Sean N

Well, Tuesday rather than today, but ... Two CVR(T) on a low loader going south on the M3 near Winchester. Looked tidy but no guns Two (possibly more) Oshkosh heavy transporters with Warriors on coming off the A303 onto the A34 southbound

Might tell you something about the history (as you probably know); given the Q and the vehicle type, it was perhaps cast and registered between 1984 and 1988, or more likely was disposed of earlier and was forced onto a Q once recovery trucks weren't allowed to run on trade plates? If you look past the surface rust and flaky paint it looks quite solid. I have a feeling this one was offered for sale some years ago in this condition, perhaps on ebay?

Probably Q696 GFL?

Ratchet straps wouldn't do it. I'm not sure if you're over-thinking it though? I was just thinking of some standard webbing straps for lifting - the sort with an eye at each end - this sort of thing, but longer, say 2m: I was thinking that if you use two and choke them with a double wrap on the main part of the bomb where it is roughly parallel it would not slip: I would think you would buy a pair of 2 - 3 metre 1 tonne straps for £20 - £30 online.

Are you sure this is not metric? The dimensions you've given sound very close to M36 x 2.0 metric fine, allowing for a bit of measuring error on the diameter. Have you tried lifting equipment companies rather than fastener suppliers? Having said that, to slinging it, it's difficult to visualise your situation without photos but can't you use webbing slings rather than chains or lifting from an eye? Choked round it, particularly with a double wrap, they should work and shouldn't slip. If you don't have any webbing slings you should be able to buy a couple easily and very cheaply, and should be able to sling from the Kubota arm / jib (if it's the sort of mini slew I'm visualising) particularly if there's an inbuilt lift point on the bucket or arm.

I don't have my RE pocketbook or REME recovery manual or a photo handy but as 10FM68 I think of them as multi-purpose ground anchors, particularly with recovery vehicles from WW2 to at least the 1990s if not later, for anchoring vehicles, laying out complex pulls or as an anchor for self-recovery. You can see six of the ground anchors in this photo of a Militant Mk3 medium recovery:

It's not MEXE.

Hello David, thanks. You've described pretty much the way I was thinking of doing it, with the 'indian rope trick'. Is it something you've done before on a 214? Last thing I did it on was a 1.3 Hyundai! I think I can probably remove the rockers just by removing the first pillar and possibly backing the others off, without having to remove the whole shaft. The rocker shaft should be OK to lever against if the collets let go easily as the load will be similar to normal valve loads, it's just what happens if the collets are stuck. I think a rap on the valve cap should be OK with the valve against some rope. Thanks, I like the idea of the rope though as a soft surface for the valves. What's that image from - it looks motorbike?

It looks like a tool I made once to stop the crank rotating when doing the cam belt on a VW LT35 petrol, but I suspect it isn't.

Has anyone tried changing valve springs on a 214 (or 28hp) with the head in situ? I have a 214 with two weak springs on the front cylinder and I'd like to avoid taking the head off. It looks as though it should be possible if the collets aren't wedged too tightly into the caps.

If he's interested in free advertising might be worth posting his details here if he's amenable, there will be others looking for transport now and again

It looks a little like a partial broad arrow, but it could easily just be damage, particularly the way there appears to be galling to one side?

Jon, what are you doing about the oily bits? I may be able to help, or at least point you to help ...

Nothing historically interesting or technically useful going in the bin, I hope!

These look the same as those fitted to the EWK M2 amphibious bridging and ferrying rig