Leaderboard

Halfway through the day I decided to change the tractors around that I'm taking to Rural past times and change trailer as the one outside was a bit tacky. The one I wanted was right at the back of my well organised storeage shed so had to shuffle everything to get it out. By 4 pm I started to wander if i made the right decision not to mention the heavy rain we had. by 7.15 i had the Bolens and Raider 12 in the van with the posh trailer and everything thrown back in the shed.

finally the lathe is home, and allready started cleaning it i guess it was sold by this guy also found a name on a dirty chuck, anyone know if these are any good? here is said dirty chuck, ready for a degreaser bath tomorrow this will also be degreased, dont want a schticky compound slide( thats what its caller right?) and the last picture for today, starting to look somewhat presentable also if anyone has any idea where to find a manual and parts/accesoiries for one of these lathes let me know please

What are they? Just the triangular items.

Minding my own business, ignore the speedo. It reads over seen this dodgy geezer moving horses, hope no one on here is missing any....

They hook in the front attach a matic bracket so you can tow the tractor with another.

Trailer loaded and ready to roll.

As the chassis was getting close to needing a proving run before proceeding further, a seat of some sort was needed. A sheet of 3/16" alloy was marked and cut using a length of channel as a guide for the saw. Holes were drilled and a piece cut out to clear the gearbox. The test runs were made with bits of wood for footrests. Various positions were tried but it was difficult to sit in comfort. Sitting as far back as possible, the best option, resulted in the front wheels lifting. A roll of lead tied under the chassis cured this. I also tried kneeling on the platform, one hand on the engine to steady myself, and the other operating the steering tiller and throttle. All very awkward especially while bouncing over the rough ground. The runs were successful with just enough engine speed for the centrifugal clutch to engage and in first and then second gear. As camera man Mr Sutton wasn't available at the time, no video made. This was rectified on later test runs. I then set the steering and throttle and watched it run around in circles. Easier than trying to stop myself being thrown off.

Top colour has been decided. That should make The Showman a happy chappie.

Still on the subject of the early steering, I adapted an old two speed hand drill to use as a steering box. The idea was to have steering from the normal wheel and also from the rear while being towed on a trailer. As the engine drive shaft was on the center line, the steering column was diverted around it via 1/4 drive universal joints and various extension bars. The chuck ( removed ) end of the drill was extended with a welded in bar which just cleared the underside of the gearbox and protruded from the rear of the tractor. This would have been connected to a steering wheel on the trailer via another U/J and shaft. The drill winding handle / lever was connected to the track rod assembly with a short rod and swivel joints. This all worked OK but had excessive free play, mainly due to back lash between the drill gears. I eliminated some of this by drilling, tapping and inserting 4BA adjusting screws in the case which pushed the two bevel gears closer together but couldn't do anything with the helical and spur gearing. After lots of work, trying to keep the U/J's and extensions at the minimum angle, allowing clearance, trying various setups etc and LOTS of head scratching, this arrangement was discarded. As it appears that operation from a trailer is the way to go a much simpler mechanism is being worked on. I have a new idea occupying the brain cell which MIGHT also enable steering from the correct position but would need a half size driver. The following photo's show part of this early set up.

Don't you be giving people ideas, Ewan.