TooTallMike

The advice I received from the MUTT experts when I first started restoring mine was that the carb should be set so that the choke is very slightly closed when the cable is fully home. It's just an idiosyncracy of the design. Mine was a new-out-of-the-bag unit and was just the same. Lovely job, very well done and I'll look forward to seeing it. - MG

The Jackal frame was bought speculatively by a machinery dealer a mile from us (Gatwick). The owner wants to sell it on to someone who will build it up. - MG

Happy Gosling clan passing through Crawley at 0930, just before the halfway point and going well. All the best for the rest of the run down. - MG

No, sorry - but you could ask Snapper as it's now his! - MG

Hi, When I rebuilt my MUTT I removed the tray that sits in the battery box and made a wooden base to create a flat floor as the MUTT floor is curved there and the batteries sat wonky. I then used the largest pair of standard Halfords-type batteries that would fit under the cover. I fabricated clamps to pick up on the original clamping points so it could be returned to original config without any work. - MG

This is one of my favourite photos. It is believed to be North Africa somewhere and shows two M1 wreckers in British service (large numbers of M1 and M1A1 Heavy Wreckers were supplied to the British under the Lend-Lease agreement). Notice the Scammell has finally arrived on the scene long after the job has been rigged and started by the faster US-origin trucks! I'd love to find another view of the scene as there are a number of unanswered questions such as whether the Scammell is being used as a dead weight or is just parked up; also what they are winching out and how steep that slope really is; is there something parked behind the Scammell or is that just the rear of the truck? I believe the M1 on the left is the only one doing anything. The one on the right has no ground anchors deployed and the winch drum is full. With regard to the models of the M1's, they are both the 'man-draulic' M1 and not M1A1 as the hand wheels are visible on both. The one on the right could be a slightly later model - it may have a curved end to the boom - but this is not visible so we cannot tell. The radiator profile, front brush guards and cab trim are the best identifiers for WLF vs Kenworth and these are not clear in the photo although zooming in on the one on the right appears to show the angle-topped radiator of a WLF. Of note is the large storage chest on the left running board of the left hand truck, a tarp stowed on the roof of the same truck and the amount of loose equipment stowed in the rear bodies of both. These wagons are not noted for their secure stowage space! The scrim nets laid over the crane mechanisms must have played merry hell with the movement of the ropes through the sheaves! Finally notice the jerry can balanced against the rear sheerleg of the left truck behind the chap sitting at the winch controls. The same Garwood model winch was fitted to the rear of all M1 and M1A1 Heavy Wreckers (apart from one of the small British orders - a production run of a few tens - that were ordered without rear winches) so should be the same model. I think it is an optical illusion as the one on the left has most of its rope paid out and the other is full. The operator's legs are obscuring the brake housing on the left hand truck which also makes it appear different. - MG

Proud parents! Pleased to say they are home now and the sleepless nights have begun :yawn: - MG

Thanks all, Just popped home to pick up some bits and pieces before going back to the hospital. Mother and baby are doing well and should be home after the weekend. Now just got to fathom how to fit the bloomin' car seat in the WLF... - Dad

We've been very busy in the last few weeks on the truck: the front half of the chassis is now in OD; the front air brake cylinders have been rebuilt; the correct mechanical handbrake has been installed (thanks Tony NOS :thumbsup: ); the front axle interlock has been installed, the front prop has new UJs; the cab has been extensively repaired; the steering box mount has been replaced with a properly fabricated item; the Cummins has been prepared, mated to gearbox and now sits in position in the chassis. First job next time is to fabricate engine mounts. In the mean time Adrian went to Army Cars a couple of weeks ago and came back with a vehicle set of torque rods, vehicle set of UJs, replacement gearbox to Xfer box propshaft, front air cyl overhaul kits, rear springs, rear brake chambers and more. - MG

Tony, If you put Gaston Georges Forain (note spelling of 'Georges') into Google.fr it gives a few hits of small companies in France specialising in circus type construction. I don't have time now but it would be interesting to look further into that. - MG

Tony, When we had the truck at mine before delivering it I think we worked out from the plate plus the remains of the signwriting on the cab that the truck had been worked by a large hospital located on the outskirts of Paris. We thought it was what has now become the "Association de Centres Médicaux et de Santé de Paris" or Parisian Association of Medical and Health Care Centres. This may not be correct but was the best we could find. - MG

Interesting photo and please remember you posted it so you are likely now to receive some scrutiny. If I were a traffic cop I would be drawn to your vehicle. The spacing of your number plate would immediately have me wondering what else on the vehicle had been done in an attempt to simulate 'authenticity' rather than with regard to the regs. As far as I understand it you are not permitted to space the four numbers as two pairs of two. Why draw attention to yourself? Just my 10c. - MG

The plates on our Spartan are attached to metal plates with two hard drive magnets riveted to the rear. They are then stuck to the front and rear bins and are surprisingly hard to pull off! Also remember that, depending on age, the rear plate must be illuminated and all plates must be fitted in the proscribed area. - MG

To continue the devil's advocate theme - I now have to supply my V5 to have number plates made, so is the supplier technically in breach of law if they supply B&W plates for a vehicle first registered after 1st jan 1973? - MG

I believe it is safe to say the spirit of the law is that black and white plates are required pre-1st Jan 1973, and retro-reflectives after that date. Poorly worded law aside, the intent is clearly that vehicles manufactured when B&Ws were the norm are entitled to have them. If a 432 had been available to civilians at its original time of manufacture it would have been fitted with B&Ws. On another tack, does the law specify 'registered by whom'? The British armed services operate registration systems. Does this not mean a 432 has been registered on or before X date? Does the law specify 'registered in the UK by DfT' ? - MG

I was going to reply saying the same but before I did I thought I'd go and check on a modern motor. On both of our Discovery's (1998 & 1998) the rear fogs stay illuminated with both dipped and main beams. Maybe C&U requirements changed between series LRs and later vehicles? - MG

It looks very similar to the red fairground ones earlier in this thread - are there any similar models with which I might be confusing it? I'll try and get a photo next time I'm there but I don't want to upset the owner. Although it may be for sale, I don't know if he'd appreciate photos of his yard appearing all over the internet. - MG

Hi Sam, There are a few Kenworth M1's about in Europe but this is the first Kenworth M1A1 I have knowingly seen. The vast majority of M1A1s were built by Ward LaFrance. In Europe at least, these trucks were known generically as Ward LaFrances, to the extent that there was a recovery company operating in France or Belgium called 'Depannage Ward LaFrance': photos show this was painted conspicuously all down the sides of what was clearly a Kenworth M1 ! Welcome to the forum and thank you for posting the photo. Could you post a photo of the front end too as I'm interested to see the brushguard and radiator? Regards - MG

Hi Keith, Jacksons' prices reflect the fact that they generally sell to foreign governments, private companies and charity organisations. As a private buyer you'd be better off looking at www.milweb.net as well as www.mod-sales.com - MG

I came across an un-restored ex-fairground CX22 sitting in the middle of a local plant and machinery dealer's yard last week. The owner says he drove it in and it is for sale (no idea so don't ask.). It is outdoors but on concrete and looked remarkably complete despite having clearly been in the same place for many years. It is faded red and had gold writing but I do not recall what fairground name. I was too busy getting excited about diggers to pay too much attention to it. Hopefully I'll be back there next week so I'll try and get more details. - MG

In and out of DVLA office in about 20mins with no issues. I suspect the age of the Striker raises fewer eyebrows than that of the Stormer, plus there is no width issue. Agree about the headlights but they would be laughably easy to move so no real issue. - MG

That is the same battery tray fitted to my truck so I think it is the correct one. I have not seen even an incidental photo of one in any of the TMs. Norman - you will need to cut the floor out to have a chance of getting the batteries in under the seat. However watch out for the top of the fuel tank. My battery frame rests on the top of the tank and I have inserted a thin sheet of rubber between the two to prevent damage. See below photos of the cutout. Also a pdf of the hole you will need to cut. - MG WLF floor panel battery tray cut-out.pdf

Hi Jim, That's fair enough. It's a shame you had no success as it really should have been easy for them to identify a suitable modern clutch. I certainly support your rationale regarding keeping the clutch as the weakest point of the system - much cheaper and easier to replace than gearbox, transfer box etc.! - MG

I missed this first time round and just found it while looking for something else. Has anyone ever applied for or obtained one of these VSOs? - MG

Hi Grumpy, I would be very pleased to circumvent DVLA wherever possible as I believe them to be largely incompetent. How do you go about registering SORN with the Sec. of State? More importantly do they notify DVLA so that you don't receive the silly reminders? Also, is there anything else that can be done directly with the gov't rather than via DVLA such as paying road road fund licence? - MG