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It's been a long time since i've updated this thread, lots has been happening on the restoration, here are some photos. Next on the list was to try and get the tractor back on four wheels, the transmission had been fixed so next i needed to make a front axle as it was all missing. All the bits for the steering were remade to original specifications thanks to measurements from Ian taken from Neils RJ Wheels on and everything worked perfect

Joseph and I managed to get a small amount of tractor time today. The battery on the Estate Keeper is dead and we either had the time to go and buy a replacement or bodge a different battery in and have some seat time. We spend most of our time correcting bodges but the prospect of some seat time won the day. I recently replaced the battery in our house alarm and the old one is still good even though it is tiny and only 7aH. The EK7 starts really well so worth a go. The old battery Modifications to a bit of firewood Job done Despite being a horrible bodge it works well. It started well despite not being used since August and Joseph cut some grass with the tractor. He let me have a go too and I realised that it is the first time I have driven this tractor. If the battery holds up we will make a proper frame for it. Iain

Having a clear out in one of my sheds and came across a dozer blade frame, what you see is what you get £50

Proper engineering there, Ewan. Nice to see some done by a young 'un and no CNC.

Well done Ewen, looks just like mine.

A good day spent at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent. It was the second day of their National Apple Festival weekend, thanks to Kev Castle for organising the display Here's some photos...

Great to see the old girl up and running. These old tractors really work better if they are started and ran often, they don't like to sit around much. Very professional video, great job Joseph and Iain

A bit more progress on the Tiny Tiger 400, I had to source or make the fixings for attaching the engine to the new base. Here is a picture of the original fixings on the other Tiny Tiger I restored. The screws are #10-32 and I found some with smaller heads locally. The acorn Pal-nuts are still made, but I couldn't find a supplier for the correct size, so I ended up ordering some modern ones, I will change them if I ever find a source of the correct ones. The Tufnol/Paxalin tubes had to made using the one pictured above as a template. These were made from some Tufnol/Paxalin rod a couple at a time, using the nearest sized metric drill for the hole, then turned down to final size and finally parted off. Cleaned up with edges with a file & sandpaper and gave them a coat of varnish. Two of the extra ones will find their way onto my Tiny Tor generator. David

My plan was to put the Onan generator on the Ariens GT14H with the 54 inch front plow (removing the plow of course) and Brinly tandem disc, but the front crankshaft had been previously damaged somehow and the electric PTO clutch would not operate correctly and I feared it might ruin the clutch. Since the Onan generator was made for an Ariens front mount I removed the 48" front shaft drive snow blower from my other Ariens GT14H, not a difficult task and I tested it out and I am ready for any power outages. In all fairness the odds of me needing a 48" shaft drive Snow Blower here in Oklahoma are very slim and I have at least 4 other tractors that have front snow plows on them now and I can outfit 8-10 more. My next project is to hook up a disconnect and power outlet to run the 240 volts from the generator into the electrical panel. I'm going to have a real certified licensed electrician do this as I have already been electrocuted too many times, not fun, But in the mean time we can run a few extension cords in emergency to power the essentials, refrigerator, freezer, coffee pot, TV, computer and phone chargers. We have a fireplace and 14" thick walls we don't need to turn the heat on very often anyway

Various ideas were tried out for the seat using bits and pieces lying around and then discarded. A visit to a local upholstery shop with measurements resulted in a lottery win quote. Back to head scratching mode. I had already spent hours looking for something suitable on the internet without luck, trying various search word combinations. Then I spotted some cheap-ish scooter ( Lambretta / Vespa ) back rests. Not exactly what I wanted but worth a try. A pair were bought and after initial, not sure thoughts, the end result was better than expected. The fill in piece behind the seat cushion, made from plastic, still needs finishing off with padding. The first mock up from ply. The alloy frame, ex green house, just cleared the top of the gearbox. Fixing brackets were bolted on. Sheet steel was bent up for the base and back rest. There were two short threaded studs already fitted which made mounting easy. A length of U shaped trim finished off the steel plate and a similar section was fitted to the fuel tank. I finally managed to get my Great grandson Henry to try the tractor for size. Even though he is only 7 : 1/2 months he loved it. Mummy said she had never seen him so excited, squealing and swinging the steering wheel. We had to hold him though as mummy refused to let me cable tie him on.

We finally managed to get the Estate Keeper running. My assistant and chief test driver has made a video covering most of the work we did on the tractor and a demonstration of it in action. Very cool machine, I love it