timbo

I watched this and thought it was interesting and well put together but no more than that. They seemed to be saying there was lots of new stuff but I dont think I learnt anything I didnt already know...

I seem to remember reading that terrapins were used for this purpose (of the Morris not flippered variety!)...

Or the fuel gauge sender seal? Hope you're not a smoker and dont work on it on your own!! Both of these are on the top of the tank arent they so if perished would allow fumes out without any visible leak...?

Asbestos euuuurgh!

That is a great bit of kit! You should speak to Armortek or mark 1 tanks to see if they would knock up some running gear for you to get it mobile....!

Martin Just checked some rebuild paperwork I happen to have to hand, and it does not show original build date anywhere. There is the paperwork in the canister on the engine, but again i am pretty sure that will only show rebuilds and dates of mods being incorporated. Could you just say 1973 - should be pretty close! Tim

A slight aside but I recently managed to blow the optronic module in my CVRT by bypassing the ballast resistor on the starting circuit (ie putting 24 volts through it when the starter button is pushed). This was the original set up pre the leccy ignition and was modded when the optronic set up was fitted so that the feed always goes through the ballast resistor. I had used a 1973 wiring diagram - doh! A very experienced cvrt person told me this was the first module failure he'd seen in 20 years...

Martin Why do you need to know? If to identify the variant have you seen the excellent thread on J60 variations? Tim

Mike There has been at least one thread in here about molasses in the past - never seen it done on such a large scale though! Tim

Seb Will easily fit on a beaver tail or a DROPs vehicle (with the demountable rack)... No need for a low loader unless you are taking more than one! Or you could just drive it... Tim

Funny how people often dont appreciate this sort of advice. One hopes this is because of their pride and that they do actually take note. On occasion I find myself working on or under vehicles on my own, and sometimes the temptation not to put an extra stand or prop in is strong, esp if it is just a quick job, but I always try to remember its a 30 second diversion that might save your life!!!

Oh b**ger sent mine off to dvla four weeks ago with a lengthy essay of explanation and have still had nothing back!!!!

Well at long last I have finished! But the great thing about these diaries is that you can dip in and out as the mood takes you. Thoroughly recommended and a really different take on WW2 from somebody very close to the top. Whenever I see a picture of Churchill now I always study it closely and more often than not Alanbrooke is a constant (but unacknowledged) presence in the background... Stuart remains an enigma and despite a good trawl through the internet no further reference found... Cheers Timbo

Have you tried Banisters? Normally pretty good for that sort of thing...

I am neither a gun man, nor a truck man but that is a truly gorgeous set up!!

From recollection one of Robin's previous threads....but if I remember rightly he wasn't to blame...!!!

Whilst Marcus is a top bloke and those batteries are undoubtedly cheap, I have personally always got on better with buying a good quality branded equivalent, Varta or similar. They will cost considerably more but seem to last a lot longer...

Al As you rightly point out Stormer track is of a different design to original CVRT track. Whilst I imagine it could be made to work somehow, I have been told by people who know about these things that it is strongly inadvisable ie it is best to leave it as nature (ie Alvis!) intended... Cooks (who make most of the track) now advertise 'bigfoot' track (ie with thicker pads) and a version of the original track with a replaceable pad. I have always been a little dubious about replaceable pads on CVRT, due to the high road speeds but the thicker pads would be interesting to try. In 8 years of owning CVRTs Ive never actually been forced to replace a set of track, only now starting to think about it, and even then I can probably squeeze another two seasons out of it at a push (worn pads not bushes). Cheers Tim

Just had a proper look on my PC instead of Crapple....it is definitely 03FD6....but not sure about the last digit, could be an 8 or 9... Either way great pics Tomo, esp like seeing Sabre pics in service as there are so few of them!

At the Earls Court tournament in December, one of the Scorpions was found to have a loose clutch centre nut - we stripped out the bulkhead, tightened it up and refitted the whole lot overnight... I think it was almost more involved than an engine change as there is so much stuff bolted to that bulkhead. Actually when I say 'we' there was only one person working, the other half dozen stood round the side with beer/tea offering helpful suggestions...!

There was a place up near Kielder that used to use a Samson many years ago - it was always broke!!!

Al Although I cant see it on my tablet, the VRN is just visible on my PC, I guess due to better screen and it does look very like 03 FD 66... Tim

So could be sort of a wartime equivalent of 'FFR'...?

Martin If you have to use it more than very very infrequently then I would suggest you need a new gearbox! Tim

From recollection the crane/ a frame call it what you will would sit in the bucket - Im sure John has posted a picture of it in the past. I also seem to remember they didnt see much use in practice since they were pretty limited in their functionality and their use was discontinued pretty early on...