Hair Bear

Where do I start? Volvo 343 with a broken fuel pump. Take out the panel in the boot that covers the tank sender. Cut the tyre adaptor off a 12v compressor and attach the compressor to the breather pipe connector on the fuel tank. Apply a little pressure to the fuel tank, drive 10 miles home. Peugeot 305 failed alternator. Borrowed a battery but it had the wrong terminals. Drove from Somerset to Hampshire with the battery on the passenger floor and jump leads running out the window. Escort Mk2 broken rotor arm. On these the contact in the rotor cap was fixed and the rotor arm had a sort of sprung arm on top. The top came off mine so I fashioned a replacement with the old style ringpull from a "soft drinks" can, bound in place with a bit of thin wire. 15 miles no problem. Tarpan broken throttle cable. Cable snapped at carb end. Fed the remains of the cable through a long thin split pin and twisted tight, then put split pin in the screw clamp for the cable. Second time it happened no split pin so resorted to using the bonnet release cable - remembering not to shut the bonnet tight 'till you've refitted the cable (bu66er!).

Not an MV, but ready for another clench? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=372967746087504

I'll take a chance and say there would be a lever on that shaft for the hand operated diff lock but I can't imagine why it would have had a hand lever and not a pedal. Although as previous I could be wrong...

Does anyone here have any interest in these? I have a Scorpion tank, lightweight landrover, helecopter ect which I may be looking to sell if anyone is interested.

I think the date may be wrong. County finished building tractors around 1987 so "date in service 1997" would seem a bit late unless it was sourced from the RNLI in 1997 perhaps?

I thought I'd seen those wheels somewhere before!

I've seen old pics of this before but didn't realise it still existed. I wonder why it isn't in a museum. A quick winter project for someone, might need some paint, tyres, batteries... http://www.artificialowl.net/2008/05/letourneau-lcc-1-sno-train-fort.html

Totally off topic but I remember being sent to Ripley in a rush on a Saturday afternoon with the instructions of "The gate is shut but not locked. Find the Massey 22 and the parts you need are wrapped in a rag under the seat. Make sure the cab door is shut and just snap the lock on the gate when you leave". Sure that wouldn't happen today - Good times!

We delt with the Send Marsh works at Ripley.

Hi Richard, sorry yes point taken, a little too much shorthand! I looked at the pipes thinking maybe 'constant pumping' out and return via a spool maybe for the forks. Over a number of years we ran 203's, 35's and 40's and I have to confess I came across one of these some years ago and just assumed it was a digger with all the framework removed, never gave it a second glance. It was only recently I found out it was a model in it's own right! Oopps! Now why does the name Ben Turner come to mind???

Interesting critter. From what I can see - P3, manual gbox, loader subframe completely missing if it ever had one. The front wheels look to be standard 135 pressings, I would expect a solid disc centre if the industrial loader was fitted and they also appear to be inside out. I don't see any power steering rams, should be attached to the top of the kingpins, so check the steering box for exesive wear. It's worth having a look to see if there's a Dowty hydraulic pump in front of the rad. It would be attached to a shaft driven off the front pulley (makes it a pig to change a fan belt!). If that isn't there then it may have never been a loader. Love to know what's on the other end of those hydraulic pipes, do you have a view of the rear? As an industrialised ag tractor the rear hydraulics are all self contained within the rear casting and were totally separate from the industrial loader system so if the Dowty pump at the front is missing - don't panic. They originally had a 2 stage clutch, as you depress the pedal it first disconnects the drive to the gearbox to stop forward motion. Further down the travel it then disconnects the drive to the pto and internal hydraulic pump. This means the hydraulics and pto continue to work if you only push down so far and the bite point can be close to the top of travel. If it's had a cheap clutch change it may have had a single plate fitted but I wouldn't worry too much. The frame looks to be a generic ROPS cage to stop it going completely upside down should it fall over. There are many versions of these out there. The rear fork lift fitted to the 3 point linkage and was popular in orchards for loading apple boxes. Yes, the cage mounting is where the Mil loader fits on the 35/135. The 203 had a complete extra subframe fitted from the casting around the rad to right under the back axle. Rob.

Well done! I couldn't think of the name of the rear mount.

Some definately had a backplate and forks on the loader, with a counterweight on the back. If you do a google pic search for 203 as well as 2203 there's one shown with forks. If there's no front loader, they could be fitted with a rear mounted vertical mast type arrangement.

Depends what info you're after... Predecessor to the MF40, Perkins 3D152A engine, 3+R x2 manual or 4 speed 'instant reverse' gearbox. Loader and backactor (if fitted) run on a fully independant double acting hydraulic system driven by a front mounted pump. If the backactor is not fitted then the standard agricultural towing point, 3point cat 1 single acting lift system with top link sensing, trailer tipping adaptor and 540 pto can be utilised but often the lower links and tow hitch are missing (identical to MF 35 / 135 so not too difficult to obtain). Front tyres are 7.50x16 8 ply, rears are 14x24 industrial. Early types did not have self leveling front bucket or double jointed wrist on rear bucket. Power assisted steering. Independent drum brakes on rear. Hope that helps.

If you do visit the 28dl website and haven't been there before, make sure you have a few hours to spare.

Today, M25 w/b Reigate Hill 14.30, Austin Champ (I think) on a Trailer.

Just returned from a trip to Penzance and found a couple of shops that may be of interest. One in Chapel Street (can't remember the name, on streetview it's empty and for sale) had a British army uniform in the window and a piece of kit, no idea what, I can only describe it as a bottle shaped cylinder 3 or 4 feet long in a shaped olive coloured canvas bag. The other is in Market Jew Street, and called 'We Have What You Need'. Lots of uniform caps and general period civillian clothing. Hope that helps someone.

I would reccomend trying Lynne Castell, well known in vintage tractor circles for charcoal drawings of tractors and traction engines. http://www.lynnecastell.f2s.com/gallery.htm

Just remember to unhook the electrics and chain first! My own feeling about these 5th wheel caravans is that they are a close to useless fashion statement, and far more trouble than they're worth.

A GMC (I think) Red Cross Clubmobile parked in NE Hampshire.

It's a brilliant idea, but after all that work I'd have thought they would've solved the stability issue first rather than leaving the sawhorses holding it up?

Oopps - crossposted with Brocky. Looking at the photos the plate is on the side of the trans (lh?) behind the radius arm. I'm sure we had nothing like that.

Thanks everyone for all the replies, unfortunately we parted company with this particular Fergie around the mid 1980's but I don't remember a separate data plate, plenty of holes though (according to the DVLA, it is currently taxed so it's still alive somewhere!). Going with the 'off topic', in 'Allo'Allo they held a veteran vehicle parade - including a nice Fordson/Roadless halftrack! Should have been new enough to still have the dealer stickers.

I wouldn't know how to date a six character registration, fancy a go? jaybee-ell-sixthreefive if you see what I mean as not to invite searches!

Back in the early 80's we bought a TEF Ferguson. It was overall grey, but had a navy blue bonnet top and a yellow stripe around the bonnet edge. Needless to say this was very quickly scraped off and painted grey. As I only started thinking about it now, is there any way of finding if it was ex service? The only reference I have is the civvy reg no. Thanks.