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After weeks of sorting, finding goodie's and clearing junk, the Showman and I thought we would have a play for a change. Chris had left one of his horses on site for haulage duty's in case it was needed while I was finishing off my Roper, so as it was a nice sunny day we had a drive around to start with. Last week, during his usual end of day walkabout, Chris spotted a long lost trailer which I knew was somewhere on John's land. We decided to drag it out from the undergrowth for a better look. As expected it was in poor condition, the woodwork having rotted away and the lighter metal not much better. The main chassis was still good and solid and the wheels still revolved. Hitching up one tractor got it moving until the wet muddy ground caused wheel spin. The same result with the other tractor. Both tractors hitched up together did the trick. The trailer was then towed across the field to a new resting place. For some unknown reason, the sun decided to replace it's self with clouds and rain so we finished up a bit soggy. As usually happens, after spoiling the fun the sun decided to play nicely again. We didn't manage to take photo's of the tow in progress. Too busy having fun. The last photo, scanned from an old print, shows the same trailer about 43 years ago just after John and I had returned from a Bolens and equipment recovery trip. The things we got away with in those days. Just imagine being on the road with that lot these days. My son, on the tractor, was just pretending to drive. The Bolens in the trailer has somehow now found it's way to Norfolk. The four wheel trailer is the one Chris is restoring now. Another fun filled day. Thanks Chris.

Thanks mate, yeah it does feel good to get some painted parts bolted back on Looking to good to use??? Nah, I can't wait to drive her again Ah yes the spray gun.. As you can see it works well on Nigel's mower wash bay I'm saying nowt A big moment was reached yesterday... With the help of Nigel, Matt, Dennis and Dennis's engine hoist (thanks guys) the engine went back in with only the minimum of paint damage.. To add a bit of detail the GL500 badges were cleaned up an repainted.. Have a bonus photo just plucked from the video footage.. The engine in mid flight

Got me Raider 12 back from Johns yesterday after its tour of duty at his place over the last few weeks. Decided to do a few jobs to it and the first thing was a front weight carrier made from some angle iron and an old mule drive so i can unclip it when not in use, i made it to take 2 weights but I think one will be enough. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

I can just see him pole vaulting over his horses.

Had the stick welder out today so i welded the bracket fixing thingy's up, width and height adjustable

I like the washing line securing it. Did the wife know?

Well I picked up the mighty Bolens H16 in Cornwall earlier this morning. I attach some some photos of it being loaded up on to the van. To ease loading Terry's son (Mark?) and I took off the mower deck which weighs a tonne ! Terry knocked up a wooden pole which had two holes to fit over some bolts of his ride on to push the Bolens up the ramp. What I can't understand is that when I took the photos I am sure the tractor was white and not red..... Obviously someone have photoshopped my photos between me leaving Cornwall this morning to download them. My thanks to both Terry and his son helping me load it up. i am going to have to ask Iain for some detailed photos of his deck set up on his H16

The other thing i did today is to start sorting my sight poles. I found some stainless thick wall 1" tube, cut it down to 5ft 6" and painted the first coat of red. it wont worp or go rusty

Here's a couple more

I have got a high pressure steam gun, its not a pressure washer with water, only uses steam. Its brilliant at getting grease off and also takes paint off!

What parts are hard to get in the UK ? I already know that the rubber gear stick boots and Raider headlight lens are hard to get here. I have a trip to Florida coming up soon and plan to get a few parts to put in my suit case for the trip home. Much cheaper than paying the postage.

I have two. a ts model with a villiers mk 15 four stroke engine.I prefer the four stroke as found the two strokes get tempremental when hot. Only problem I find is there is no adjustment to the handles and im tall so tend to stoop when using it. The second one I have was chris's on here which is a junior model. The blades only eighteen inches long, powered by a four stroke jap engine. Nice machines but you know when you've used one. They shake your fillings out.

Iain, it was an amusing 5 minutes. Terry insisted that photos were taken otherwise I would be up the Swanee by havng to push a non working hydro up those ramps on my own. However, Terry did say he preferred the H16 over his Toro....... As you know it's a serious bit of kit the H16 and I can't wait to spend a bit of time to go over it.

Great work on the weight frame and poles. You could use those poles for horse jumping too :-)) Iain

Andrew, H16 looks great and very happy to help with any deck issues. I have to pick you up on a significant issue and this is not the first time!!! In your pictures you have given the impression that a WH is pushing the Bolens. Clearly this could not be true and the Bolens must be towing the WH. If on the other hand you have a secret desire for red tractors I am sure Chris and I will happily arrange a road trip to remove the white ones to keep them safe from your photoshopping Iain

Here's mine.

That front axle looks mean with those tyres on, the rear axles are a pain to do its the worst bit of a rebuild

Started cleaning the rear drive axles what a pain they are to do

The first part to get reassembled the front axle after I stripped and rebuilt it due to there been a hole in the gearbox here is the first piece

looking real smart now!

Don't think Nigel is the right shape for jumping around like a Kangaroo. Rolling around maybe. Better go and now.

Looking too good to use now Ian, In photo one, is that your new spray gun on the wall behind the chassis? good things they are, Jane uses one to creosote the stables.

Wow Ian looking well mate I bet your feeling better now your bolting bits back on keep up the good work mate !

I'm watching this build with interest looking good so far !

Got my front hubs today, very happy with how they turned out. Total cost of all parts and machine work £60. Now that i can measure the width of the front axle i can make a start on narrowing the rear axle. The Vitara axle has a offset diff so i need to remove 280mm from one axle tube and 320mm from the other. Once cut i will add a sleve to strengthen the tube and the half shafts will be sent out to be shortened. Need to go now and get a lend of a slide hammer to get the half shafts out and then the cutting can begin.

Also been doing a little digging into the company which started making these machines. The Raven Engineering Co Ltd were in fact quite a small operation. Running their offices from what would appear to have been a residential property, and the works from a nearby small workshop. Here is a copy of the email I received yesterday...... Dear Darren Thank you for your intriguing query sent in via the website. To be honest, I had never come across Raven Engineering until now. However, I found the following entry in the 1956 Outer London (West Middlesex) Phone Book. These two locations are close to each other at their back entrances (see attached map). As you can see from the attached, the 11 St John's Road premises are residential although I guess Raven were using them as offices (and hence the two phone numbers?). You'll see that a work/live Unit has been squeezed in next door at 11b and there was a very small single story workshop there before, maybe when Raven were there too. 29 High Street (also attached) has had a very varied history: airplane propellers in WW1, parts for cockpit of the Kingston-built Hawker Hurricane in WW2, Celestion Ditton speakers between the two and more recently some of the scenery for the film Alien. But I haven't come across any other Raven Engineering stuff I'm afraid. Best regards Ray Ray Elmittauthor of Hampton Wick: Brick by Brick and other books available now at: http://www.hamptonwickhistory.org.uk/HamptonWickHistory/Publications.html He also sent me some photographs of the relevant buildings and a small map showing the location, plus the phone book entry.

I was just perusing the site and came across this thread, an ideal place for another one of my machines. This was started when my son was a babe in arms, It was going to be a piddler....I couldn't bring myself to build it so simply. it grew like Topsy all scratch built made up as I went along. My son is now 30... the engine is nearly finished It has been steamed once and I towed myself along standing on a pallet truck:)

Below are some photo's of the traction engine built by my late father. It's an M.E. 1" scale traction engine designed by Henry Greenly and built by my father in 1946/47. My mother said it took him 18 months. Home from work, dinner then shed. I sometimes wonder how I got born. I haven't a clue how to run it and if memory serves, it hasn't run for 50 years. It will need pressure testing etc before it does. As to value?

this project was started by a mate about 5 years ago it started life as a landrover 2a He binned the bodywork, shortened the axles and prop shafts, and mounted the whole lot on a channel section chassis so that it now measures 8 foot by 4 foot. It has Fergie front arms with Landy ball joints, and an articulated front axle, the original wheels, and an old tractor seat (cushion or padded butt required It only has a mechanical brake on one rear wheel, so i will be sorting brakes out all round. it wants loads of work to finish it of and my intension is to fit a pto and hydrolics and start hauling wood

This morning I was asked about the engine. Tonight it has found a new home, where I know it will be cared for and appreciated.

had an about turn on this did"nt like the tractor mudgaurds on this so ive gone for trailer gaurds the lump of box that you see is just there to hold them in place and will be cut off later i will be building a box between them, this should give the 1947 look that i have in mind

i pulled a tool out of the draw today that i have not used for years dont know what the correct name for it is but it puts captive nuts into things has any one noticed my bonnet stay in photo 3 of the last post

havent had much time on this lately but have started the bonnet

fired her up today no water leaks brakes ok clutch ok

started making a dash today so i found an old wooden water but and cut one of the metal rings of it and welded it in then coverd it with a bit of alley plate this should look ok when the rest is painted a dark colour behind it