Gordon_M Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 They made them to last ... I'll bet if you were that way inclined you could have changed the oil, put a coat of paint on the outside, and just run it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSM Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Great set of pics and congrats on your progress. Having been there and done "that" one can appreciate the effort that the Goslings and other forum members have and are putting in to various restorations before they are lost etc. Be a proud moment when you 'kick it in the proverbial' and drive it out of the shed so to speak! Cheers Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypugh Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 I quite agree that there should not be any need to heat treat piano wire as it comes ready treated from the factory. However I tried a few unsuccessful attempts to cold form the spring, but as it was 4mm piano wire it was not too keen to stay in the correct shape without trying to tear my face off when I released the tension. Ah, yes, it all makes sense now. I wound some 1/4" springs last year, but there was no way to do those by hand without being maimed, so I improvised: When I bought the milling machine I was sure I would never use the 45rpm speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Gordon, I think you're probably right! Apart from the leather seals in the axles everything else has been fairly serviceable so far.... Let's hope the other axle is as good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Rod, Thank you for your comment, it is a lot of effort to restore these old trucks but will be worth every moment when I kick it in the proverbials as you say, and take her for a test drive, really looking forward to that day but I think I'm a little way off that though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Andy, Very interesting clip, did you get much expansion when you took the spring off the mandrel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypugh Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Andy, Very interesting clip, did you get much expansion when you took the spring off the mandrel? Yes, a fair bit. I basically made a spring, worked out how much bigger it was than I wanted, then turned down the mandrel to compensate. The final springs are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u7-LoyIMofVXAlpzdUO_z9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink The mandrel included an attempt to form the bottom loop, as the springs are a funny-shaped motorcycle seat spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 Nice job Andy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 The rear axle has been progressing well. The hub nuts and hubs came of quite easily as they were still well oiled up. This revealed some nice hardly worn bearings, a screwback oil seal and the remains of a leather washer dust seal. The brake shoe pins were seized but a lot of heat and wd40 got them moving. The brake actuating shafts got the same treatment and came out with a bit of persuasion. The main brake bracket/hub casting was not so willing to come off... They are held in place with two 9/16" bolts which came out with out too much fuss and two 1/4" x 3" long keys. They also seem to be a press fit and were not keen to come off, putting it mildly....:shocked: I could not find any bearing pullers which would fit and grip on anything substantial, so we made a set using some 1" plate, big G-clamps and 16mm screwed rod.... After a big fight involving a lot of heating, oiling, tapping and bending of 1" plate, they eventually came off. Much excited jumping up and down and a trip to the fridge for a beer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted December 6, 2015 Author Share Posted December 6, 2015 With the castings removed the axle mounts and bump stops could be taken off, everything was cleaned up and coated with primer, then the spray gun came out.. All the rear suspension and back axle is now in a nice coat of deep bronze green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg-NWO Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 bending of 1" plate Wow.... "press fit" indeed Looks great, having fun following along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Thanks Greg, It looks like the holes for the retaining screws were drilled and tapped in place, so the burrs on the edges of the holes were holding on too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Well, santa was extra good to me this year! A simple thank you does not seem enough and the photos certainly do not do justice to the sheer amount and quality of work involved. My Dad Jim has fabricated a radiator top tank from scratch! A huge surprise, I had no idea he was building it. With the rad cap in place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Just for comparison, this is an original radiator from Bob Grundy's Vulcan which provided the measurements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 That is VERY nice :thumbsup: David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypugh Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 My Dad Jim has fabricated a radiator top tank from scratch! Wow! I had never previously considered the idea of putting myself up for adoption :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 That's a work of art isn't it! Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Suslowicz Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 That's a work of art isn't it! Jan Better: that's a work of craft! :saluting: Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 A memorable Christmas indeed. Proper job! Steve :bow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 A thing of beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Ashby Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Good to see the Old Chap hasn't lost his touch Regards to you both Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 That really is a superb bit of work! Could you get your Dad to explain how he did it? You mention that it was fabricated - so does that mean that it was not a casting to commence with? And how did he obtain that marvellous finish on it? Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thank you to everyone for your kind comments. Dad has a look on here occasionally so im sure he will see them, and i will certainly pass them on if he hasn't already. Tony, I have some pictures he took while he was making it, I will get them in to some sort of order and try to do an explanation. There was no casting involved, it was all made in sections and welded together. He used some enlarged photo's and measurements from Bob Grundy's Vulcan to get the correct size and shape. As for the finish, it was all filed to shape by hand then polished with emery paper and scotchbrite then finished off with brasso. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy1882 Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 As promised, I've been through dads pictures and will try to expain how it was done,I cant take any credit for the work at all, this was all Dad. I'll start with the name badge. The dimentions all came from an original badge and a photocopy of a head on photograph which was blown up to full size. The letters were then transfered to some aluminium sheet and all sawn and filed out individually. The back plate was also marked out silmilarly, but dad said he "cheated" and got a CNC mill to machine out the pocket.... i think i'll let him off! The letters were then riveted on using aluminium of the same grade so that when it was polished up they would not show. The badge was then polished up and looks very nice indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thank you to everyone for your kind comments. Dad has a look on here occasionally so im sure he will see them, and i will certainly pass them on if he hasn't already. Tony, I have some pictures he took while he was making it, I will get them in to some sort of order and try to do an explanation. There was no casting involved, it was all made in sections and welded together. He used some enlarged photo's and measurements from Bob Grundy's Vulcan to get the correct size and shape. As for the finish, it was all filed to shape by hand then polished with emery paper and scotchbrite then finished off with brasso. Rob - that really is an amazing job! We have enough trouble welding steel as we are not Welders but welding aluminium for that wonderful job is an amazing feat! I patched up the Top Tank of the Dennis Radiator but another enthusiast told me at the time that I was wasting my time as it never lasts - and Steve told me only this morning that it was looking very sorry for itself again. He hopes to patch it up for one more season but it will need new tanks - they will have to be castings as there is no way that we can emulate your father's work! Perhaps one of your pictures will show the welds inside the tank? Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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