Zero-Five-Two

Part 2. Hasn't all been home workshop, I have managed a couple of visits to the Tanker in between breaks in the rain. First off, attack the pump room light. It didn't go well. Lamp body has a long shaft the goes through the roof with 2 retaining nuts on either side. The lamp body is alluminium, the retaining nuts are brass and pump room roof is steel. Three different types of corrosion combined to ensure the light shaft sheered off rather than undo. Not a major crisis, and reasonably easy to fix. Stripping it down to clean and repair was the next hurdle. It is in two halves which unscrew to allow access to the bulb holder etc. Two days soaking in penetrating fluid didn't help and any ideas of separating it carefully achieved nothing. Worse case scenario the glass lens gets broken. Well, I tried every trick in the book and got nowhere. After a good few hours of frustration, I finally got the two halves to separate, mainly by clamping one half in the vice and using a big set of steilsons on the other half. Yes, I got a result, but as you might have guessed, I did break the glass in the process. Bloody disaster!!! where on earth do I get a new one of those? Not only that, the ceramic bulb holder is also in bits, but I didn't do that, it's been knackered for a long time by the look of it. Having got it apart and cleaned up, and repaired the damage caused by the steilson jaws I can see that there is a locking ring on the front that holds the glass in. Another couple of hours was spent fighting to get that to undo, and the level of violence used would've definitely broken the glass if I hadn't broken it earlier. Still it's all clean now, and as for a light lens, try this. The side light unit from an early mini looks like it will slot straight in complete with bulb holder and rubber surround. So one on order for after Christmas and we'll see how it looks. Today might have been dry round here, but the north wind made sure it felt like winter had truly arrived. Plan of attack was the pump room floor on the off side and also to remove the last bits of pipework. Both involved working climbing into the thing, so effectively I was indoors and out of the wind. You just have to dress appropriately Now ready for Covid tier 5 regulations Floor is just a mess of wet rust cornflakes so first job scoop it all out and dry up as much water as possible. Then out with the electric wire brush and start scrubbing. This bit is still solid, but I think it will benefit from a skim of filler to fill the deeper potholes This bit will want a bit more effort, and I can see a new bit of plate going in here. Last lump of pipework and the filter were removed along with the pump chain drive cover and chain oiler. Back home with these for cleaning and repaint. Now I can get a good look at the pump itself And the good news is it doesn't appear to be seized. A spanner on the end of the shaft can achieve a little movement, but only as far as the drive chain will let it. Looks like the chain oiler has been neglecting it's duties for some time, and the chain is locked up solid. Light reading over Christmas is going to be the tech manual to see how it comes off. I think the same chain set up works the winch on the timber tractor, and I do have a new spare chain for that if this one is completely shot. As for the pump, even if it is free to turn I think it would be a good idea to have it apart to check seals and bearings etc before putting any power through it. For now the floor has received a good coating of rust converter and then red oxide to help keep the enemy at bay Back home again, and investigate the filter housing Nice gauze filter and an awful lot of stuff that shouldn't be there. And the chain oiler Looks like it would be at home on one of the Gosling lads first world war trucks. Nice little thing, solid brass, just hasn't seen any oil since way back then. Came apart nicely, just needs cleaning and filling with fresh oil Hope everybody has a reasonable Christmas day, and look on the bright side, with no visiting allowed that annoying relative isn't going to turn up and spoil your party.

As my Christmas hols started a bit early, I've done quite a bit of Tanker work this week, despite the naff weather. The new shed heater has been great, makes a heck of a difference to the work area, which is more than I can say about some of the results. There have been a couple of issues, starting with painting the repaired outlet valve red. This is Hammerite red, but it looks far too pink for my liking, no where near dark enough. So I bought a can of Halfords car paint, in a darker red, to spray over the top, but it reacted rather badly with the Hammerite and the whole lot will come off and start again. The blue and green wheel valves came out quite well, though. Blue wheel is Hammerite blue and the green wheel is a made up shade of blue and yellow Hammerite. The two main valve blocks have been cleaned off and sprayed in silver Paint finish came out quite well, but a couple of the valve retaining nuts were jammed on their studs. My attempts at separating them were only 50% successful. One nut came off and cleaned up OK, and one nut just chewed the stud up. So new stud required there. The rest of the nuts, bolts and washers have been cleaned, oiled and the threads chased through all ready for refitting. Also stripped cleaned and painted a couple more pipes, the engine speed control, and the cover plate that allows access through the pump room floor to the fuel tank sender unit. Need to make a lot of new gaskets now

Would you post the photos on here anyway, would be good to see them

Quick update, got the repaired valve body back today, and a fine job too, can't see the join, as they say All fitted together now, and awaiting a coat of red paint

Nothing at the moment. It wont be too bad with one missing, the blanking plug on the second outlet does look the part. If you didn't know better, you wouldn't notice the difference. I'll keep looking, hopefully next year will return to some sort of normal, and there will be shows and autojumbles etc, you never know what will turn up. In the meantime, here's the lever frame now back together and ready for refitting

The "Jackpot" scrap Tank turned out to be a major disappointment. Spent the best part of an hour rigging up a ladder and stuff to actually get to the thing without breaking my neck. Tank is stood on a truck body that is laid on it's side, and it is a bit precarious and wobbly to say the least. Got the pump room door open, well, it fell off in the end, but the cupboard was bare. Nothing of any value left, unfortunately. As for the valves on the side rail, the tank is actually leaning on them, and given it's wobbly state I decided it was probably a good idea to leave them alone. Yard owner wasn't interested in lifting it down unless I wanted to buy the whole thing, so I came away empty handed. We shall manage with the blanked off outlet for now. Weather dictates all Tanker work, damp and miserable today so work at home in the shed. Invested in a small heater last week, only a cheap one, tenner from screwfix, but makes a much nicer working environment. Wheel valves first. Both were seized, and well rusted inside, but cleaned up well and the diaphragms are in reasonably good condition. Lever frame next These work the bowden cables that open the foot valves on each tank compartment. Levers are steel, cable clamps are brass, and the frame is an alloy, very light but contains some steel as a magnet sticks to it. As with the wheel valves, bit seized, but came apart easy enough and cleaned up well. Everything in the pump control box is painted silver, except the colour coded tap handles etc, so it made a change from spraying DBG. I acquired a litre of silver paint a while ago, no idea what make, it's in a plain white tin with no label. Likewise, no idea what sort of paint it is. Doesn't smell like cellulose, it's not oil or water based, and is certainly not 2 pack. It does thin down OK with standard thinners and it sprays on beautifully. Touch dry in a couple of hours with the heater going. Just need to pick a nice shade of green and blue for the colour coded wheel valve handles. Haven't found anything I like yet.

My Tanker has 15.00 x 20 tyres, I will have a measure next time I'm with it and let you know

I must be having a senior moment here, or something. Talking about how good the original cloth filter might be, I completely forgot about fitting this CAV modern paper filter and water separator, fitted in the line before the lift pump and the cloth filter, which is now pretty much redundant and mainly just for show these days

Filter seems to be OK, that said I've only done about 40 miles so far with it in, so not a real test yet. The company I work for runs 2 Routemaster buses that use the same filter and they do alright. The Routemaster club can supply the proper filter cloth too

Weather has been better the last two weekends round here, not brilliant, but dry and workable, so much has been achieved in Tanker world. Collared our Stuart to help me lift the cat walk on, last weekend, and take the tubes off to have their end caps fitted. Carried on with stripping out the pump cupboard valve gear. I was surprised how heavy it all is, feels like it is made out of quarter plate, each section is as much as you want to lift comfortably. Does leave a very oily, sticky mess. Looking into the pump itself, the gear appears to be in good condition, but I'll get to that later. In the meantime this lot will keep the home workshop going for a while. Replacement handle from ebay turned up during the week. A quick trip through the electrolysis bucket and a coat of hammerite and it joins the rest to make up a full set All I need now is to get hold of the replacement valve. That may be easier said than done. Yes I became that spotty urban explorer that was mentioned earlier and went for a look round the scrapyard last Sunday. The scrap tanker is indeed the jackpot. All five cocks are still in place, and although I could not get a decent view into the pump cupboard, what I could see looks to be complete too. All I've got to do is get their owner to part with them without taking my trousers down. Spoke to him on Tuesday, and like most scrap men he seems to think they are made of gold bars and everybody wants them, despite the fact they have been there 30 years. Going back again next week to have an official look and hopefully not too much money will change hands, especially as I have to get them off myself before he will even discuss price. According to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy all you need to survive in the universe is a towel. I haven't done too much inter-galactic travel lately, not since the Doc told me to lay off the mushrooms, so I'm not sure about the towel thing. For myself I prefer a piece of string, you can do so much more with a piece of string. Our Stuart wasn't available this weekend, so no help refitting the hose tubes. They aren't that heavy, but at 10 foot long they are a bit ungainly for one man. So you need a piece of string. Well, 2 bits actually. Lift one end of the tube and tie it up, lift the other and tie that too. Walk the tubes up the side and into place. All went very well except one tube which would not fit into the end cap nicely and had to be persuaded, causing a bit of damage which will need a spot of filler, and a couple of straps that needed a bit of help to get in place. Nothing that cannot be touched up with the kiddies brush and polished out. Bit of a poor picture, as the light was going, but all four tubes fitted and looking good. Back to the pump cupboard. First job was clean off sixty years worth of grease and oil. Took a fair bit of scrubbing and a substantial quantity of degreaser, then a good dose of brake and clutch cleaner. As far as rust goes it's in quite good nick. Where the valve blocks bolt to the floor there is a bit, but overall as it is galvanised and it has fared quite well. Once cleaned off a good coat of bondaprimer improved it no end. Obviously, there is much more to do in here, but at least I can get in and "do" without getting covered shite. One of the things that needs doing is the roof mounted lamp No info on it in the parts book, so I'm looking forward to being able to get up close and see how it comes out. I would assume it will have a red lens, to protect night vision, but we'll see next week

Sorry to be a let down, the rivets I thought were flat head are actually countersunk Got quite a few of these if they are any good to you. The flat head ones I did have came from Charnwood Fasteners Ltd. They have a website and ebay shop

They look like 3/16" flat head. I think I may have some in the shed, will have a look tonight for you. How many do you need?

Just one at the moment, but it's a good one. A couple of years ago, I found out, from a fellow forum member, that the place where I got the Tanker from has a second yard, so we went for a snoop. Daft as it sounds there is a public footpath that runs right through the place, and while out for a walk you might happen to get a bit lost and wander off the path, as you do. Amongst all the other stuff (see forum thread "Elephant Graveyard") I found this. The Thames Trader box van could make an nice little project, but more interesting is the Militant Tank sitting on top of that other thing. I didn't climb up to have a look at the time, but I've dusted off the hiking boots ready for a little stroll round this weekend. BTW I'm not planning on acquiring a valve by nefarious means. Just find out if they are still there first. The god of Militants must be smiling on me anyway. Had a look on that well known auction site, this morning, just on the off chance, and found the valve key I'm missing. Exact match and a reasonable price. Not only that a friend with a TIG welder is reckons he can fix the broken valve too. So thing are looking up.

They say it's good to read books and educate one's self, and with education comes enlightenment. Oh dear! It all started when rain stopped play, again, and with nothing better to do I had a look at the Tankers Operator Handbook. I acquired it a while ago, and as most of it is about the Militant generally, I hadn't really looked at it. I know how to drive a Militant, I've had the other one for 14 years. But there is an important chapter at the back, all about how to actually work the tanker gubbins, which valve does what etc. And I did learn a lot!!! The inspiration for this came from this mornings efforts in the shed First valve cleaned, refurbished and ready for painting And one valve with a broken bit! It's been broken for a while and as it is cast alluminium it will take better skills than mine to repair it. Then it got cold, wet and miserable so I went off to read the book. First thing I learnt was I do need the 8 valve keys listed in the parts book, because I am a valve missing from the pump compartment Mine looks like this When really it should look like this ('Scuse the dodgy photoshopping) Should be 2 red outlet valves So, what happened to the second red valve? Remember taking these off not so long ago, and wondering why there was an odd red one at the far end, that was made of ally and not brass like the others? Now here is the answer. The brass ones are actually called Cocks, BTW, and it looks like the end one got damaged, so it was replaced with one of the red valves, from the pump control, which was then blanked off with the black outlet cap with the strange thread. So I am actually a brass cock missing as well as the key for opening it. And although it solves the mystery it leaves me with a bit of a problem. Can I find one of these valves/cocks? To return it to original or just pretend it's always been like that

Question is, Does the tea stay in the mug when the engine is running? 😁

And just for a change, it rained a bit more this weekend. Struggling to make any real progress at all just now, it's all a bit here and a bit there, time of year I suppose. Anyway screen wash is all in, jets adjusted and working nicely. Both wipers are now going, thanks to a replacement motor from Marvinthemartian. Cab electrics and dashboard are all secure, after the not charging game, and everything seems to work as it should. I've got a couple of webbing straps to fit for holding the pick axe and handle, and a fire extinguisher bracket to go on and that is the inside of the cab finished, barring a damn good clean up of dirt, dust, wire clippings and the odd nut or bolt. Tanker top catwalk is back together with it's new wood slats Just need to get it on top of the tank now, it's not that heavy, just long and wobbly. In the last post I said the valves appear to work. Bit ambitious that statement, the green one turns, but the others don't!! So off they come. As a side thought, bearing in mind I'm doing the hoses as a back ground activity, the red and yellow outlets are 2.5" BSP same as the hose ends. But the black one is 3" and a much finer thread. Presumably, there should be an adaptor for it. One to consider for later. In the meantime 2 valves back to the shed for refurbishment. Had the electrolysis bucket going again, cleaning the valve handles. Start with this Couple of hours in the bucket, and a quick brush up and you get this All shiny and ready for repaint. I think, in service, they wouldn't have been painted, and would have stayed clean through regular use and liberal coatings of spilt diesel. But as they now enjoying their retirement, a brush over with some black hammerite will keep them looking good. According to the parts book, I should have 8 of them, 3 left handed and 5 right. I've only got 7, but that said there is only 7 valves to use them on, so I don't really need the missing one.

Many thanks for the help, but I've got one coming from forum member Marvinthemartian, he had one in the back of the shed.

Another wet weekend in paradise, rain stopped play again. Got the oil can carrier fitted Then started plumbing in the screen wash, which was OK while setting in the cab, but got to fitting the jets outside and decided to call it a day, too wet to work. I did post these two pictures of the fuel control valves on my last post, but forgot to write anything about them, so moved them to here. Fitted these last week, with new gaskets and sealant. Next up is in here Main control room, valves all appear to work, just needs de-rust and repaint, but I'll let you know

Pure guess, German WW2 Magnetic mine for clamping to ships, meant to look like a turtle underwater

Well spotted, thanks, bagged that one, need one more for the full set

Hadn't even thought of doing that, there's loads of stuff. Lot of people recommend brake fluid as a good treatment, but I can't say I'm too keen on that. Spraying on WD40 also seems popular and that sounds better to me, although I think testing on a small area first would be a good idea too. They look much better for a good scrub up, anyway

Been wet and miserable round here the last couple of weekends, so Tankering has been pretty much confined to the home workshop, which is getting difficult as most of the jobs left to do have to be done on the Tanker itself. Done a few bits though. Had these made by the local engineering company Brass turn wheels that fit onto the hose tube end caps to hold them shut. Only one had survived out of four, but at least that gave us a pattern to copy. Took a bit of sorting to get them all fitted. Despite looking the same, you have to get the right lid with the right end otherwise they wont shut properly. So half an hour playing mix and match and we are all fitted Ready to go back on. Moved onto the actual hoses next. They have been buried in the ever growing weeds at the back of the Tanker since I took the tubes off last summer, or whenever it was. Daft question time, what do you do with a rubber fuel hose? You can repaint steel to protect it, you polish a pair of boots to keep them good, I feel I should be doing something with the hoses, but what? Seen here getting the metal bits cleaned prior to repainting, and the hose itself has had a good scrub with detergent to get the mud and weeds off. Back in the day when they were being used on a regular basis, they would probably have been a bit oily, tanker drivers grubby hands over them all the time, but what now they are retired? Got one hose end to sort out, it must have been dropped or something Bit of a dent that needs some attention. Finally took delivery of a missing part that I've been looking for since I got the truck. No prizes for guessing what it is 😁!! I say I've been looking for a long time, that's because I wanted the right shovel. There's plenty out there, but I wanted a 1954 dated one, to go with the 1954 Tanker. Finally found one last week, so thanks to a geezer called Gerry from Doncaster, who was clearing out his shed and decided to put this one on fleebay. Needs a good clean up, but that's to be expected, it is 66 years old. So, out with the wire brush and sandpaper. It must have been the chosen one at some point in it's life as between all the many layers of green and black paint there was a coat of white, which must have been for a specific job. Anyway, a good deal of sanding later reveals to lovely patina and fine wood grain of a traditionally crafted solidly built piece of quality equipment. Then you paint it green like any good Army shovel Speaking of missing parts, Still missing a couple of fire extinguisher holders, like this one, seen getting a fresh coating last week. There is one on fleebay, but seller is having a laugh with his price of £99. I don't mind paying a reasonable amount but that's a bit OTT. Lastly a bit of a plug, but more of a thank you. A few weeks ago Forum member 67burwood posted on his WOT 6 restoration "My daughter has just drawn a picture of my truck" Instantly this conjured up a picture in my mind of a little 4 year old who has drawn Daddies truck with her chubby stump crayons. Scrolling down the post revealed that this is not quite the case. His daughter, Ellie, is all grown up now and an art student. And while she may still have that box of crayons, she is rather good with a pencil too. So being a bit cheeky I posted back "Can she do a Tanker?" I was a bit surprised by his response of send me a picture and I'll ask her, I meant it as a bit of a joke more than anything. As it happens I had just taken a couple of decent shots of Militant with it's new badges in place so I sent him onw of them. A few days later he sends me this, and asks "What do I think?" I think it's priceless, absolutely brilliant. Only one thing to do with it, take to the local print shop and get them to boost it up from the original A4 to A2 size, get a frame on it and get it hung on the wall so it can be seen. Can't get over how good it looks. Thanks again Ellie. Of course a donation changed hands for her time and effort, but it was a small price to pay for such a nice piece of art work. If you want your own motor doing, a PM to 67burwood could get you a very nice Xmas pressie.

Engine cover looks really tidy, you've done a nice job with it. Bit of a bum with that catch, only wants to be a couple of millimetres further over

Had a run out yesterday for a bit of proper truck work. Got a call a bit back from a friend, could I use the Militant to help him extract an historic vehicle he had just purchased, from a field. He was quite vague with the details about what it is, apparently it's a bit special and he wants to keep it's details secret until he is ready to reveal it to the public at large. So all I can say is, it's not an MV but it is big and heavy, and had to be dragged sideways from between a fence and a building. Arrived on site early, sticky mud and wet grass Got set up ready for winching, fence was a bit in the way and had to be moved, drop the spade and... Forget to take the Slow Moving sign off before digging it right in. It didn't go well for it and a new one will be getting purchased shortly After the few teething troubles were cleared away winching went quite well Even had the snatch block out as well, at one point. Got the thing dragged out, turned sideways, and towed out ready for loading and transport to it's new home Turned out to be a good little day for the old girl, we've done a bit of crane work with her but apart from dragging that container the other week, we haven't used the winch in anger before. She performed well, but needed the spade dug right in to stop her sliding.

Is "Noddy" the Fremlins Brewery Elephant that used to be with 25 Engineer Regiment a good many years ago?