Richard Farrant

I would like a truck that could give the fuel economy that I used to achieve with a WM20 ........... anything between 60 and 80 mpg on a long run

Hi David, Best to spray it as it gives a much better finish although you could use a soft brush I suppose. It will have a sheen to it, but being in the engine compartment it does mean you can wipe or wash the grime off without marring the paint. That is exactly what I used on the one in the photo, although not same make of paint.

Ah, Mr Barrell, you woke me up . My only "proof" on the change from Eau-de-nil to Sky Blue was in an EMER covering Rolls B range engines. Without digging it out, I think the early B range units were Eau-de-nil then there was a change to Sky Blue around early 1950's. Guess this was a policy change on all engine. In an around 1974 I was involved in engine reconditioning in army workshops and most engines were Sky Blue when they came in, but I do recollect some very early Bedford 300 engines coming in for overhaul still in Eau. As the 300 came out about 1952, this will give some idea. I have seen new Daimler scout car engine parts boxed in 1954 and they were Sky Blue. What I would like to know is when did they start to use Eau-de-nil on engines? Just a passing comment, you say Sky Blue was a rebuild colour, it was in fact the standard colour of engines from new in postwar A vehicles, Alvis, Daimler, etc.

Hi Andy, No problem, I have noted your email address. You may want to remove it from your post now otherwise the spammers might latch on to it ! I wonder if Richard Beddall has a speedo like mine ...... it was brand new out of the box, correct part number but reads about 5mph too fast. I have steamed along at about 45 on the rare occasions of having to use a bit of motorway, but as a rule I avoid that as you have to push them harder than they were intended. Bearing in mind when they were designed the speed limit for lorries was 20mph. Most enjoyable drive is cross country avoiding trunk routes. regards, Richard

The machinery paint stocked in most agricultural suppliers is still oil based.

Looking at a pic of your engine number, I notice the stamp mark in an oval, JLO. This has come up before, it was a German engine manufacturer. It could be that they reconditioned engines for the occupying British Army after the war, or were overhauling engines from captured British bikes.

As we did with the old motorcycles, fully retard and they would start easily, forget it and it sends you into orbit

According to the Dodge TM, they have timing at 2 degs After TDC, but dependant on grade of fuel and altitude. A lot has happened to fuel formula in 70 years, so each engine performs in different ways, if you have an ear for tuning and can identify pinking it puts the timing in the right area, then fine tune one way or the other.

You are right Ron, all the ones I have worked on are Ferodo type plates.

Hi Ray, I have no idea about the B40 clutch fitting, but just wanted to warn you about replacement clutch plates for the WM20. A few years ago, I had to renew all the plates on a customers WM20. The new ones were obviously not original BSA, fitted then, correct number and order and found the clutch would not free. Having by chance the REME Inspection Standards for the bike, the original thickeness of these plates was listed. Measuring them i found they were all thicker than plan size and the accumulation of oversizes amounted to one extra plain plate. A rang the parts supplier who immediately told me there was no problem, then without hesitation said to remove one plate! This was going to be my solution but had not told him that. Do not ask me how I did this as it is too long ago now, but it worked perfectly and I seem to recollect telling another M20 owner and he had done the same. regards, Richard

Hi Rod, This is interesting. Could you please let your friend know that the themes of the Annual Corowa Swim-In & Military Vehicle Gathering for March 2014, will be appropriate for his vehicle. They will be Year of the WW1 vehicle and Year of the Ford. Just to give him a goal to aim for! The venue is Corowa, NSW. It would be wonderful to gather together a good group of WW1 era military vehicles at the event. regards, Richard

Oh that .... looks like a Militant Mk3 Recovery

Looks like a Bedford MK / MJ front axle.

Someone's happy then !

Tim, What a great location. Well you could still use the brewery for the monthly meetings, but the control tower would make a good meeting point at weekends, plenty of room for your vehicles and to have get togethers. Combine the two if you can. Richard

The three vertical slots in the radiator cowl seem to pin it down as a 30cwt Crossley, as Ray says.

The Sherman markings look like 7th Armoured Div, 2nd Field Regt Royal Artillery, from the signs on left side of the photo and the XI sign denotes 2nd Battery from its background. Looks like a training exercise. Note the early CMP following the Scammell in first photo. The BSA has REME Armoured Brigade Workshop marking.

Hi Andy, On new carbs for QL's the governer is set for about 40mph in top gear. It is best to set it up a bit otherwise it restricts your hill climbing in lower gears. Mine would bowl along at a steady 40, but would not go higher as engine revs are getting up then and it is 70 years old. The speed limit for lorries on normal roads is 40 and it will keep up with them, although hills bring you down a bit. Axle ratios would not have been altered, the axle is unique to the QL, so no alternatives that I am aware of. You will enjoy driving it, a great lorry, had mine for 25 years now.

Griff, I know the Rolls B is off subject but as you brought it up ..... all these engines in army service would have been built under the standards laid down in EMER publications. The one covering B range was a whole lot more comprehensive than Rolls own publication TSD702. The EMER system was updated and amended as required through the life of the equipment too. We did not use, or even see a copy of TSD702 in army technical library, the EMER was the standard for all data.

03DA19 and several others immediately before and after this VRN were prototypes of the FV430 series of vehicles.

I think you need to recheck your torque figures here, a Rolls B range engine head torques are 40 lb/ft *, using your calculations your figure is a bit on the low side :cool2:. * Figures used by REME, from the EMER Power for B Range engines

Tony, it depends on how long the spanner is, that is what torque is all about, a given pull at a given length.

Hi Ray, Sorry, I missed this one yesterday. I cannot really recommend any jeep parts dealers in the US, but if you go on to G503.com forum, I believe it is run by a chap called Ron who is a supplier and there seems to be good feedback on him within the forum. It is also a good place to find info on jeeps too.

hi Andy, Saw the Holden plate and it showed the Gross Weight, so 8 or 9 tons would be about right. Windows were pull up- push down.

Smuggle it home Andrew? Have I not heard that before . Yes, cable insulation needs looking at, the last one I rebuilt, which you will remember, was not as good as it first looked. Brake pipes were copper and I have bought NOS ones from Chris W which were identical. Never a problem either.