the manufacturer to find out what connectors they'd used. They kept asking me why I had it, they were only manufactured in 2005! :n00b: Stone

They're definitely not commando plugs, I think we all know what they look like! Obviously they are military connectors (they came from the military...) - they look more like some of the Pattern 105 range by Amphenol but there are literally tens of thousands of green circular connectors with twist-locking mechanisms. I'll see if I can find NSNs on the cables tomorrow, that might help. I'd mostly like to know what my cables are spec'd for as they might come in useful - and I have equipment with unknown power inlets on. Shame to just bin it, much better if it can come in useful for something... Stone

Hello mate, I've been digging through some of our old cables and found a few that might come in handy, including one of the weird modified-mains plugs. If you want it it's yours, drop me a pm and i'll put it in a jiffy bag! Some pics of your cable inlets would be good too, I have a load of 3-pin cables that don't fit anything of mine! Stone

That's after they rinse them for spares too, you might get a running/driving vehicle but don't expect to be left a radio, let alone a full radar set... The vehs at Russian Military and even Duxford just have huge blank spaces in the racking. Unless you can make friends with someone at Spadeadam you're not going to be stocking up on parts! Stone

Per the other thread, it's an experimental variant that apparently drives backwards! ## SP ## is the numberplate format for 'special projects' which is your other clue. Stone

52mph might have been a little optimistic (!) but you should be able to get it up to 45 or so without too much trauma - ours tops out at about 50 downhill and 55 if you rev the nuts off it. Sounds like yours might benefit from a little TLC... Stone

So has CW bought it yet? (and the stolly...) Stone

That's a lot of bikes! :shocked: What's it being replaced with? Did they ever find an acceptable diesel bike? The trial models weren't exactly getting rave reviews... Stone

Some nice SA6 there, what's the damage on those these days? Still putting the change in the piggy bank... Stone

You're limited to 4mph in canals but you probably wouldn't want to be going any faster In practice, would the powers that be get upset if you were to, f'rexample, float a Gvozdika up the Thames? So long as you're not leaving a diesel slick behind you I'm not sure there would be a lot they could do about it... Stone

Shame I didn't run into you then, I spent the day carrying my spare headset around that I was going to donate to the cause! Oh well, it wouldn't have fit you anyway Stone

Ah ok, if they only have the little twisty things like on the side bins then it's probably better to get one fabricated when we do the custom mounts for the bed. Cheers anyway I'm in no doubt it's always possible to get into a fuel tank with a screwdriver but if it can be made a bit harder for the thieving little scrotes then why not? Stone

Obviously I know nothing about your individual vehicle but it's worth mentioning that the clocks do get reset from time to time - if the instrument cluster gets replaced they don't wind the odometer forward. When we bought ours it said it'd done 70km which was obviously untrue :rofl: So yeah, take the reading with a pinch of salt Stone

Likewise (since my BBC Micro, anyway), and there's a copy of the standard which agrees...tell us more! Stone

Some of the MJs I've seen have a jerry can holder on the left side, forward of the fuel tank, like this one. Does anyone know if it locks shut, and if so has anyone got a spare one? Ours never came with one as the Ptarmigan vehicles had cable drums fitted there instead, and it might come in handy! :cool2: I'd make my own but why bother if someone's got one... Cheers Stone

I think he meant 'no reason why the tacho cannot be removed' Why not leave it in, running round and round the same chart? You might want to sell it in future to someone who has to have one and they're not cheap to fit! They do this on the vehicle I did HGV training in - if you have a tacho fitted that you're not required by law to use then you don't need to get it calibrated every 6(?) years either. Stone

Awesome, thank you! Stone

Any followup on this one? I'm going to have to do an oil/filter change on our MJ at some point. Cheers Stone

I liked the bit where he called it a tank :rofl: Stone

Correct, you have to have independent service and parking brakes to meet the Construction and Use regulations. In a 432 then the brake bands are just locked on for the 'handbrake' setting - there isn't an independent system, so if it goes wrong then off you jolly well roll. Related is the oft-repeated tale of woe from the silly tankies trying to speed up track changes by doing them both at once! :rofl: Stone

We've seen worse brought back as good as new... Was it a T34? Bit before my time but the oldies are the goodies Stone

Yeah, different budgets though The impression I got was that they weren't dead chuffed with him for being overly forceful about the block bookings thing - he persuaded them to send an examiner for the day and do as many tests as they could fit in. Makes sense from his point of view (otherwise they have to close the training area for just one person) but I can see why the DSA would hate it - standard practice is to book a test for one specific driver and it must have messed up their paperwork something rotten as they normally pre-fill the forms before you even get there. Maybe Neil et al fell foul of them on that too? They've stopped block booking now so I guess it was causing them a problem - the admin must have been a nightmare... Is the examiner not in the vehicle with you then? How do they give you instructions, by shouting? :rotfl: Are the vehicle normally kept in good nick or do they just get ragged? Stone

I had a £750 training budget to get rid of before the end of August, and work have approved me spending it on taking Cat H Beyond what's already been covered in the threads in here (ie, maintain good observation!) are there any extra gotchas or caveats to be aware of? They still test in a 432, which my work neighbour described as 'a piece of * to drive' but I don't want to get caught out! Incidentally they've given up on block bookings now so if anyone wants to go and test you don't have to wait for 9 others to sign up now :yay: Stone

Sounds like an adventure, have fun! I'd love to join in but keep failing my Cat C Stone

Had a nice wander around on the Saturday, insane queueing on the way in! Think I managed to chat to LoggyDriver but not sure? Missed Neil and the OT though, shame, I was going to have a clamber around Didn't realise how many badly-behaved members of the younger generations were going to turn up and be obnoxious, cw might have a point... Stone