Minesweeper

Certainly RASC in my day and not RCT! Tony

Most interesting - thank you! Your "dropped spanner" brought back another memory of that trip. Outward bound it was a lovely sunny calm day and as we sped across the Channel at all of three knots, a group of us were on the deck, up in the bows watching all the other shipping taking avoiding action to miss us - I got the impression that the LST was not very manouverable. And from our position on the deck just above the front opening doors, we could look down inside the doors and could see the sea pouring in between the doors. We wondered if the crew were aware of this and thought it sensible to mention to one of them as he passed by that we were taking water and did they know? He looked down at the stream coming in, shrugged his shoulders and said that it should not be happening - and went on his way. Perhaps these vessels were not in the best of condition!

I did my National Service in 1959/1960 and a bunch of us crossed the Channel from Marchwood to Normandy in a RASC Landing Craft - there were 20 Land Rovers with Trailers and one Bedford RL full of 4 1/2 Gallon Jerry Cans of fuel for us to use whilst we were in France. This was an Exercise called "Cherry Brandy". From memory, I think the RASC had three of these Landing Crafts at that time and I think two of them were actually named - Arromanche and possibly another one was Ardennes. I am not sure after all of these years. We were loaded by crane at Marchwood but the Landing Craft went into the Caen Canal to unload - turned through 90 degrees in the Canal and opened its front doors so that we could drive out onto the Canal Bank. Does anyone have any knowledge of these vessels? I wish I took more notice at the time. I remember it being very slow - we left Marchwood at about 3.30 in the afternoon and were only ready to unload at about 7 or 8a.m. the following morning. Tony

Thanks for your kind comments, Norman. We do suddenly seem to see some significant progress but I think that it is more of a case that at last, things are coming together. We have all been beavering away doing things - making or repairing parts or patterns - and it all takes time. With the three of us living in different parts of the country does not help! It is rare for all of us to be at "base" together to work on the lorry. But it is a great fun exercise and really, we cannot wait to hear that engine start! Already our minds are working ahead and trying to decide what we will do next. Peerless or Thornycroft J? I think that really we would like to do the Thorny but we are still short of the "Diff" for that one. The Dennis "Diff" eventually turned up out of the blue and we are hoping that one for the Thorny will come the same way. The best hunting ground now seems to be down under as that is where the Thorny engine came from. Another story! As far as the Peerless is concerned, then we already have all the main parts - again a lot of repair and replacement will be necessary. So as we do have everything for it, then that may be the way to go. That one is chain-drive - so that would be something different as well! Tony

Wonderful! Really helpful pictures - and as soon as Steve has the measurements, then I am sure he will be fired up again! I phoned the Foundry again this morning - they are pouring today and I hope to pick up thise final castings on Friday. They are still dismayed about the previous failure and tell me that they are trying a different kind of sand this time. Tony

H'mmm - "Enots" = Stone spelt backwards.............. Tony

Pleased to see you here, Mike! I am the third member of the Dennis team and I know from Steve that you are keenly interested in old trucks with a lot of information to offer! Tony

Have chased the Foundry for the remainder of the Water Pump Castings today - likely to be another week............. Tony

Well, thanks for that information, Damian! It certainly helps to explain why there were 1,298 "hits" during the last 24 hours! Usually never more than 100 in a day. We are so pleased that so many people have found what we are doing of interest and grateful to have had so much input from others who have been able to help with suggestions and advice. Tony

There has been something like 530 "hits" on this site since about 7.30 this morning, an unprecedented number in such a short time - it appears to be mainly from "visitors". Can anybody tell us if there has been some kind of link or comment on another web site which is aiming interested persons in our direction? Tony

Nice job - all looks very familiar! Any cracks in the blocks? Tony

Quote "I think that we were just unlucky. I shall go to the Foundry on Monday with the final batch of three patterns for the Water Pump and will talk this failure through with them - I'll let you know what they have to say." Just returned from the Foundry - have taken in the last three patterns and returned the faulty casting. They were concerned and embarrassed at this failure and immediately said that they will re-do it at no further charge - as I anticipated! Tony

We opted to use a "liquid" gasket for this - Loctite Quick Gasket, an adhesive sealant. Quite expensive - £16 for a "tube". You can see it as a "black circle" on the lower face in one of the photographs above. Tony

It is customary for the Foundry to replace any faulty casting without charge. Tony

Always very glad to have the practice - but it can be annoying when things don't go quite right and you want to get a job done! It is time that this lorry was moving as we have been on it long enough and this sort of thing delays matters once again. Not really practical to get more than one casting done as they are quite expensive and generally, they work out OK first time. I think that we were just unlucky. I shall go to the Foundry on Monday with the final batch of three patterns for the Water Pump and will talk this failure through with them - I'll let you know what they have to say. Tony

I think that I will keep that one to myself for the moment as they have proved to be good friends! Probably just one of those things! Tony

We started to machine the last of the first batch of Water Pump Castings which is the mounting, but disappointingly, found a very large number of inclusions in it. It needs to be bored out to ¾” diameter for the shaft, but the inclusions are so bad and so deep within the casting that we have been unable to get under them to obtain the required running fit. We shall ask the Foundry to re-cast this one for us.

No, I don't have anything as sophisiticated as that, Barry! The pins are 7/8" Silver Steel and I think that the Silver Steel has already been ground to a fine finish by the manufacturer as it is spot-on 7/8" in diameter and has a very good finished surface. My own thoughts about this were that we final-finish the Bronze Blocks with a 7/8" Reamer when the holes in them for the pins are opened out and that would probably be quite adequate. Steve might want to comment on this as well when he picks it up.

You will be telling me next, Barry, that Kwik-Fit have had these on the shelf since 1918! Tony

Yes, rods right through it with threaded ends. Springs not necessary - they are just done up tight. You will notice that the rods are a little over length at the moment as the cast iron ends are a tight fit in the tube and I used the extra length on the threaded end to pull them in tight with the nuts. They need to be trimmed back sometime!

Many thanks, Phil and John! Tony

What eyes! I've made them a little over length - but the holes have been carefully measured - so I hope that they are in exactly the right place! No pre-assembly! Tony

We keep our eyes open for any kind of spares for vehicles of our era - not just for our own trucks but for anyone with a similar interest who have other makes. Should a Thorny Gearbox turn up over here, then we will let you know. We are always glad to help fellow enthusiasts. After saying that, I think that you are probably in the best position to find one as I am sure that both Australia and New Zealand are likely to be a happier hunting ground. We have been looking for a Thorny J Diff for some years without success and I am convinced now that if we are ever going to be successful, then it will be found "down under" somewhere. Tony

Hi Doug! Would very much like to see some pictures of your "Thorny" - how about putting some up for us to see how you are getting on with it! Tony

Runflat is the guy to help you with this one! Tony