alcashj94

Thanks for that pic Mike, I live in Devon and have never been to Chatham - looks like I need to get out more! Thats not tatty, looks about the same as mine did before it was painted! I must admit that the bodywork on my cab needs some serious work, it's been patched up a few times since I bought it in 1992 but now is going to need the lower few inches replaced all along the bottom seam. There is a double skin that comes together just above the joint and water gets trapped in between, not helped by the roof seams leaking into the space between them. My serial number is 00 EY 18, built 1966, struck off 1986, so it could be in the same batch as this one at Chatham. What livery is that grey scheme? Mine was in that when I bought it but I thought it was something the previous owner (engineering contractor) had put on quickly as it was all peeling to reveal green underneath. Allan.

Richard has it summed up, you can only engage the remote drive if you have selected low range on the trasfer box - mechanical lock knocks out the remote if you move to high range. Engage the steering motor to the steering column and release the chassis handbrake (having first put on the handbrake in the crane cab!) and then climb into the crane opperators position. You have a foot pedal on the left side which engages the relay for either forward or reverse direction and then control the speed by the accelerator for the donkey engine. Steering is a left / right joystick in the centre of the panel along with the other joysticks for the crane movements. There is a large assembly in the centre of the crane pivot which takes the handbrake down the centre with a vertical pull rod, this is surrounded by slip rings for the electical feed to travel and steering motors as well as another radial joint for the two air lines - complicated but it works. I have not seen another of these cranes on the rally circuit or in photos anywhere - could mine be the only survivor? Anyone know how many were made? Allan.

Going back a couple of pages to the posts about the crane versions of the Militant, I own a Mark 5 Bridging Crane which is an updated version of that pictured. The Mark 5 has a larger AEC 760 engine, newer style of cab and a much heavier chassis built by Coles specifically for the crane version. The comments about the crane opperation are correct - Perkins P4 driving a generator with electric motors for lift, luff, slew as well as remote drive and steering of the main chassis. Air brake pedal and handbrake also duplicated in the crane cab. Good party piece is to sit in the crane opperators cab, raise the jib, slew 90 degrees to one side and then move forward at about 5mph whilst turning an 'S' bend, really gets the audience excited to see 26 tons moving about with no apparent driver! Unfortunately some marshalls dont like it and get excited too for different reasons! Here are a couple of pics, shows the jib folded for travel and extended.

Yes, have read that document several times before and it specifically says in section 8.9 that mobile cranes are exempt. The confusion comes if it is then licensed on a 'historic vehicle' license, one person at the DVLA office said that means the vehicle is no longer a crane for the purposes of the fuel regs, however another told me it would still be exempt. Think I need to talk to someone other than the counter staff, there seem to be too many regs getting mixed together to allow a simple answer in this case! Allan.

OK, here's a slightly different question re red deisel. My MV is a crane, not had it on the road for some while but am just looking to re-licence it so I can maybe attend a couple of shows. Last time it was licenced it was on a 'Q' plate and 'mobile crane' class. The current class for cranes is 'special vehicle' and costs a fair bit more than I used to pay so I am thinking of re-registering it as 'historic vehicle' with a new reg etc and therefore no licence fee (1966 build so it qualifies). The question I can't get a straight answer to at the moment is what fuel will I have to use with a 'historic vehicle' licence, its still physically a crane but one person at the DVLA office said it would have to use white diesel whilst another on a different visit told me red! I keep it on a private site and it sees some use throughout the year so if I will need to use white for the odd trip on the road it would put me off the show idea as I dont want to have to buy white diesel for all the other use. Anyone come across this sort of situation before? Allan.

Richard, had a quick look tonight and you are correct, it is an AV760 engine. Interestingly it is set at 1800rpm rather than the 2200rpm listed for the 760 in other vehicles such as the Mk3 Militant Recovery, it is coupled to a five speed gearbox with a high/low splitter box. Air operated 4 wheel/6 wheel drive selection and air operated diff locks. Looks like my registration document is wrong as the AV760 is 12.47 litres in the info I have turned up! Allan.

Richard, thanks for that info. The chassis plate shows it as a Mk5 and the date I have of Nov 66 build came from the engineer who does the lifting inspection who found that from some Coles lists which he had. Would that match the 'EY' seriel Number? Interesting that you think there is an AV760 motor, I shall have to check for plates to find out. It is listed as 11.3 litres on the registration document and I must admit that the only parts I have bought for it are oil and fuel filters and those were done from numbers on the old ones. Have changed the water pump a few years ago but did that by matching the old one at a dealers. Allan.

Clive, thanks for that initial search, confirms what I thought that there were not many of them. Here is a pic of the chassis plate that gives more info. The 'Bridging Crane' designation suggests use by the engineers although the stores depot use sounds sensible as well. Interested in what anyone can find out, it would be nice to have answers for people when the ask!

Well, it drives like a fully laden six wheeler. There is a couple of tons of counterbalance weight in the back end of the crane section as well as the donkey engine, generator, motors etc. Not sure of the total weight as it's not in any of the manuals I have with it but it is pretty heavy, sank into the hard ground a couple of inches during the weekend on the showfield (must get it to a public weighbridge sometime I guess). Brakes seem to stop it well enough considering it's build date, twin pipe air system. Hydraulic power steering so it's not too hard on the arms, as I said I think all the running gear is the same as a militant of the same age. Couple of interesting extras - electric motor coupled to the back of the transfer box so you can move it from the crane cab, electric motor on the steering column with a joystick control from the crane as well as footbrake and handbrake. Great party piece to manouvre it with no one in the lorry! It is still fully certified for lifting use although there is always something to do at each inspection, current job to be done is replace the main bolts that hold the crane A frame to the bed, that will be fun. Also need to check the contacts on the remote steering as last time I tried to use it I could only turn the wheels left and not bring them back!

Came accross this forum recently and found several interesting topics so thought I should join up. I have owned this vehicle since 1991 but have not really joined in with the show scene during that time, I do belong to the MVT and attend their annual area show where these pics were taken. I have to say I have only seen one other like this and that was out of use some years ago so I think it must be quite rare. The little I do know is:- built by Coles Cranes 1966 (I think) serial no 00 EY 18 sold out of service 1987 I believe the engine/gearboxes and axles are AEC militant but everything else is Coles built (chassis is huge section I beam compared with normal Militant and has a flexible beam bogie instead of springs) I think it is an updated version of the FV 11003 Militant Crane but that is only guesswork! Any pointers as to where to find out a bit more about these vehicles - How many were made? where was this one used? etc etc. Looking forward to enjoying this site, any comments gratefully recieved. Allan Cash