Richard Farrant

From memory I am pretty sure it is only the rear hubs that are different. The MJ Recovery (there was no MK recovery) has dual 9.00 tyres and the normal MJ has 12.00. The MK and MJ tippers were also on 9.00 tyres with duals on the rear.

Mention has been made of our town's MkIV Tank, you might be interested to see this: https://www.ashford.gov.uk/whats-on/news/ashford-commemorates-the-centenary-of-the-battle-of-cambrai-9th-oct/

Thanks Adrian, Many years ago, when the tank was basically in a square with traffic driving around it, there was talk of repositioning it. At that time I was at the nearby REME workshops and the council would come to them for advise, and even then they were told it would not be an easy task without damaging it as the hull had lost its integrity, so it was left alone. I saw both chains there but obviously did not notice the sprocket being missing. cheers Richard

Adrian, I have known the Ashford MkIV tank for nearly 60 years, and as locals we are proud to have the only remaining WW1 tank still standing in the same position as when it was driven there in 1919. It is now considered as a war memorial. The inside was gutted to fit an electricity sub-station in the 1920's, bottom was cut out and rear of hull altered to double doors for access. The tank is listed as an historic monument and I doubt very much that the council "were all for it" regarding restoration. I went inside a few years ago when the council wanted to recreate the rear end to look more authentic. A local fabricator asked me to go with him to assess the job for a quote. In the end another local welding business did the job. It would be criminal to restore it as it would end up a reconstruction as so many of the hull plates are cracked under the stress of rust between riveted joints. So much new metal would have go into it, then all the drive train would have to be constructed. I think the Tank Museum made a wise move of buying the film prop tank, rather than stress out their original one. Since the shelter was erected the tank has kept much drier. One thing I found interesting was that both drive chains are still fitted, it has been said that these chains were removed on parking the presentation tanks so that they could not be driven again.

Joris, Thank you, but I did that days ago and it has started sending me email notifications on posts again. Just reset it to no notifications once more.

Hi Andy I was having the problems you related to where Excel was trying to repair. After trying several times I gave up. Annoying as I am keen to see the records. Hope they can be displayed on here. regards. Richard

Hi John, This is a picture of the Rolls tool for holding inlet valves on B Range engines. The top gland nut is released and tool inserted in plug hole, the curved end is pulled up against the valve and the gland nut tighten to lock in place.

Hi John I wonder if it is similar to the one used with Rolls B Range engines, are you familiar with that one? Used to change inlet stem seals without lifting the head. regards, Richard

I think the 'strip, clamp' could be a Warrior part.

The mounting bracket looks like one of the clamps that retain a container body to a flat bed body on the Bedford MK/MJ. Not sure if the same clamps are used on the Leyland DAF 4 tonner. The elbow is from a Bedford 28hp engine and fits on top of the carb via a short hose. That number appears to be a casting number and not the actual part number. This often occurs and leads to confusion. Could be for QL, OY, OX or MW I think. cheers Richard

Hi Robin, Yes I gathered the prices could be high as it was an auction site that the photo was on. I was not aware of the model until now. Maybe just content myself with my photos and memories of them.

I came across the picture below yesterday while going through Google Pictures and when I tried to search for the makers website or any details on the model, all I came up with was auction sites. This model depicts one of the 5 Royal Salute Land Rovers that I built for the Honourable Artillery Company (TA) back around late 1980's and would like to find one of these models .... if the price is right. Anyone know anymore? cheers Richard

That is annoying when they do not do what is asked of them. At least if you rivet as well, it will be 'belt and braces' job, I am all for that way of thinking ! Really impressed with your work, you have really got on well. Richard

It just goes to show, that upgrading does not mean that the forum is improved. In spite of the hints and tips on here it is still a clunky procedure and not half as simple and quick as before, or as other forums I use. There are features on this new format that are unnecessary and only help to confuse people. I cannot see that this is improved at all, improving should be simplifying, it is not very 'user friendly' at present.. There are a number of things that I am not happy about and I will not list here, but one that bugs me is having email notifications of replies in a thread I might have been using. On other forums you can have the feature either on or off. Now on this new format you have to click on every thread when you use it if you want it off. I do not wish for my email inbox to be cluttered up with replies when I can quite easily look at the forum when I wish to. Surely there must be an override setting to switch it off completely? I have been a member of this forum since it was launched so quite competent in using it, but can well understand why members are not happy and drifting away.

Same thing happens in UK when we try to view on media sites in Australia, USA, etc. TV companies don't want it seen outside their country until they have sold the rights to that country's TV stations.

I would hardly describe that colour as 'lime' green, more of a light olive drab. Why don't you ask Tony?

Wow! I worked on 00DD18 in 1979, and looking at the markings I would say it was with 36 Engineer Regt RE, which would figure as the Ashford workshops looked after a lot of their vehicles. cheers Richard

Hi, Here is a link to one of the switches I referred to, it is a pattern of a Lucas switch, very robust and little to go wrong with them. just fit a small tension spring to it and a clip around the brake rod. Position the switch close to the rod so that it get as straight a pull as possible. https://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/products/846-brake-switch-31281 Lucas number is 31281 cheers Richard

Gary, I hear that RR Services in Kent currently have a Flying Flea for sale http://www.milweb.net/webvert/a2774/91776 From the photos, it shows a Contract number plate on it.

From Wiki: Rexine was also widely used in trimming and upholstering the interiors of motor vehicles produced by British car manufacturers beginning in the 1920s, and the interiors of railway carriages, its cost being around a quarter that of leather. Rexine is still available I think, do a google search

Hi Baz, There was a material called Rexine that was used in vehicle upholstery in that period, I have come across remnants in WW2 British vehicles, although not in Bedfords. I had some nos seat covers for a QLB crew compartment and they were in olive drab canvas. The photo of the Trooper seats seems to indicate a smooth material was used. Those bodies were built by Austin as I recall. cheers Richard

I have been working on Lucas equipped vehicles of all types for 50 years, and get very annoyed at the deriding of Lucas products.

Through the aperture at the top of the gearbox housing where it bolts to the flywheel housing. You really need the correct flywheel plug tool as it has a centre screw to secure the plug, because if you drop the plug down inside the bell housing it means the gearbox will have to be withdrawn to retrieve it.

James, I used a spare plug and found a fitting that screwed in the centre thread, drilled a small hole down through, then fitted a gauge and Schrader valve to it, then you can monitor any drop in pressure.

Hi Nicky, A mechanical switch with a tension spring attached to the brake push rod is easiest and most reliable method, I have been fitting these for years on restorations where a fluid switch was not fitted. Lucas made a very robust one and you can actually clean the contacts on them, they rarely fail .. and are still available. regards, Richard