Markheliops

I heard France was going to be VERY wet and windy, with temperatures dropping to just above freezing. PS. Have a good time. Markheliops

Hey - I thought this thread was about Recovery and Towing. AlienFTM - stop going off thread!!! LOL.

I tend to agree with Neil on this one. I love the rolling events like Bolero and the Plans trip but unfortunately I have an over large vehicle that swallows fuel like there's a hole in the petrol tank. Take the Plains trip - cost me over £450 in fuel plus a gearbox. I could only afford it as I had saved for a low loader which we cancelled due to the restriction on tracked vehicles. Meyhem show cost me over £250 in fuel - although I did some extra mileage. I love driving my truck and this is why I do what I do. I also enjoy showing people round my Ward La France and answering their questions. With the cost of fuel reaching silly levels and showing no sign off dropping, I do wonder how many different classes of vehicles will be able to take to the road for a rolling event. It is indeed a shame, as Bolero was a great sight to see - althought I didn't get there - but sooner or later the roads will be filled with Jeeps only due to peoples financial situation. So, I am all for both events but in all honesty, I prefer to go to a static show with an arena - where I can show my truck - have a drink and socialise with other owners. Markheliops

Hi all. Add my comments ref the show. Top show and has huge potential to be a massive show. The organisation was spot on and everything ran smoothly. As Catweazel said - laid back and no SILLY health and safety rules. There were some simple rules but at a public show they are needed. Everyone I have spoken too enjoyed the event and have agreed it should go on next year. I would personally like to see the show turned into a three day event, held over a bank holiday. Lets see a combined military vehicle / re-enactors event along the lines of War and Peace. There is currently a show held in Detling over the bank holiday period but taking into account the feedback from those who attended - I am not sure it will be happening next year. So thanks to all who made the show happen and those who attended in one way or another. Oh, and thanks for the Best Heavy Vehicle award - must have been my non-original siren that clinched it. All in all - a great time. Markheliops

Thats just cos I broke your wing mirror - crack a hops.

Nice MUTT Mark. As I understand it - reference to the bad handling was a fault with the A1 model. The A2 - which is the model you have - has far superior handling than the A1. I am sure any Mutt people out there will confirm the above. Markheliops

PM sent mate Markheliops

Hi Jan - Nice to see you on here - I just returned home after spending most of the day wiring a trailer socket to the Ward - Anyway - see you tomorrow. Markheliops

Hi all. Would appreciate someones knowledge on a Brockhouse trailer. I am planning to tow one to Military Meyhem this weekend but have a problem. The air brake couplings (palm couplings) are missing off the trailer. Does anyone know: A) What palm couplings they are - http://www.airbrakeconnections.co.uk/index.htm Palm Coupling (universal) Part Ref Thread PALM 7 1/2" BSPT PLAM 16 M16 X 1.5 PALM 22 M22 X 1.5 Palm Coupling (operating) Part Ref Thread PALM 7R 1/2" BSPT PALM 7Y 1/2" BSPT PALM 16R M16 X 1.5 PALM 16Y M16 X 1.5 PALM 22R M22 X 1.5 PALM 22Y M22 X 1.5 Palm Coupling (automatic self sealing) Part Ref Thread PALM 16RA M16 X 1.5 PLAM 16YA M16 X 1.5 B) What the rubber air pipes are as one is damaged- Need a quick answer on this chaps. Many thanks. Markheliops

I stand corrected - The B lever - (engine / transverse gearbox dis-connector control handle) is used to facilitate engine starting whilst either cold starting or being slave started by disconnecting the drive between the engine and transmission. Straight from the FV432 operators manual. Aplogies for previous statement. Markheliops

Thats spooky Phil. Look what was in my e-mail box this evening - ref the command tent. Hi, I find out your details from the web site where you post the advert of used tent.I need the asking price ,Advise with payment terms. Also I need the Locations of thistent in other to confirm the Shipment charges. Advise if the tent is still Available for sale. Regards, Freedman. It's so crude it's almost funny. Markheliops

Hi Phil. The B you asked about has two uses - As previously suggested - it is used to aid starting in very cold conditions - ie you are only turning the engine over, hence less drag. Other use is when tow starting by another vehicle. Markheliops

Gaffer tape springs to mind Mark. lol Markheliops

Looking good Phil - Looks 100% better already - think how good it will look when both you and the misses get down to it - I am referring to the cleaning! Markheliops

Hi Chris - The triangular pads are for a Combat Engineer Tractor - a chap who will be collecting them from Phil. The other pads are 43 series - a set for me and a set for Phil. There should be 360 pads there - hopefully. Markheliops

Yes - it was a tad tight in places. Phil said it was tight - he forgot to mention it was Anorexic. I think the 434 just needs a damn good greasing but apart from that - it runs very well. New track pads need fitting - included in the sale. I was surprised how quickly it acelerated. Well, I hope Phil has fun with it - but no top turret totty - he's married. Markheliops

Hi all. Just read this entire thread and it is very interesting on the differing views in relation to winching, etc. So, here are my views on the subject. I was a recy mech class II and have been trained by the IVR (Institute of Vehicle Recovery) in recovery techniques for heavy commercial vehicles and buses and coaches. I worked on the M20 for four years on the Police Recovery Scheme, righting over-turned and jack-knifed 40 tonne artics. Also attended many RTC (Road Traffic Collisions) - the point being I have some experience in this field. Back to my point in relation to safe winching etc. I am not going to sit here and list the safety matters and considerations when winching as these points and much more good advice has already been listed. However, I would like to point out a couple of things in relation to this subject. Winching and indeed any recovery task can be dangerous - I defy anyone to say differently. I do feel people who have not had some degree of training should not be attempting to move a bogged down vehicle. By bogged down, I mean to its axles - not slipping on wet grass. The process starts before the recovery vehicle even moves to the recovery scene. Please remember all the equipment on a recovery vehicle should have been visually and mechanically tested on a frequent basis. By frequent, I mean every time the equipment is used. This should be done by a competent person, meaning someone who knows what the hell he or she is looking at. Annual testing (LOLAR REGS) of all equipment is also required under health and safety law. When the recovery vehicle and its crew arrive at the scene they have to consider a host of variables. Where do you park the recovery vehicle, etc? With this consideration comes working out a viable and workable recovery plan. Once this has been done there are things to do to the casualty vehicle and to the recovery vehicle. Whilst the recovery operation is going on, the vicinity should be cordoned off to stop anyone wondering in case something goes wrong. My point is this - anyone who thinks they can just hook a winch onto a stricken vehicle and pull it is very much mistaken. There are endless possibilities for things to go wrong. No one has mentioned - I don’t think - about attachment points and where to attach the winch rope. I have seen people attaching winch ropes to the rear hoops of a Land Rover Series 3 - I kid you not. Anyway, we are all adults and we will do what we do. This is great - until someone gets hurt and health and safety or worse the Police start poking around. By all means - attach a rope or winch to pull your mate up a slippery hill to help him or her out - but leave the serious winching jobs to people who have been trained in both recovery techniques and in the operation of the particular equipment being employed to carry out the task. Markheliops

Excellent news Phil - Just let me know time and where to be on Wednesday. Markheliops

Clive - Can you PM me with your contact number mate - may have some worthwhile info for you. Markheliops

I've just spoken to the scap dealer. I think this is going to be a serious problem for the MV scene. As the scrap metal price has gone silly, it would appear vehicles, especially anything like a tank are worth more cut up than they are running. This scrap dealer has the Cent ARV and has just taken delivery of a Cent BARV - direct from the Army - but wants silly prices for them. If a scrap Cent ARV is worth £10,000 (bear in mind it has sat in a scrap yard for 10 years, exsposed to the elements) - how are people like us ever going to get our hands on them with a view to restoring them. I expected to pay around £4500 max as a running Cent ARV is only worth about £7000. I shudder to think what will become of these classic vehicles if this carries on. Markheliops

I agree with you Chris: I was expecting to pay around £4500 max. I know of running Cent ARV's that have been sold for around the £7000 - £9000 mark. By all accounts, this one has been standing in a scrap yard for near on 10 years. It comes with a new engine which has never been fitted. I expect depending on where the engine has been stored, will determine if the engine is any good. I may go and have a look but there is no way I shall stump up £10,000 for a vehicle which has been stood in a scrap yard for 10 years, unless it was mint condition - which I expect it won't be.

Hi all. For the boffins on here - a question. I have found a Centurion ARV in a scrap yard - The owner of the yard says he wants the scrap value for it - he has valued it at £270 per tonne!!! Now to my estimate - thats way over the price of scrap metal at todays rates. I thought it was around the £150 per tonne rate. My questions is: What are the metals involved in the manufacture of a Centurion ARV and can anyone give me the going rate of scrap metal at todays rates - I am well aware that just because you have a tank weighing nearly 50 tonnes, doesn't mean scrap value x the tonne is the worth value. For a start, you will be charged for it being over length, etc and then you will be charged for it being cut up. For this exercise, please assume the weight of a Centurion ARV is 40 tonnes. I know it's not but that is what the scrap dealer has been told it weighs. Thankie Markheliops

Is Mike coming on your honeymoon?

Hi Phil. If we can aim to leave by about 8am - should be up there for about 9.30. Will PM you my address. Can you pick me up? Cheers Markheliops

I have some in the shed mate but decided to order one form the states instead. Markheliops