N.O.S.

I can't find a Clark design quite like it, Gordon. The 1920s and 30s tugs were certainly different. Then it was into the Clarkats and Clarktors. Note this one has had much smaller modern wheels fitted. The photo of the 'Heroes' and Liberators road train came from an employee of the Mercury company - was there a U.S. company by this name as well as the UK one, as again I cannot find any Mercury tugs other than the UK ones which were quite different?

Only if you fancy 'adopting' it, Simon - or want to move it on at a modest profit :cheesy: I would certainly be interested in giving it a home, although I cannot identify it. But then I tend to collect oddball whacky things :-D If it might become available please pm me. Tony

I don't know about spraying cast iron pistons and hot environments, but have experience of metal sprayed 100mm dia. hydraulic excavator boom pins where extreme loading is involved. The first time they were done it all peeled off after a few months - the second attempt (by a different company!) was a complete success. So all down to the process operator then :cool2:

Including what has to be the ugliest mother f****r of a tanker truck I've ever seen! I know we have to cut the Yanks some slack, but honestly, given their rich art deco automotive heritage how could anyone create something as soul-less as that? :shocked: http://www.vgbimages.com/AFV-Photos/Sam-Winer-Motors-Akron-OH/22624408_zvkm9X#!i=1813007634&k=QHTSQJm Call that a Tanker? Now this..........is a Tanker - :cool2:

That's remarkably similar to this animated avatar one I found somewhere:

Please, PLEASE, don't ask me to explain my avatar. It's even got me wondering now :nut:. Certainly not in the same league as Montie's - very thought-provoking that one.

Howard - the AC is only waiting for me to have some quality time spare. The Scania engine (which is over-sized for the truck) will be coming out for use in another patient on the donor list, and a 6BT sits ready to in so that the widened engine cover can be narrowed to original spec. Meanwhile I just admire Nick's set of restoration photos and imagine it's mine :-D

I found this on the web quite a while back and use it for inspiration! Great set of photos :-)

You are right - a WLF M1000 series 2 probably (used by British) which had a closed cab and those curvy mudguards, see post # 70.

Here is a link to a recent review of an amazing book: http://portraitsofwar.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/portraitsofwar-book-review-1-panzerwrecks-duel-in-the-mist-2-leibstandarte-during-the-ardennes-offensive/

Oh for crying out loud - I could have sworn it was a sealed unit! :blush: I haven't seen one that shape before. Thanks. :blush:

Erm, erm - no, they're nuts which hold the cover on. :blush: I just assumed it was a sealed unit :blush: Looks like the two blacks are definitely earths - but difficult to say which yellow is which. However I could try 12v on each in turn and see what comes out of the other one :idea: Thanks for your technical input, Lauren! Very politely done! :blush:

Except that the trailer then becomes LADEN :cool2:, which (depending on what Scammell it is) could give rise to certain legal issues concerning older vehicles, historic taxation and towing laden trailers....ah damn and blast it :-D

From their website: Activ8, when added to a base oil, bonds into the metal surface at a temperature just above 50°C. Creating an extremely low friction surface that is able to withstand extreme pressure and help dissipate heat. ACTIV8 is used in: Car and Motorbike engines and gearboxes. Mainstream and Sports motoring. Classic cars and Kit cars. Model engineering. and in industry; giving businesses a product that helps improves profitability by reducing maintenance costs. From the above description I would hazard a guess that it is maybe a product more suited to high precision or smaller gear drives / mechanicals where smaller tolerances and more precise gear surfaces are involved, than in something like a Champ driveline or anything bigger, where it is probably more of a case of trying to keep two worn / scored surfaces apart with a good layer of sticky lubricant. But I could be wrong (I often am :cool2:).

So do I - it is the simplest of solutions but I don't reckon I'd ever have come up with it! I guess this is the result of years of restoration of vehicles where few or no parts are available - ingenuity and lateral thinking is the order of the day :cool2:

Very helpful and informative replies! I think I'm getting my head around it now :nut:

Should we assume that the main problem with hot starting is down to reduced voltage at the coil caused by extra drag on the starter motor caused by either worn bendix etc, or as some suggest by the later type of oil control piston rings used nowadays? In which case what about the old ploy of putting an alternative 6v supply on the coil (e.g. dry cell batery) to avoid this voltage drop? Incidentally I've measured just 3 to 4 volts at coil when cranking - small surprise at the resulting poor spark!!

I've just bought a couple of ex army Seddon Atkinson 24 to 12V, 10 amp voltage droppers, but haven't a clue as to the wiring code. :blush: The 4 wires must be 24V + / 24V - / 12V + / 12V -, but which is which? Wires are Black/white, black, yellow/white, yellow. The yellow/white wire has a big 'thingy' in line - could be a diode or something? There is continuity between the black and black/white, so they could be either the 24v or 12v circuit pair - or they may both be earth :laugh: ,and there is just a short 'bleep from the continuity meter between yellow and yellow/white (must be the thingy creating open circuit when the wires are connected). I can't read resistance at the moment - meter trouble. If anyone has a Seddon Atkinson wiring diagram (I'd guess the 6x4 tractor unit?), could you help? Or if you know what the thing is in the yellow wire maybe? Or any other bright ideas, other than suggesting I should have spent my money on chocolate instead?

OK - You're nuts!!!! :-D But a great idea, and yes John Deere hardware is not expensive and a very good source of UNC / UNF over here too.

This is a good as the image gets - maybe squadron logos? :coffee:

That grey 'Access platform' Chev on the far end is nice, but not original surely? :n00b:

It was a trailer. Oh and it should really have an Autocar or Federal on the front :cool2: Here's a photo showing the front of an MTU trailer in the background, but perhaps more importantly a Chevrolet MTU (how about it, Malcolm?) with a plywood "box" added. As I keep on saying - "anything goes!".

Excellent description, many thanks for taking the trouble to post!

I have one of the images, Clive. If only Howard could have lowered his painting standards for once to replicate all that overspray on the top stenciling :cool2: Seriously, it's looking great Howard. Heck, you could even serve bulk coffee and donuts out of that (on Saturday 14th July - I can supply the donuts, is there enough power to run a Berco boiler?).

Twin S.U. carbs? Won't there be a lot of frost on that inlet though?