Andrew Rowe

Either side of the steering clutch units , is the unit that forces the pressure on the drive clutches, and it also has a carbon footbrake band unit attached, this unit I call the Heli-hub unit as the sideways pressure is transmitted via a helical thread in a bronze hub. The turning motion of the Heli-hub is by way of 2 chains rapped around and connected to rods that run to the front of the driving controls . Adjustment pressure to the clutch plates is achieved by a bronze ring, that you rotate in and out, and then very important to re-lock the ring as it can undo itself when the Tank is in motion, and therefore you lose drive. Up front of the Tank in the driving controls are two special little over-centre devices that can increase pressure to the clutch disc's in an emergency , if you are losing drive ,so you do not have to get out of the Tank.

Cheers from the Tank Factory.

We have started working on the steering clutch units, these consist of a series of fibre , then steel tooth disc's, that when forced together from the pressure of what I call the Heli-hub unit , transmits the drive outward to the final drives. When the pressure comes off the disc's they just free spin. These were NOS units with new seals and bearings.

Cheers from the Tank Factory.

No Daryl, Cheers

We have started in on the restoration . The hull is being gutted out of the existing parts that were left in from when it was

a kids playground feature.

I have started de-studding all the broken off bolts and extracting them out of their holes, followed by re- tapping threads , etc. The drivers roof, hatches and rear transmission doors have been removed, as we are taking the hull down to bath tub level and building it up from there. It is also easier for access when building back up, as many a Tank restorer will know the countless times you have to climb in and out for fitting parts.The Turret has been removed as it's own sub-unit. This just comes off by undoing a quantity of 3/8 BSF countersunk screws, some are screwed into the Hull and others just have nuts on, access is a little difficult in places to get spanners on, but is do-able. Cheers from the Tank Factory.

Yes Rob,

We have been engaged to restore this Valentine. We are starting in 2 weeks time, so watch this space. I have had a long association with the Valentine, which started in 1990, when I started the restoration of my first MK5. This one has been waiting patiently in my shed for 20 years, so now is the time for it to see daylight. Cheers Andrew Rowe

Great Restoration, just out of interest, the Valentine V only had only one of these engines, 671 Detroit in it. I originally tried the later model N-series injectors in mine, but was hard to start, but once started ran extremely clean. I changed to the old HV7 injectors and it started perfectly, 20 seconds from cold just winding it over, but it smoked like a T-34 ! Cheers.

Hi Mark, it appears your headlights in that first pic are the commercial ones of the day. They do not have the 2 outlets for the wiring, and the Bosh CAV badge on the top is a little different if you look hard and compare proper early scout carrier ones. Ben could probably clarify this, cheers.

This Valentine that was sold at the Melbourne Tank Museum sale in 2006 has a turret that came off the ranges in New Zealand many years ago, hence the damage. These came through the hands of the late James Swan. He imported enough bits and pieces of turrets to cobble together 5 for various projects in Australia.

Hi all, I have been involved with the MV scene for nearly 30 years, mainly into tracked Armour,

Big on Carriers, but with the odd Covenanter MK IV and Valentines thrown in for good measure. Cheers.