ACman

Rear lights look ok and the side windows would look good in his van.
 
 On second thoughts forget the windows. Pam would be able to see what he's got hidden in the van.

While at our favourite, favorite for those of you across the pond, hunting ground yesterday, Chris decided to tow one of John's caravans to a more scenic spot.  It had been tucked away hidden from view for years.  Chris thought it would make a nice tea and chat room for the many visitors we get to view John's rapidly decreasing piles of scrap metal and general junk.
 
I was a bit dubious but Chris reminded me that he had years of experience towing caravans, old and new, for one of the main dealers.  Reassured with this news I said go ahead and went off to attend to others matters.
 
A few minutes later Chris came looking for me with a VERY RED face.  "I'm sorry" he managed to force out of his mouth, floods of tears rolling down his cheeks, and his lips trembling. "I've had a little accident, don't know how it happened, but it could have been the rough ground, that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it".  I was horrified. A perfectly good caravan RUINED.  " It's never happened to me before, Chris managed to mumble", before bursting into more floods of tears.  At this stage I began to feel a bit sorry for him and made him ANOTHER cup of tea.  After he had regained his composure and started to look a bit more cheerful, he asked if I would take a photo of him posing as if he had just killed a wild animal.  You can see this photo below.
 
It was decided that repairs could probably be made without having to claim on Chris's insurance, which was just as well as he informed me that he didn't have any.  Anyway, for those of you with weak hearts, close your eye's before viewing the photo's below.
 

 
Finally,  if you decide to get Chris to move your caravan, make sure it is well wrapped in bubble wrap or cotton wool.  You have been WARNED.
 
 

Good effort Chris !, still some way to go to reach the abilities of the old Top Gear Team with Caravans though .

Here's a couple of photos of the picturesque caravan park before i got into it with the mini digger.
both of us forgot to mention there was a stray cat living in the caravan but he was evicted before the move, i think he's moved next door temporary, 

Bet the car which used to tow it is in there too Chris

If it is Chris, we haven't found it yet. 

A really well written humorous story Alan.
 
I had my doubts about his caravan towing skills and this confirms my suspicions. 

This sorry looking little Westwood has been hiding in the barn at johns for the last few months with only the attention of the horse whisperer who lovenly removed his flywheel and cleaned his points, with the help of a jump pack was able to run again.
He filled in a transplant form and now he's off to the deep south to be recycled into a Wheelhorse .

That is correct. The option is called automatic oiler with manual override. The made a few models without the manual override, but it was not common.

I bought all four of these separately on a lark after flogging my Husqvarna 435 for the last time, what a piece of Chinese junk, no guts at all. I found the 1969 blue 58.2cc Super XL Automatic 3 hours away for 100.00, but I was going up that way anyways. The  1981 40.9cc Super EZ Automatic was in a town on the way up to moms house and was 25.00. The 1970 37.6cc EZ Automatic was an eBay find for 99.00 free shipping, and the 1967 77cc XL-901 I bought from the original owner for 225.00 shipped to my door. I got 150.00 for the Husqvarna 435 so I have 325.00 in these four. After using them I can't imagine buying a "new" chainsaw.

I'm getting ready to refurbish two Allis 416 decks, fortunately the 42" deck is nearly perfect except for paint and the 48" just needs a couple of "soft" spots in the leading edge welded up. In the last year I have done a Wheel Horse D-160 deck, an Allis 716H deck, a Bolens 1256 deck, and just recently the Bolens 1476 deck. I also spruced up this little wheel barrow dump cart that I bought for 25.00. After the decks I will start on Case and Ariens dump carts and other implements.

And some more including my vehicle of the show, a really nicely restored Ford Transit Mark 1 drop side pickup...
 


 

A very good show in deepest West Sussex visited today.
 
Horticultural machines were with the stationary engines (separate section next year ?).
 
Here's some photos...
 














And some more including some bloke in a red t shirt who looks vaguely familiar...
 

Just spent a lovely weekend at Wiston steam rally, here's a few photos of stuff I liked and some general view shots so you can see the size of the show
























Here's a few more and into Saturday night at the beer tent. 

First i started to strip the tractor down, there were many modifications which needed to be rectified. There were some splined hubs which had been made to fit, they were first to go and they revealed the state of the axles, very rusty and holes drilled in them.
 

 
Next I cut off the front axle which has been welded on.
 

 

 

 
Next we welded the chassis back how its meant to be and welded up the extra holes.
 

 

 

 
the hood stand required some straightening, some ingenuity was needed.
 

 

 

Phil done a good spread for exhibitors that attended and done the cooking.
everybody happy

For those that don't know the cluch assembly just slides off or would if it hasn't gone rusty and needs a little help with a puller.
The crankshaft hasn't got a tapper nor any hidden set screws just a woodruff key.

Last year I made a couple of display stands. Simple T design, similar to ones made by The Showman. These just press into the ground and information board mounted across the top.
  At the HVC rally at Carlisle airport on the coming weekend, the entries are mainly on hard standing. Thinking drilling holes in the runway wouldn't go down well, I had a root around and found a pair of plastic wheels and some scrap ply board.
  Screwed each wheel to a piece of board, then a splash of paint and viola the result below. The stand spikes are a good push fit in the wheel centres.
 
 

 
  Still not very stable in breezy/windy conditions and the airfield is certainly breezy. I have in my store shed a large jar of lead shot, left over from when I reloaded shotgun cartridges. Tomorrow the wheels will be filled with shot. That should stop them blowing over.

Just when we thought we'd found all the goodies this was unearthed.
Its a right angle drive but has a shaft out of each slde that drive the same rotation, handy for a 4x4 project 

Nice work.

Now ive got the Bolens running i want to put it to work so the first job is to make a rear hitch.
hunting round in the shed for suitable material i came across a camshaft locking kit for an Audi A 6 so being that I won't be doing anymore of those i cut it up.
Heres today's progress and photos 

Last year I obtained a side discharge deck in need of some T.L.C. Today I got it into the workshop to see what needs to be done to make it usable.

 

 

 
  Though very rusty, it has only a couple of holes showing and the cutter spindle bearings are free and smooth. One of the rear rollers is also missing.  The edges of the belt guard are suffering from tin worm in places and mouse nest and other debris cleaned out when removed.
 
 Belt didn't want to come off, as the tensioner was seized. The tensioner pulley was also right up against the nut holding the spring end. I think the belt was a little short.
 

 
  Deck is now mostly stripped down except for a couple of stubborn bolts and a pulley putting up some resistance.
 
 
 
 
 

I looked at one of those a few weeks ago and decided it was too big to go behind a wheelhorse

As Jonathan, (expeatfarmer) was not going to be able to attend the HVC ploughing match this year, he kindly offer one of his crawlers and a plough, to anyone who wanted to enter. I kindly accepted his offer and volunteered my mate Dunc. Never having driven a Ransome before, though many other agricultural machines, we met at Jonathans last Monday so Dunc could have a drive and see the plough he would use.
 

 

  MG5 imported from the south of France along with the three furrow plough hanging on the back. You'll notice, now I've told you, the plough at the rear is off set by about 2". Why?, you ask. Haven't a clue.
 
 We collected tractor and plough today and took it to Dunc's for a bit of practice. Neither of us having any idea of setting things up. The afternoon was spent freeing things up and with much debate, a couple of trial runs. More will be done tomorrow or Saturday, depending on the weather.
 
 Below are some shots of the plough.

 

 

 

 

Lovely bit of ash, splits real easy almost a shame to burn it