Richard Farrant

Hi Monty, The 8 cylinder engines are quite easy to start providing the ignition timing is correct, carb is full of fuel and controls set. The more cylinders the better. Just remember to check that the gearbox is in Neutral, with handbrake on.

Hi Gary and welcome to the forum. I was looking at the photo of your Saracen, a nice and tidy vehicle there, but notice it is a Mk6 with reverse cooling version and that the front air duct cowling appears to be discarded on the top of an adjacent container. Do you have any overheating issues with it? regards, Richard

I am not so sure that this documentary is being shown on History Channel in UK on 6th June. According to the website which I linked on post #1, it is a "world premiere", definitely being shown in the Australia region on that date, but a search on the UK website of History Channel brings up nothing when the programme title is searched for. Sorry to raise hopes, but keep a close watch on the programming as it may appear at a later date, hopefully.

Hi Monty, Well there could have been two mistakes you have found on your Saracen so far, first one, tracta joint misaligned on assembly, and possibly mis-timed hub reduction..........and was that pin not located correctly either? The inner tracta appears to have grease in it, I wonder if this is a reason for the bevel box to fail, insufficient lubrication, as they both use the same source of oil.

Hi Howard, I remember seeing the Saracen 88 at a BAEE arms fair at Aldershot, could well have been 1988, take a look at this website; www.gklgroup.com/saracen88specification_1703.html

Mike, Nearest I got was a Perkins injector, part no 2645630 ( the one the thread relates to is 2645633), which is for a Perkins D3-152. I did wonder if the NATO number cross ref had a mistake in it on the last digit of Perkins number, pity they did not list the CAV number. The D3-152 was used in military service.

I changed one of these shafts, when Explorers were still in service. Used a 60 ton Laycock hyd. press, hand pump type, think it needed about 35 tons to shift, that is a big bang when it does decide to let go :shake:

Hi Richard, Take a look at the Internal Fire museum website, here is a link to an engine records page of their site, listing Blackstone engines; www.internalfire.com/erall.php

Mark, Looking back through my archives, I see there was a 1941 Commer Q2 entered in the 1997 and 1999 W&P shows. The owner's location was Sidcup, then in '99, Bexley.

Hi Monty, I did not realise the reduction damage was another wheel station........well, with that in mind, then it could be that the gears were not timed correctly. Was there oil in there? Your mentioning silicon in the fuel system reminds me of the first CVR(T) vehicles that came into our Workshops many years ago, some were suffering recuring fuel problems. I noticed that inspection covers on the petrol tanks were sealed with silicone and some had squeezed inside, so on closer inspection the pipes were removed and blown out, there were long strings of transparent sealer in them. I vowed never to use the damn stuff on fuel systems after all that.

Something in the back of my mind tells me that there was a Commer and Queen Mary in the Budge Collection, when it was still intact. I do recollect one at W&P, but do not know who owned it at the time.

Hi Montie, I think you can discount an assembly error, ie not timing the gears, when you also have the bevel box damage. My feeling is this, either a tracta joint has failed big time, whilst driving the strain has been put through the bevel box, hence a lost tooth, also the planet gearing has been damaged by a locked wheel station being dragged along by the other wheels, stripping the teeth. The look of your bevel box, gives me thoughts that it might have failed through lack of oil, as that oil level also feeds the inner tracta, then it will be interesting to see what that looks like. There are no gaskets on those hubs, in service, we used Hylomar or similar. I am not in favour of silicone sealants as it tends to set off before you are ready and can cause a sandwich, not allowing the two parts to tighten up properly. This then allows fretting and more problems. I am looking forward to the next installment.....Tracta joints :-D

Ted, The 10' wb Q2......that would have been a normal control (bonneted) cab model?

Wellseal

For all those that were in Normandy last year for D-Day, especially those on the MVT camp, there is going to be a world premiere on History Channel, showing a documentary of the Anzac Convoy to Normandy. For those that were not there, the convoy members from Aus and NZ joined us at our camp, having shipped their vehicles to Turkey and then driven overland, via Greece, Crete, Italy, Switzerland and France. For more info, take a look at this website; www.drivingtod-day.com.au

The most important thing is to check for any bow in the head face, because whatever gasket you use, will not seal it.

Jerry, What size tyres are they on the gun? They look like they might be 18 inch ( but probably 20 inch :-(). I sure a few will know what I am thinking !

Yes, that problem has been debated some years ago by members of the Dingo Register. The trouble is, from enquiries I made with a small company who have repro tyres for prewar cars made, that a mould cost could have been over £20,000. This was for work done in the Far East too, on top of that a minimum run of 200 tyres and their costs. OK, that is 50 vehicles, but how do you split the mould cost? There were around 120 Dingos on the register from around the world. Major problem. What it needs is a kindly benefactor to put up the funds and have a batch made to cover all running vehicles and for their owners to make an assurance of purchasing a set of four tyres. Sadly, I cannot see it happening...........:-(

From the last photo it looks like they were trying to make little Guys :rofl::rofl:

Correct Rick, olives are usually on low pressure systems, fuel, oil, air, up to about 150 psi, where fluid brake systems run much higher pressures.

or one of those ex-German army air powered bead breakers, as seen and bought from a Dutch dealer at Beltring

Tony, I would contact one of the sail cloth suppliers as there is probably a man made fabric available that would be UV and weatherproof. Painting the canvas most probably did not do it any good (assuming it was painted - usually is), so you might find they have a fabric suitable coloured.

There are people who have made these bins and sheet metal parts for other vehicles, but only made to order. Also Ferret silencers, I know of several people who have made them in the past.

Challenger 1 tanks were given to Jordan, not sold.

Robert, PM sent to you :-)