Stormin

Rigged up a temporary hitch today and had a trial run. Turned the tool bar upside down to lower the ball height And packed up the coupling. When at lowest point front of Billy Goat one inch from the ground. Had a trial run but was not very successful. The main problem was the grass I was trying to pick up had been lying for two days and we'd had some rain. So I'm having a re-think. The ground I mow is a little on the lumpy side and not flat. The front of the BG can catch if I don't raise it fast enough. Also I think something to loosen the lying grass would be handy. I'm thinking of towing it reverse, with a rubber strip along the bottom of the scoop to loosen the grass, which should then be sucked up. I'm going to try turning the body round on the chassis so the outlet still points rearwards. Also turn the engine round on the body so it stays aligned with the handle. This is going to be a long term project methinks.

Your drill problems are one of the reasons I don't tend not to do mail order. I like to see what I'm buying before I do.

Are the rear wheels the same as the later C series, Ewan, or narrow ones? If they're the same I have two you can have. You could always narrow them like I did with he Black Horse.

Just a photo of the wheel change. Been working/thinking of a hitch arrangement. It won't be going on the C-125 as shown, but on the C-121 (Black Horse) with electric lift. That will allow ground clearance to be adjusted on the move. The wheels will most likely stay in the raised position, as shown.

All the Best, Nigel. Have a good day.

Nice work, Ewan.

Number 3 grandson and I had a bit of a trial run yesterday. Proved one thing. It wont pick up hay as is. Builds up and blocks the front intake. One good thing we found out, was that it doesn't have to be run at full revs to suck a rag up and sling it out the shute. With the rear wheels removed, all the weight of the engine is at the rear. I wasn't happy with that so today I refitted the rear wheels and removed the front ones. That puts all the weight on the drawbar. Much better. When the trailer is attached and filling, the balance should be improved. Also the wheels can be raised or lowered. This may give some adjustment on uneven ground. If I get chance I may try this set up out tomorrow. Oh! And I'll take a photo or two, Chris.

That looks about finished and looking very nice.

He/dad would have to buy steel , Chris. And you now what those Yorkshiremen are like.

You certainly do, Ewan. It'll be finished by the time you go back to uni.

That's a relief. Beginning to wonder if I'd mislaid mine. I can stop looking now.

Have passes etc. been sent out, Chris?

Just seen the price of them. I can think of better uses for that kind of money.

I tend to agree with Nigel.

Yes it does and yes I have. Very carefully.

So that's where the pheasant chicken plucker got. Anglia van for me Paul. Had one with a GT Cortina 1500 stage two engine in. Proverbial s**t of a blanket job.

The underneath of yours looks perfect compared with my side discharge. Very badly pitted.

Nice work, Alan.

Not even pulled it forward yet, Chris.

Last year on my annual trip down south, one of the things I returned with was this Billy Goat. There is a thread on it in Pedestrian machines. As you can see I'd been having a bit of a play with it. Today I dug it out of it's hiding place had more of a play with it. First I amputated it's back legs wheels. I then found these two pieces of scrap, plus the jaw plates removed from my Saxon trailer. They became this towing attachment for the front of the Billy Goat. Next job was a rear towing attachment. A length of 1"x1". Another of 1"x2". A couple of U bolts. Tow ball plus a spare spacer and I had this. At end of play this is how things look. There's still more to do and one or two alterations but so far so good. All made from scrap lying around, so zero cost. No Billy Goats were harmed and if needs be can be put back as was. To be continued.........

I working on that, Koen. Maybe a few mods to the Billy Goat.

Finally got around to trying out the sickle bar this afternoon. I'm really pleased with it to be honest. Took it down the overgrown bridleway past my home. Long, heavy, thick damp grass. Did two passes. One down, then one back up. Result below.

Used the deck for the first time today since repairing the wheels. Pleased to say all well and good. Back to usual deck heights.

Look handy things to have.

I'm hoping to start on the side discharge deck soon, I brought up from Johns place last August. It's all stripped down and the shell is at a friends have a bit of welding done.