Richard Farrant

I notice it appears to have US Military Junior oil filter on the engine. Might have been used by the Norwegian army, they had a lot of British kit after the war. If like the Danes, they improvised for parts, as my QL had a similar filter fitted when in Danish army service.

Sorry Lizzie, I did it again ! Just found the manual on the bridge too;

Hi Andy, if you have the army reg number 00BD01 for example, then you can hopefully get something from RLC Museum at Deepcut. I think there is a way now of checking the number online before sending an enquiry so that you know they have the records. As that sign is not far down in paint layers, it may have been one of the last units it served with. http://staffweb.worc.ac.uk/photomodule/TACR-1/documents/VehRecordCard.pdf

They look a bit like Valentine tank bridgelayer sections. At the workshop I was at there was a WW2 tank bridge at one time at the washdown point.

It downloaded very quickly, no problems at all.

It could have had a power steering failure, not unknown with these and Saracens, no way of steering when that happens.

What did the Saladin hit?

Ah, just looked at it again and now I see what you mean. I thought that was red oxide primer where you had rubbed the green away. Have you got the service history for the Scammell, that might throw up some clues? The only thing that springs to mind with PKT is the word 'packet' when referring to small groups within a convoy. But that is a real stab in the dark.

Hi Mick, West Moors was a MoD petroleum depot in Dorset. S/O means 'struck off', in other words up for disposal. The CL Land Rover was basically a civilian model with only a few military fitments, often used as a runaround on barracks and bases. I recollect them in service and many were DBG gloss when new, often with white and yellow reflective registration plates too. Not sure on meaning of VBO. ADT at Aston Down was the disposal sales site. ADT being the auctioneers. Richard

Hi Andy, Not much to go on there, the light blue square must only be a few inches. What did you mean about PKT? Have you got the blue/yellow/red of REME on the other wing? If so is there a white bar across the top with any lettering on it, or even numbers across the coloured part. cheers Richard

Thanks Chris, Will give that a go, cheers Richard Got it ! Been looking for a manual for years and bingo.

On top of the vacuum servo which is inside RH side of chassis in front of transfer box.

Hi Andy, The marking on the NSF wing would not be REME specific as it would be a Command, District or Divisional sign normally. Post a photo or sketch of what you see, with colours. regards, Richard

Hi Jonathan, not sure a tanker would have had more spring leaves, what I meant was that who ever convert this for timber work, would have put heavier springs on to cope with the load when lifting timber with the derrick. Winches were only fitted to QLB gun tractor and QLW tipper, both of these had the shortened chassis. I am sure this QL has been converted to a winch truck after its demob.

Hi Kev, I also have one of these, mine shown on the plates as made by Arthur Lyon & Co., Africa House, Kingsway, London. This is where the name 'ALCO' comes from. As far as I know, these are battery charging units of WW2 era for the RAF. The engine is unusual for a small generator of the time, as it is overhead valve, and was actually made by J.A.P (J.A.Prestwich) for ALCO. Never found a manual yet and would like a photocopy or scan if anyone has one. regards, Richard

Something else I have noticed, it has a vacuum tank on it. These were fitted to QLC models that were used to tow vacuum braked trailers, mostly RAF as I am aware. This might tie in with odd scraps of blue paint (RAF?) showing, especially around the data plate. A QLC would included variants such as refuellers that also towed a bowser trailer (RAF using a lot of vacuum braked trailers).

No problem! Just a tip, on front bevel box/inner tracta plugs, you need to move steering to full lock either way to access.

Looks like a Cent to me, side skirts were not always fitted.

Hi Howard, The levels for each of the four wheel stations consist of three separate filling/level points; Hub epicyclic, as you say 10 to 2 level Outer tracta housing (behind brake plate, filler on the top and level plugs on sides) Inner tracta and bevel box (this is a level / filler which is accessed through the suspension bracket, a plug of I think, 15/16" A/F is screwed in an extension tube and thus into side of bevel box, right in close to hull. This needs filling with a pump with a long thin tube that will pass right up the tube to allow air to escape as you fill.) The bevel box and inner tracta oil is separate to outer tracta. Richard

Hi Jonathan, I am looking at the manual of chassis dimensions and drawing shows a QLB to be 12 inches shorter from rear spring hanger to end of chassis, yours is not looking like a QLB or W chassis. Something else, looking at some photos of a QLW chassis with winch fitted, the winch fairlead sheaves are mounted just forward of the rear spring hangers. It would seem that the winch gear could have been transferred to a non-winch chassis (longer, ie QLD, QLR, QLC). Also the rear brings have increased to cope with the jib lifting load. Next week I will try and get a photo of the exact location of the chassis number on mine so you can narrow your search. Richard

Hi Lizzie, I can see what looks to be two German tyres on the trailer, as well as a sand tyre and a Dunlop Trackgrip, is this what you meant? I wonder if the German tyres were dating back to WW2? regards, Richard

Hi Jonathan, I am unsure of what D/109 signifies, it is not a contact number for an army QL. If we take that element away from the number in you log book, that gives us a chassis number of 36809, now with an engine number on the plate of 43190, this could line up with production figures (bear in mind that more engines were built than vehicles). See below in attachment and you will see what I am getting at; No winches on QLD.

If it were a QLW (Tipper), as some of these were airportable, meaning that the chassis splits. Cannot see any sign from your photos. Best bet is a QLB. On the serial number plate, the number you are reading as a chassis number, not sure but think that is the engine number (original engine) as it is only prefixed QL and chassis number is above that as I thought. Check the number stamped on the nearside of chassis just to rear of cab. It will be prefixed with three letters, ie QLB if a gun tractor. cheers Richard

Hi Malcolm, We did not rebuild bevel boxes, another workshop did them. If a bevel box was u/s then a replacement was demanded and old one went back for reconditioning. Having rebuilt bevel drives on all manner of vehicles over the years, you come up against the 'special tools required' in the manuals but so long as you have shims (if reqd.) and a bit of patience they are a satisfying task to do without these tools, you just have to find a starting point to work from. One thing I notice is you were using grease to check footprint of mesh, this is not very accurate, the best and proper way is to use Engineers Blue, a lot less messy too! regards, Richard

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