Stormin

Now a fifth wheel would be great with a twin axle trailer. But correct me if I'm wrong. has that already been mentioned?

Re torqued the head bolts this morning and fitted the deck this afternoon. Cut the green and verges. Even the long grass between our pond and next doors drive. Performed splendidly, though the new exhaust makes things sound funny. Checked the oil and it doesn't seem to have used any.

I doubt it will find it's way up here, but can you get ID numbers?

Head gasket arrived from Meetens yesterday. Today I got a piece of 6mm plate glass, free from a window installation firm in the nearby village. I then finished lapping the head. I then put everything back together, torqueing down the head bolts. I was going to put oil, fuel and refit the battery tomorrow. But things got the better of me, so I went out and did that after my dinner. That done, time to fire up. Only it didn't. No spark. What have I missed/done wrong methinks? Checked the wiring. All as it should be. I'd had the points out, cleaned and reset them but decided to have a look. Took the cover off, turned the key and off she went. Running like a good 'un. Put the cover back on. Just holding it and she stopped. Points shorting through the cover. So what had I done differently? Well, the points cover had had only the top screw fitted ever since I got it. When I'd had the points off, I fitted a screw into the bottom as well. Without that screw, the bottom of the cover stood slightly proud and was not shorting the points out. There's no screw in there now. Should there be a gasket, 'tween cover and engine? That sorted, I ran the engine for a while to warm up and reset the carb. Got a lovely sound at idle. Sweet as a knut. Spits a bit at full revs, but is drawing a bit of air where the exhaust fits to the manifold stub. Tomorrow I will re-torque the head bolts. The engine does smoke a little. but no worse than it did. Sometime in the future, I may give it a re-bore. But for now, I'm just happy it's up and running and can be put back to work. May even mow the green and really test it.

Patience is a virtue. Seldom possessed by man and never by a woman.

Is the gap under the door for the local cats?

Give me a shout when you do, Jonathan. Be good to see the old girl under steam again.

Nice! Be sometime before mine looks like that. That is if it ends up like that.

I may shorten it a bit, Nigel. Depends on clearance for lift the bonnet. It's only be temporary anyway. Lifts up, Chris.

Nice playroom to hide in. Well done Rhys.

Had a bit of a go at a replacement exhaust. Take the manifold end of a kaput exhaust, piece of standard light tubing, machined down trailer eye coupling reducer and an old B.S.A silencer. You then get this. Needs welding and a good clean and painting with BBQ paint.

Nice, Ewan.

I like it the colour it is. Suits it.

Posted my entry yesterday.

Smells sweet.

That's a good choice of colour.

Southerners and Yorkshiremen.

Those wheels under the arches look really something. Proper job!

That looks like the one my father built.

You missed a d.