Richard Farrant

Hi Neil, Well RN has one Stalwart, whereas working within the REME organisation, myself and colleagues, were doing this on an everyday basis with all types of Alvis 600 series, Daimler Ferret, Fox, etc. We had access to vehicle records so would know the service life of any assembly on a vehicle. Tracta joints would fail even with the additive present. I know RN has cut off wheel stations from scrap Stalwarts, and may have found some in good order, but they may have had a low usage before disposal, or been in reserve, so without service records, no real conclusions can be brought on the use of this additive. I only remarked on the discontinuing of use of OX320, and this was while Stalwart, Saracen, Ferret, and Fox, were still in service.

101.465 metres, finally got past the first filing cabinet!

Clive, Add to your list of problems, "hair in eyes" :tongue: :evil: :-D Why not try Molyslip Gearbox Protector. Things have moved on since colloidal graphite additives, molyslip is molybdinum based and has a good reputation for anti-friction. The additive, OX320, we used in FV600 Alvis vehicles was withdrawn in the late Eighties as MVEE and Alvis were reported to have concluded it made no difference if added or not, according to a technical report recieved.

Simon, I think this is probably ANPTF thread on the pipe nuts. It is American National Pipe Thread Fine, a b*gger of thread to get started and easily damaged. It was common on British vehicles of 50's and 60's, like AEC, Leyland Martian, etc. Regarding your unloader valve, I would forget trying to repair that one as it is obviously in poor condition, why not substitute for something similar, with suitably threaded ports, cut out and in pressures are all similar, ie 120 and 90 psi. There is a chap called Bernie who deals in army surplus parts of this era, especially AEC and the like, comes from Northampton or Leicestershire area, but cannot find his number at present, think he gets on Ebay.

Neil, Just remember this procedure. You might need it at Beltring next year with the OT-90, if the weather is any wetter :whistle:

To apply "Mickey Mouse" camo correctly, all upper facing surfaces were to be black.

Clive, AG90 is a Morris's oil and is a Straight SAE90, ie not EP / Hypoid. I note your comment on Bedford MK and R types used OC600 in the transfer box, I do not think this is correct, if this is from a servicing schedule it could be a mistake or possibly for tropical use. The correct oil specified by Bedford in the MK transmission manual is a Straight 90. OC600 is/was a Straight 140 gear oil, often used in axles with worm and wheel drives, etc. I recollect the use of OC600 was basically phased out years ago, but occasionally an elderly vehicle or piece of equipment would appear, which required it. The oil for the Beddy transfer boxes was, I think...... OMD330, which is a SAE50 engine oil and often specified for gearboxes, it is equivalent to a Straight 90 gear oil, the calculations for SAE gear and engine oils worked out on a different scale.

Mark, I will PM you, regarding this.

Neil, Last suggestion seems feasable, ie stacking two high, except that it is right on the rear of the hull, and looking down at the tracks, you would need to be bearing on the road wheels, so this may not be the answer. My suggestion is the old unditching beam idea that was first used in WW1, where they are clamped across both tracks and driven forward or reverse dependant on how, why and where, then unclamped and process repeated until on firm ground.

Mark, This could be a balance issue. I know a couple of IMPS members who are GMC owners near Whitstable, they had the tyre companies insert a balancing medium in the tubes. It is very fine beads which do not clog, as soon as the wheel turns they spread out and self-balance.

Also good, is dried Beltring mud, ground up and applied to oil puddle. Just used some this week, where it fell of a scout car in the workshop.

BLUE Take a look at http://www.raoconline.com

Dry cement, usually have an old sack of it that has got damp and gone off. Apply to oil spill, grind it in with your boots, it will draw the oil out and can be swept away. Will not remove it all of course and it is much better than oil spill granules. If you go motor racing, you will see cement is used for oil spills on the track, quick and effective. Best try and deal with them before the oil soaks in too far.

The term is "Double De-Clutching". Nothing more satisfying than to snick down a gear when climbing a hill, without clashing the teeth 8-)

Sorry Lee Enfield, Must take you to task here, it is RAOC Southern Command, check out the other sign, vertical stripes of red-blue-red (RA is blue-red in vertical stripes) COSD, I think this is Command Ordnance Supply Depot and the wording underneath, could well be Aldershot, which would fit in with Southern Comd. These signs would date from the 1950's era.

What about a nice Land Rover 101 :whistle:

Simon, It may depend on the actual greasing point, but in general, spring shackles, steering ball joints, etc, the modern chassis grease is more fluid than the sticky grease that was used in the 1950's when these old wagons were made.

Simon, The problem will undoubtably be the unloader valve, with this debris and contamination in it. I have worked on these but so long ago now, cannot visualise it. Did have a troublesome one on a Matador recently as well. As a general rule, an unloader would cut out around 120 psi, then cut back in around 90 psi. I think when these ones unloaded the air was exhausted at this valve, where as some other vehicles compressors have a pressure line to them to relieve a valve in the cyl head. If you strip it, try not to disturb any of the adjusting screws, or if you need to move them, measure the length before disturbing. This will give you a datum point to start off from when you refit it. There is an advert in a recent CMV mag for someone dealing with Mk1 spares, number is 01200 429448

Neil, Now you mention that, I think the links were like you describe, no wonder they were aggresive on tarmac.

Is'nt it strange, that if cannot take a truck to Heathrow Airport that did not comply with the emission standards of TFL, but hundreds of aircraft operate from there, burning hydrocarbon fuels by the ton, the smell heavy in the air. Typical cr*p coming from the Mayor again.

Neil, Too be honest, it was that long ago now, and I did not get a photo of it, so cannot be sure. I guess a picture of one from that era may confirm. Do you think the Czech version has different design links then?

Nigel, I think the Spitfire that flew over on Thursday, was a "local" one. Cannot recollect it actually displaying, just passing over. On Saturday, Rob Davies flew a spirited display in his P51 Mustang, getting lower on every pass. We were lucky to be camped next to the river and he appeared to be using this as the display line. One of our group said it was the best thing he had seen all week. The Spitfire display on Sunday was very brief.

then there is FORD - Fix Or Repair Daily ..............how true ;-)

"P*ss off early, tomorrow's Saturday" meaning Friday !!

Thanks Mike, Just curious because my friend thought it was a Chev C60, that someone we know owns. Always difficult to take it all in when traffic is going the other direction. Apparantly the WLF was steaming along at a good pace. Good to see it still working at what is was intended for!