Richard Farrant

Maybe I used the wrong word? Jodphurs, perhaps, looks like a belt and buckle in the picture.

Clive, Could it be something to do with riding breeches and the correct way of folding them for inspection?

Yes, I have and as there is only about 12 with problems reported out of over 500, that was my point.

Using my diagnostic skills in mechanical and electrical engineering, I look at eliminating the problems like this; If only a very small number were suffering this problem, out of the 500+ members on the forum, and it is only a small number who are reporting in, then you would look at their own computor set up first, there must be something amiss there. Before the server is blamed wholly, it would be a good idea if everyone who reads this and is getting these forbidden and error messages to report in. That is the only way this sort of thing can be solved. By the way, I would expect my coal fired computor to be more susceptable to problems than a new one, if that is the case then I will continue to keep it stoked up.

Strange, I do not get any of these Forbidden or Error messages. It is just slow, but put that down to my computor and still being on dial up.

Clive, Are you sure this is not pornographic :?

Oh heck, I hate to see a grown man cry and it is Christmas. :-D Jack, I will have a go at Question 11,......the Korean War has never officially been declared over. Now back to the cardboard box quiz............. Richard

That is the book, Lee. Bought mine back in 1982 from RAOC. The history runs from 1915 through to 1982. Interesting read. Richard

Robert, There is an easy way. When you write your message, below the message box is the words, "additional options", click that then you will see "Attach" and a small box, beside this is a button labelled Browse. click that button and a list of your files should come up. Choose what you want to insert, then click post, DO NOT CLICK PREVIEW, it will delete your attachment. The only problem you may have is that the picure may be too large and have to be reduced slightly. Your message will appear with a small photo with it, if you click this it will come up larger. Hope this works for you. Richard

Clive, You just mentioned "rations", is that what these boxes are for? I got my figures from an official history of Chilwell Ordnance Depot, to quote, "during preperations for the Second Front, the packing of the MT sores to be utilised in the different phases was divided, according to their facilities, among the COD's of Chilwell, Derby, Feltham and Bicester, but all were to be centralised at Chilwell for the calling forward time, and here a fair idea of the trememndous task tackled may be judged when it is revealed that the invasion of Normandy called for 35,000,000 cartons of stores using up to 2,000,000 cases." Richard

Clive, Assume British Army, so here goes..... 35,000,000 cartons Richard

To answer your first question.......petrol :-D I have used ordinary unleaded with a lead substitute, with no more than the expected problems with exhaust valves. If you are going to trailer it, I would not expect you to have to much trouble. I used to ride mine all over the country, carrying all my kit and camping gear, so I was well aware of problems that may occur, maintenance prior to travelling being essential. In 13,000 miles, only once did I have to get recovered and that was due to some faulty pattern clutch parts. Weight is around 392 pounds. I would advise use of a bike trailer as the machine would be difficult to handle loading and unloading from a normal trailer without a front wheel. Richard

Damn it........nearly spilled my Horlicks when I read that :-D By the way, don't eat Ryvita, it tastes like cardboard boxes (to ease back on to the original subject). Sorry Jack, rather hijacked your competition :evil: none of us know the answers :dunno: Richard

Hanno, You have to go back to the war years and find out that the introduction of lead caused untold engine failures, although some makes and types of engine were more susceptible than others. The problems came about when lead build ups on exhaust valve stems caused valves to stick or not reseat firm enough, subsequently burning valves and seats. The introduction of harder alloy steel valves and seats got over the problem as well as modifying the guides. Admitted more up to date information as you quote, shows that the wear on seats with unleaded is no higher than with lead added, it was quite the reverse when the British Army used it in 1943/44. This information came from a War Office report. Richard

Ahh. Now this is right up your street........a little while ago I came across some surplus WD stores, although some was Admiralty and others RAF, but wartime. I unwrapped and opened a small box, that was labelled as 2BA screws, an aircraft part. The card box had been made from Ryvita packaging, with the printing on the inside of the box. Unfolded, it revealed handy hints if your Ryvita had gone a bit soft and how to put it in the oven to crisp it again. All good stuff :-D Richard

Mike, I am afraid your guru is not correct. In the British Army during WW2, leaded petrol was introduced in 1941, MT75 had a lead content of 1.2cc per gallon and it was for general AFV use excepting Carriers (ie Ford V8 engines). Some US tank engines could not run on this so MT87, another grade of leaded petrol was used. In 1942, MT80, with a lead content of 3.6cc per gallon was substituted for the MT87 used in the US tanks. This gave the need to modify certain US tank engines in British service to lower the compression ratio. 1943 and MT80 was introduced for British engines (trucks and lorries, etc) and along with it, a host of defect reports with valves sticking and burning, corrosion, etc. It was found to be certain makes that suffered and mods. had to be done be made to exhaust valves (improved alloy steel) and guides. You may come across manuals for certain vehicles stating if MT80 is used, that valve clearances are adjust to a larger gap. Interesting to note that the Rolls Royce Meteor in the Cromwell tank and the Bedford flat 12 in the Churchill, suffered none of these problems. I think that lead had been introduced into the civilian petrol in the late 30's, namely Ethyl petrol. Richard

I thought this was a military vehicle forum Only one question related to MV's and that is about a fictional film :-( Bah Humbug

Clive, Same here, both email addresses that have been on Milweb, generate untold spam. Luckily with BT Yahoo, they have system whereby 98% of this unwanted mail is sorted out from your inbox, unfortunately there is the odd genuine message sometimes and you have to check through all this crap. The best solution is to have a dedicated email address for using on sites such as Milweb, to save cluttering up your normal address. Richard

The most useful thing about a Samaritan is the built-in bog, ideal for a camper at shows, just so long as no one opens the rear door when you are on the throne, as the seat is attached to it! The Sultan is rather unloved, but a pracatical vehicle for rallying, with more headroom. Richard

Paul, The colour you refer to is Sky Blue as used on the Rolls Royce B range, etc. This was introduced around 1950ish, prior to that armoured engines and sometimes B vehicle engines, were in Eau-de-Nil. There is no hard and fast rule as we have tried to get confirmation of painting instructions. I have seen engines for wartime vehicles rebuilt by civilian contractors and manufacturers in the factory colours, ie. Humber green, Austin green, Bedford black, etc. When I was in working in the army workshops, all rebuilt engines at that time were in Sky Blue, but sometimes Bedford engines came in from contractors paint in IRR green, Richard

Clive, I was also there, have photos somewhere, it was a postwar German Schutzenpanzer (powered by a B81), about 14 tons and it pulled a T34 tank. Richard

Heck, what a damned performance to get a licence now. When I took my test in the late 1960's, the examiner walked around the streets and told you to do a circuit, stopping you every so often at different places. I noticed him go into a bakery on one of my circuits, next time around he was still in the queue. Those were the days ;-) Richard

Also a warning regarding these kinetic ropes, after a period of use, the heat build up in the rope core tends to weld the fibres together and they loose their elasticity. I understand they are perfectly alright for normal towing, but will have lost their kinetic capability. Richard

Yes, I have seen it in operation with CVR(T) vehicles. Not elastic in the sense of rubber, it is plaited nylon which when stretched stores up considerable energy. The way to pull out a stuck vehicle is to attach the rope and lay it zig zag in front of the casualty, back up towing vehicle and connect. Take off at a rate of knots and when fully stretched, I think the driver feels this point as it happens, you stop dead and hold the brakes on, the stored energy in the rope then pulls the casualty out. Very impressive. Mention is made of using one of these ropes on Land Rovers, etc. The amount of energy in a CVR rope is probably to great for safety and I believe the makers, Marlow Ropes, developed a smaller rope for this purpose. Richard

We will see your Saracen on the off road course at Beltring in July, then? :-D