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Destruction testing will be done at RPT and Sedlescombe.

Yeah, a Lift arm would be really helpful ! . Good job Norm. Welds are tidy . Are you going to do a destruction test?.

I caved in and thought I'd put a finishing spray coat over the Deck Shell to lose some of the brush marks in the paint. Ordered Custom filled Aerosols from the same place as the Tin of Enamel and same RAL Colour number with the anticipation it would be a pretty close match . 1 can was packed already damaged and not in transit- Yes, they ship them with the Nozzles fitted as well !!!. Delivered to me on the 20th at 1400 intact with no external damage. The attempt to make it look like damage in transit failed, as they forgot to include the missing bits of the Cap, the paint was solid and no paint or fumes inside the packaging...... Oh, and their response was 'They can guarantee it was not packed like that' . With a difference of 10 grammes between the Cans as well, I find the colour match is miles out on the Trial ass'y- .....So I have had to repaint the Brackets and to do the rest of the Carrier Frame as well . Decals are on order, as is the Spindle Drive Belt.

Well no-one had a guess so I suppose I'd better show what it's for. Slot hitches are pretty thin on the ground in this country, so The Showman and I thought we'd have a go at making some when I'm staying with him. That above is a jig for welding them up. Trying the original one for fit. I did have to cut a bit from out of the locating tubes to get the hitch on and off. I got some steel yesterday morning and the fun started in the afternoon. I thought I'd make a prototype to work out how to go about the job. First things to make were the lugs, for want of a better name. Some 40mm black bar was turned down to 35mm, as 40mm was all I had. Then drilled out to take a hitch pin. Next it was the turn of the arms. These would be the hard bits and caused quite a bit of head scratching. Several cardboard cut outs were made, then a couple of arms made using grinder and cutting discs. First off I bent a cardboard cut out and bent it to the shape of the original arms. Trying it out on the jig with lugs in place. A big bolt was cut down to make a locating pin. I then bent a welding rod to suit. How to bend the arms was the next problem, as I don't posses a hydraulic press. But I do have a pipe bender. I scribe a line on the arms where I wanted to bend them. A 3/4" former was marked on each side and fitted in the bender vertically instead of horizontal. Fitting an arm vertically across the benders top and bottom plates, lining up the scribe marks and using the bent welding rod as a gauge, I successfully bent the arms. I really should have taken photo's as I went along, but as usual I didn't think about doing so. I will when making the next one/ones. Now to weld things up. The arms were clamp to the jig sides, with a used slitting disc each side as packers. This was to provide clearance in the hitches slot. The arms were tacked to the lugs, then plates cut for top and bottom of the slot. Next the top plate was tack welded in. Removing the hitch from jig, it was replaced up side down and the same done with the bottom plate. A large washer, 1/8" thick was used as a packer to get the right depth of the slot. The whole assembly was then removed and tried on, along with the tool bar off the Black Horse. Satisfied with how everything fitted, it was all welded up. Gave it a clean up then primed it. It was then I remembered, or should I say I'd forgotten something. Can you see what?

Just set this up as I have to check my new Blades for my Deck project. Imagine the Se-Saw principle or a pair of scales. Hopefully the pics will explain the principle for you. The idea is to set it up on a very flat surface with a straight Bar to fit snugly through the Blade Centre bore and to roll without friction resistance either way (left or right). Out of Balance- And well balanced- Surprised even these new genuine OEM Blades are out of balance. Idea is to carefully remove metal from the heavier side until perfectly balanced. Then just ensure they're fitted centrally on the Spindles and torque the retaining nuts or bolts to what ever the manufacturer specifies. Any probs, just ask.