haybaggerman

Hi Guys Took her out again this evening and this time the mist really did start pumping out. I stopped the engine and got my camera. This is a video of her after cooling for a while and then ticking over. It is coming up past the fuel filter. At least some of it is exhaust fumes as there is a small break in the manifold, but the rest? and why is it coming up through there? Any thoughts saraceniers?? EDIT not all coming from there, some out of top engine covers when she is stopped with engine running Thanks Paul

one or two of my own saracen

You mean the naked shermanogram hasn't turned up yet? Shes large, was born in the 1940's and has seen alot of action! Enjoy Happy Birthday Paul

might be better

This is me (left) wife assuming position of commander (naturally) and our mate big gay AL going to our first show. EDIT: oh crap, small photo, will have to get a bigger one (how many times have I said that?)

that makes sense, thanks for the description. On the subject of heat, I thought my heat shield above the exhaust manifold was partly missing, but having checked the illustrated parts catalogue I see it isnt. I thought it would stretch the whole way across the length of the entire manifold. As it is, the ht leads going to cylinders 1,2 and 3 are exposed to the manifold for those cylinders. I suppose the air from the fan is supposed to keep them cooler, but they still heat up pretty quickly. Probably a worthwhile mod to extend the heat shield. What do you think? Cheers Paul

Whats vapour lock then?

Its the one thing I havn't checked yet for oil level, next job I think, although all seems to be driving well. She certainly responds well when you do put the pedal down, faster than I thought she'd be.

Go on Richard, put me out of my misery, whats wrong with it please??

Thats okay, its a welcome aside. I just had a thought, I am naturally carefull with these old engines and think I am guilty of unreving sometimes. I think I took it up to just over 2000 revs last night. I imagine underreving might well undercool too? Cheers Paul

Hi Richard No, its me not making myself clear. It is non RFC. Air is being drawn in through the rad, and the air is very warm when it has passed through the rad and fans and is entering the engine compartment, so some cooling of the water is going on. I was just surprised at how warm things got so quickly, but I suppose its a big engine. Dont know really, I will check water level and oil in the morning and see if anything has changed. Cheers Paul

Open the widow first? thats no way to treat a lady

Do you get the sauna effect too?

Hmmm... don't like the sound of that. The oil has no water in it, and the level is constant. It does smell is bit petrolly though, but not not thinned out at all.

Is it his turret lid? He has his head out of the top but the lid would normally be opened up in front of him. Close?

Hi Paul Mine is the same, I just use 2nd to pull away. In a ferret you don't use first unless you are on a hill or dealing with an obstacle. If its happy doing it in 2nd then carry on I say and I have several whole days of experience of saracen ownership to draw from:) Cheers Paul PS have you seen my post in I might be stupid but....., wondered if your saracen is similar to mine

Evening all I'm not used to the delicacies of driving a 10 ton machine with the engine just in front of my knees so I need an oppinion here please. I have been taking my new saracen out for short trips to check for leaks of any kind as it has been parked up in a museum for some years prior to my purchase. Tonight, I took it for a longer burn, only 10 minutes across the fields, using all gears and lovin it!! However, I'm wondering wether it should get SO hot in such a short amount of time. Water seems to have pushed out past the filler cap (I'm presuming the overflow is blocked by paint and dirt, have yet to check that). This has resulted in some steam coming into the drivers position. I have checked over the engine on idle and found that hot air is being blown through the radiator so thermosat seems to be working. The water in the rad was making lots of hot water sounds if you know what I mean. The water level was okay before takeoff and the fan belts are just fitted and seem to be correctly adjusted. There is water on the engine compartment floor, although she was left out over night in the rain 2 nights ago and we had 8mm, so, if its anything like the ferret this could be rainwater. Also, the wing above the silencer was too hot to rest my hand on for more than a few seconds. Seems like alot of heat for 10 mins? Thanks Paul EDIT temp gauge not working btw

Mine snapped too, I used ordinary rods and ground it flat. Its been fine for the last 3 years. Cheers Paul

Keep pimping those saracen pics les, its good to pick up details like in services stowage etc etc, sort of brings it all alive a bit Thanks Paul

Great pics, thanks Les. Are the pics of the saracen in sand and green from Aden? Cheers Paul

Thankyou, I'll do just that. Its a bit disconcerting not knowing what temp the engine is running at. Cheers Paul

Mine is open circuit, just went straight up to top temp from the start. Now, though, it stays there even when the batteries are disconnected. Where to start though, just another job on the list Paul

Thats means you'll be patrolling the Cornish border.

Hi Andy Which part of Devon are you going to store this "item"? We are right in the middle halfway between barnstaple and exeter Paul

Hi My saracen is uparmoured and mil reg unknown. However, on the escape hatches it says 915 os and 915 ns (off side and nearside presumeably). Does this mean that my chassis number is 915? Sound about right? If so, what does this tell me about my saracen? Cheers Paul