LoggyDriver

Don't forget all your generators and extras Nick.

Yes, do not open it for gods sake. Severe health problems will ensue!!!:shocked:

I thought this might explain the method I'm thinking of better.

Thanks for the reply Degsy. I rebuilt both axles about 8 years ago with all new everything including brake calipers (£350 EACH:shocked:), discs, hoses, bearings, seals, nuts and bolts etc all genuine parts. I never ever use pattern parts as they are just a waste of money. I might just go down the grease route to save on all the work. The cutting of the seal sounds interesting. If you placed the cut at the top then this should work, but the amount you would need to open it up to get it over the axle casing would surely distort it?

Most of this is down to the worst scum of all and that's Pikeys. They will nick anything they can get their hands on because they are too damn lazy to earn an honest living, but would rather steal from ordinary people who work hard for their living. I've seen them walk into a supermarket near Christmas time and just walk out with 4 huge frozen turkeys. Because they are so brazen and the fact the Police are scared of them they get away with it time and time again. Anything to do with stolen metal is most definitely Pikeys. Scum of the earth....:argh:

I know all the modern Defenders use this grease, which from memory looks grey? I would have thought the swivel housings would need to be cleaned of oil first before using this grease though? How much grease goes in them Degsy, is it the same amount as what there is in oil in there? The trouble is the CV joint. It's not like the rears where you can just pull the half shaft out, you need to remove the whole hub to pull the shaft. That's why I had the idea of unbolting the swivel housing from the axle casing. The half shaft would then come out from the diff. It's a lot of work for a poxy couple of quid seal. Is there a downside to using grease? I suppose as it's 23 years old they don't last for ever!:-(

That's correct mate. They are designed for a 4 tonne payload or to carry 6 Unit Load Containers or pallets as well as box bodys and the like.

My other halfs dad worked at Dennis all his working life and I presume it would have been when these pumps were being used. I can always ask her to ask him if he knows anything about these pumps?

Has anyone changed a front swivel housing oil seal, the one behind a retaining ring behind the gaitor? My N/S has started to weep and it looks like you have to take the whole wheel station off to change it. I was wondering if I can split the axle casing where the swivel housing bolts to the axle shaft and just pull it apart complete with the half shaft, fit the new seals and bolt back up. Has anyone tried this method?:shocked:

To add to what Degsy said. The axle loading for a Bedford MJ is as follows; Axle loading Laden Unladen Front axle 4060 kg (8951 Ib) 2660 kg (5864 Ib) Rear axle 6101 kg (13451 Ib) 2001 kg (4411 Ib) Gross vehicle laden plated weight 9650 kg (21274 Ib) Gross train weight 14730 kg (32474 Ib) If you add up the front and rear laden weight it adds up to 10,161Kgs - this is over the GVW. If you look at the unladen rear axle weight of 2001Kgs, there is over half a ton more weight on the front. However as my box overhangs on the rear slightly the weight shift then moves towards the back and mine weighs in at 4,600Kgs on the rear and 3,300Kgs on the front laden. If I had the same weight in say a UBRE (Unit Bulk Refueling Equipment) set up then the front would have more weight and the rear less than mine because it doesn't have the overhang. So you can load the truck within it's axle weight limits but still be overweight on the Gross.

Cool. Looks good. What's the track in the background for?

The Weighbridge I used was a single axle type that weighs each axle individually and then gives you the gross weight. The same VOSA use. The Gross Weight given would be the same whether you weighed it on a table top weighbridge or the individual axle type I used, but the type I used gives you the added benefit of knowing how much weight is on each axle. The box I have is a Radar Repair workshop and as mentioned is still in "in service" condition. It still contains 2 very big airconditioning units, all the steel work benches, cable drum and aux batteries along with the NBC system, CES etc. I reckon there must be nearly a ton of equipment fitted to the box. Which test are you talking about? If you are talking about the MOT then no it's not tested as an HGV but as a Class 4 MOT, regardless of the vehicles weight. But regarding driving licences I think you will find you still require a Cat C entitlement to drive an RV over 7.5 tonnes. Have a look at this link which explains you need to have the correct licence for the type of RV being driven. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_10037875

Very nice. I like the overkill on the chassis rust prevention measures. I would have done exactly the same.:-\

Cool, not far from me. Nice to know another vehicle is in the area. I might even see it at some local shows!!

Gordon, Contact HMG Paints to get what you want. I have just bought 5lts of BS 361 Light Stone Satin finish and 5lts of synthetic primer. They had to make the paint up, but from order to delivery was about two or three days. Delivered by courier direct to my private address no problem. Excellent service and the paint was very good too. Make sure when you order you state what level of sheen you want, ie Matt, Satin etc. I bought some primer and thinners from Auto Paint Supplies in Newbury and the stuff they supplied was HMG Paint! Here is the link. http://www.hmgpaint.com/

Farringdon Oxfordshire by any chance?

Degsy; Yes I am aware of all the different takes. I put the post up for owners who have a box but were unaware of the weight. The Gross Vehicle Plated Weight for this truck is 9,650Kgs. So it's about 1,700Kgs lighter than the maximum weight allowed. I'm not bothered about downrating the truck as I have a Class One HGV so it makes no odds to me. As Stormin mentioned I don't think you would be able to downrate a MJ with a box body on the back as the box weighs 3 tonnes on it's own. The only option you have would be to re register it as a "Motor Caravan" after fitting the box body out as a camper, but as I understand it, you still need an HGV Licence for any vehicle over 7.5tonnes regardless of whether it's a goods vehicle or not. I stand to be corrected on this though.:cool2: N.O.S. Yes mate, the box is fitted to a Flat Platform. The Bedford MJ is a Flat Platform truck in all cases and all equipment fitted of various types is fitted to this apart from a few specialist chassis such as Tanker etc. The Cargo version is classified as a Cargo, not a Flat Platform, however all that is needed to turn a Flat Platform to a Cargo is the edition of tailgate, dropsides, troop seats and tilt. My truck was a Ptarmigan Comms Centre when I bought it, all that was done was the removal of the Ptarmigan System and the fitment of the box. I'm sure you are aware of this though:-) The box is actually a Transportable Container - Shop Equipment Electronic Repair Radar body. I'm not sure this would be considered Cargo/Freight/Goods. Although the TC is held on with a mounting system, it would be considered a PERMANENT fitment because you require specialist workshop equipment to remove it, namely a crane which MUST be used with a spreader bar or the fitment of special legs that jack the box off the body.

Comments like that don't help the hobby at all, I always take time to speak to anyone who asks, even give out a leaflet about our group etc Gary You are spot on there Gary. I thought seeing the vehicles on the back and the fact that I told them I was a MV owner and was also wearing an old tour tee shirt with 1 Squadron RLC OP Banner all over it, it would break the ice. But comments like "were going to start a war" do not put the hobby in a good light at all, especially after that mass shooting!!! I only asked if they were going to a show, as what with the Ferret and Gaz I saw earlier I thought maybe there was a show that I had not heard about on at the weekend. Good job I wasn't an ordinary member of the public.

If your truck is pre April 01st 1984 then you don't need to fit side impact protection. That's not an April fools joke by the way!!

I thought Bedford owners might be interested in the weight of a Bedford MJ with a TC Electronic Repair Workshop fitted. Mine is a low roof version box, but is fitted out with two heavy air conditioning units, benches, cable drum etc and is in a "in service" condition. The weight will obviously be less with all the equipment stripped out. I took the truck to a weighbridge today and weighed it. Front Axle Weight = 3,300Kgs Rear Axle Weight = 4,600Kgs Total Gross Weight = 7,900Kgs.

On the M4 today at about 11.50 am in between Theal and Chievely services Westbound. A Ferret in Desert Sand followed about a mile back by what looked like a GAZ 69. Then at Reading services about 16.30 a low loader turned up (Yellow Leyland Daf 85) with three blokes in the cab and a Kettenkrad and what looked like an OT 810 Half Track done up to look like a WW11 German half track on the back. I attempted to strike up a conversation but they weren't that chatty. All I got when I asked where they were going was "were starting a war" something like that! Must be business users and not collectors.

Cool. Will see you there. Lets hope the weather holds up!!

Are there any forum members coming to the Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally next weekend. I will be there in the Bedford. Looks like a good show. I haven't been before. Here is the link. Please open as the is information about a 1942 Jeep and trailer for sale if anyone is interested!! http://www.wapg.co.uk/wapgframe.htm

Blimey. It's a bloomin good job you have all that heavy equipment to hand to do the job. Imagine how much that would have cost if you never had the right equipment...:shocked:

Hi Adrian, If you go onto Steel Soldiers they will certainly know the code. Here is a link http://www.steelsoldiers.com/forum.php