montie

Howard, Apologies for my daft question on the models, after writing to the forum and then reviewing your mail again, I followed your link as I should have done in the first place. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised at the quality and detail on your models!! A lot of work went into that. I am considering getting myself a Saracen in anycase. It is really worthwhile visiting your site, you really have a wide variety of vehicles. You should have posted some pics, man!! Thanks for the news on the mail, I'll keep my eyes peeled. Thanks again. Monty.

Howard, How far have you progessed with production of your Saracen model or are you still researching? I have access to some drawings if you needed it. Monty.

Thanks to all you guy's leads, I've come to the conclusion that the Crusader is not high on anybody's list due to all the problems associated with it. Powerful tool the Internet! And that MH is one ugly MV! The Crusader was mostly used in North Africa it seems (keeping it out of harms way??:cool2:), maybe that is why there are so many overhere as you say. My education is continuing and I must keep my eyes open! Monty.

Hi all, Daunting challaenge, I think I will rather save my little body for other stuff but it is good to know that it can be started in this way if you are desperate. Good idea to have large friends in the vicinity!! :cool2: I hope that I will never be that despate as I can see myself being flung around like a rag stuck to the starting lever. I will rather try to jump start since pushstart is out of the question. Breaking a starting lever, Boy, I'd never want to infuriate your dad ! Monty.

Hi guys, I took some photos at our local MOTH club of these vehicles. Do any of you have more info on this? The first one I think is a Marmon Harrington Mk4 as it appears similar to the posted photo. The second one I don't have a clue as to what it could be, will probably have to join the MOTH to gather more info. I am sure you boffins out there also have the answers. Monty.

Howard, Thanks, will do, a man to count on. Rare these days and getting less by the day! Cheers. Monty.

Hi Neil, I am in awe of the work you and Lee did. Why did you decide to have the work farmed out in the first place, you have proved to be more than competant enough to pull off a sterling refurbishing job, which you did anyhow? Did you ever get around to writing that promised EMER replacement book on the brake system as mentioned in one of your earlier posts? I am interested in getting a copy if it is available. How has your Stalwart been behaving since and has that winch been restored yet? Don't leave us hanging. Monty.

Hi Gary, Welcome to the forum from a fellow-Saracen enthusiast! I am from sunny South Africa. Impressive CV! There are a lot of helpfull and knowledgeable people on this forum, you came to the right place. Monty.

Hi Keith, Encore, encore, addictive it is!! Welcome! Cheers. Monty.

Hi Alan, Did you manage to find anything? I am rebuilding a Saracen Mark 3 SA which seems identical to this vehicle. This link was posted by Richard on the Saracen Rebuild post. www.gklgroup.com/saracen88specification_1703.html. A photo of work in progress on "Sarie" Changing the colour from "Appliance White" to the original South African Army colour. Initially Oily was tickled and then Howard picked up on the post with thread #77 identifying the similarities and left all of us wondering? As he said- "The plot thickens!". Regards. Monty.

Hi Paul, Come on, old chap, where are the photo's for the update? You are teasing us!:cool2: Cheers. Monty.

Hi guys, I have been puzzled by this a while but never had the guts to ask. I am rebuilding a South African Saracen, listed as a Mark3 SA and identical, and I mean identical, to the "Saracen 88". This vehicle is fitted with a plug underneath the radiator grill and I initially dismissed the thought that is was for a starting lever. Researching and reading through Saracen and other MV material, I realised that there are indeed an access points for a starting levers on most MV's. My question is this, how agile and strong should one be to swing and start, for example the Rolls B80 engine in the Saracen, and I take it that it is a "small" engine by comparison? What am I missing? Regards. Monty.

Chris, The problem is that it is not mine!! Cheers.

Hi all, Andy.........Ouch!! Did that happen while you were driving? Did the fork in the bevel box also have damage, so it would have meant a lot of work? Was it the L/H frontwheel by any chance, if I remember the leak? Yesterday when I battled to remove the wheel assy from the bevel box, I thought that I should maybe also loosen the nuts of the flange bolted to the body (It wasn't mentioned in the removal procedure though) The sleeve came out after a while with some generous lubrication to the sleeve and a lot of uncomfortable tugging. Today while cleaning in the area, I noticed that the loosened flange was also on its way out. This flange carries the crown wheel and would normally not budge as the pinion will prevent it. The pinion in this bevel box has been removed however. I thought it would be easy to give the lot a proper cleaning and inspection before taking the bevel box out as instructed by Richard. No way, no matter how I pulled and manipulated, it moved about an inch and a half but that is it. Any ideas? Howard, as to the issue about the Saracen 88, I do not have the article you referred to in the "Military Machines International Magazine July 2002" as I thought. Is there any way I could get hold of it or a copy of the magazine, I would really appreciate that. I also thought that with all the coincidences, I might as well paint it like the Saracen 88. Cheers. Monty.

Hi guys, I have this particular manual and put it to good use during the removal last night. Could use more detailed repair info, though. I pulled on the tracta fork in the bevel box and it came out. I will assemble the whole lot as a unit and then guide the splined stub back into the bevel box to ensure correct assembly this time. Monty.

Hi Paulob1, You are scaring me with your B80 reliability theory!

Gents, Pics to substantiate, please guys, not of us newer guys have your background, especially me!! Education time! Thanks. Monty.

Hi Chris, Thank you for the tip! I have written them last night and is waiting for their reply "on the way foreward". I am also waiting for a response from Graham. I also wrote to a library in the Netherlands about manuals they have on the Saracen but also had no response to date. Maybe they are batteling with my Afrikaans version of Dutch! I will try to add a link. They have a lot on info on a wide variety of vehicles. Pity it is so far, could really be worth a visit. G4-051PantserwagensSaladin, Saracen, Stalwert, SalamanderMilitary vehicles Alvis01G4-052PantserwagensSaracen, AFV 603, Armored Personnel CarrierArmoured personnel carrier00G4-048PantserwagensSaracen, AFV 603, Armored Personnel CarrierArmoured personnel carrier Alvis0 http://www.technische-troepen.nl/biblio/bibliotheek.php?case=catwielvtgn Monty. G4-051PantserwagensSaladin, Saracen, Stalwert, SalamanderMilitary vehicles Alvis01G4-052PantserwagensSaracen, AFV 603, Armored Personnel CarrierArmoured personnel carrier00G4-048PantserwagensSaracen, AFV 603, Armored Personnel CarrierArmoured personnel carrier Alvis01

Hi Richard, You have got a keen eye! The pins (upper and lower suspension pins as well as the shock absorber pins) were on their way out, the lower pin had the end ground into a taper to try and get it to fit as can be seen by the peening on the other end. I was also not able to "collect o-rings and distance piece". Evaporated? Don't think so. As to the grease, it is more of a watery, oily, greasy mess than anything else. This particular bevel box did not have a drain plug fitted either during the draining episode, only the 3/4 inch square drive plug underneath was fitted. Monty.

Hi guys, I trashed the idea of buying the Bedford but showed it to a friend who is looking for a cab. I begged the scrapyard owner not to damage the diffs, springs gear and transfer boxes when cutting it up. The Rand /Pound ratio is 12 to 1 and I have a friend in the exporting/ importing business for somebody in need. Monty.

Hi Antar, The diff is part of the transferbox, I presume? Outside of the Transferbox is just bevel boxes. I should really get more manuals to read on these vehicles. Regards. Monty.

Hi guys, I am in an extremely good mood tonight on account of today's work on that troublesome R/H front wheel. I refer you to post #48 I think I will stand by this as you will later see. This is what I found before serious disassembly. Accident waiting to happen!! "Tools in action", an old engine stand "Called up for Duty" together with the newly made tools. Boy, that wheel assy is heavy! Don't those wedges just work swell?!! Men were using their brains then and not computors. My hat off to those men!! This is how I found the inner tracta on disassembly, filthy but otherwise appearing OK. (Apparently OK started off as an abbreviation for "0 Killed") I never knew that! THIS IS THE PROBLEM!! This is how the inner Tracta assembly on the driveshaft side towards the reduction hub looked upon removal. Incorrectly assembled but fortunately with minimum damage caused! Turning that tracta shaft causes the wheel assy to turn----NO broken shafts, forks or anything else!! Hoorray!!! This is how it should look! This is after some minor initial cleaning, armed with a grinder and a fine grit flapper disc. Curiosity satified, mind at ease, now for the big cleaning effort, new seals and parts and reassembly. But this on another day, another appointment tomorrow. Cheers. Monty.

Hi all, I am sorry to have offended anybody, only one of the pics came from the GKL group and is availble to browse on their website as per the link given above. The other photo that was removed is my own taken from my vehicle. If I have broken any rules, I am so sorry but, my-my, somebody is mighty sensitive out there. I was wondering whether old South African Saracens aren't maybe imported and sold off? Noo, noo, naughty thoughts! This is a photo from my Saracen and the floor plate that was cut to gain access to the centre bevel box oil seal, can be clearly seen. Regards. Monty.

Hi Howard, You may be onto something, I have that Saracen 88 article as well but haven't really studied it before now. As far as I can say, these vehicles are identical. The rumour about it being the sole example in the article is just that, a rumour (see post #47). If that is the case, South Africa has 280 prototypes! Well, could be because they were aquired before the apartheid / Isolation years. The identification plates states Saracen Mark 3 SA (post #21) and the Hull number 96BA67. There are no welding marks on the nose showing that the nose was extended, outside or inside. Also, as far as I have it, the vehicles never left the country for mods, it was done in Uitenhage in the Cape. Here are the zoomed pics from the Saracen 88 link and an inside photo. The seating arrangements, ducting, interior lights, instrument lay-outs are identical. Even the driver seat is that of a mark 3 Saracen. This quote comes from from post 21. Photos removed copyright GKL Group Somebody should be in the know! Regards. Monty.

Hi Grumpy, Thanks for the info, I take it that this equally applies to Saracens and Saladins. One Saracen manual actually states that one inflates and removes the wheels, accurately measure each one's circumference and then match the closest measurements. Now I have just been wondering, one side will have the "large" tires and on the other side, the "small" tyres. Surely that could cause hassles as well? Regards. Monty.