ChasSomT.

Confession time: Late 70s, in an unaccustomed 'dismounted role' (I was an AFV crewman!) on exercise with an SLR, fitted with a Blank Firing Device, we had a bit of a 'niggle' with the 'enemy'. We all ended up firing blank into the air, me,left handed, firing with the butt on my left hip. Cue rapid extraction of two hot cases from inside the collar of my KFS (Khaki Furry Shirt) I only did that once :-) 'Chas.'

Not really relevant, I know, but I bought some 'Twists' last year at an Army 'Surplus' store in Kidderminster. I find them ideal when walking cross-country (And, it takes me back . . . . . . !)

Purely by looking at it, all the weight of the gun is behind the truck's rear axle. I would have thought that would have made the steering 'quite light' ! A bit dodgy on wet roads, perhaps? 'Chas.'

Robin, when I 'played' with green vehicles (75 - 87) we were issued rolls of plain 'sand bag' coloured hessian, which we painted with blobs of black and green. (We later had black hessian I think) They were rolled up just like in your pictures. Made quite a difference to wheeled AFVs appearance when unrolled and staked to the ground, varying 6 - 12 inches away from the vehicle. Hope this helps. 'Chas.'

If I lived anywhere near you, I would be banned from your premises! You exceedingly fortunate chap, you! Brilliant, well done, excellent post(s) please keep it up! 'Chas.'

I thought it rather strange, the ARNs of our Foxes. They were mostly 08FD**, some 09FD**, some 10FD** One of our first was 11FD20, I never saw another 11FD, and one was 00GM90. I saw a few **GMs about. 'My' first was 08FD64, as I said previously it had a faulty RBJ which meant the driver heard the radios far louder than the ic. On a fortnights camp it had the points 'close up' 4 times, and on Crusader 80, or Lionheart, whichever one we drove from Belgium, we ran out of fuel on the autobhan, with the guage showing over half. It turned out to be a hole three quarters of the way up the petrol pick-up pipe in the tank. It also had a charging relay fault: parked up, engine running, I used to see the Voltmeter on the radio showing alarmingly low numbers and had to be brave and get the driver to switch off and restart the engine, it always did, it was warm. We would then get the characteristic whine in the 'bonedomes' telling us the batteries were charging again. You could always tell the driver had plugged the BV in by the same method. 08FD97 I had brand spanking new, only delivery miles. She was a beauty, lovely light steering, one handed at 80+ on the motorway, no problem! Those were the days! 'Chas.'

(Richard, post #26) My recollection of my experience - definitely recall the dreaded flat spot, right where you didn't want it, pulling away in 2nd! The biggest thing I remember was the ignition points 'closing up'. Some vehicles a lot more prone than others. I pulled into a stop in a German wood, with a light blue flame from the silencer outlet pipe all the way to the ground. 08FD64 (RBJ fault, no ic to driver!) We heard that the 'Standard Army distributor' had to run backwards on the J60, so the points were banged open, then closed gently, down the ramp on the cam! All totally cured by the electronic ignition fitted sometime after the carb. mods! With reference to the 'Over-revving' a good friend working at 27 Command Workshops modified a Ferret(?) rotor arm with the centrifugal rev 'limiter' to fit the Fox distributor, but was 'shouted down'! I can believe three figures on the speedo, I had the needle well to the left of the MPH at the bottom of the dial for a few miles going West on the M4, 08FD97, you beauty, what happened to you? Brilliant days! 'Chas.'

Fascinating thread, thanks for starting it, Robin. The depth of knowledge on here, Fourfox and others, never ceases to amaze. My interest is as a CVR(W) crewman (RY) from the Fox's introduction 1981/2? until I left in 1987. I cannot recall ANY engine failures in our Squadron (That doesn't mean there weren't any, I am very aware of that!) but quite a few gearbox failures. I remember being appalled, as ex Saladin, Saracen and Ferret drivers, at the temperature guage readings. As I recall, the normal running temperature on the 'standard Army Temp. guage' was off the clock. I vaguely remember hearing tales of 'porous cylinder heads' due to the higher than 'Normal' running temperatures, but cannot recall suffering any in Squadron. Great thread, just what this forum is SO good at! 'Chas.'

Re: Smudge's post (No.9) I was crewman on a Saladin returning to Rotterdam after a BAOR excercise (1975?) when we had a puncture on the centre left wheel. Our LAD lads removed the wheel, chucked it on the rear engine decks, and jacked up the hub and put I think (may be wrong) two of the wheel nuts 'in the suspension' to raise the hub further from the road. (It still hung down pretty low, though!) I have a 'photo somewhere - don't hold your breath. 'Chas.'

Terry Brooks, Manston(?) Airfield - he was still running Group h courses earlier on this year I believe. 'Chas.'

Someone will be along soon with an exact answer, but as I understand it, you have to put something with a voltage your charger can 'see' in circuit with your dead battery to 'kid' the charger to start. Another small battery, perhaps? Best I can do, sorry! 'Chas.'

Re; Industrial Gas suppliers, more than one contractor has told me, quite recently, that an 'Air Products' agent's prices are far cheaper than B.O.C. prices. 'Chas.'

I notice the Fiats and the Daimler are 'Right hand drive'. Made for the British Army? Or did the Italians drive on the left in those days? 'Chas.'

Can someone please explain how the oil level in the 430 series gearbox seems to defy logic almost, and lose volume as it gets hotter? There was obviously a percieved problem, when you look at the official rigmarole involved in checking it. Make sure it is above the 'Safe' mark before you start, drive at least 3 miles, reverse a bit, make sure it's up to temperature on the guage, let it idle for a few minutes at certain revs. then dip it. If the level is then correct, why can't that level, when cooled down, be marked on the dipstick for checking when cold? I obviously haven't been letting the oil get hot enough when I check it, because after an hour or more of use, our gearbox starts to show a reluctance to change up, a bit worrying to my mechanically sympathetic ears! Any thoughts out there? 'Chas.'

Thanks Lizzie. Anyone know where/If there is an FV No. on the A - frame? And would the adaptors be 430 CES kit, or carried by REME? Looks like I'm going to be brushing up my fabricating skills, unless somebody has a pair surplus to requirements. Ho Hum

Sharky, thanks for that. Looks like Ive got the wrong A - frame then! On the end of each 'leg' mines got two horizontal flats, 3/4" thick, 4" long, 2.5" wide, about 1.25" apart, with holes for a 1/2" pin to drop through, vertically. Sizes approx. Oops! Must try harder.

Sorry to be dense, but what goes between the A - frame and the towing eyes on a 432? Surely shackles would be too loose. (The gap between the 'lugs' on the A - frame is only 1.5" ish, so it would only be a small shackle anyway) 'Thank you in anticipation' 'Chas.'

From Antarmike :- ""It does not appear that there is a circumstance when a Privately owned Military vehicle, not being an AILV (Antar and the like) , that is of normal width and capable of travelling at more than 25 MPH should be using an Amber Beacon." This goes back to my long held view that there aren't any circumstances where Privately owned Ex-Military vehicles are catered for - wheeled armour classed as Heavy locomotives for instance, DROPS obviously designed for use on public roads, being overwidth, etc. (I can't actually see any legislation that allows an "in Service" Military vehicle to run with an Amber Beacon either!) "" That's interesting. I wonder what legislation the Military THOUGHT they were having to comply with, when they started throwing Amber beacons about, 'Willy nilly'! A veritable 'Can of worms' ! 'Chas.'

To answer Antarmike's BUMP, and avoid cosrec's 'pigeonholing' . . . . Yes, there are final drives each side (with a lower ratio for the 434 - used on the Bulldog I believe, for the greater weight - and other, heavier versions) the input shafts turn 'backwards' from the steering gear, the final drives 'correcting' this.

Leaving aside the Very Valid braking issue, I am faintly amused by the width thing. Because of what it is, it's too wide. If it was a refrigerated vehicle, it could be wider, two pallets, plus insulation, that's O.K. then! Too wide to drive on the road? Put it on a trailer, that's O.K! It's a Load, Not a vehicle! What utter Nonsense! It doesn't make it narrower ! If it doesn't meet C + U Regs. and the Army never used them on the road, why do they have lights, indicators, and yes, Brake lights? The trouble is, luckily we haven't had a 'Disaster'. The 'Authorities' seem content to wait until one happens before acting, like a blunt instrument, unfortunately, if previous events are any indication. Good thread, when all is said and done! 'Chas.'

Looking at photos of our TA times with a recently 're-met' colleague, I finally found one of our good old Scammell 36BC11 Has anyone any info on where it is now? What model it was/is? All I know is it had been in the T.A. most of it's service career, and someone thought it was built in 1952. Would that be right? I expect the picture could be obtained, and any more, IF there are any, if hopefully the present owner would like copies. 'Chas.'

Dongle! Get a dongle. A chap at work has a place of his own, but spends more time with his 'Lady friend', so it isn't worth paying for a phoneline/broadband at his house. He's got a 'Dongle' for his laptop that connects to Vodafone via their mobile network, and it all works very well for him! Worth investigating? 'Chas.'

Andy, you weren't in the way! I'm sorry that I 'Had my hands full' and couldn't give you my attention for very long. I know I had a 'Little Darling' set off the vehicle Fire Extinguisher system, and there should be at least two people at the vehicle at all times, but I still think it was worth it. And a fair few £s raised for the Royal British Legion this year. Blue Red Blue, it was your first post that made me realise WHEN this event was. I did see your display as I walked in, Sunday morning, but once I had 'opened up' I felt 'tied' to the vehicle. I will make the effort to come and see you next year - I will be the scruffy git in a dark blue boilersuit! 'Chas.'

What 'they' don't seem to have thought of, is : I decide to change my car, say. I find the new one, and contact my Insurance Co. who change my cover to the new car. Because I didn't get a good deal as a trade-in, I decide to sell my old car privately. Because my old car is now not Insured, I HAVE to SORN it, even if it has still got say 4 months tax on it. People have been prosecuted for driving an untaxed vehicle, despite there appearing to be a current, valid tax disc on display, because the vehicle has been SORNed, which apparently 'Invalidates' the tax disc. Claim the refund on any unexpired tax disc BEFORE declaring SORN. ('They' get enough of our money as it is!) Where this leaves you if a prospective purchaser wants a test drive . . . . . I guess that's a thing of the past. What a country. We are all DOOMED, I tell you. DOOMED! 'Chas.'

I don't think we've driven very far at all since my last post, so no practical experience to report. On 'ARRSE' there are stories of 439 drivers 'wrapping their left leg round the tiller' on long road trips, so it could be down to the off-centre weight of the gennies. At a small local show, a chap came up and 'nosed' all round the vehicle, asking all sorts of informed questions, then started gently suggesting things to carry, and look out for. It turns out he still works at the what was the local REME (Then ABRO, now some other acronym!) workshops, on CVR(T) now, but 430 series previously. Of course, I got his phone no. and he has offered to come and 'Supervise' when we change the brake(s). The left one is well worn, to the extent that the '9 will 'Turn on a Tanner' to the right, but cannot do tight left turns, not with both hands on the left stick, as far back as it physically can. Just taxed it again, will change the engine oil, then start enjoying it, (When Wimbledon, and Glastonbury are over) and we get our next short instalment of what we used to call summer! Happy Tracking 'Chas.'