Another J Type on the way !

[Tomo.T]

Whilst Stan had the torch out it seemed appropriate to address the oil way capping screws on the crankshaft, which had previously indicated their reluctance to move, when threatened with a small shiny spanner. Once again heat did the trick and all four cap screws were quickly removed,  to reveal........... badly blocked oil passages. Carbon had built up in abundance  I am so pleased we checked. I will add some pics but hopefully Stan has some better ones.

[andypugh]

I had a motorcycle with a centrifugal oil cleaner, it looks like your cranks has the same feature, but rather by accident. 

I suspect that the build-up would never block the oilways, but would only collect in the blind bores under centrifugal force. 

 

[Tomo.T]

There was a fair bit of solid black carbon and some sludge also. The pics don't really do it justice. A visit to Stewart's high pressure jet wash is planned for tomorrow. Better out than in I think.

[Tomo.T]

Stan's pic shows one of the blocked oil ways with cap screw removed. There is clearly a bad build up of carbon deposits lurking within.

Stewart's detergent fed steam lance soon dealt with the problem and all the internal oil ways are now pristine and clear.

 

The drag link or fore and aft steering tube, freshly sprung and packed with grease, is ready to replace, apart from a proper spring clip and a 1/4 bsp 1" Rotheram grease pot. It looks like I am going to need quite a few of these. If anyone has some  available please shout.

 

[Tomo.T]

Front line engineering is held up atm. We are in the queue for liners and also valves, which is a tad frustrating to say the least. However, there are many supporting tasks to keep us busy and the project board is overflowing with likely candidates.

The crank and camshafts have undergone a thorough clean up and this has revealed the timing No's 1 and 6 on the camshaft gear rims, which corresponds to the matching numbers on the crankshaft gear. Given the good condition of the camshaft lobes and all the gears, I am thinking the complete set was probably replaced at the time of the rebuild. Lucky me.

The mag drive shaft was stripped out with Stan's help and will need  the worn centre bush sleeving ( Mike Lewenden is on the case.) Also ball bearings will be replaced. Once again the ball races are standard imperial sizes and still produced. Simply Bearings are good rapid suppliers of mid range bearings. The steering box items arrived the next day !

Mike is also tasked with bushing the steering box bracket which was a non matching part. I will catch up with more pics after Dorset, when we will be looking to trial fitting the crank and cams.

 

 

[Tomo.T]

Mike has progressed the steering box bracket which  needs bushing to match it's partner. (The original part was cracked and I found a better replacement.) Unfortunately the inner surface was found to be 'out of round' and the whole steering box had to be spun to clean this up.

The new bracket was then bored out ready for a bush to be fitted. 

A spare bit of old pb has been donated by Stan which should clean up nicely for the required bush and that is the next job.

Pics by Stan.

[Tomo.T]

I had claimed a few desirable bits from the two chassis and engine that  went North and these were duly delivered via the Dorset Steam Fair, by John Marshall The first of these to receive attention was the water jacket linkage which came off another incomplete M4 engine. The original part came badly damaged and unsaveble.

Incredibly the two parts were separated by hand after a minor struggle, penetrant and a rough clean up. The jointing surfaces will need some feckling but are not too bad, however one of the corners has been knocked off and that will be a challenge for Stan.

 

Edited August 29, 2019 by Tomo.T
Better pic.

[Tomo.T]

Mike has produced a perfectly fitting bush for the steering box bracket. It is now painted, assembled and ready to take up residence in the chassis, along with the drag link arm. One last task before this happens is to make a new key to hold the steering arm on to the taper, to replace the shimmed up version which was previously fitted.

 

The track rod, has also been attended to and the only thing holding up the prospect of actual steering is the column and a new cast 'Gosling' steering wheel,  both of which have been elevated to poll position on the grid.

[Tomo.T]

The annual pilgrimage to Beaulieu was endured on Saturday. Once famous for it's copious quantities of old tat, I have to say I was disappointed this year. Not one grease pot, Rotherhams or otherwise did I see all day. Perhaps somebody else was hoovering them up before me ! 

I did manage to find something of interest and almost fell over a very nice acetylene generator by Thorn & Hoddle. This was the first decent sized generator I have seen which was of British manufacture. Although not a" Radmore" as supplied to the WD for vehicle use, this was part of the "Incanto" range of lighting equipment made in London and used for illuminating hospital tents and the like behind the Western Front. Most importantly it is complete and fairly serviceable, the inner container still carries it's last charge of carbide crystals and I rather liked the look of it.

The asking price of course was 'ridiculous', but was haggled down to 'fairly expensive' and bought with a shake of the hand in true auto jumble style. I hope to make some subtle alterations and use it to power the lights on the Thornycroft.

Here are some pics of the latest project. Special mention for Caspar who lugged the thing back to the car for me and spared my aching feet !

Edited September 8, 2019 by Tomo.T
Arthritis

[andypugh]

3 hours ago, Tomo.T said:

Not one grease pot, Rotherhams or otherwise did I see all day. Perhaps somebody else was hoovering them up before me ! 

I think I know who. 

[Great War truck]

Not us. Steve and dad dint go and all I found was a nice pair of Dietz sidelamps. Didnt really need them but they were so cheap I had to buy them and when I showed Morgie he bough thtem off me for his FWD. I have not seen a photo of a British FWD with Dietz's before but they are single prong which is perfect for the FWD.

 

I didnt see many lamps at all this year. There was a pair of Miller head lamps but they were ridiculously expensive. They have been for sale every year for about the last ten years. Maybe someone one day will buy them?

 

[andypugh]

Is that an artfully aged age-related plate? If so, it's well done. 

[MatchFuzee]

35 minutes ago, andypugh said:

Is that an artfully aged age-related plate? If so, it's well done. 

BF registrations were originally issued in Dorset up to 1904 and then not issued again until 1960 in Staffordshire. The reason that the BF was not issued after 1904 in Dorset, was because the locals said that the BF was short for "bloody fool" and as at the time only the wealthy could afford cars they weren't happy and had the BF withdrawn. As I can't find the article about the registration, I don't know if the BF registered cars were re-registered. 

BF is now issued as an age related registration to vehicles of the period that have lost their original number or been imported. 

[Tomo.T]

Oh that's interesting.  The Thornycroft will probably get a BF registration as we don't have a record of the civilian No. I had thought it would stand for 'British Forces' but perhaps 'Bloody Fool' would be quite appropriate !

[andypugh]

54 minutes ago, MatchFuzee said:

BF is now issued as an age related registration to vehicles of the period that have lost their original number or been imported. 

Aye, I know. My Ner-a-Car has one, which is what prompted the question. 

[8_10 Brass Cleaner]

the cars registered BF in 1904 were re registered. FX substituted for the BF. So BF 5 became FX 5.

Ive been making care worn number plates today. Easier than you think. I used white and yellow chalk and clear coat. 

[Tomo.T]

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I arrived armed with 1/2" imperial key steel to fashion a quick key for the steering box. The previous incumbent was a stepped key bodge up which had been working in it's hole for some time and had caused a fair ammount of damage to the keyway. The only way to tidy this up was to clean out the slot by hand and use the full key width. This has been partly completed and the day ran out leaving work in progress.

[Tomo.T]

Steering box is ready to take it's place on the chassis. The keyway fought us both to the last  and I for one was pleased to see the job finished. 

I decided to make a start on the crank case and first up was the replacement of the camshafts. This went well until I tried to replace the locking bolts and it was Stan, once again, who came up with a special ground down pry bar, which was used to finally align the holes in the bushes as they are apt to wander off course when the bushes are pressed home.

Very pleased to see some bits going back in. It only remains to replace the end caps and make two new locking bolts.

I also cleaned up the inlet manifold which is in excellent condition and a beautiful example of  the art of casting iron. Pics by Stan.

[Tomo.T]

Found the end caps lurking in my deisel bucket where they had been consigned after dismantling. Months of this treatment had created a liquid version of the sludge and carbon which had built up on them, which although truly filthy, wiped off quite easily and just left some light rust to deal with.

A coat of primer followed ..........

.......by a fitting. To cut a long story short, I mixed up the caps and on final tightening one of the camshafts tightened up as well. As I had prematurely applied Heldtight jointing compound, this had to be removed, replaced and the whole exercise repeated with the end caps in their correct holes. I am delighted to report that both camshafts are now rotating smoothly. 

Various lessons have been learnt from this I hope !

We also have a working valve train, with all the cam followers bobbing up and down in a most satisfying manner.

 

Having primed the inlet manifold, I then discovered the inside passages were quite fouled up with oily carbon deposits. This was quickly rectified by Stewart with the steam lance

 

I had enough time left today, to apply some Service colour to the manifold, which is now looking very dapper, both inside and out.

Edited October 3, 2019 by Tomo.T

[Tomo.T]

Op. Camshaft has concluded with the replacement of the two locking bolts. Stan made short work of these on the big Myford and also turned down two off 1/2" Whit full nuts to half nut thickness for the lock nuts.( I did spot the burr and it was removed before fitting.)

We are regrouping for the crankshaft fitting and prep for this will need to include a custom built engine stand. The current job is not considered man enough to take the rapidly increasing weight. 

 

More parts undergoing prep for paint. The remains of the steering wheel can be seen behind.

Edited October 8, 2019 by Tomo.T

[Tomo.T]

60 (CS) Sqn. RLC, the modern day successors of 60 Coy ASC, have now evolved into a Gurkha unit and a parade was recently held to commemorate  the occasion at Dalton Barracks. The Army, of course, takes great pride in its history and John Marshall was invited to attend once more with his J type lorry  2282, to represent the units long involvement with mechanical transport. We were on show as the centre piece of a static display of more current vehicles, which formed the backdrop to the parade and took place in a most fortunate break in the weather under  a clear sky.

The parade was expertly choreographed to cater for the different ( light infantry ) drill performed by the Brigade of Gurkhas and John and I were given VIP seats to watch the proceedings.

 

We were guests of the Sergeants Mess this time and were made very welcome, with much interest in the J type and our Great War uniforms from all ranks, including the General who took the parade.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2019 by Tomo.T

[Tomo.T]

Look what turned up at the workshop today. A genuine Radmore acetylene generator, complete with W /I\ D stamp and internals unused as new.

Having made a rapid, positive identification, I had to work hard to keep the drool off it, but my hopes were dashed by the owner's flat refusal to sell . He has offered to lend it to me if the J Type makes it out, providing I restore the outer surfaces to the original appearance.  ( the inside is new and unused.) I took him up on the offer. How could I refuse ! 

[PITT24423]

How tall is it Tomo ,it looks tall as lovely as it is .

[Minesweeper]

Well done with the Radmore find! We have one on the Dennis and have been looking for one for the Thorny for years - but they seem to be as rare as Hens Teeth! Steve is now resolved in making a copy of one for the Thorny but one or two of our friends have said that if you are doing that, make one for me, too!

Tony

[Tomo.T]

5 minutes ago, PITT24423 said:

How tall is it Tomo ,it looks tall as lovely as it is .

It's identical to Steve's one he found for the Dennis. I'm guessing they are about 18" tall. Proper job, as fitted to all British WD lorries I believe.