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Well, after a bit of discussion with the insurance company i think I've come out of this ok. We've agreed at just shy of £1800 plus I get to keep the remains. A big up to the assessor who spoke up for me in relation to the vans pre accident condition. Just got to find one in as good a condition as this one was, but on the plus side I've literally got a van load of spares for it.

The answer is.... Undoing the bolt Richard It's been a shocking few days.. Not just pulling the front shocks apart for cleaning and painting, but it's been shocking to see the state of them! One shock leaks and has a cracked collar which holds the base of the spring in place, the other does not leak but has the same busted collar.. Oh and the springs are slightly different heights! That would be new shocks needed then!!! Reeling from the state of the shocks I thought I would cheer myself up and have a look at the front brakes and hubs.. The front brakes didn't work but looking at them I'd guess it was more down to air in the system and bad adjustment than knackered brakes.. I will test the cylinders and adjusters before putting them back in.. Of course most parts were covered in mud and surface rust... Not any longer A few satin black parts about the place A random rear shock of unknown parentage that Nigel had sitting on a shelf.. If a second one can be found then that might be the front end sorted.. Oh, and a parcel containing 3 large green sheets turned up yesterday..... I'm sure they will come in handy

Pawls look much better now Darren. Can't understand though, how the combined efforts of the Showman and myself failed to convince you to fill your car up. Such a waste of space.

How do you know she shaves her legs?

Done a bit more on it ,not looking to bad so far, I really don't want to over do this one just want to put it back in good tidy working order just waiting for the fenders to turn up from Neil and the belt gard

Glad it's turned out ok for you gareth

Alan, you and the Showman could 'sell ice to eskimo's!!!' It was only the fear of spending a cold winter in the shed once the misses found out that kept my resolve strong!

Cleaned up the replacement manifold with my sand blaster only to find that the back of the manifold was burned through and a 4" crack along the corner. Glad I found it before i fitted it. I am going to stitch braze the crack and let in a replacement plug of cast iron to replace the burned area. I have a pair of brand new old stock manifolds that will fit but they are so poor in terms of gas flow I can't bring myself to fit them.

Have now also sourced some replacement missing parts from the actual tractor..... The fuel tank whilst present is badly damaged around the filler area, causing the cap to not seat and seal. A new tank was kindly donated by Gareth, S1G...... I was also missing 3 of the ratchet pawls on the large cast ploughing wheels. Alan kindly alerted me to possible replacements at John's place. So a trip down to Cranleigh was planned and 4 replacements and a spare engine found their way into the boot of the car. There would have been a lot more too, as Alan and Mr Showman seemed determined that I should leave with my front wheels in the air!!! The ratchet pawls were pretty rusted..... they needed a lot of heat and some persuasion from the hammer to come apart. Once in bits I cleaned them up with a file and the wire wheel.......

Then set about looking at the 'wobbly' mower wheels. It was obvious that the spindles had worn quite badly from 19mm(3/4') to about 14mm in places. I spoke to my welder as they are cast, his suggestion was to replace them as welding and then grinding back would significantly weaken the original cast. So a 19mm(3/4') drill bit was sourced along with a short length of 3/4' solid steel bar. Spindles cut off, and some careful measuring to work out the centres, several changes of gradually larger drill bits, the leg of the wheel carriers were eventually ready for the replacement spindles. I heated the casting to allow the cold replacement spindles to virtually drop into the new holes. Once cooled they are a very secure snug fit! A hole was then drilled for the retaining split pin.......

It was a euphemism, lol

I am so, so very sorry that anyone has to live life with these concerns and issues. This is really sad and I can't even imagine living in this way. I know you probably get used to it, but getting used to your wife not shaving her legs would be easier.

You're right Norm, Sorry Ian, wasn't concentrating as I had the F1 Gp on.. Damn it Lewis missed it!.

I'd have another look at that photo, Richard.

Ahh!, the ole Stillsons. They look identical to my Dad's which I now have. In the Pic Ian, Are you Shearing the Nut/Bolt off, or is it a left hand Thread?. Noticed the way it is set is to tighten a R/Hand thread. I see there are many Ball joints available in U.S & Canada. Did you import or source in UK?. Lastly, are the Tops different to the Lower joints?.

You should be able to recover civil damages as well as property damages in court.