gritineye

These type of shackle fittings.. http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=387&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1269158954 And here's a pic of the one I made, it was made to fit round a winch that has been removed, not very clear as it is cropped from a much bigger pic, but you should get the idea. Used it for many years no probs. The red strap is for raising and lowering the frame from the driver's seat in order to couple up on ones own, devilish cunning or what?

Nice to have met you Poptop, I completely missed the big Foden in action :-( , so thanks for the pix.

The main problem with this site is that it is fine for LRs and such, but to set out a reasonably challenging course for larger vehicles it is far too narrow. All the humps and dips go length-ways and are pretty tame for Explorers, so if a section is to be more than just dodging canes or getting stuck in mud, there has to be a lot shunting and such, in order to take them cross wise, which does not make a section that 'flows' and is satisfying to drive well. It has to be remembered that it is important to keep an Explorer's rear axle square to any incline for obvious reasons, especially down hill, this is a further restriction, as is the fact that they have to be driven home again! There is little room to stack vehicles between sections, so we often find we have two on a section at once, which can be distracting for drivers. Usually a few challenging sections, and a couple of fun ones are set out, with the option to reverse some if there is time. Finding something different from last time can be hard. I agree it would be far better run in the day with a whole day to set out before, but the 'tank' rides would prevent that. Last year some competitors said a couple of sections where too easy, I was persuaded to help again this year so I thought 'I'll show 'em' but the canes had been mislaid so things didn't start too well and much time was lost, the heat and the 'Beltring apathy effect' took hold (of me at least) but we all did our best. At the end of the day it is just a bit of fun, I hope every one enjoyed themselves, any how the second evening is always much more relaxed.

Can you believe I sold my a frame for the LR as I no longer needed it, only last weekend. Sorry no pic, but what i did was to fit two of those fittings that take bow shackles above the front bumper, and fitted the A frame to those. Don't worry about them not being strong enough as I pushed my Explorer up quite a steep hill this way! Easiest thing to do is to get a couple of shackles, fit them in the brackets, then weld two tubes to them to made the A, then weld a ring to the point, then a brace across near the shackles and you're done, on and off with the pins and no play or slop, wire or tie through the pin head holes to stop them undoing...........simples.

Thanks Ashley, thought it was odd, learning all the time here..

Nice pix Smithy, did any one else notice that the cab on the half-track seemed to be made of hardboard?

Yep, security frisking people, no cans allowed, but we got round that one :cool2:, some side curtains closed, then progressively more until only a very small gap for an entrance with security bunched around it and looking spooked. All very urban not relaxing at all.

I heard about this at the time, what a great adventure you all had! How would the DUKWs have coped fully laden, with all the wash from other larger craft on the day?

To pull yourself in? :-D

We where just about to call you Mark...:cellphone:.......then we remembered six wheel drive was required to reach the location...:whistle:

Thanks for that cosrec, interesting comparison, the rear wheels were in deep sticky mud hence loss of traction, what you see is all that happened, just a couple of bits of wobbly camera shake and some daft comments removed to protect the utterer from scorn.

First thing, who was responsible for the event that led to the need for recovery? Me, I had helped set out some of the sections but had not mentioned at the driver's briefing that this part of the course was optional for big trucks, I had put it in as we had a variety of trucks entered and I thought this would sort out the smaller ones with a size advantage. The section marshal hadn't been told either so all my fault! :red: The Casualty was bellied out with the fuel tank against the bank, and the rear bodywork and mudguard are dug into the same bank. The bent front mudguard had already been jacked off the wheel before recovery commenced. The plan was to winch at an angle to prevent the casualty (see why this becomes an operation?) going further into the next hole, the driver is powering the wheels in order to steer against the winch to protect the fuel tank which is against the bank, this did not work. Winch truck one then repositioned to get a better line, trying to steer against the winch did not work, air powered steering is not the best in this situation, it has to be said. The next plan was to attach winch truck two to pull the casualty straight forward to save the tank and rear mudguard from further damage, and when past the bank the main winch truck would take over and pull it out sideways. For some reason when winch truck two revved his engine and started to winch nothing happened, no idea why though, forgot to ask. As you can see the casualty came out but with further damage to the rear wing. We repaired both front and rear wing the next morning to as good or even better than they where before all this happened, in a very short time, due to sharing the work amongst a top team who hardly had to discuss or speak at all, they where that good! :-D Something went wrong...

Not as far as I know, the alarm worked great, the three of us that turned up took our own....:???

Well what can I say, I knew when editing this video that it would put the cat amongst the pigeons, it was edited to be short as possible, entertaining and instructive, which, with the added input from you guys it has proved to be. It could indeed be serialized as there is at least half an hours worth on the cutting room floor, which contains much more detail to pick over, but will not to be put on the web, it would serve no purpose to do so because I think every thing has been said now. I reckon the video and HMVF have done their job well and everyone (including me) should have learned something positive, and not only about recovery. I have another recovery video to post from the same weekend, it is not in the same league as this one, there where no problems, but, sensible comments on recovery techniques would be welcome.

Whatever turns you on Barry I mean whatever slows you down :-D

Thanks Mike that looks like it might work, do you think the 50mm size would do it?

Just a thought but could the water be for lubrication rather than cooling? I would imagine a metal to metal brake would emit a pretty annoying squeal! A small amount of water dribbling between the parts might prevent this and may stop grabbing as well.

Forceful's gearbox started to make the usual Scammell vibrating in 5th and 6th gear on the way back from Belring, as everything in it is all new inside (2000 od miles ago) except for the output shaft and flange, it had to be that. Just took the prop off and sure nuff a little play has developed, 1/4" at flange rim, enough for the propshaft vibrations to rattle it. I have used chemical bearing fit products many times but never one designed to take up play in splines, has anyone found and used a product and if so was it any good, or did it just make it difficult to remove the flange when it failed to work as advertised? Loctite say this on their website: A. Yes. You can simply apply Loctite® Retaining Compounds to both the inner and outer side of the spline and assemble it. It will prevent backlash, which is a major cause of assembly failure. PS dn't blame the exhaust brake...:nono:

One of our group followed his grandson through, the kid's trainers lit up at very step which was quite useful!!

Ear plugs......ear plugs.... earp plugs...ear plugs.... earplugs....:yawn:........:sleep: OK that's a bit flippant and of no use if you need to hear if your kids wake up, or geting the little ones to use them, but I wouldn't go onto any campsite, showground, hotel or hostpital without them, seagulls, foxes, nurses and yes even kids and pensioners can be a real pain at 3 am as well! Not the yellow foam type they are only to stop excessive noise but still let you hear for work safety reasons, but the smooth soft closed cell ones that go well into the ear and expand, works for me, I sleep through it all.

Yep, that's bad flying allright, myself I can't see how any one is to blame except the pilot ...not a lawyer though.

Just putting the record straight, I've got nothing to defend...

Nice, I like that Howard..:thumbsup:

It was a hemp rope Tony.