Smithy Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 (edited) Got back late on Sunday evening from Dorset and once again had a great six days at the show. I think I have now got rid of most of the 'Dorset Dust' after five brilliant days of weather and despite a bad start Sunday turned into a half decent day. Once again there were plenty of different things on offer and despite not being able to take the Gipsy this year I still managed to get around the arena in a couple of different vehicles (Cheers Phil and Mike) . When I uploaded my photos earlier I had taken over 350! Below are a few pictures from the show. I'm still sorting the duplicates etc out so will post some more up in time. Edited September 8, 2010 by Smithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
protruck Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Hi Smithy. Thanks for sharing you pics. Look forward to seeing more.:-D Clive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 And now for some of a few forum members having fun in the playpen! Whilst the Sherman was one of the loads that went around the arena as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero-Five-Two Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Great pics, in the sunshine. Photo 12 650 UXK looks like a right Heath Robinson job. Militant cab, but odd radiator, Matador chassis? only 2 axles? HIAB on the back or drill rig. Can someone enlighten me, what is it? Zero-Five-Two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldfinger R.I.P. Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 We had a great time at Dorset this year,by far the best show of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 Great pics, in the sunshine. Photo 12 650 UXK looks like a right Heath Robinson job. Militant cab, but odd radiator, Matador chassis? only 2 axles? HIAB on the back or drill rig. Can someone enlighten me, what is it? Zero-Five-Two I was confused as well when I first saw it a couple of years ago. It is actually a Militant that had it's back axle cut off. It's working life was spent in London, I think, so it was shortened to work in and around that area. The guy who owns it reads the forum so he or Croc might be able to provide a bit more information about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younggun Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 great pics there smithy i didant realise that was you stood at the top of the hill while i was noseing the trailer about if i had i would have took you for a spin . thanks nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 great pics there smithy i didant realise that was you stood at the top of the hill while i was noseing the trailer about if i had i would have took you for a spin . thanks nick No worries mate. I did wave but you were concentraiting on moving the trailer around then when you did stop I went to come across and you moved off again lol oh well there is always next year. I was going to come and say hello on the Sunday evening when you were loading the Explorer and living van onto the Alleys low-loader but you looked busy and was speaking to 3/4 others so thought I'd better not but in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croc Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 (edited) Great pics, in the sunshine. Photo 12 650 UXK looks like a right Heath Robinson job. Militant cab, but odd radiator, Matador chassis? only 2 axles? HIAB on the back or drill rig. Can someone enlighten me, what is it? Zero-Five-Two Far from a Heath Robinson Job, it was modified in the 70s by Les Tite, for removing dead Elm trees in London. It started as a 6x6 Milly1, the chassis was shortened and the back axles replaced with an AEC Mandator tractor unit axle. To keep the ratios matched, a diff was made by AEC to fit the Milly front axle case. The original engine was replaced with an AV760, hence the longer bonnet. It has a six speed gearbox and power steering fitted, making it easy to handle and, as a shortened 6x6, very .As well as the Hiab is has a PTO driven Mead Morrison winch and a hefty ground anchor on the back. Correction. The diff that AEC made was for the Mandator rear axle to match the Milly front axle. Edited September 10, 2010 by croc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace1 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Here are some of the pictures i took at Dorset. (new camera after my last effort) Alan.:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Great pics, in the sunshine. Photo 12 650 UXK looks like a right Heath Robinson job. Militant cab, but odd radiator, Matador chassis? only 2 axles? HIAB on the back or drill rig. Can someone enlighten me, what is it? Zero-Five-Two Converted many years ago by Les Tite to Extract Dead Elms from narrow roads and Cul-de-Sac's in London. Converted from Militant, the rear diff was specially made by AEC for a Mammoth Axle, as a one off special ratio to match the Militant front axle, reatined in the convertion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Broke the rear diff on the Douglas on the last day of the show. Drove home with both half-shafts pulled and prop of the back of the Aux Box. Transfer box ran a bit warmer than usual, driving the front axle through the gears, rather than direwct to back axle, but front wheel mdrive engaged got me home......must learn to treaty the old girl as a 58 year old vehicle!!!! Picture shows trying to free front wheel of recently rebuiolt Mac, that siezed on the axle due to too precise machining and or insufficient lubrication. Having just spent £110,000 on the rebuild, you would have thought they might have put a bit of oil in the lubricator...!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Batchelor Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I think I passed you parked up on the A34 in a layby this morning just south of Oxford Mike, either that or it was a very similar Douglas. Bad luck about the rear axle, aren't they different from a standard Matador unit? I guess steering got a bit heavier if front wheel drive mode! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I think I passed you parked up on the A34 in a layby this morning just south of Oxford Mike, either that or it was a very similar Douglas. Bad luck about the rear axle, aren't they different from a standard Matador unit? I guess steering got a bit heavier if front wheel drive mode! Steering was probably easier. At first I diagnosed broken half shaft, until they were both extracted intact. The diff looks like Matador. I have Mat diffs, I don't have spare Mammoth halfshafts, and this is what the Douglas uses, completely different from the Matador ones. So I guess I am very relieved it wasn't a half shaft.. Yep, that would be me. Got to Andover on Monday, and left Andover at 4.00 am this morning, stopped on A£$ to do fuel dipstick and calculate how much diesel to buy to get me home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamond 981 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Mike ,pleased to hear you got home ok ,and a big thank you for making me feel so welcome in the heavy haulage section.Looking forward to gdsf 2011 if you will have me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Batchelor Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Steering was probably easier. At first I diagnosed broken half shaft, until they were both extracted intact. The diff looks like Matador. I have Mat diffs, I don't have spare Mammoth halfshafts, and this is what the Douglas uses, completely different from the Matador ones. So I guess I am very relieved it wasn't a half shaft.. Yep, that would be me. Got to Andover on Monday, and left Andover at 4.00 am this morning, stopped on A£$ to do fuel dipstick and calculate how much diesel to buy to get me home! You should have called in I was at home all day (Andover) on monday and got a few Mat diffs here too! Hope all goes well with the repair job, bit easier than the Antar saga I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero-Five-Two Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Many thanks to all for the info on the Les Tite Militant. It makes it all the more interesting when you find out a bit of the history of a one off motor that that. Thanks again. Zero-Five-Two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 You should have called in I was at home all day (Andover) on monday and got a few Mat diffs here too!Hope all goes well with the repair job, bit easier than the Antar saga I guess. Job getting worse by the minute. Not Matador diff, not Mammoth Major MkIII, most probably a special ordered from AEC using Mammoth sized parts with 7.9:1 ratio rather than normal Mammoth Major Mkiii 7.92:1. Diff may be unique and I might be getting new gears cut to suit! (Expense again!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philb Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Mike, what's gone pop in your diff? Are the special bits reusable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Mike, what's gone pop in your diff? Are the special bits reusable? http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?20520-Axle-Diff-identification-needed. I hope the bad bits are interchangable with Mat bits I do have. (Martyn says they will) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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