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Took the chicken plucking machine today and had a lovely day, here's some photos

Thought I better start my own thread regarding the Skimmer. Skimmer SN is 15200 which makes manufacture around about 1965, traced reg number through DVLA hasent revealed much. Main aim is to get it mechanically operational, needs some new steel welding in, mainly sheet metal parts on the top frame where seat is, and engine changed to original Ransomes 600cc. Good thing is it is all there, front auger and conveyor drive roller is free. Its not done much since it was retired as still full of sand, needs a good power wash to flush it all out of engine bay. First job is to free tracks up, get engine off and free up the controls and gear lever. I will get cracking next week but progress is likely to be slow as its being stored 25 miles away while I get the new workshop up.

Had a couple of early visitors just now.

Morning chaps, finally yesterday the panel painting time had come Yes I know it's hard to believe but Nigel was actually moving so fast he had started to blur Speaking of blurred, sorry for this naff photo.. Almost finished with the paint, I just need to give the bonnet and smaller parts a second coat of clear...... Almost ready for those decals Mark

The finished article. Couple of mods to do, sometime in the future. A better towing eye and a plate for the weights to sit on.

It only takes a couple of collectors to want it more than each other until one gives up. The guy who posted about a Homelite XL-120 circular saw here, finally listed it on Epay and it went for over $1300. I was in at half that and couldn't believe it went that high. I guess you never know.

its been irratating me that i failed to repair this tuff torque box,so i had another go at it today, iv replaced the damaged shaft with a wheel horse shaft and played with the splines in the dif.......i had it on our back field for over an hour thrashing it back and forth, iv honed my wheely skills.....the repair seems to have held this time.........

Started throwing paint at it today. First coat of red oxide primer. And these are the weights I'll be using. Re-cycled cast steel storage heater thingies. 1-5/8" x 10" x 18".

Got some more steel this morning and got the main frame done this afternoon. Tomorrow I'll see if I can get the weight cradle done.

A little while back I acquired this roller. It's about a meter wide. I removed the shaft and bushes. This morning I knocked up some stub axles. Sorry about the photo quality. I got a bit to close with my camera. These were fitted where the bushes were and welded up. I'd bought new bearings and blocks and these are now fitted. I did purchase some box section and r.s.a. but made a slight boo boo. I didn't double up on some measurements. So tomorrow it's back to the steel stockists for some more and 12 x 75mm bolts.

I believe the manual for the older models calls for ep90, but other sources say not, because of the bronze final drive. they recommend sae 90, apparently synthetic gear oil doesn't contain sulfur, so is safe in units containing "yellow metal" components.The post 2014 "powersafe" units use hydraulic oil. Google BCS, you can find manuals, parts books, etc, you can download.

A nice bit of kit there, I've got a couple of BCS 603's both with briggs v twin engines, if you use top gear, you'll certainly keep fit keeping up with it. They have a weak point, what ever you do, don't engage the pto drive without using the clutch, it rounds off the corners of the drive teeth and the pto will keep dropping out. I don't have a 'sickle' bar for mine, just a 30" rotary deck that will cut anything, a flail head and a 4" chipper. using a sickle bar cutter on long grass, you could bale it for hay, the round bale attachment only costs around £10 1/2 K

I spose you'll be buying a westwood now then Titch, well its nearly red.

Me fatha has three of them... and one flat cap

18yrs old. That's been well looked after. You paid £50 for that trailer? You were robbed. Well some one was.

Nothing to stop you Andrew. Just do as the Showman does. Wait until your wife is out before sneaking it into the shed. Or say it's a present for her.

A tidy haul in more ways than one!

Well I collected it this morning from Somerset, a 150 miles round trip and have already used it for 10 minutes to assess what needs doing. A good service and changing the transmission oil will do wonders. The blades are fine for what I need to do with it. I have posted up several photos of it in the back of my £50 Ifor Williams trailer. I am well chuffed with both the trailer and scythe mower.

That Marina estate is absolutely cracking. Would love that for myself.....

That's the dogs wotsits Norm, got just the place to test it....

I decided to buy a BCS scythe mower instead. In fact I a collecting it tomorrow from Somerset. It's about 18 years old and have been well looked after. I would have like to have used an old scythe mower but I needed something practical and reliable for my business.

That Marina is superb. As for the lathe, it looks very much the same as mine, which is an Atlas.

It's been a while since I posted an update although there is nothing really exciting to say. It is now just over a year since disposal of John's collection started. Most items have gone to collectors, MoM members ( you know who you are, thanks ) plus eBay sales, and other things by word of mouth. A lot of small items, Austin 7 & 10 parts, which John inherited years ago have also gone. Things which we didn't think were worth the bother listing on eBay sold for a lot more than expected. One mans junk ............ worth the effort in the end although a lot of time spent in the process. Still various mowers to sort including a J.P Super Simplex which was classed as the Rolls Royce of mowers in it's day. A Villiers 20 engine, 3 Westwood tractors which are only fit for spares and a lathe of unknown make, unless someone knows otherwise. About 5" center height by 20". Surface rust, which I have cleaned up in places. Would have this myself but probably wouldn't use it much and no room anyway. Most of John's cars have also gone. Ranging from parts doners to runners to a few in VERY good condition, the best one of the lot is this Marina automatic which the Showman got running late last year after about 10 years of storage. It was a bit erratic, traced to a leaking fuel pipe which was changed a few days ago. Thanks Chris. Now running nicely Chris couldn't wait to drive it out of the shed for a photo session even though it wasn't painted in his favourite red. Even though he can't drive now John THINKS he would like to hang on to this one for now, at least until his land is sold. I expect he will decide otherwise soon. Still enough to keep me occupied for a while yet, and also a day out each week for the Showman which stops him from getting into trouble at home.

Todays effort. The chassis may get another coat in the morning. The roller itself just got a quick spray over. It's not going to be a show piece after all. Tomorrow it will be re-assembled.

bay item no 141986573436

Hahahah brilliant. Not much difference in handling characteristics to my Isuzu Trooper.

Got the weight frame done today. It would be better with the bottom being a full size 1/4 plate to sit the weights on. But I haven't got any. One day. That piece of alli chequer plate, fastened down, will suffice till then.

Ooh just had a Rolling Stones moment