Zero-Five-Two

They say all good things come to an end, and so has 10 weeks of furlough and good Tanker work. Got a call from the Gov'nor last Saturday asking me if I would mind awfully going back to work. I did protest saying I had essential Tanker work to do, and thought he might understand as he owns a vintage Maltese bus that used to be a Bedford QL. But no, he was insistent that I was needed, so it's back to the Monday to Friday grindstone. Wasn't too bad, there was a small glimmer of hope, first job was to replace a brake chamber on a double decker. I restore knackered buses as the day job. For those that don't know, a bus brake chamber looks like this Inside is a very sexy return spring, that just happens to be the exact size of the one required for my fuel valve Absolute perfect fit. It's made of slightly thicker wire than the original, and a little bit stronger, but that just shuts the valve tighter. Bit of a joke really, all the phone calls and emails the other week trying to find one and getting quoted silly money to get one made, and all the time our works scrap bin is full of them at nil cost! Despite being reduced to only Tankering in the evenings now, I've still achieved quite a bit this week, and money saving seems to be the theme. Was sorting out the fittings for the rear wheel arches a couple of weeks back including the rear and side reflectors. Having painted the mounting brackets, I fitted the orange side reflectors These are readily available from most of the Military parts suppliers and on fleebay, all brand new about a fiver each. But, if you want red ones for rearward facing, then that's a different question. Rocking horse poo is easier to find. Green Machine have some available £54 a pair. Think they are having a laugh at that price, but I suppose it's supply and demand where else are you going to buy some, they seem to be the only ones available. Solution, get a couple of cheap reflectors of the right size off fleebay for £2.98, and fit them into orange reflector cases. Hardest bit is grinding the remains of the orange bit out with a Dremel. Think they'll do nicely. Diesel tank has been centre stage this weekend. Having been leak tested for 48 hours without so much as a damp patch, set about getting some fresh paint on it Usual red oxide first Filler primer and flatting off And finally Shiney DBG. The support strings do leave marks, but they will be underneath the mounting straps, and wont be seen. Biggest problem now is where to store it so it doesn't get scratched prior to fitting back on the Tanker.

Guessed you would have done something with it. I've been using some stuff called Neutrarust 661 lately, seems to be pretty good too

Cracking bit of work there, especially the home made bending jig. As you say never throw anything out, it might be useful later. Not trying to pick holes, here, but a sensible question. Did you attempt to treat the rust on the inside of this panel? And if so, how?

Welcome aboard. Dreams are made by finds like that. You'll find alsorts of advice and knowledge on here. And we all love loads of photos

Definitely. Looking inside tank it doesn't appear too bad, but given repairs etc it would be prudent to do something. Investigating slosh sealents and rust converters just now

Quick update on the tank Two patches welded on today, haven't done any cutting out of rust, smoothing off etc, just welded a patch on big enough to cover the rusty area. This side of the tank faces the chassis and you won't see it. Main concern is to stop any leaks. At the time of writing, it has been sitting on these tressles for about 3 hours. Patches downwards and about 4 gallon of diesel inside. No sign of any leaks so far, so reasonably confident the welding is good. Intend leaving it over night to make sure. If it's all good finish cleaning off the old paint, then on with the new

Any one who has seen the Tanker thread lately will have read the bit about visiting the other woman for diesel distribution, and as I said there, haven't been near the old girl for ages what with the restrictions etc and concentrating on the Tankers restoration. Feeling guilty about neglect and so on, thought I'd best give her a bit of love too. So spent a day giving her a once over, oil, water, tyre pressures etc, and planned a run out for the not too distant future. A good many months ago now, had a discussion with the Guv' nor at work about moving a container office in the bus yard where the Tanker is kept Wants to be moved along the concrete slab up towards the fence. Rather than pay some one to come in and do it, suggestion was it could be done with the Militant. Just put the winch rope through the fence and pull. So, plan was hatched. Good run out for the truck it's about 50 miles each way, shift the container, thereby earning a few brownie points, and use the bus washing kit while we are there. Nice early start yesterday, and stop for a breakfast bite on the way Took a few shunts to get in the right place for a straight pull Hook a couple of chains and the winch rope on, engage gear and pull Job done. No effort at all, truck didn't even notice there was a weight hooked on the winch rope, despite the container being stuffed to the gunnels with all sorts of kit. Finished off with a good shampoo and pressure wash. She looks much better for it too, but I think she could do with a respray at some point. The red is fading badly with living out side all the time, and there is a few places where a bit of rust is bubbling up. Perhaps it's just as well having no shows this year, we wouldn't have looked our best. It'll have to be done before next years show season.

It hasn't so far, was hoping to come up with a better spray nozzle or something. It's on the list for this week, really needs doing before top coating the outside.

Before the diesel tank can come off, there is the small matter of it being half full of diesel, which even though it might be slightly cheaper at the pumps just now, doesn't need wasting. I have a squadron of 25ltr cans, which I use to collect up diesel during the winter, so I have a reserve for the summer show season. But as we haven't been to any shows this year to use any diesel, cans are already full. Solution. Fill the timber tractor up and free up a few cans Haven't been near the old girl lately due to the restrictions and her last time actually out on the road was last October. She does look a bit abandoned and neglected. really needs a bit of love, a run out and a bath at the very least But this is the Tanker thread, so back to the tanker, drain diesel out and unbolt the tank straps Came off quite easily, nothing seized and nothing broken and not too heavy to carry about. Back home for paint stripping and cleaning. So far, so good. Until Spot the damp patch Looks like this when you clean the old paint off. There's 2 bits like it, just where it meets the mounting brackets. Just as well I decided to take the thing off. Bit of patch work required. Best the welding is on form if I am to stop any further leaks. Will let you know

Still on the furlough thing, so much tankering over the last couple of weeks in between the showers Wheel arches got the dodgy welding covered over copious quantities of filler and then a good coating of high build primer They are now in the queue for flatting off and then top coat Hose tubes got the same treatment Made up the wooden frame to hold them upright, so I could get all round them with the spray gun It's supposed to be dark grey, but comes out very white. Good job DBG covers well Frame turned upside down makes a good working bench for flatting off. Another lot in the top coat queue Took the main tank valve block off, to strip and refurbish the valves 60 odd bolts to undo, all of which have now been cleaned and oiled ready for the refit Some of the valves were well seized and full of gunge. All but one now work nicely having been stripped cleaned and resealed. One had the return spring completely rusted away, and I have spent a good deal of time sending emails to allsorts of spring manufacturers and stockists up and down the country to get a replacement at a sensible price. Eventually found one that is near enough and only £28 so that is on order. All finished in the usual red oxide Bonda primer and new gaskets Next up, the diesel tank. Did start cleaning it off while it was still fitted to the truck, but I was never going to get a decent job done like that. It's got to come off.

Whilst writing the above post, the old Rolodex brain cells started working, I'm sure I recognise that registration number. Dig about in the old photo album and HQ Engineer Resources Long Marston 1987

Did hear a story, many years ago, that the original contract was for 50 machines. Prior to the contract the 82-30B was trialled by the RE Plant Wing at Chattenden along side the latest version of the CAT D8. The Plant guys preferred the CAT, but it was more expensive than the Terex. So it was suggested to the powers that be that if they could have the CAT, they would make do with only 46 machines which would then only cost the same as 50 Terex. The reply was, if you can manage with only 46 machines, you can have 46 Terex!!! I used them quite a lot in BAOR in the 1980's, mainly for anti tank ditch digging, and have to agree with Ploughman, immense pushing power, but you can't see where you're going.

Do you know if it was specific to the WOT6, or were they used in other ford stuff, like the ET6 Thames? Could give you a bigger search area to find one

Various images on the net, show either 8 or 9

Ha! I glad you asked this, saved me asking the same question. I bought a plate for the Tanker a while ago, but it has got scratched a bit during storage and could do with a repaint before fitting. I thought I might take it to my local supplier to see if they could match the colour.

Anybody know where I might obtain one of these? Or something that would fit Plug to fit a Warner type trailer socket. I've been looking on ebay, and tried a couple of Jeep sites, but no luck yet. Any ideas welcome, thanks

Do you intend filling the pitting on the radiator top?

Fantastic job. Before and after pics just do it for you. As for spray gun choice. One slightly battered and well used Sealey gun. Must be getting on for 20 years old now, wasn't that expensive, but lovely tool. Wouldn't change it for the world.

Just had a quick measure up. Only roughly, mind. Tank surface area is 32 sq metre. With 2 coats of paint, that's 64. Big, big area. Doing that much with a brush would take forever

It wasn't that bad really. Arch isn't that heavy. Just big and wobbly.

For me, there is nothing quite like a good before and after picture on your restoration. Good for reminding yourself when something came out well, especially when the current task has gone to rats, or on cold wet winter days when you can't get out and do more. My favourite on one so far on the Tanker has to be the dashboard. Remember this from earlier in the blog Before And after. Hard to believe it was 4 years ago, now. As of today, though, there is a new contender. Try this, here's the before And here's the after Still got a couple of bits to finish, like the trailer sockets, and Hi-Vis boards. Oh, and the wheel arches!! Speaking of which. Some jobs really need at least 2 pairs of hands Like trying to hold the arch up while you get the first bolt in The second pair of hands wasn't available, so some blue string had to do Bit of a fight, but got there in the end. Unfortunately it's only on so that I can mark where to drill the various bolt holes that got welded up. Tomorrow it has to come off for drilling, then round 2 can begin as it goes back on again. There's also a bit of straightening and filling to be done, and then it will be off again for painting. It'll be ready for another before and after picture, then.

Is he walking behind to pick up any bits that fall off, then? Seriously though, good to see it moving. 👍 Bet you're well pleased. Take it you've got the carburetter issue sorted

There's also a few cowboys out there too. They've bought a motor, robbed all the good bits and are now offering the rest as "part restored" or "good project" Always with a nice sob story about loss of storage or something

On a sad note for us restorers and enthusiasts, a good many of these vehicles tucked away in sheds and barns never get to be restored. The old fella who owned them dies, and his next of kin get to sort out his estate. They have no interest Grandad's old car/bike/MV and just want rid of it. A quick phonecall to the local scrapman and 2 days later it's been shredded to become the next generation of coke cans. No body even notices it's gone 😪!

Isn't the bloke walking with it supposed to be in front with a red flag