oily

looks like I've found a new old stock, gearbox for my poorly Saracen, courtesy of my 'wanted' notice on milweb, it's as new, still all wrapped up in it's greased protective wrappings, with fixings etc, -still in a packing crate.......and all for £680, .......much more affordable! from a chap in Kent, near the War and Peace showground, a guy by the name of Brian -Laken, I think he said his surname was, ... anyways, watch this space for news on the big job ahead! I'll more than likely be asking for more advice, no doubt, but thanks anyway..... bye for now...

no truer word was said!, I just love:cool2::-D driving around everywhere in my saracen, -before it's unfortunate gear problem:sweat:, I found I coud keep up with most traffic, and took to the pre-select box like it was second nature...... a little help from dad (:iloveyou:), was a great help, as he used to drive them alot, and ferrets, later moving on to centurions. I find the ferret a little easier, in the amount of effort used to operate the GCP, but my saracen never really proved that much of a problem, as regards the dreaded 'false neutral', except just prior to the recent gear selection problems, which I assume to be a symptom of worn out brake bands, increased heat in the gearbox, and the weird 'burning cardboard' smell, that I experienced shortly before the gears stopped working......I've been quoted £1250:shocked::???, for a replacement M.O.D. Recon, box, inc V.A.T. and delivery....is this cheap?/extortion?, as not really had to buy anything like this before...... anyone got any cheaper ones?

Oh, just a minor point, my Saracen may have been an ACV, at some point, as it has an odd battery charging panel, left and slightly to the rear of the driver's seat, below the n/s escape hatch, also a long frame was bolted to the floor, in the area between the rows of seats, and I believe that, originally it had only 1 set of side facing seats, and that Mr Young, obtained and fitted the 2nd set, it also had a vertical 'cage' next to the drivers seat, for it's radio installation, I still have this frame, but it is not fitted as it makes things easier for me to get in and out, the frame on the floor kept tripping people up too, so that is in my shed aswell.......

Thanks, ever so much, Mr AlienFTM, and Sirhc, nice to know, someone out there in hyperspace land shows a little interest in O.B.E.'s (other bugger's efforts!):-D....... Sadly I have had a few little problems with the Saracen, just recently, after a little 'camping trip' to Hambledon, Hampshire. It appears that the brake bands in my gearbox have given up the ghost, ...-due to a rather sudden oil seal failure, most of my gearbox oil has gone AWOL,......:-(, ....Yes I do check all my fluid levels before driving!, but sometimes, I suppose, age creeps up on things. It broke down, 1st at Droxford,:??? then I got going again, only to stop again at Fair Oak,right on an awkward 'T Junction', opposite a very busy Petrol Station:cry:....Low-loader time....courtesy of Boarhunt Recovery:yay:, appointed Breakdown agent for my vehicle...... got read up all my EMERS now to work out easiest/quickest route to effect repairs.....:coffee: once again, guys, thanks ever so much for, the info you have passed my way:-D Kind Regards Matt

Many thanks, Richard, I will dig out my EMER, and do some more reading.......

.........oh dear!, oh dear, oh dear!:argh: It's all adding up now.... If you recall my previous thread, regarding my wonderful saracen..... slipping gears, missing gears,......a small oil leak, and now I recall an odd smell, similar to burning paper -(which I'd assumed was the result of local 'oiks' poking paper/lolly sticks into the exhaust).My lovely toy has broken down, on the way back from a camping trip, first it missed a couple of gear changes, then refused to ghange gear at all until being left to cool off for a couple of hours or so..... On questioning my dad about the symptoms, since he drove them and Ferrets in service, he confirmed that it is highly likely that the brake bands have worn, due to low oil/overheating, ....looks like I'm about to learn how to remove, strip, possibly recondition, and refit a saracen gearbox,...... any pointers from anyone, anybody done this before?... 1. Whats the easiest/quickest way 2. Is it possible to replace the brake bands without removing the box? 3. How much will this likely to cost me in parts?, :??? 4. Does anyone know if there is a modern/fully automatic gearbox, that could cope, and be made to fit? ....as I can do the spanner work, thats taking it out and putting it back at least!

83 BA 78, Saracen Mk5 A.P.C. Up-armoured. Spent alot of time in Germany, believed to have briefly had a trip out to Egypt to see Mr Gaddaffi, then rushed to N.I. to be with 7,11 & 21 Sqn R.C.T. History Cards say something about 'Admin Squadron', came to me still fitted with Larkspur Harnesses, but paperwork states VHF converted, but no sign of any Clansman kit. Has Gpmg mount (sadly, as I want to obtain and fit a 30 cal) Was at one point, also an Ambulance, originally, and converted to APC role in 1973. Was 'New' in 1956, but didn't enter actve use until 1972, so was a long time in storage. It was given a major overhaul in 1983, with new 'everything', pensioned off in 1991, to L.Jackson & Co, bought by Ian Young,(Military Machines International's Editor),in 2003, then bought by me in 2005, partially stripped (where needed), restored/recommissioned, back on the road for Sept 2007, now started up and driven at least once a week..... anyone know any more DETAIL about it was used for, when with it's various units:???

Might Bring the Saracen along for a little play..... have to save up the petrol money....

maybe it is a B81!.....I'll check the numbers.....

......More points to note...... I also Religiously check for 'wind-up', EVERY time I stop, and get out...to fill up with fuel, etc (happens alot!), but not as much as I'd have thought, seems to average 5-6 mpg, around town, and about 8mpg, on a decent run, of say 60 miles or so) worked out by putting measured amount of fuel in, and dipping tank after before and after, said run, -with vehicle parked on the level...... The oil level/drain bungs are always in the same relative positions, when I check them. I'm lucky as I have an area of soft ground and gravel that I have to negotiate every time I get the thing out on the road, so any wind up gets driven out when I put it to bed, also I take it out in the rain too, a) to help keep it looking so clean, and b) I also find this helps to avoid 'wind-up' too....don't worry, I don't use those scary speeds in the wet, and only now and again when the weather and road conditions are good, and safe, with no granny-piloted Fiestas pulling out of hedges!...... I have evidence that all mechanical assemblies, engine, gearbox, transfer box, and all the wheel stations, were replaced with NEW assemblies at a major refurb/overhaul at base workshops in 1983, since then Saracen has covered 1147 miles as shown on the mileometer, I personally have driven it for 1067 of those miles, on and off road (....gentle off-roading though!). Before I drove it anywhere, I drained and replaced all the fluids, including all the hubs/bevel boxes, and as said, earlier the only leak is the tiny dribble of what looks like engine oil...... ......we are off camping with it this weekend, down to Hambledon, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, just round the corner from 'The Bat and Ball, Pub',...-if you know it. Route as follows Chandlers Ford, -Eastleigh, -Fair Oak, Bishops Waltham, -Wickham, Portsdown Hill (...seems to go on for ever!), Waterlooville, Denmead, and finally Hambledon...... If you see us, give us a toot and a wave, We won't squash you!

my girfriend has been reading over my shoulder, and yelled in outrage at the screen, -and in my ear! Nikki is perfectly capable of differentiating between mph and kph on her motor, and not some dozy blonde air-head(her words, not mine!), and may I say actaully loves all this larking about in armour, loads, I taught her to drive the Saracen, albeit round a field, and she took to it like a duck to water!.......The distributor arm is as it was originally intended, and still cuts ignition at 4000rpm..... and you don't, as a rule, get a granny pulling out of a hedge,......as I said -where conditions allow, and where it is safe.......if a junction, or other traffic appear ahead, I always back off, and cover the brakes, in readiness for the inevitable pointing/staring/muttering, smiles and waves that I ALWAYS get whilst out and about in it. Thanks for the tip on checking the fluid flywheel oil level though!......

If you pay for the metal,mesh, etc and a drawing (of decent, understandable quality, in pencil, or pen, showing fixing details etc, I'd be more than happy to weld one up for you, for a sensible fee..... Regards, Matt

Having great fun so far this season, in my Saracen, but lately, now and again, it seems to miss a gear, or not select properly....and seems to slip a little going into top.:confused: Points to note: I religiously 'toggle-up', EVERYTIME, each day it gets driven, even if only just round the yard. Sometimes, after pulling away, it'll leaves a trail of oil/water, about 15ft long probably a pint or so, maximum, the water is clear, not coolant,(taste test! Health and Safety-this practise is NOT recommended for long term use!), so this is probably condensation, from in base of hull, the oil is thin(ish), and not golden, so not OM13, but a brown(ish) colour like new engine oil. I am aware that there is supposed to be engine oil in the gearbox, end gear oil(black), in the transfer box. Recently I have been getting very good performance on the road, having been 'clocked' at 60mph! :shocked:, by my girlfriend, following in her VW Passat.- I'm obviously too busy looking where I'm going, to look sideways/down at the speedo! just a note to add here :stop:-these sort of speeds are only done where the limit allows, and where the conditions are safe!:stop: I have checked the oil level, in the gearbox, and it does appear to lose a little, so I top it up as required. Does anyone know if the Automatic Gearbox Stop-Leak juice, commercially available would work for sorting this minor leak, or whether it would possibly contaminate the brake band material?, when the level is correct, it doesn't miss-select gears, but still slips a little going into top....on this note, I've heard that up-armoured ones are prone to this, but it is not damaging..... Anyone got any input/ideas?:confused: P.S. I know some folks may think 60mph, is a tad irresponsible:nono:, but I've had lots of stories from ex-squaddies, regularly getting performance such as this, and better!:cool2: (slightly scary!:shake:), from Saracens, Ferrets, Saladins, etc, and yes, my Brakes and Hydraulics Systems are definatley in extremely good working order!........

ah!,....the 'oracle':coffee: has gained another one of those year things, well done, good wishes, and thankyou for your help, advice etc in all things of a military vehicle nature....:saluting: regards Matt

well I suppose that does seem quick....in a tank, ....I got clocked the other day doing 60mph!:cool2:...in my Saracen!:nono::cool2:

hello, although Saracens are really my thing, I like FV 432's too. what is the nature of your enquiry?......:coffee:

a thousand thankyou's, sirhc:cool2::coffee:

HI all, I feel it is about time that I painted the engine on my 1956 Saracen Mk5 APC just to keep it looking smart, and so that I can spot any oil leaks a bit sooner!.... can anyone help, by giving me the paint colour code....the correct one please!:nono: thanks guys!:-D

A7V looks okay, ......from the base of the hull/body upwards,..... the real ones had 2 'track bogeys' on each side, so the single ones on the replica kind of spoil things a little. but yes it is convincing enough for re-enactment I suppose....

but mine was is an uparmoured MK5, with later accumulators.....

I did mine with a bottle of Nitrogen, and borrowed a high pressure regulator from a welding shop, bottle of nitrogen was about £20.00 to use, a hydraulic hose co. made me an adaptor hose for a fiver, 525psi in each one if I remember correctly...job done in about 20 mins, the beast stops in about 20 ft, from 30mph! (but on damp grass, it tears the turf off, and slides another 10ft!)

well, apparently, I've been around a bit, a few miles on the clock, etc, I was on here a while back, shortly after I got 'the beast'......but my old computer refused me access, so had to register again.... it's a good site, but answers from others seem to be slow in coming, ....almost as slow as driving the saracen up Portsdown Hill, from Wickham towards Waterlooville!:sweat:but, the answers I have recieved so far, have been useful:cool2:

tried to upload a couplr of shots for you all to look at, but as I have already said it is featured on the show report for the Overlord Show at Horendean this year, amongst the photos....:-D

I have a really nice Mk 5 up armoured Saracen if you'd like a look over it. see photo elsewhere on this site under Overlord Show 2009, Simonsphotos.... my reg no. (shown in picture) is 83 BA 78

12.00-20 trackgrips, at least 6, possibly 6 per year, any idea of price?