LarryH57

38 Sqn was based variously in North Africa, Malta, Italy and Palestine from 1940 when it equipped with Wellingtons, and continued with these up to 1945. Those Wellingtons in the attached photo above, appear to be Mk XIII or Mk XIVs.

Dear Sharky, Thanks for the link to your photos on Facebook. I realise now that you own a Fordson N Tractor; I assumed it was a Fordson WOT, for which Tony is a bit of an expert! Anyway your Fordson Tractor appears to be in Fordson gloss dark green, similar to the one in the attached photo. As I'm interested in RAF Vehicle colours in WW2, I'm wondering if the RAF had some of these vehicles straight off the production line that could so easily have been used elsewhere such as a farm, hence the civi style colours? Its not the first I've seen like this but most of the photos of RAF vehicles show them in camo of two colours. Was your used by the RAF in the UK and have you found what colours it was painted at the factory? Also regarding the Fordson name on the rad, was yellow of any significance as nowadays I only see it painted red on preserved vehicles. Was this done at the factory or it the colour likely to be 'blinged up' by the driver? BTW - I guess this photo dates from c.1941 judging by the bombs and may be a bomb load for a Stirling.

Apart from Richard, does anyone else on here remember the 1960s? Perhaps you are too young!

Many thanks Pete, At last some practical advice on this subject

Out of interest how good or otherwise is the supply of spares for Morris Commercials such as the CS8, PU and C8?

Regarding this show I'd be interested to know what you thought of it if you went in an MV or as paying public? The Museum is so I'm told looking to expand a little in to living history, though I can't see where they can place many trenches if that's what they want. However some LH Groups bring in a selection of kit and weapons and dressed in their period uniforms are often a great hit with the public. As with any show great or small it needs to evolve to stay on the calendar!

Out of interest how is 'Whoa' in Whoa Mohammed pronounced - is it 'Who argh' or 'Woe-a'? The fist option sounds like 'oh argh Mrs', so I guess its the second option if they were saying 'woe' like a cowboy stopping his horse (or donkey).

You're lucky living up north; you get real weather! I've owned my Lwt for more than 10 years and living in NW London I've only had a couple of occasions when I could drive it in proper snow; one was to take the kids to school before I went to work and the other by some miracle was when it snowed at the weekend and remained as snow in South Bucks & Herts which allowed me to test it out, and see all the normal cars abandoned in drifts or in ditches.

Paul & Richard, many thanks for your replies. Yes, it was the case that the pin was nearly coming out, and one of the washers (number 16 on the diagram) had drop down inside the rocker arm link (number 11 on the diagram), so the rocker arm was probably misaligned. But when we put it together properly we thought that would be the end of our troubles!!! So the next thing we will do is take the top off and watch to see if the diaphragm moves when the engine is turned and after that check the alignment the rocker arm and the push rod. I will also turn the engine over on the starting handle to see the action of the engine push rod if I can through the hole. I'll let you know how I get on and if web diagnostics is worth it! (I have so far had great help from this and other forums, so keep posting)

Personally, I don't believe many owners drive their MVs in winter and must therefore lay them up till the daffodils are out. If WW2 vehicles are driven in winter why have I never ever seen one on the road before March in 40 years. The only MVs up to the job and out and about in winter are Land Rovers!

Not exactly the kind of gun you could take to a show even if you had the correct vehicle, unless you have a load of friends to act as the crew. How many men were needed to operate this in WW2?

Richard, You'll have to forgive me I'm not mechanically trained so sometimes I don't explain myself or pick up on what others are posting. Anyway this explains things a bit better but as for a cure, if the push rod is broken then the engine needs to come apart, more than just taking a rocker cover off I presume. BTW if you have also looked at the parts list can you say what the part number is or rather its number in the list from 1 to 178 on the pages 5 to 12 covering the engine parts? Lastly what do you think about my suggestion for an electric pump?

Who remembers the books War Planes of the Second World War by William Green starting with Fighters Vol 1 through to Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft Vol 10, dating from 1960 to 1968? It was these books that got me interested in WW2 aviation. I have collected the set and even found a few at War & Peace. But can anyone say if Vol 10 was the last in the series and if so why there weren't any more? I have never seen Vol 11 onwards listed.

Paul, As soon as the hand pumping stops so does the engine after it's used up the fuel. Going back to the problem as it occurred, the Tilly drove along quite nicely then suddenly stopped, and turning over of the engine on the starter never got it going. The AA was called and they thought it was fuel pump too and possibly a split diaphragm. The fuel pump was then removed back at base as related above and the old diaphragm changed for a new one, even though I thought it was OK. So if the diaphragm didn't fail on the road, it must surely be related to the cam, as we can run the engine with hand priming but it won't run on its own. This surely discounts any leaks and blockages? By the way has anyone rigged up an electric pump on a Tilly as I'm told a Morris minor one may do and be easily available.

I suppose how you look after a Jeep or Dodge in winter depends on the age of the owner or the owners 'er in doors, as you're not going to drive in one in the winter over a certain age.

Thanks Paul One thing I should have mentioned is that the pin holding the fuel pump cam in place was half out of the hole on one side. If you see the Tilly manual you will see that a circlip holds each end in place but one was missing so the pin was on its was out of one side, and would surely have fallen out altogether on the road. I'm thinking that with the pin half out, it may have then allowed the cam in fuel pump to be 'moved aside' by the engine cam. The Hillman has an AC type fuel pump without a sediment bowl and has the gauze inside but this was not blocked. All the pipework to the pump and the carb is metal and showed no signs of leaks or holes. The diaphragm was changed and the springs and valves inspected and appeared to be in good order. With the fuel pump primed by hand the engine starts and can run as long as the pump is 'hand pumped' which leads me to believe its either a worn engine cam as above or we have not put in back on correctly!

Why is it that the powers that be only act after they realise they have wrecked someone's business, by which time company that gave pleasure flights has gone bust and no one can be bothered to replace them. No more Dak flights round the Isle of Wight, and no more regular pleasure flights over the D-Day beaches in the summer months!

Tony Corbin may be interested to see photos as would I

Thanks Richard. The exploded diagram of the engine cam and the fuel pump were on the attached link but it didn't explain to me how the cam on the fuel pump was driven by the engine cam shaft. Any help greatly appreciated. I think the pump is by AC and is the same as fitted to an Austin Tilly.

On a Hillman Tilly we are working on it doesn't pick up fuel when turned over and the engine died on a day out and would not start. The pump has been stripped and a new diaphragm put in it and all the other parts seem OK. However the engine runs only on the fuel pumped in by hand, and I'm wondering if its the cam on the engine that's worn or not engaging. How would we know if its the cam on the pump not seated correctly or if the cam on the engine is worn down too far? BTW in this respect I was looking at the exploded diagram of the Hillman Tilly engine trying to work out where the cam on the fuel pump is driven from, as the fuel pump rocker arm only goes a little way in to the engine - unless the engine cam shaft sits to one side of the engine near the fuel pump?. Has anyone got a drawing showing where it sits? Incidentally the new diaphragm that has been fitted had a smaller 'metal disc' in the centre of the diaphragm and I'm wondering if the size of the disc has any bearing on the suction? Also on the body of the fuel pump below where the diaphragm sits there was what looks like a recess for a rubber gasket and one was even supplied in the refurb kit but was not fitted as its not shown as fitted in the manual. If the engine cam shaft is worn would an electrical pump be the easier option than a new cam, and if so who makes one? http://hillman.tillyregister.com/downloads/replacement.pdf

It will be good if the government can roll back a few silly laws made, well you know where, that said aircraft need to be insured according to their weight, rather than usage, so Sally B would pay more than a buzz jet, and also those laws that made anyone wanting to hire out a Dakota for pleasure flights, have to seal the cockpit and fit safety doors half way down the fuselage with inflatable escape slide.

I'd be interested to hear from owners of older military vehicles, how they look after their MVs over winter and what tips they have, such as whether they mothball them over winter and perhaps drain the rad and jack them up etc or whether they run them up every few months or drive them. Presumably those who keep their MV outside have more to do.

Doesn't John & Mary Worthing Canvases have plans for every MV?

I bought in WH Smiths the recent Key Publishing's magazine called 'British Military Trucks of WW2' written by Pat Ware and its good with many new photos I've not seen. It more enjoyable having the mag than just relying on the internet.

That would be a great find in a Tunisian scrapyard. Imagine taking the restored original 'half-truck' to a show and being told how wrong it was, how it never existed, by some know all, or that you just made it, or equally stupid comments such as 'my dad drove one of these to Dunkirk in May 1940' (see separate thread on stupid comments)