Richard Farrant

1 hour ago, Citroman said:

the rims are heated and then put over the wooden wheels they shrink then on them when they cool down.

You would not heat them up with rubber treads moulded on them I would think!

I think the question relates to the distance between outside of the steering wheel to the seat back !!

😉

Those Allis 645 loaders were good tools, far better to work on than the Terex that replaced it. OK the cab was a bit stark but no one knew any better in those days. Good vision of the bucket too.

8 minutes ago, Surveyor said:

That answer makes it more interesting as I have an FFR diesel Land Rover

Well they won't fit that!

You will find them on military petrol engines used in radio equipped vehicles, and generators that are likely used near radio equipment, commonly known as screened plugs.

26 minutes ago, Louie said:

Hi Malcolm

Could it be possible that my vehicle was made in 1938, and left unused, or maybe used for Something other than military, and then used for war service when the war started? I can't think of any other reason behind the march 1938 date.

Louie

Hi,

Looking at the data plate and the Contract Number, I doubt the lorry was made before 1940. Working on the Ministry of Supply contract numbers, my feeling is the contract dates from approx 1941. As this would be an RAF vehicle it is not listed in the Chilwell contract list, but still using the same sequence of numbers.  I could be wrong, but will wait to see what the RAF Museum will come up with.

regards, Richard

Great stuff, always good too find an in-service photo of your own vehicle. Glad to help here.

regards Richard 

41 minutes ago, robin craig said:

slowly working my way through these

 

 

 

The top photo is a Stuart gun tower for the 17pdr gun, the bottom photo of the Mk3 Daimler Dingo is interesting as I believe the actual vehicle exists in preservation in Southern England.

There are modern techniques for straightening chassis' nowadays and I remember when we were rebuilding crash damaged DROPS vehicles during the Bosnia conflict (c.1993), a company from London straightened a chassis by a method whereby it did not even have to be stripped out and it was aligned by laser. This is done cold with hydraulic jigs.

Hi John,

They look like Bedford, but be aware there is a difference in angle of the steering column between MW and O types. This can be seen from the mounting flange on the box in relation to the column.

regards, Richard

2 hours ago, Mick Norton said:

Thanks Richard,

Is the Tasker featured similarly to the information you provided on the SMT?

Mick

Mick,

This is from an official book from the Society of Motor Manufacturers  in collaboration with the Ministry of Supply for the exhibition of British Military Vehicles at the Fighting Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, Chertsey.

22 minutes ago, Mick Norton said:

FAO Richard Tarrant,

Dear Richard,

Earlier this year you very kindly provided data for the SMT 2 trailer.

I wondered if you might assist on the following:

• FV3621(A), Trailer, 20 - ton, 8 TW/2L, low loading.  (see attached Serial 1 second item)

I am particularly interested in being able to establish the year of manufacture/entry into service from the plates on the Tasker trailer.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Mick  (micknorton1944@gmail.com)

 

 

 

 

Hi Mick,

Looking at the booklet from FVRDE Chertsey for their vehicle exhibition in 1954, this trailer is featered with the statement "This trailer is used for the transportation of RE equipment and general service carrier". I also remember the one we had in the recovery section of the Command Workshop around 1974 and the army registration was from the series starting around 1950, so it falls in around 1950 to 54. There were three manufacturers according to FVRDE, Taskers, Hands and British Trailers. Ours was always known as a Taskers.

regards, Richard

Looks like it might be an Australian Chinook, their military used to have the Cariboo in service.

Sounds like it might have been Castlemartin. Not sure if tanks were used around Sennybridge

The Society named on the medal was the forerunner of the National Smallbore Rifle Association. I think the change was around the late 1940's so it is quite possible the medal is not as old as you think. From what I found out it appears the medal was available to member clubs for them to present to their members. One example I found was for the Highest Aggregate, maybe that was its purpose.

regards, Richard

1 hour ago, john1950 said:

I think the Trucks may be Austin K5's

The trucks in background of the motorcycle photo are Morris Commercial C8GS 4x4

9 minutes ago, tankdiver said:

Fitting the inserts for run flats can be  a hard chore i had to do two on a ferret   which took a whole morning . It may take a little less time for a younger guy  as I was in my  70s at that time. Hope  I dont have to do them again

Laurence

When I worked in REME Workshops, the trick with runflat inserts was to squeeze them together in to a figure of 8 shape and tie with rope ( probably a ratchet strap would do.) Think we did this with a hydraulic press, then it is easier to push into the tyre and when in place cut the rope. Also you need the jacking screws to pull the beads apart.

The Henderson inserts used in the Michelin tyres on Fox are a different ball game and they were sent out to a tyre specialist to put in.

16 minutes ago, Terra1936 said:

what makes them run flats? 

The original Fox tyres were Dunlop Trackgrip Runflats, they have very thick sidewalls and a bead spacer to keep the tyres tight on the rim if the tube was deflated. Later on they were replaced with Michelin tyres which were not runflats but were fitted with Henderson inserts which are very thick and heavy and also inflatable. But will keep tyre on the rim in case of punctures.

46 minutes ago, Terra1936 said:

What about the seals in the 2 piece wheel?   Will any 20 inch military work?  

There are no seals used in the two piece wheels, they are only for tubed tyres.

I am very sorry to hear about Degsy. Up until a few years ago we would occasionally talk on the phone and when he came down to Kent to buy the Weasel, he asked me to come and meet up.

May you rest in peace Dercyk

I bet the labradors don't stop for tea and smoke breaks. The ones in the google photos look keen too!

😉

5 hours ago, ruxy said:

One was recently done near me , traffic lights & the whole lot , work that was once done by a labrador with a spade in in under 1 hour -

I would love to see a labrador with a spade. 😁

51 minutes ago, Nick Johns said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-sussex-50679671/spitfire-pilots-return-to-goodwood-after-round-the-world-trip

Thanks Nick,

I had been following this on there website since the day they left the UK. A fantastic achievement and a credit to those who restored and maintain this aircraft.

regards, Richard

12 hours ago, andym said:

I've never understood the logic of that.  Why does the thread direction have any effect?

Andy

A left hand side wheel is turning anticlockwise, so with left hand thread wheel nuts tend not to unwind if the wheel loosens. A lot of this is to do with conical wheels nuts and the wheel shuffling if not fully tightened. Obviously same for right hand side with right hand threaded nuts. With the advent of flange type wheel nuts on modern trucks they have returned to all right hand threaded on most trucks. If you towed a vehicle backwards, you have an even chance of loosing a wheel on either side (if not fitted securely).

37 minutes ago, Tamber said:

Yup, that's the one that's accessed through the flap in the side-tin.  The other one is much shorter, mounted lower and further to the rear of the engine (just behind the oil pump.) Flat steel blade type, stamped with 'MIN' and 'MAX'; MIN lines up with the top of the filter screen on the oil pump, MAX is an inch or two up from that.

I'll definitely give it some closer investigation next time I'm up at the workshop.

The short dipstick complies with your present sump.. If you change the sump for the correct RL one, you will also need the extended oil pick up as the well is much deeper.

1 hour ago, Tamber said:

 

EDIT: ...would that perhaps explain why there are two dipsticks, then? There's one that's accessible through the usual flap in the engine tin, and a much shorter one that goes down into the central sump right next to the oil pump, that you can only really get at from underneath the cab.

About 40 years ago, I would have built several hundred of these engines, so I am going on memory now, think the dipstick fitted in to a tube which was attached to side of block (using screws holding push rod cover plate) and probably stood at same height as the distributor. No idea why you have a second dipstick as I thought there was only one hole for it.