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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...

That's what he told me as well. What's his boss's phone number ? She needs to know.

I had the chance to have a very quick look at Andrew's 850 yesterday when I was dropping a tractor off for Chris. Very nice machine. Iain

Nice job again, Rhys.

you lot have inspired me minty really didn't want it go Archie did a ace job steering it There is 500 yard run between our fields and our house I dare not tow him on the road so i pushed it down the pavement, its weighs a bastard! its now all tucked up in my garage. I'm a hoarder.

So that's what made him late

Nice job james

Good .neat 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.

hahaha. Yes my Mrs was out in my van and i'd got no beer ...... so this happened

C4 has felt neglected lately and last weekend I decided to test its limits. It did pretty well, I think the limit is my own survival instinct

Plan a was belts, they've worked for over a year, but are less effective under water

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.

It's looking like our entries for our favourite show in august have not been accepted, so I might well be joining you.... I'll start saving up now! Thanks Ian Thanks!I work in London all week, and get a few days at home to play... But all that time driving and in hotel rooms gives me plenty of time to dream the ideas up. It's actually 5 years since I thought about it, and two years since I started

Are you not coming to Newby? Been contemplating what to add there, I was perhaps thinking a winch... Now I did think about a desperado holder.... I reckon there's a few places I could open a bottle already if stuck Indeed! Thanks

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

Brake is at the front Norm

I could get the bits here, but £70 for just the piston and rings, another £40 for the full gasket, oils seals and con rod seemed like a better deal. Our lad has had two k241 rebuild kits from the same chap so should be good to go

Today's update, after being 12 nuts short of a full packet you can stop picking on me. A quick zap in my magic tank And voila, shiny nuts

Finished the light looms, here's the sidelights at dusk And the spots

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

I have a plan for it... but not sure how weatherproof it will be

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

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.

Hmmm, not so sure... Could be a plan...

I think this is the last update for Xmas, brackets and a pin made. Rear lift now finished but for pipes and paint

that's the plan, I've a lot to learn about hydraulic fittings though Bought four items today, only two fit - and only at one end I'll get on with the other bits for a while...

there's only one port cos I chopped the end off the cylinder Norm Got some welding to do....

Slow day today, put the gauges back in this morning and went for a spin... Within 5 seconds the volt meter and rev counter stopped working the wires wrapped around the steering uj and ripped out of the back So lost an hour there soldering them back in Finally hooked up the choke linkage, then started on this The battery isolator and fuse box panel.

Well big progress today Bendy is back to a rolling chassis... I fit the remaining oil seats in the front transmission, ordered some more woodruff keys and started the reassembly process. Lots of new nuts and bolts, its a shame to fit rusty ones back in especially when you can see them..... well I did cheat reusing the old ones for the transmission and the wheel bolts, 7/16 unf are hard to come by and not so cheap. I'm going to buy some zinc and have a go at electroplating them. Also got the remote shift working the forward reverse, just the high low lever to fit. the cat sneaked into a shot

Today's update... The keyway in the axle was shot, the end of the hub shot too. The end to middle was ok and useable but needed a longer key to replace the small woodruff key. So I ordered a 1/4" end mill and used the lathe to cut a new one. Firstly making sure the height was spot on by marking the centre of the axle, this needs shims in order to get the correct centre. The final score line can just be seen. Then running the mill through in small passes to cut an 3 inch keyway. Once the full cut was done here's a half together shot showing the hub, fresh key steel and axle.

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 !!

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

A few more goodies in the post this week, so a little lathe work. Turning out a 17t pilot bore sprocket for a 42mm bearing. Front intermediate drive assembled.

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.