Richard Farrant

Hi Monty, The Saracen suspension links, steering joints, swivelyokes and torsion bar bearings are all lubricated with gear oil. Richard

"There must be one for a Dennis, here somewhere"

John, These are postwar manufacture, going by the labels, the prefix 61BE is a RAF stock number, the part number 7067949 is listed in the QL book as for QLB ( Bofors tractor), crew compartment, front seat cushion. these are exactly what I have in my QL and I would hazard a guess you got them from the same source. There is an asterisk after the number in the book, denoting that part is also used in MW, OX, OY and QL, so the seat is not really specific to the gun crew compartment of a QLB and can be used on all Bedford seats. regards, Richard

In vehicle maintenance, oil is used in pressure pumps in some appliactions, such as spring shackles, etc. It is not uncommon on military vehicles to use oil where nipples are provided. Oil is pumped into the Fox wishbone as it acts as a resevoir feeding the suspension link pins on a total loss basis. The correct servicing schedules for the vehicles should be familiarised to ensure this sort of thing does not happen. To get rid of the grease from within the wishbone............well it should not happen so no laid down procedure.

John, I will try and remember to take a pic of the seat covers on Monday. Another case of desert sand coloured canvas was when we found a NOS tilt for an Austin Tilly at an old surplus dealer near Cambridge. It was all wrapped up but had labels on, think it made mention of Middle East use and dated 1951 or thereabouts.

John, While talking canvas and Bedfords, I have a pair of seat back covers, in sand colour canvas, stamped inside with a wartime date and makers name, Waring & Gillows, who were a well known furniture maker.

Clive, Sounds a bit like the old WD Pattern convex mirrors, not too bad when you got used to them though.

Hi John, That is an Austin part number, so you are correct about the K9. Wartime canvas was often brown, probably because the base colour of the vehicles was until 1944 onwards, when olive drab was introduced, as to when the canvas colour was changed, my guess is when stocks of brown ran out. I have seen NOS top covers for Dingos in brown then others with manufacture date in 1950's, being olive green. Those Bedford seat covers could be postwar (?), I had two NOS ones once and I think they were early Fifties.

Trailer socket, as fitted to Jeeps as well. Terminals are brake, rear and earth.

That confirms it is the one I saw in Mutton's yard at Sissinghurst, around 1978 ..and again on the HCVS run.Talking about Coles cranes, I have just remembered seeing an IGL8 Coles crane on the road, Kent/Sussex border around 1975, never to be seen or heard of again.

If that record card is for the vehicle I worked on for them, then it is parked up on a private property and has been for many years. I do know it was a Mk2, so this narrows the possibility down a bit. :-) Just found the invoice, yes it was that vehicle, so definitely not a Saracen 88.

I think that I might have fitted an engine and gearbox to that Saracen, in 1996, if it is the same Mk2, then it is still in this area. Not sure whether I ever noted the number of it.

It is good to see the gantry Crossley again. I first saw it rusting away in a wood in deepest Kent back around 1978, along with a lot of other rare old vehicles. When we went back some months later, it had gone, then I saw it on the HCVS London to Brighton run. I am sure the gantry upper framework was not on it, definitely not on the run anyway, as I have a photo somewhere. It looked odd at the time without the frame.

Having emailed History Channel, they have replied saying there are no plans to show the programme in question on UK History Channel.

Mark, Are you sure they were not Dowty washers? They are steel with a rubber lip on the inside, made specially for sealing fluids, etc. I seem to think they were often fitted, other vehicles had special copper washers that were folded and screw on the plug so as not to drop off.

That is right about 13" tyres, so as you say, best to stick with what you have.

Mark, OEP220 was just a military designation, (Oil. Extreme Pressure), it equates to 80w/90 gear oil or EP90 / Hypoid 90. The wishbones hold a reserve of oil that lubricates the suspension pins, that is why you will always have drips in this area.

hi Colin, The info on tyre size came from the reprint of the Ministry of Supply Data Book of Wheeled Vehicles, circa 1944. Richard

Hi Loggy, Here are couple of photos of a failed front output flange. It may give you an idea of the internal layout. The flange is actually free on the shaft whilst disengaged, although the shaft and flange should both be rotating at the same speed. There is a bush in the flange and it might be a combination of a worn bush and a worn washer under the nut, that is giving it more end float. On the inside end of the flange are teeth which mesh with the sliding front wheel drive clutch, the teeth of which can be seen in the photo. The reason for this failure was that it was recovered with a front lift and the recymechs failed to remove the propshaft, this allowed the mainshaft to rotate but the flange being stationary. The front propshaft then became detached whilst on suspended tow.

Well done with the awards, makes it all feel worthwhile. I know the feeling :-)

Hi Colin, I would not think this trailer had 20" wheels, not with 5-stud hubs and insuffient clearance. It looks like a standard 2 ton trailer and they tended to have 9.00-13 tyres. Something a bit strange about the data plate, I cannot find the contract number in the Chilwell census number listing and the census number, X6140237, comes up as a 1 ton 2 wheel trailer of a different contract number. The range of contract and census numbers would generally put it at around 1944. It could have been part of a contract for the Navy or RAF, as they are not included in the Chilwell list, but then why does it have a army census number? Richard

Mark, I guess this is a Fox CVR(W) you are asking about........do not put grease in the nipples on the suspension wishbones, use gear oil.

There were several around this country about 15-20 years ago, made by Mowag for the Swiss Army, notable by the large windsceen, think a lot of the mechanicals were Dodge based.

Monty, The armoured car is a Marmon Herrington, someone on the forum has one if I recollect. The tank is as Runflat says, a Crusader. I have seen one in the UK some years ago, that was brought in from South Africa.

If you think outside of the box, they are more avenues to search in. Rear cylinders for most Bedfords from 1940/50/60's used the same cylinder, right through to TJ, also RL. The wartime ones were handed but later they were made universal fitting, bleed screw could be moved to suit.