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.

25 minutes ago, 10FM68 said:

 The great advance with the barmine as far as exercises was concerned was that the exercise mines were made of sand-filled cardboard so, once laid, could remain in place, whereas the training mines for the Mk7 were made of concrete and had to be lifted once the exercise was completed. 

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

13 minutes ago, grey on top said:

I don't think is it home repaired, the welds are very very neat. The interesting thing is the round cross tube in the seat back. ai'm guess I might be repro but strange in that all repros I have ever seen are a much better copy and pay attention to detail.

Thanks for the reply

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.

1 minute ago, Scammell4199 said:

Hi John,

Just for my own personal interest and it may help others here - do they have to use solid tyres? obviously they ran on solid tyres originally to eliminate the hazard of punctures or shot out tyres on the battlefield. Could pneumatic tyres of the same size not be substituted now? Maybe they are equally rare i don't know.

Thanks, Richard

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

15 minutes ago, bigduke6 said:

Tom, 

Can you elaborate on the engine number, I've Some crank cases that have had the small small brass plate riveted on over the original number, the number is re stamped above the brass plate, the plate is just an identification regarding ( I cant remember if its bore size or bearing ??? someone will chirp in.) This would of been done by the REME at some point. 

 

 

 

 

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.

1 hour ago, andypugh said:

 

One of these days I would like to find a "Dalesman" motorcycle, made in Marsden. 

 

 

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

16 minutes ago, Louie said:

Hi richard

Thanks for your reply. According to some of the original info I've got, the wheel cylinders are girling for the crossley 4x4 load chassis. Maybe the Lockheed type you mention will do the job, I'll do some googling 

Regards

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.

32 minutes ago, Louie said:

Hi everyone

As restoration is getting on it's way on the crossley 4x4, I've stumbled upon a problem (probably the biggest problem actually). One of the rear wheels is missing part of the braking arrangement, it's the transverse cylinder which sits behind the wheel. A girling one. I've been looking for one for sale in the internet but with no luck. Does anyone here know of any for sale/know of any around?

Looking forward to some promising info as I'm stuck without it!

Kind regards

 

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.

1 hour ago, ploughman said:

I seem to recall a regular task for the fitters, was working on the rubber boots in the wheel hubs.

Too technical for us operators.

We were too busy trying to change the steering into Crab without the new boy noticing.

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.

4 hours ago, Zero-Five-Two said:

Like you, Richard, I'm trying to get the grey cells working, but it has been a good many years. As I recall the Mk1 &2 had the crab steer facility, with a 3 way change valve between the drivers feet. You had to pull the handle up to unlock it then turn to select, push back down to lock. Mk3 only had 2 and 4 steer with the lever change shown in the picture above. Allinson transmission, definitely not Clarke

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

4 hours ago, Hamble said:

Thank you @Richard Farrant @Adrian Barrell @PITT24423 for the information about the makers initials.

I've made a page to list all the known and unknown WW1 British Wagon And Cart Makers.  

https://militarydataplates.com/ww1-british-wagon-and-cart-makers-list/

If anyone knows any more makers or initials let me know.

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

6 hours ago, 2e0prp said:

hi , is the wheel and tyre still up for grabs , thanks  Pete

Hi Pete

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

regards Richard

On 8/27/2016 at 10:03 PM, Tarland said:

 

 

 

 

Theres been various Fowler challengers - 33 and 3M3's - up for sale recently on the various online Auction/Sales Websites.

 

Anyone able shed some light on the subject? Fowlers get a mention on the classic plant websites/forums but not in great detail.

 

 

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

9 minutes ago, ruxy said:

Looks to me as if somebody has done a blast with soft media , then used a rattle-can of Hammerite NO. 1 Primer  (pink) ,,   has that cable grommet not been sprayed, photograph not great but cable seems begrimed with paint at odd spots.  the lens looks a bit sus. with overspray but you would think it would have been removed , was it prior smeared with grease  ?

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

4 minutes ago, Mick Norton said:

Richard,

That was 9 Independent Parachute Sqn RE.

Mick

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.

6 minutes ago, Mick Norton said:

Dear All,

The airportability of the Muirhill A5000 was a big selling point in the 1970s.

Mick Norton

 

 

 

 

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