Minesweeper

This, apparently, was how it was done. There is no separate oil-filler hole in the top, so it seems that the whole top had to come off for filling the gearbox with oil! The wing nuts on it at present are the more modern type but we have just found some older style ones on E-Bay with the correct for the period, "Mickey Mouse" ears! Tony

George McKay on 01302556406. He has a free catalogue against a S.A.E. listing BSF, UNF, BSW, UNC and also metric. The catalogue lists up to 1/2" but he has bigger - so if you want something bigger than 1/2", then phone him. Send an SAE A5 for free catalogue:- GFM Bristol House, 11 Roman Road, Benetthorpe, Doncaster, DN4 5HA A nice guy! Tony

Actually I hope someone over here comes up with an event to cover these WW1 trucks. There are a number around now. We think that there are plans afoot - but no details available just yet. We are keeping our powder dry and awaiting develoments! Tony

Hi Mike - always pleased to see you here - we regularly think of your input to the project as without your "diff", it really would have made life very difficult for us! Progress seems to have been a bit slow because of the continuing problems that keep on cropping up with the engine but I hope that we are now on the homeward trail with that. Steve has finished the patterns for the new pistons - I know he plans to put the story of those up on the forum very shortly - and then it is a case of getting them cast and then machining them - and then the final re-assembly of the engine. We always maintained that the engine re-build would be the slowest and longest part of the story since we started to recount the tale on the Forum, as so much else had prevously been done and was just waiting for the appropriate time to assemble everything. The grand plan is that the engine should be finished before the end of this summer - we must then find accomodation for the Dennis elsewhere so that the "Thorny" chassis can come inside and we can get stuck into that. Certainly a large number of the bigger castings have the word "Thor" or "Thor J" cast into them - and "Thor" of course, being an abbreviation of "Thornycroft". All of the smaller cast parts have their Part number cast into them and those can be reconciled with the original Thornycroft Parts Book - that Book is a wonderful thing to have as there are pictures in it of most of the numbered parts and is great for not only identification, but also very helpful if they have to be made so you have an additional idea of what they should look like. Now with regard to other Thorny models, then that really is a question for Steve and Tim and I am sure that they will be along later to give you an answer on that one! Another great source of information on questions like that is Alan (Runflat) and if he knows, I am sure that he will oblige us with answers! Is the "X" Type of particular interest to you and should we - and other Forum members be keeping eyes open for anything? A "Parts Book" for example? I guess you saw the pictures of the WW1 Albion put up on the Forum very recently? Tony .

Well, our NZ engine had a low level radiator - we could tell that from the plumbing still on it so we assumed that it was a post war engine. The military "J's" had the high level type of radiator with the starting handle underneath it - and not through the core as the later civilian ones had. I won't mind if one of the experts can correct me if I am wrong on that one! Tony

I guess that if the chassis number can be found, then either Ben or Barry will be able to precisely identify itand where it served! Tony

Surely, that figure just cannot be right! Must be too many "000's" on it. Tony

It is looking good! Notice the "Old Bill" on the Radiator Cap, Steve! Tony

It's a bin or storage container of some type.

Looks like a Roll-top desk.

We keep on patching the tanks - but they have to be done sooner or later! So much on - and it is knowing - and wanting - to do certain other things first! The biggest problem is - the more "toys" that you have, the more that you have to maintain! The secret really is to do things properly the first time so that you do not have to return to them! Tony

Sorry, Barry - that's not his lounge! You will have to think of another excuse to keep it there! Tony

Well done, Dale - very pleased to know that the parts have been saved! Glad to know that you are enjoying the story - Tim has quite a bit more to post yet relating to the weekend's efforts! Tony

I see that the bits sold - were you the successful bidder, Robert? Tony

A light diffuser?

Magnifying glasses/instruements of some kind?

Good luck with that - it will be a great shame if they went to the Scrappies! Let us know how you get on! Tony

I think that I am quite content to leave the bits unmarked - though years ago when we first had the Gearbox, the lid on it had been smashed. Steve made a pattern then for a new one to be cast and I seem to remember that he faithfully duplicated the original markings on that which were cast in! I shall have to have another look at it! Tony

Thanks Chris! Tony

What a wonderful lot of replies and thank you all for them! I really do not know what we will decide to do and that is very much down to Steve to make the final decision - as the Professional Mechanical Engineer amongst us! One thing that we have not mentioned is that we have a spare clutch - I cannot remember where it came from - but it remains in a similar state to the current one when we first started on it, with all of its fittings still on it - and that too is in a heavily rusted condition. So it might be sensible first of all to separate that one from its fittings - get it sand blasted and have a good look at it. If it is sound, then that would appear to be the answer! Tony

Superb! How did he do it? Tony

Really wonderful enterprising work with impressive results - well done! Tony

I was not asked for MOT as I just thought that ours would be age exempt in any case and never gave that a thought until it has been mentioned on this thread now. Tony