Richard Farrant

OK, that rules out a governor issue. Could be restricted fuel supply, or pump cannot keep the carb full. My old school headmaster back in '60's had one of those, before we knew them as Bergerac's car!

Looks like rego ends with TA which is Devon and Supacat were based there, so could have been in US for evaluation at the time

Go ahead, it was one of those emails that goes around, so don't credit me for it.

As we are on the subject, a few weeks ago an overseas friend sent the following, I think it originated in North America: The Electric car boondoggle I always wondered why we never saw a cost analysis on what it actually costs to operate an electric car. Now we know why. At a neighborhood BBQ I was talking to a neighbor, a BC Hydro executive. I asked him how that renewable thing was doing. He laughed, then got serious. If you really intend to adopt electric vehicles, he pointed out, you had to face certain realities. For example, a home charging system for a Tesla requires 75 amp service. The average house is equipped with 100 amp service. On our small street (approximately 25 homes), the electrical infrastructure would be unable to carry more than 3 houses with a single Tesla, each. For even half the homes to have electric vehicles, the system would be wildly over-loaded. This is the elephant in the room with electric vehicles ... Our residential infrastructure cannot bear the load. So as our genius elected officials promote this nonsense, not only are we being urged to buy the damn things and replace our reliable, cheap generating systems with expensive, new windmills and solar cells, but we will also have to renovate our entire delivery system! This latter "investment" will not be revealed until we're so far down this dead-end road that it will be presented with an oops and a shrug. If you want to argue with a green person over cars that are eco-friendly, just read the following: Note: If you ARE a green person, read it anyway. Enlightening. Eric test drove the Chevy Volt at the invitation of General Motors...and he writes...For four days in a row, the fully charged battery lasted only 25 miles before the Volt switched to the reserve gasoline engine. Eric calculated the car got 30 mpg including the 25 miles it ran on the battery. So, the range including the 9-gallon gas tank and the 16 kwh battery is approximately 270 miles. It will take you 4 1/2 hours to drive 270 miles at 60 mph. Then add 10 hours to charge the battery and you have a total trip time of 14.5 hours. In a typical road trip your average speed (including charging time) would be 20 mph. According to General Motors, the Volt battery holds 16 kwh of electricity. It takes a full 10 hours to charge a drained battery. The cost for the electricity to charge the Volt is never mentioned so I looked up what I pay for electricity. I pay approximately (it varies with amount used and the seasons) $116 per kwh. 16 kwh x $1.16 per kwh = $18.56 to charge the battery. $18.56 per charge divided by 25 miles = $0.74 per mile to operate the Volt using the battery. Compare this to a similar size car with a gasoline engine that gets only 32 mpg. $3.19 per gallon divided by 32 mpg = $0.10 per mile. The gasoline powered car costs about $15,000 while the Volt costs $46,000........So the American Government wants loyal Americans not to do the math, but simply pay 3 times as much for a car, that costs more than 7 times as much to run, and takes 3 times longer to drive across the country.....

Oi you, ger orf my land :nono:

Don't forget the centrifugal advance differs between engine types. Distributors are set up for particular engines, it is all in the assembly part number, not the type number, even the springs on the advance have different rates. I had to work on a Bedford that was fitted with the larger carb (from an Austin 4 litre) and once I changed it back to the correct 35 version it ran a lot better

It might help if we knew what the engine was. If it is fitted with a governor, this could be causing it. Could also be restricted fuel supply ............. Is it a lawn mower engine?

When you go to events, you must have read the information to exhibitors, also signed the declaration that you have read these and have insurance for your vehicle and correct licence. At one of the big events in the calendar, there is this in the exhibitors handout; "under Sections 1,2 and 3 as amended by the Road Traffic Act of 1991 you could be prosecuted for driving recklessly at this type of event if it was considered you endangered lives of other exhibitors or members of the public"

In the description it appears to indicate approximate year is 1914

John, Not quite true, as far as I know. The B81 was I think 3750 rpm, from my recollection of the cut out speed on rotor arm and the K60 had a max crankshaft speed of 2400 rpm, but both cranks were geared to the output flywheel which ran at a max of 3750rpm, bringing it into line with the B81 engine output speed to match the transmission when the FV432 was updated to Mk2

I second that Clive. Neil, The left hand photo looks more like BS298 (British) Olive Drab ...in semi-matt. When we had vehicles in service in DBG, you will notice in a line of vehicles, the difference due to age of paint finish, if sprayed or brushed, etc. DBG is known to change tone after a while. Also it depends on what you thin the paint with and to what degree. Of course your two photos might have been taken in different levels of light too.

Hi Gill, I said in a previous post to you, that the shaft is possibly the same as a civilian Series III, as this military lorry was only produced in small numbers, it is highly likely that Austin used 'off the shelf' parts. cheers Richard

There is an auction in France later this month with a WW1 Renault artillery tractor in it. Seem like a collection is up for disposal. See link here: https://www.alcopa-auction.fr/voiture-occasion/renault/tracteur-d-artillerie-lourde-type-plaque-eg-60695

It is possible that this halfshaft is the same as the civilian Austin and Morris Series III lorries. There appears to be a Austin / MOWOG part number on the end of the shaft, 11K7895 (if I read it correctly). I would expand your search to historic commercial sources quoting the details on the end of the shaft. Maybe someone on here has BMC parts lists and can track this number down.

Its connected to the slump test, which ensure concrete is mixed to the correct consistency.

Clive to quote your comment on an earlier post, 'it does have a certain lavatorial flavour'. I took that as a clue

Is it a laboratory test rig where you can pour urine through the two funnel filters and what is collected in the tube below is fit for drinking water? Just going on similar MO themes of the past!

Larry, The remark I made about steering related to those vehicles with H layout of driveline and one central diff only, ie Saracen, Stalwart, Ferret, etc. The wind up referred to is between each wheel on one side.

Thanks Wally, I thought my client had contacted Chris Muys, but will try myself just in case. Appreciate your help. best regards, Richard

Terry, The military publications never state problems or fault finding in these Alvis and Daimler vehicles. Things like that are largely taught on the courses. Having been working on these vehicles over a 40+ year period I can assure you the 'wind-up' is not overstated. Even with all new tyres on, once you turn the steering and drive on a hard surface all the wheels on one side of the vehicle are trying to travel different distances yet being driven together, This means all clearances in the gear train and tracta joints are being taken up, which also means high friction levels and stress, especially in Tracta joints. regards, Richard

Hi Robin, At present the situation in N.America is that no STD size Main bearings are available from suppliers. Currently looking closer to home and possibly Europe to see if there is anything about, otherwise it means grinding the crank to suit available sizes, which is an expensive option. Will see what replies come in. regards, Richard

On my way to work this morning, spotted 3 jeeps near Ashford Kent. Nothing really unusual except that one was 'Nuffield jeep'. Suspect they were on route for France.

Wanted for a Cadillac 346 V8 engine, one set of new Main bearing shells, Standard size. Anyone got some for sale? regards, Richard

Some private owners have done just that. Richard

Wind up in a Stalwart or other Alvis FV600 series vehicles, or Ferret and Fox to is attributed to the 'H' drive train layout and one central diff in them where all wheels on one side theoretically have to travel at same speed but almost impossible when on bends or tight turns. Advances in drivetrain layouts today mean this is not so much of a problem.