Zero-Five-Two

I've not seen that Bridgestone video before, but I do remember seeing a similar version during my apprenticeship which had been done by Caterpillar and shows a giant scraper tyre going off. Scarey, although I have to say I have never seen or heard of a tyre going off like that, and there is a lot of people around do heat wheel nuts to free them off. As for getting the Jeep nuts off, I would argue against Paulbrooks idea of using a grinder to cut a slot in the nut, too easy to slip into the wheel or the stud, and again you are introducing heat into the wheel. I would use a small drill, down the side of the nut, midway between the edge of the nut and the thread. Drill down about 3/4 of the nut depth. Repeat this at 180 degrees round the other side of the nut, then use a cold chiesel down the drill hole to split the nut in half. Ok, it wrecks the nut, but the stud will be ok. If it is that tightly seized on, forcing it off with a big bar will tear at the thread on the stud and damage both stud and nut. P.S. Copperslip does exactly what it says on the tin. It makes things slip.

I don't remember seeing the post about it, but I'm sure I recognise the picture. I believe it is a defence fort off the North Kent coast. There was an article in the Kent Messenger newspaper a while ago, a businessman had applied for a nightclub licence for it and was going to convert it into a real up market club which would require a boat ride to get to.

Looks like, to use it, you hold the leather handle end and poke the other end, which looks wooden, into something. Is it used in rope splicing? Oops. Just read the rest of the post instead of only looking at page 1. I'll shut up now

Hi Simon, Pleased to say gear changes have been as smooth as you like, much better than I did in yours :red: but that said, I've only been in low ratio so far. I will keep my eyes open for a compressor. Does that mean you have got problems with yours? They are a standard Clayton item, and overhaul kits may still be available for them. I'll make some enquiries for you.

Round 2 To get enough room to lift the new frame onto my Militant, I had to move the old girl out the bullock yard which has been her residence of the last 5 years, and turn her round so that she could be reversed under the suspended frame. Of course, excitement took over and I just had to go for a little drive up and down the farm track. Big grins all round :-D:-D:drive::-D:-D Thought it even warranted a new avator of the new position After an hour or so of swanning up and down it was back to the serious business of loading the frame Unfortunately a failure to operate a tape measure correctly led to this!! The cut out for the winch brake is in the wrong place. In my defence, I would say that as the frame came off the same type of Militant as mine I thought it would have fitted straight on. Oops!:red: A bit of fast work with the grinder and things settled down nicely Spot the blue string holding it down in the middle. Only temperary, mind, proper flitch plates being made up this week so come the weekend it should all be secured down and ready for the derrick to go on. Well pleased with things so far, but it has added to the work list, more rust to remove etc. At least I've got somewhere to hang the rear lights now!

Thought we were about due for an update on the old Militant and post some new photos. There has been some major events to report. Biggest thing, been for a little drive round!! Well up the farm track and back, all of 200 yards or so, but enough distance for a couple of gear changes up and down, test the clutch and steering etc, all was good. Can't wait to get out on the road proper with it. Having been offered the timber crane, all effort has gone into that and painting of the cab has been suspended for now. I collected the thing one saturday at the end of July, with a little help from a colleague with access to a flat bed with HIAB It doesn't look as big like this Got a bit restricted for unloading space, back at the farm. I needed it on a hard standing to work on and later to fit to the Militant, so it ended up just inside the farm gate. Which, unfortunately left it in full view of the local "borrowers" and I had visions of half a dozen of them trying to lift it onto their Transit, one night. When it was removed from the previous militant they couldn't get it off the end of the chassis, so they just cut the end of the chassis off, complete with rollers etc. So my first job was to cut these out. they are much smaller than mine, perhaps they came from a Matador? Easiest way to remove them, strip derrick etc off the base frame, turn frame over and break out the 9" grinder. Rust scraped off at the same time, and nearly ready to fit. Coffee break!! more photos in a bit

Got to agree, a shed full of Land Rovers and Bedfords is never going to make as much interest as a couple Chieftans or a Rapier set up

Welcome aboard, Best of luck with your search for a Matador. But if you can't find one you could always go for a Militant

Welcome aboard

Welcome aboard

Excellent vid, Scammell Commander might be the "modern" vehicle or even that Oshkosh thing they have now, but the Mighty Antar would get my vote every time.

Doesn't actually affect me at the moment as the Militant is far too old, but it is a damn good cause that I may need in the future - so signed up and now persuading others to as well

I was about a week behind you when I went there, incredible to see and feel the atmosphere among the people. I think at that point a lot of the locals still couldn't believe the wall had come down by sheer people power. Would like to go back again and see how the Eastern half has changed since then

Did you know that or did you work it out from the photo? I did try blowing the picture up to see the street signs, but still couldn't read them

I've used these people in the past, they were very good, proper engineering stuff, and not too far from you. Bradford Bolt and Nut 1020 Leeds Road Bradford BD3 8ET 01274 662222

He said they had decided to scrap the Militant after the engine went bang and stopped one day, so I guess he was trying to see what had gone wrong.

Sounds about right. Would appear it is quite a small world then. The geezer selling it all told me it was a local bloke buying the wheels. I hadn't seen anyone on here with a Matador from that area, and anyhow you're listed as Derbyshire, I never gave it another thought. Not only that I was paying pennies for stuff that should have cost me hundreds, I didn't want to get involved in someone elses deal, case the price of my bits changed! Any way nice to have met you then :-D:-D

I dont remember them being Counties, I thought they were the smaller Ford 4000 with the soil stabilization, and the surface dressing spreader machine (called a Pheonix?) was based on a 3000 tractor that faced backwards. I may be wrong though, it was a long time ago

Many thanks for that Ed, common sense says to me not to let it drop either way. I too have seen damage done like that. I thought it should work something like you describe, but I thought it better to ask rather than have an expensive mistake Thanks again

Having just acquired a timber rig for my Militant, I need advice on using it. To lift the jib out for use one simply uses the winch to pull the jib/derrick over, I think? Not only that, I cannot see how to stow it after use. Is it a case of pushing it over centre and letting it drop? Cant be right, can it?? Given the weight of it, it wont half go down with a bang, or have I got the wrong idea. Help me out please, guys, I don't want to wreck the thing before I've had chance to show it off.

You was lucky, I learnt on a Ford Dexter. That didn't have a cab either. :-D On a more serious note, there was a couple of normal control Countys at HQ Engineer Resources Long Marston '85-86 ish that were said to have been ordered for the Falklands and never got there.

Have you tried the classified ads in the Classic and Vintage Commercial Vehicle Magazine? There was some wheels for sale in there last month.

I think they are a standard Leyland part. Try PSV Partsmaster in Cuxton, Kent. 01634 296970 Speak to John, he'll probably have one on the shelf

Greetings friend, another Militant is always welcome. Can't wait to see the piccy's

Welcome aboard, Bill