Richard Farrant

Paul, Way back in the mists of time, do I recall that the M74 was exchanged with a Saladin, as the Germans used to use them for Border Patrols, and had not got an example of one?

David, Those wheels are not a Morris product, they were called Easiclean, possibly made by Joseph Sankey, and supplied from 1930's to Austin, Morris, Wolesley, Morgan, Singer and others. regards, Richard

One M74, ex-Belgium and the other that came from Kosovo was a M32

In my long experience of working on MV's, there are a lot of applications where oil is inserted via nipples, notably suspension joints on Saracen, Fox armoured vehicles, some trucks have gear oil specified for spring shackles, Bedford steering boxes, etc. At workshops we had Tecalemit pumps for oil and I have used normal grease guns which were made to use oil or grease in without a problem. Nipples used on all these applications varied between slide on hex type to zerk style. The question was about what to use to insert the oil, not whether the nipple was designed for oil or grease.

Some grease guns can be used for oil.

Someone offered me a pad of 1084's when I left saying they would be useful, sorry i did not have them for the pure novelty value ! So, you are right, no longer use the codes and you have just reminded me. Actually, the mechanic did not need to know them as the job requirement was written alongside, it was purely for assessing and entering up at the finish, as far as our establishment was concerned.

Clive, The 1084 scan brings back memories ! In main workshops we did not have the part numbers entered up, as procedure was that the stores requesition forms ( forgotten that number now), were attached to the 1084's in the job folder. when job was done the repair details were entered in the equipments log book, forgotten that damned number as well (only remember the important details!), to save space, the operation codes were often entered in the book rather than a long saga, if it had been a large job or overhaul. Vehicle examiners wrote the 1084 up and entered it all in the log book on completion. I did do that from time to time, when standing in. Just remebered something about those codes, the assesssors used them with stock repair times, so you might get them on say tappets for a B60, but actual time was for a Bedford 330 engine, a vast difference in operation time. The arguements we used to have!

Mark, This is a British cargo trailer, dated 1960's era, still used in the 80's I recall. The army rated their payload as 2 tons, not got any other details to hand.

It moved to Portsmouth about 15 years ago.

Are you using the new website address? It was changed over in March to www.mapleleafup.net

I take it there are no RB44 owners in North east? What I am seeking, is someone with intimate knowledge or experience of the RB44, to check one over that is for sale. An aquaintance overseas wishes to buy one, and there is no better than an owner to know what to look for. Any expenses incured, ie fuel costs, will made. Please PM if you can help. regards, Richard

Tony, Paul has an imbalance between the two rear brakes, so unlikely to be a m/cyl problem. No middle piston............. only two pistons, outer and inner.

As the thread title says. If there are any RB44 owners in the North East (Newcastle area), could you please PM me. Thanks, Richard

Not on a MJ, they have a tandem master cylinder, two separate circuits, front and rear. Any gunge in the air system should removed from the wet tank at the front by the automatic drain valve, unless it is bunged up.

Gary, The engine balance could have been effected with differing sizes of piston fitted. Saying that, I once stripped an engine from an ex-Portugese Army armoured vehicle with three pistons at +.020 and the other three at +.040 ! Not normal engineering practise, guess they may have had a shortage of parts.

don't tell me .........they turned them in to Coke cans

We have covered this subject before, it is a zinc chromate paint produced for marine use. This is what we used in REME workshops when rebuilding suspensions on to Fox and CVR(T). Link here ; http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?15062-CVRT-hull-sealant&highlight=chromate

No CVR(T)'s visible in the pics, only armour is FV432, Saracen and Ferret, are or where there any, given that armour cannot be exported from HK ?

I have a feeling this replica may be based on a T34, and the engine seen in this Youtube link is a Russian V8 diesel

Tony, 63 would indicate June 1953, early years of Ferret production the 5 was not used, later ones had last two digits of year.

Really ? Never known any unusual problems with 28hp cranks, would have thought if there were any machining errors as you say, the first regrind would have corrected it. Also remember a lot of the Bedfords in preservation served on well in to the 50's, having rebuilds, exchange engines, etc, and parts used would often be produced after the war, due to high demand. Machine tools would have been dealt with when production for Civilian use and exports started up again, else the good reputation would not have held up.

Montie, A similar problem happen to me once. I picked up a Saracen from a customer with a blown fly-wheel seal, so, a none runner. Pulled engine out and repaired flywheel, it had been run so hot the impellor had picked up on the flywheel. Went to test it, and it would not pull away, as if someone had chained it down! What it turned out to be was the gear selector linkage had dropped off the gear lever in side the quadrant box aside the seat. It was actually in top gear and that was why the flywheel was stuffed, the owner thought he was changing down but all the time in top. So, check you selector linkage is intact and also worth removing seat and floor to view the band selection on the gearbox. Richard

Paul, i have seen electric pumps fitted to Saracens adjacent to the filter and changeover tap,, fully accessable there.

Montie, Is this a tongue in cheek remark ? I did not read your recent post fully, got to the part about your son's suggestion and thought you had cracked it, just realised you had another problem. If you are still in trouble I may have a few ideas.

When the British Armed Forces took over GG's for the firemans strike in late 1970's I think, then two tones and blue beacons were fitted. Same with ambulance strike, sirens and two tones were fitted overnight, I remember that as we were supporting all the military ambulances in London, and a mixed bunch they were.