Richard Farrant

It is some years since I was working on those for the Queen, but in the back of my mind I am thinking Freewheel Device, which is in the clutch hub, it may not have retracted into its "engine idle" position. They all make noises as has been said but this one stands out. I am sure that this fault came up once.

Pete, as it is 1947, I was not sure if REME were at Bordon then. (Bordon Flyer on GPA) and wondered if they might have been Canadians as it was their main workshops during the war. Also about that time there were 100's of Canadian trucks gathered at Borden for disposal sales there. Only a thought.

Just seen a trailer for the new film, The Monument Men, check it out; http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/video/monuments-men-111413508.html

I think you will find the Canadian and UK wheels are same width, but Australian ones were wider, due to wider track (same width as used on Vickers Light tanks).

Hi Matt, The Renault in Bovington Tank Museum has wooden idlers, I was looking at it recently.

I thought that the French built FT had wooden front idlers, but this one has a steel one, like the US built M1917. Did the French change to steel idlers in later production? As a point of interest, my local garage, which has a carriage wheelwrights department, has recently made some wooden front idlers for Renault tanks currently under restoration.

Did you see the Dodge WK60 breakdown gantry in the background early on?

Martin, I see it has "Dad n' Dave" mark on it so Australian issue by looks of it (D/|\D)

Hey Jack, Did you get knocked back on permission for an airstrip then? Adrian B was looking forward to flying in for a night at the clubhouse.

The spanners would normally have been lost I reckon. Remember a unit bringing one in for repair (seized as normal) and it was lying on its side in the trailer. I pointed out that this is why the oil ran out and they locked up!

Hi Rob, I remember repairing those in REME workshops in 70's/80's period, they were quite reliable provided you checked the oil. As it did not have an easy to check oil level, you needed a spanner, I have known them to seize a big end because of this. I think they were in general use for 24v battey charging and may have been the supersession for the BSA 300w chorehorse. regards, Richard

Lauren, To be precise, a Carrier is steered by both warping the tracks and brakes. As for the Hagglunds and earlier Volvo BV202, they are steered by hydraulic rams between the two cars, hence the anomaly. Tracks bear no part in steering (except when it sheds one!)

That was only on the front wings of Aussie S2a Landies. I think the picture is of Turkish army ones after their drivers had done with them.

I would say it was a WT or WL type, there are lots of them to be seen in photos around Dunkirk at the time. The wheels are the telling feature, different to O types. The engine would be a 27.3hp unit, not the later 28hp that we know in the wartime models. No tyre pump fitted either, so most likely an impressed lorry.

Hi Baz, I am very sorry to hear the sad news about Jack. We had been corresponding as he had written an article for the KVE News on his Model T rebuild. Only yesterday I emailed him only to get a reply from his wife to say he was in a critical condition. Please send my condolences to her. kind regards, Richard

I noticed someone rebuilding a lorry body on the forum recently and using tongue & groove boards for the floor. This would make the body too rigid and cause stress when the vehicle was driven over uneven surfaces. There is a lot of twisting goes on in a chassis and body, even on the road.

Ha ha, that will teach me to assume ! Sorry I cannot help on the puller.

Do you want to take the transfer box out? About 16 years ago on that actual Saracen, I fitted that gearbox along with an engine (engine was missing previously) for a customer, and know it is possible to remove the gearbox only.

I had a full set of canvas made for a MW once by Steve at Undercover Covers, excellent job, he did it in the heavy flax canvas as it would have been originally. Even had the MW on his advert at the time.

Hi gps, I am sure there is an old cab canvas and two door tops in my workshop. They were left over after a restoration some years ago when I replaced them with new ones. Canvas only good for patterns though, door top frames are OK. Send me an email via the forum with your email address and I will try and remember to photograph them. regards, Richard

Wally, Artillery sign is red and blue split horizontally. This red and blue diagonally is an unusual one although something tells me Household Cavalry, seem to recollect coming across it before.

Odd thing is that by the time that paint scheme had come in, the tac and division signs had been withdrawn. Maybe it was done for a film job? The cat sign might have been used in Malaya, seem to think I have seen photos of Ferrets with something similar operating over there.

That is the part number of the cylinder block. Check out Clive's photo showing the larger plate adjacent with red line around it, this is the engine number plate.

Hi Carl, I was just about to reply to your email when I saw you had posted on here. I have not got a book on the Turbo 330, but the standard 330 diesel with the DPA pump was timed on the flywheel mark which is 24 deg BTDC. If it is the same as the turbo, then on the DPA pump ,there is a cover plate near mounting flange and if you look in there, there should be a mark on the rotor, with the letter B, this mark should align with the square end of the adjacent circlip. After reading you post again, you say it mentions 12 degs to mark T, I am now wondering if this is a "turbo" timing mark and the D is for normal aspirated Diesel. Best get a second opinion here. It is a long way back since I was working on these and little details like this can escape the memory. regards, Richard

That is only what they photographed no doubt, probably did that after the Press went away.