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Dug this out from the storage shed and thought it would make a little winter project, I’ve got another one somewhere in bits so more rummaging when time permits. A little challenge to build the pair together for next year’s shows.

Following a recent offer of a free Westwood Gemini, I've stripped it down to it's bare bones and managed to get it back to a reasonable condition. I needed to purchase some new parts like ignition coil, HT lead and new NGK spark plug. Starter recoil assembly with rope and handle and new engine gaskets of course (in particular the correct thickness head gasket). The cylinder head was de-coked, cylinder bore de-glazed, inlet and exh valves lapped in and valve clearances adjusted to spec. Ignition timing reset by finding true TDC with a dial gauge and degree disc on the crankshaft. Zenith carb cleaned inside and out with carb cleaner and jets cleaned with compressed air. Similar for the fuel tank with a new fuel pipe fitted. The 'gloop' in the chaincase was removed as far as possible and refilled with new oil. Unfortunately, the chaincase is sealed for life though I would have liked to get inside and give it a proper clean and renew the axle shaft seals. Everything torque tightened where I could find the figures and finally primed and painted in rattle can engine enamel. Stickers from Titch at Machinery Decals, which are great. It started 2nd pull and the carb adjusted once warmed-up. Looking forward to using it when I get my allotment. Photos below... Here's the completed machine...

A large box of goodies arrived today from Wallfish in the USA, one and a half Tiny Tiger generators. With the "spare" engine I had with the correct fittings and having a look in the O&R spares stock, I managed to attach generator to engine. I was going to make up a base but as I don't have the correct tank I might leave it on the base its on for now... The second unit needs an exhaust, anyone got a spare one please ? Both units now on display with their buddies, lol

Today the first three of my tractors departed for pastures new, I have sold my set of 4 MG40 and my Whitlock loader. Three of them left today so now I have a big space in my garage !!!! Quite a unique photo not seen a full set of MG 40 as a group before.

Here’s yesterday’s progress, still a lot to do but the parts pile is going down,

Good Friday and lovely sunshine , what better way to spend a lockdown than with a spray gun.

Both bonnets all welded up and cleaned up, I’m so pleased with them I thought they were scrap at the beginning. Big thanks to my son Steve for his help.

I’ve put the carbs through the ultrasonic cleaner and assembled one and fitted to the engine so i now have one nice running engine. I can say I’m well pleased with the engine as ive owned it for about six years and its been under the bench ever since. I feel a big hurdle crossed today.

Now Bill and Ben have their front axles fitted with spindles and track-rods. Steering feels nice and positive so I’m pleased with that.

Courtesy of Liam. Number three grandson.

Got a bit done this afternoon, what a task to get the axle mounts out of a chassis lots of sawing and grinding. All done now, at least I’ve got 2 chassis’s the same length with the same mounts.

Bought this the other day, thought it would look good displayed next to my Rowcrop. Its a 1950 Triang Major.

While looking around for things to do, I spied a little toolbox on a workshop shelf. Now all three Wheel Horses have toolboxes fitted to their fenders, but not the Sears/Roper. I've been reluctant to drill holes in it's fenders. Looking at the back end, I noticed a couple of bolts securing the seat mount sticking out with some thread showing. Just enough to fasten something on. So yesterday the toolbox got a rub down and a coat of primer. Followed by a couple of top coats of mat black. I've no gloss. This morning I fitted it. Nice fit methinks.

At a price I couldn’t resist... we acquired this very tidy Westwood 16 hydro with sweeper. Reckon it only has 50 hours on it. No battery, fuel pipes persished, flat tyre, etc. watch this space....

Sorting out the front tyres from the back of the shed, I knew these would come in handy one day. No prizes for guessing where they came from, . The wheels that i made I decided to put nuts and bolts through them although I welded them it’s just a safety issue, also found some shiny capped nuts to add a bit of bling.

one or two new finds a Mk 1 Allen Scythe, a Gloster seed drill with a Hawker Siddlie name plate some I have had for a while Andrews lawn edger, a horticultor cultivator plus a few others

Well it’s off the bench a few more bits to do but it’s getting there

Had another look at the rim today as to patching it up but it’s like tissue paper round the outer edge so i came up with an idea that was only going to cost some labour... Starting with a good rim, cut it in half and then cut the rusty one in half weld the two good half’s together.

I had a friend bend me a couple of seat springs pity he didn’t drill the square holes. so most of my time was spent drilling and filing. I’m going to load some photos back to front to see if they load in the right order. The red spring is the original off my Suburban used as a pattern.

Got the new panels all fitted and bolted up tight today and the lift mechanism fitted. One cover I haven’t cleaned as it had a Mountfield ID plate on it from new and still has the shade of red i need to match. I’m pleased with the look and the belt guard fits as well.

Not much progress this week as I’ve been busy with other stuff but here’s the latest. Ive made the belt guard clips and welded them on, Ive made 2 supports for the deck lift thingy and cleaned a few more bits up. Hopefully all the panels are finished and i can get them fitted on both tractors.

Here’s the photos of progress so far, One tool tray needs welding and the slot for the seat spring but it’s all bent ready, the other thing I noticed the side panels need little tags welded on to secure the belt guard ( bugger ) lucky I hadn’t primered them. I’ve cut the old ones off the old panel. A job for tomorrow if I get time.

While i was having a cuppa and a mince pie i came up with another idea, I borrowed the rear fender kit off my Suburban to see how it looks. Now i only have one original fender so do i make 4 8inch wheels, or 2 tool trays and 4 fenders. How hard can that be .

Early update as I’m going out tonight, I managed to get the other 2 track-rods done this afternoon so another tick of the list.

Today I’ve been looking at track-rods, all the ones i have seem to have play in them and as ive got a few ends in stock I thought I’d make some new ones without buying anything. Started with a length of rod cut into 4 lengths and machined down in the lathe and threads cut. Done two to see if they work which they do so I’ll make another pair tomorrow.

Small update as it’s a day of rest. Ive sanded off the steering parts and given them a primer fitted together and fitted them in the chassis’s. Ive noticed the Lawn Ranger doesn’t have the bush at the end of the lower rod and its not listed in the parts manual but as i have a few in stock I’ve fitted them.

Hi again Norm, just for you I had a quick measure one boot in front of the other style.. Part of the construction is just for normal "shed use", garden tools, garden chairs etc, but.... The part that will be workshop if it was square (a bungalow is in the way) it would be about 13/14 ft per wall inside measurement. Well, this workshop building lark is taking far longer that I first thought! I can fairly blame it on the weather as last week and this week has just been a total wash-out! That and I have just had to have a small op which means I need to rest for a few days.. But all being well I hope to be back on it Monday, and maybe (just maybe) have it water tight by the end of the week.. We shall see. A few more progress snaps for you all. Working out the roofing panels, here you can see two shed panels and a shed floor roughly in place.. This is all just to work out if I had enough sheets of osb to do the entire roof... As it happens I don't so I will have to order a couple of 8 x 4 sheets today for delivery Monday. We has window A couple of snaps from slightly different angles. Another inside shot, but this time with added cladding. The log cabin effect Yes the board on the left side does need to be trimmed down a tad. Although it's hard to tell from the above photo all that's left to do "wall wise" is fit a door in the right hand opening and clad the bit on the left.. Might finish the bit above the double doors as well

Little bit of assembly work.

Slowly, slowly forward. Now there will be mounting the gearbox and engine

Well I couldn’t help myself Titch from machinery decals sent me the decals for this project ( I’m made up wth them ) so I had an impulse and had to put them on even though there is still loads to do on it, what do you all think of them 😂

Bill’s just about finished now, engine detailed and control cables fitted. The sediment bowls have been rebuilt with new rubbers and seals and new fuel pipe Decided to go with the pepper pot exhaust so pipes made and fitted, bonnet fitted and decals all done. Many thanks to Titch at Machinery Decals for a superb job.

Had a bit of time today putting Bill together, still more to do on both but at least i haven’t got all the parts hanging from the ceiling of the shed.

I’ve been hoping for a long time I would find one of these and after months of constant searching I finally hit gold. Wish it had the cut-away gear box too but I’m thrilled just to have the engine. It needs a recoil spring and pull rope to complete it and of course a thorough cleaning. I’ll have to come up with a cool display stand as well. It’ll look cool with the recent brochure that also shows this engine.

As the day finished yesterday i had a final check that all the fabrication was done and I’m quite pleased with how they look. As the day finished today all I’ve got is a big pile of bits.

My new tyres arrived yesterday, very pleased with them almost the same size and a third of the price. As the rims are old i put new tubes in them as they were only £6 each. Now both the boys are on the floor and rolling.

As the sun was shining today I thought I’d paint the wheels and seats. First job was to make a jig to hold the wheels as it’s difficult to hold them up with hooks while painting, I’m really pleased with them and will leave for a few days to harden before fitting the tyres.

Bonnet No2 gave me some grief as the blue paint wouldn’t move with paint stripper so i had to use a hot air gun and scraper and finally going over with a drill and sanding pad. This afternoon Steve came down and got the new tin all cut and clamped ready for welding. Looking good.

Quick little fabrication project. I repurposed this 3 wheeled walker thing that my grandad got his brother as a joke present . I didn't use any of the original tubing as it was quicker to use square stuff we already had. The bottle sits low down over the back wheels for stability. The old adjustment knobs were used to attach the chain, works well. For the novelty factor I used the handles makes it easy to push around. All finished, its proved very useful so fair when moving it between workshops! I might add some bars on the sides later to hold the welder and plasma cutter on properly. Works well enough without them though

Hi all here is my Gutbrod 1030 born in 1965 IT is a Mk1 Tractor seen here today having just had the Snowplough fitted to the front what a Quality piece of Engineering theys are I have owned this Tractor since I was 14 years old but it now needs some TLC

Found some 1/4 plate and made 2 engine plates so now both engines fitted and all pulleys and drive belts. Next job will be to make 2 fuel tank mounting brackets so the filler neck pokes through the hole in the hood.

This tractor has got to be one of the hardest I’ve every tried to take to bits, it’s a bastard most nuts arnt captive and you just can’t get at them, you unbolt something try to pull it off and then find it’s welded as well, this is going to be very interesting. 🙄 Can’t even get the engine out without dismantling all the body

Odd! I've just plugged a second keyboard in and now the enter button on both keyboards is working! While the weather was dry I gave some more of the outside woodwork a slap over with some wood preservative.. Unfortunatly the log cabin effect bits have had a coat or two of varnish so I will have to wait for another nice dry day and sand it all off before slapping the brown stuff on! A bit more cladding was done inside yesterday using what ever boards we could find.. I quite like the mish mash of different planks I should have enough planks to board up over the door and down the other side.. But that's for another day as all yesterdays sawing has knackered my right shoulder!! All part of the fun eh!

Another Boo-Boo i found that I welded the belt guard tag in the wrong place so i had to cut it off and make another, Its done it again so the first photo is the after and the second photo is the before.

With the new workshop finally 95% water tight the time had come to start moving stuff. A big thank you to Nigel for helping me move all the big stuff The new pad starting to fill up. As the old place get's more empty.. When one of the most important tools get's packed away, you just know you are done at the place.. Padlock going on... And clamped up..... It's been a fun 5 odd years with lot's of good builds and fun times All of which means my new workshop looks like this!!! A quick bench has been built, not quite at the "working kettle" stage yet, but getting there.. Some space has been made inside, but I can't really sort out where things are going (I do have some idea) until the rest of the inside is clad.

I did a bit yesterday so I’ve put it with this update. Ive drilled and fitted the first side plate and quite pleased with how it fits so today I’ve made another and marked out the other two ready to cut I’ve also cut the tool tray ready to be bent and welded.

Hello all here is the first picture of my new Toy which has had top end rebuild to the Villiers 25 engine , Yes its a Acre Rotary Cultivator ,one of two that i know off, The other is in Newcastle in a shed not running . Until these two appeared I had only seen pictures in books of this rare Machine , Definitely not a paint job just preserve all very original And now running . Hope you like

Hi Norm, not sure on the size, I will have to have a measure though the odd shape will make it intersting to work out. I should point out that a small part of this will be a shed for all that garden stuff, so I will be losing a bit of space..... But it will keep my Wife happy, so worth it Thanks mate, I hope to be in long before silly season, but that depends on the weather and how much energy I have! Hi Alan, yeah you can't beat a wooden shack, without heating they feel much warmer than a brick/concrete garage.. A few more photo's coming. A small update.. The next bit of frame has gone up, the opening with the two planks fixed accross is where the shed (not workshop) door will go.. well, it will once I've cut a couple of inches off the base and fixed the rotten door bottom. The last remaining open bit of the small end wall has been clad filling in that gap, but I've not taken a pic of that. Rob roughly putting the next door post in place to have a look.. Speaking of doors... Here are the two workshop doors roughly in place.. One door isn't quite wide enough, and as there isn't a long enough bit of wall to get the doors side by side without loosing a window, round the corner they have to go It's amazing what you can get find after a quick chat with the local builder who happened to be walking past.. On the off chance your reading this Sam, thanks for the window This window will go in the back wall at the top to let the sun and heat in.. Free light and warmth.. Worth the agro of taking the wall panel out to fit the window..

Managed a bit of time in the shed today, first job to find a 3 speed transmission luckily the first one i came across was a good one, all free and everything’s turning as it should even has the hubs on’ The towbar pin is rusted in as usual so that will need a little attention.

This is my latest project an RC ride on mower built from scratch

I attended the Red Row Vintage Club rally held in glorious weather at Druridge Bay Country Park on the 3rd and 4th of August. The rally site is about three miles south of Amble in Northumberland with a well stocked visitor centre on site, excellent camping facilities