Richard Farrant

I thought it looked familiar, but could not pin it down. There is a company who repairs pallet trucks in the yard where I work and I recognise it now.

I recall crates of these concrete mines in the RE Bay at the REME workshop where I worked. I remember asking what they were and was told they were for testing the minelayers. Never saw one and that was 1974, I believe the Barmine layer had been introduced by then as I had seen one in an agricultural machinery dealer's workshop a few years previous to that.

Detergent oil keeps impurities in suspension so that when passing through the filter they leave the muck behind. It is the older type straight engine oils that leave the sludge in the bottom of the sump. You never know what oil a previous owner has been using. regards, Richard

The were jeep body kits coming in from the Philipines about 40 years ago with no real details to them, nothing to make them recognisable as Willys or Ford and no one seemed bothered then, just get it on and use it. I remember a friend buying one at that time. Could be one of them.

Hi Richard, The Dingo did run on pneumatic runflat tyres originally, same type of tyre as a Ferret in construction. Later on another version of the tyre was introduced that did away with having a tube as the casing was much thicker and with a bead spacer there was still a cavity inside to give the tyre some absorbance. They are often described as 'solid', this is a misnomer. I fitted some truck tyres of the correct size to one on instructions from a customer and they performed perfectly on the road and despite having road tread pattern I could not get it stuck in mud. I note that this vehicle was recently sold and described as having a good ride. regards, Richard

That small plate was used by Workshops when the cylinder was rebored, either on overhaul or repair. It helped when having to order piston or rings the next time it needed attention.

Hi Andy, I know this is 'off topic', but as you mentioned it .... Dalesman motorcycle ..... I owned one, a trials bike, it was only a couple of years old when I bought it and it had been ridden in the Scottish Six Day Trial by the previous owner. Just worked out that I bought it 50 years ago 🤔

Have you tried Ian Wonnacot at Classic Spares bear Exeter? He specialises in brake cylinders

I have a feeling Girling and Lockheed transverse cylinders might be inter-changeable by the flange size, but you will need to check the threads. I recollect having to do this on an early 50's Dennis fire engine many years ago.

Hi, The original fitment was Lockheed, according to my Lockheed book. The cylinders were handed and part numbers were 15490 and 15491, it lists them as fitted to War Office vehicles, 1939 to 1943, assume yours would be 30/100hp Tractor WD. Girling did produce similar cylinders, but you would need to check the threads on pull rod, both male and female as I have found some with UNF and also BSF.

Yes little aluminium cylinders, the grey knob is pushed down to puncture them

Grey capped thing is the Start Pilot device. Never had need to use it in our part of the world. Bedford MK had them as well.

Yes yes! those damned boots, they were a heavy yellow plastic material and a devil to get on. One of my first jobs on a Muir Hill to renew them.

Hi Rob, I think we are on the same wavelength, Mk1 and 2 with crab steering option and Mk3 without. Regarding the transmission, yes Allison. I think the Clark box I changed was on a Hydra Husky crane which sheared its drive in the box. I remember having to overhaul two Muir Hills that had just returned from an exercise in Gambia, they had not been cleaned and everything was covered in bright red African soil. One required a replacement hydraulic pump, no easy task to get to it over the engine and down under the boom. Once you were in there it was difficult to get out again! Simon, Regarding rear ballast they usually operated with either the Massey back-acter or a Boughton,winch and spade, then you had a good counterbalance for working the front end.

I will have to search for my course notes but think the crab steering was on the Mk2, yours maybe a Mk3. My recollection was that could angledoze with the 4 in 1 bucket opened up. Got me thinking now why I have a Clark manual, it came with a new transmission I fitted on something.

The early models of the A5000 in army service did have crab steer facility. I did a lot of work on these tractors in REME workshop. I am pretty sure the transmission is a Clark and not Allison. Seem to think I may have a manual on the Clark transmission. Did a course on repairing these at the RE School of Military Engineering around 1980

Hi Hamble, About 5 years ago while in Australia, I was asked to view the estate of a deceased collector and there was a British WW1 GS Wagon there. Sadly I do not have a photo of the data plate now, but the makers initials were GRC&W Co Ltd, which was the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd. regards, Richard

Going through the dataplate website, here are some answers regarding makers initials; RCD Royal Carriage Dept., part of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich BRC&W Co Ltd Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd AM Co I am wondering if this was the Austin Motor Co. ? regards, Richard

Hi Pete Yes, still available, I will send you a PM shortly with the phone number. regards Richard

According to the Army's Equipment Regulations, Nomenclature & Coding dated 1968, there were 7 variants of the Fowler Challengers in military service at that point. One of the lighter dozers in service in the Seventies was the Track Marshall TM70, we regularly had one in with steering clutch problems, it worked on a coastal range and I think the beach was hard on its running gear. regards, Richard

Just to update about the tyre and wheel, it is £150, collect from Kent. As said the tyre is unused, same pattern as Petlas and others. Richard

A friend showed me an unused Barum 10.50-16 tyre today, it is 14 ply and as you can see it comes on a WD Divided wheel. The mould line is still on the tyre tread so it looks unused. Suspect it was a spare. If you are interested in buying it, send me a PM and I will pass your number to my friend. regards, Richard

I have got one of those somewhere, bought it years ago NOS WD surplus and they were a beige colour. I don't think that is a rubber grommet, think it is a metal ferrule, hence why it is painted. These lamps date back to WW2

Yes! That was it, I could not remember the number. I did a lot of plant repairs for units around the South East District, inc. 36 Engr Regt, RSME and so on.

Mick, There was actually an airborne Plant Sqn, from Aldershot and their Muir Hills had the cab 'hacked' off. I use that word because it was a rough job! I guess it was to reduce the height to fit in a Herc. Richard