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Yours looks great Paul, all very original! Are you taking it to any shows this year? I put all mine roughly together this morning to see what it looks like when it's all assembled. I'm quite impressed by it.. Tom

Hi all as I mentioned earlier I kept having chain issues with the rear drive so i ordered new pilot bore sprockets Similar to What Mark used in fact I have copied his very clever idea on mounting them ( I asked him first if I could copy him ) any way now that my lathe is up and running I bored out the brake drums and the sprockets here's is what I have done

Malvern is getting close so I Started to make the rear drawbar hook that was used to clasp the canal barge tow ropes, it's cut from 1" thick plate and 1" bar bent to shape. I need to taper the round bar and mill a slot so they can be pinned together, then make the latch lever.

Just finished scanning these photos and had a quick read at the latest posts on the skimmer thread. There is only that one photo of the skimmer, the rest have been taken at different rallys and show other Ransomes MGs. From the look of some of the photos they were taken quite a while ago, in among the photos I found a brochure for the 1992 Great Dorset Steam Fair which would back this up. I did not know when I was bidding on the piece of Ransomes literature that these photos would be included, the seller just added them in. I had sort of figured that since all the other photos were likely from down round the south that the photo of the skimmer would be from the same general area. Here's the pics, anyone recognise any of the machines? Rob

Standard model has 7hp Kohler, three speed, one rear wheel brake, narrower front end than the deluxe, recoil start with electric start an option, pto Deluxe has 10hp Kohler, 6 speed gearbox (3 High 3 low), electric start, two pto points Here's the brochure photos. If you look on my Martin Markham Colt Deluxe post there are more photos of the Deluxe brochure...

it's keeping them clean Norm, would be a nightmare in mud - plus they aren't designed to run out of line either I thought of cogged v with perhaps some grooves or notches in the pulleys to stop it slipping just not enough room James I've turned the sides of the sprockets down to allow a greater angle. I think running worn and loose with idlers is the way to go.I ran it again at the weekend and it did better, but it is an extreme angle i'm asking it to do I've just finished 4 years of development!!!!!Brief update... Started with a vengeance on the hydraulics. Done the levers Shame every fitting I have is different I think I'll end up changing everything over to jic, as can't adapt the spool valve to metric

As if by magic... Apologies for he rubbish shot, number 2 son came in and stood in the light It's been a cold day up north, minus 4 first thing and it just passed zero degrees by lunch. So lots of cups of coffee were in order and using the kitchen island to put most of the first loom together And the first bit in place behind the tank and steering column. Next job is to make the panel fit and add the fuses and light circuits.

Today's update, lots of stuff has arrived Firstly switches, lights and connectors Then a batch of stickers Which meant I could finish these, shame I couldnt get the tacho in black bezel... Might have to spray it.... Might make a start on the dash panel tomorrow.

cheers Norm I think its a nice touch Only managed to Wheel it out of the workshop before tea for an arty shot I'm starting on the gauges and electrics next I think...

This has been on the drawing board for a while now. Started life as a sorry specimen from Surrey a few years ago. Cue a few crates and a bit of balancing Some RSJ Lots of cutting Welding and drilling And a pivot was formed A bit more welding A drawing Some more welding and cutting And the rear subframe was finished

When I popped into seeing Chris this afternoon. I set eyes on my latest Bolens, the 850, for the first time. I can't wait to get it back to my place some time to give it a damn good clean with a pressure washer and to carry out a light recommissioning of the old girl. Hopefully Chris will get the old engine fired up. Again, I am struck by how well made these Tube Frames are .

Nice job again, Rhys.

So that's what made him late

Nice job james

Nice work buddy, glad I could help

Well I know its like looking for a needle in a haystack but ime going to have a look tomorrow anyway if you don't look you don't find and the dog will enjoy the walk anyway

Most of the pictures are Dorset Steam Fair and the MG4o and MG6 pictures look to be a local show, hopefully the skimmer was near where the photographer lived and his local show.

Not trying to corner any markets just trying to find all the bits to get a machine restored to full working order. You need to sell things to corner the market and I don't sell a lot.

it is thanks, it's a good test ground well there is an invite just let me know when you want to pop down a think the weight helps you've got me thinking Doug well if you bring Noddy up... I have thought about life preservation...

Long overdue an update! But now I have a fairly functional workshop I can get on with the outstanding jobs to complete bendy. In no particular order: Improve final drive to live rear axle, if the belts get wet or grass gets trapped then I lose drive under extreme conditions. Complete front three point hitch Add a diff lock indicator and improve the spring tension Complete the hydraulics. Add a front chain idler - the front chain has stretched and flaps around a bit Get the crank pin reground on the magnum 16 I'm thinking of tackling the hydraulics next, here's a d series dual spool valve and transit power steering pump. There should be just enough room to squeeze them in under the front right fender.

Been a while between posts, bendy is now getting used with a vengeance. For sure the crank pin needs sorting, it's getting noisier by the minute Whilst pulling up the cattle grid, I lost 4wd. A look underneath revealed this . The rear needs a belt guard to stop the long grass getting in

Yup!Updates are sparse due to moving house, just found this pic from Tractorfest. I did some replica chrome decals for the new shifter plates on the transmission tunnel.

Short update Bendy now has a remote locking diff Used a bike brake cable in order to span the articulation joints and make life a bit easier. Spring loaded selector keeps it in or out of lock And a quick video http://youtu.be/Kw6FG_wYTqA

Small update, Bendy finally has an exhaust Cue a piece of child's swing, a table leg and lots of holes Filled with fibreglass and welded up And a nice stainless heat guard

Hmm, works for me, Nigel and Ian... Try refreshing the page

And the engine is now back in and running With the obligatory video http://youtu.be/8tsJKAGmTEg

A kind of naked front end picture whilst the engine is being put together and a close up of the remote gear linkage for those who wondered how it worked

Brake is at the front Norm

Teeny update... Tension spring added to hold the diff lock out an make sure it disengages properly. Trying to come up with a linkage that works across the pivot point.

Another £100 or so lighter after import, I finally got fed up of the oil slick on the workshop floor and ordered this. Looks like an engine rebuild is now on the cards

Today's update... Beside the new headlight unit, I have braved the cold to just about finish the wiring. Which whilst it's my strongpoint, I get zero enjoyment from! Wired the lower dash panel and used a PC style connector so it's removable. Tested it.... It works! Plus I now have switch on and off able lights

Thanks guys, finished the upper dash panel too. It's a lot easier than painting and lettering Plus I can change the words...

Latest sticker order arrived today, so the lower dash panel is complete.

The plastic panel is in good nick, but I don't want the lighter socket and I want the electric clutch to say spots! So rather than try butcher a nice panel, I thought I'll add a sticker, will also match the lower dash panel. Cheers

cold and snowy outside, so got on inside and made a custom dash decal. The existing dash panel is in pretty good condition, but needs painting and I'd prefer the electric clutch to be something else so here is a new panel.

I've got a video, just need time to upload it (in between welding and being stopped by the dibble) And good to see you and Sam too, thanks for the deck!

Maybe I haven't then, mine are bsp both ends

oops, missed the second part of the question... It's a Raider so its on top of the hoodstand

Managed a few hours tonight, cleaned up one of the rams kindly donated by Doug and tried it in place. The stroke is right but the overall length is too much for the space I have... So out with the grinder Got a new end cap and pivots to sort out next - that's the plate underneath in the pic. A quick drop into place and it should fit ok

Despite wanting to play, I have found time to make some fenders from scrap pieces of Ian's 6x6... With a patch welded in Ground flat and e tanked Primed and in place I made some brackets too, but forgot to take a picture. I've ordered some lights too

been busy today My plan works, but boy is it tight in there, the diff has to go in one way and I have an inch to get the additional bits in. turning one side down to make room for the bolts - note the oil in the spindle oiler the selector cage all together in the lock position I've started work on the selector fork and slider, now it's getting tighter. It's a good job I don't need all the gears

Here's a big clue, needless to say my cunning plan works

Short update.... Bendy made it to this years UK wheel horse round up and then back.... some of you saw it, the weather spoilt it off the rest. I started on the footplates this week, using the original ones but reversed left and right. New bars for the footrests - a bit of rebar With the heavily modified plates back on Amazing how the original front angle works in reverse And with the seat on blocks to get the height Next stop, rear transmission strip down

I am slowly being talked round Yes it will have front fenders.... Thanks Ian Got 4 days at work in London, not sure it will be a rest as I've been on hols for a week, so no doubt it will be mayhem! Steering now complete-ish.... Very tight, with no play. The rubber damper will have to go, it made adapting discovery parts to beetle very easy, but it's twisting under load. Engine is out as there's nothing to bolt to yet, there's no seat or fenders either. I did get 5 mins to offer the original raider footrests up, with a bit of cutting and welding they will fit just fine. So this is how it ends for a few weeks, will continue to see how it goes and whether the GT gets the boot in favour of bendy

An overdue update... Thought I'd get in the action on fender repairs, by the time I welded up the holes in a c series fender, I thought it easier to weld up the very rusty raider fender. Here it is with most rust cut out and patched And with the last patch in place Time for a short video showing the final transmission arrangement and steering. http://youtu.be/S6zzlN8f1-0 And some pics with the body mounted and engine It was going to Newby, but now the GT is going there's no room...

Sten what a cracking collection 1980's is 30 years ago, and when will you see another collection like that ?? Take 'em to a show !!

Brief update... Keyways cut And it now steers, well temporarily until I do it properly.

Few more updates.... A 1972 beetle steering box And mounting it the wrong way round

Managed a bit of a rejig in the shop today and in a bid to save my knees got the project up a bit higher! First job is to sort out a small alignment issue on the rear subframe, then crack on with hooking the two transmissions together.

Thanks Slow progress this week, but I did get a delivery transmission parts, plus some big chevrons as I've said before I like big wheels.... More to come