attleej

Dear All, I am pleased to say that after over three years of effort by many and not just me, the REME Museum's Conqueror ARV is now running properly with electronic fuel injection (EFI) and after a complete strip down of the Meteor M120 engine. The ignition is by the Attlee discombobulator system that replaces the magneto. The final piece of the puzzle was to fit two Bosch type 044 pumps to deliver enough fuel so that the fuel pressure does not drop away when opening the engine up. The EFI means that it starts reliably and consistently. If it does not start after about four revolutions, it is not going to start at all. There is nothing in between. It is more economic than the Cent ARV which runs too rich.. Yesterday we took the tank out of the hanger to give it a test. It was pulling very well and occasionally I got that lovely whiff of fully burnt petrol. Heaven! That same smell you get with a petrol Rover when it is very hot and on a long run. Last year the Conqueror dragged a Chieftain with both tracks locked and that was with the engine NOT running well. We now need to: 1. Refit the Jaguar 'J60' winch engine and associated controls and systems in order that the recovery equipment will work, and, 2. Replace the track adjustment system so that we can tighten the tracks correctly. Many thanks to: TSB, Mark D, Andy A, Adrian F, John D, Roger Jones RIP, Wayne, Vic C and Barney. John

It is not just the crew of the tank, it is the tactics. In particular how the tanks work with the infantry. Also the command and control arrangements. We see Cpl Putin interfering at the tactical level. This is absolutely fatal. The Ukrainians have a far better moral component of combat power and a very good supply of weapons and intelligence. They might not be able to push the Russians out of the Donbas or the Crimea but I think that the Russians are strategically doomed. John

Nick, My preference would be to go for electronic fuel injectors. I am aware of Classic Fuel Injection's work from the net but I have not seen an example. I expect that it is aimed at a market where originality is very important. The leaning out technique sounds very interesting and very clever although great care would need to be taken to ensure that the added air was properly mixed. The advantage is that the original carb system would work perfectly well on its own. John

Terry, Suitable 12 core cable is available from RS components. You might be able to buy new plugs but at a price. I get mine from scrap equipment. You can then make up cables the correct length provided you have some plugs. Make a very careful note of the pin number or rather letter and the colour of the cable. Once you have made up the cable check that each pin is connected to the same pin on the other end of the cable and make sure that there are no shorts between pins. Some applications would not need to use all 12 wires. You could use less if you only wanted to use the intercom. Sometimes I come across very high melting point solder and I turn the soldering irons temp right up. You will need a fine soldering iron. Happy to advise further on phone if nec. John

I though that it was a very helpful video because I certainly did not understand ERA. John

I have a similar Denham lathe in my workshop. I have DRO fitted onto three axis and it transforms it. It does everything one would want for automotive work.

I use "Simply Bearings" online and they do very well on seals. John

Check that it does not glow in the dark!!! John

I can't fail to think of all those fine young men on both sides losing their lives in such an unnecessary war. It really pains me. On a technical note, it is interesting to see so many T72s with their turret having been blown off by the ammunition initiating. It is also hard to understand why the ERA blocks appear to be so insensitive to the heat. John

If you need a socket I almost certainly have a used one. John

The advice that I am getting is that eventually the Russians will win stage one but they simply do not have the troops to maintain control across the whole country after that. That needs a certain density of troops which, mathematically, they cannot achieve. Nevertheless, I still have hope that the Ukrainian armed forces can do the 'impossible'. On the equipment, it maybe that they have concentrated on shiny tanks and aircraft at the expense of boring CSS (Combat Service Support, AKA Logistics. This is a mistake frequently made by armed forces around the world, particularly when corrupt politicians get involved in procurement decisions. I cannot believe that we are seeing state on state conflict, in Europe, in the 21st Century. It is beyond miserable. John

So far as I can see, we have been very clever by not only giving the Ukrainians the NLAW and telling them how to use it but also we have had the time to train them in the underlying tactics

There used to be the Bagshot Radiator Company which was the go to place. Unfortunately it now appears to be one old boy in Odiham but I did not find him to be much use. Let me know if you find anyone. I expect that it is a dying skill. John

Dear All, It is actually a Maudsley axle made at Alcester. We just hope that someone had already ID'd the seal so that we could have a new one ready. The alternative is to strip it down, measure it up and then order the new seal. Fortunately they come very quickly from Simply Bearings. John

The 300 tons? I knew that it would be bad so I cut the brackets across the centre of the trunnions and the lifted off the rocking beams. The pins were pressed out of the bushes with a 500 ton horizontal press. Some of them required heat as well.

For pressing out the trunnion pins from their bushes, 50 tons is really only a push fit! On my Crane Fruehauf trailer the equivalent pin took 300 tons to press the pins out of the bush! John

They would be easy enough to machine but would need a lathe and a milling machine with an indexing head. They cant be made from hex bar because the seating is a larger diameter than the hex. What is the thread on the stud? John

It might be just as easy to make a new one. John

I don't know about FH70 but lighter vehicles would have: Jack (jack handle would probably be have to be stored elsewhere (passenger footwell?) due to length Wheel brace but might be too long for box so stored elsewhere. (passenger footwell?) Jacking block? Tyre inflator hose Tyre pressure gauge Adjustable Pliers? Screw driver Wire rope and chain assy? All this kit would be listed in the CES (Complete Equipment Schedule) for the vehicle. Of course, there would be much more for supporting the gun but that would be on the gun's CES. User handbook might give stowage instructions. John

Well done for saving them! I do not claim to be an expert but do be careful about exporting these from one country to another. If it was to be exported from UK, I think that it might well need an export licence as it is a trailer "specially designed for carrying ammunition". John

STGO has a specific section that deals with, I think, "actual combat" vehicles. However, it only applies to vehicles that are under Government control or with Government approved contractors. John

Yes, but you cannot burn-out an air powered wiper motor and the fuse can't blow! John

They are a very tight fit! John

I think that the trailer would be overloaded carrying a wheel and tyre assembly! John

Surely you can run the J60 screened distributor system with a 12 v supply by removing the resistor in the junction box. Then it would have electronic and waterproof ignition. The problem would be the starter but you might be able to get a 12 v one of the same type. John