Robins

Four years ago exactly i restored all the bodywork on my mk5 Transit. Many probably wont see the point, but each to their own and i like my van, nothing modern even comes close to build quality, fuel economy, ease of maintenance or looks in my opinion. Every year before MOT i go under and Owatrol oil any surface rust and check everything over. This year i had a shock when i pocked a hole in the rear cross member, nothing big at first, but on starting the repair i realised it was going to be a big job. I ended up replacing the ends of the rear crossmember, both spring hangers, inner rear skirts, chassis outriggers and piece of floor. Heres a few photos for you to hopefully inspire someone. I dont like patches, they dont last, so i drilled all the spot welds out, made all the panels on my home made metal folder due to no panels being available to buy other than from Ford, and re welded as original. Original outer rear panel back on and ready for paint.

Excellent news Andrew Thought you'd gone a bit quiet on the buying front How did you get another one agreed by your wife? Sounds very interesting though. Its one of these?

Why screen wash Ian, rather than an anti freeze/coolant and water soloution? I'm thinking i may do that on my 312-8 The water in the tube ballast thing that is, i already have the wide AG's Although nothing like as grippy and cool looking as these you have Chris!

Rummaging around in my shed at my parents place I found what i was looking for A K&N air filter from my boy racer days on my Morris 1000's Even better, i found a new one i bought for my pickup but never used, thought i'd sold it on to be honest, but fits nicely on the Magnum 16 Still to test properly under load, but running nicely just racing round the garden

How about a motorised wheelbarrow?

Will do Andrew I haven't had an engine give me quite so many trials in a very long time! When an engine is sold to you and said only to be removed due to a broken starter motor and thats been replaced now, you wouldn't expect so many settings to be completely out of adjustment, i was daft really to disguard things thinking it can't be that as it apparently ran before. Lesson learned, always check anyway. I only checked most of them because im a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to the running of an engine

Is it a Rotavator?

Well I think things are sorted Engine is running so much nicer today. After a bit of messing around, much thinking, and a light bulb moment, i realised the governor was fully open at half throttle, this explains the flatness. There is no way on earth this engine ran nicely, if at all, before it was removed by the last owner. With this set right i could then tweak the fine tuning and all seems good. There was a slight odd misfire, one when increasing the revs from idle and then intermittent on full revs, but this seems to have cleared up with some driving round the garden. I will test again tomorrow from cold and make sure So then got on and put my cement mixer back together. The real test will be fitting the cutting deck or pulling a trailer load of mud around can't wait! Thanks all

A leak down tester sounds good, how do they work different in comparison to a compression tester though? I have a compression tester somewhere in my other garage but haven't thought to use it as i have nothing to compare the result to like on a 4 cylinder car.

Funnily enough i finished work with a bit of spare time today and fitted the new pipes, filter, filled up with fresh fuel, wired in the electric pump and had a test. Much better Still not perfect though, feels flat on full throttle but hoping this is now down to tuning which i will tinker with, but the popping and spluttering is gone Heres a pic I took tonight of the engine and stack fitted. Think i may check valve clearance again now ive had it running just to re-check things are perfect in their.

They're really nice! Look like they're real good grippers to Nice find.

I've had a tinker today and made some progress Tried a few things with no change, but fitted an electric Facet pump and things have improved hugely! I guess my want for a mechanical pump were the issue, also old fuel, it seems my cans have been moved in the shed (shared shed) so not sure how old the fuel is i have put in! This being the case i'm getting new fuel, pipes and replacement filter Monday and will see if i can get this running perfect Not sure what electric pumps are ment to be used but if the Facet one works i'll have to make a bracket up. Thanks all for your help, i'll let you know how the new fuel and lines go in the week. Thanks, Daniel

Excellent news Andrew, and even better news your wife approves Always good when that happens Did she have a drive? The pepper pots are loud but original & correct. The main reason i built my stack pipe was the want for very low noise levels.

Thanks guys I'll have another try today. The pipework, filter and pump are the same i had running my 12hp, but been empty of fuel for a couple months. My suggestion to people experiencing engine trouble is usually first how old is the fuel However i do now wonder if i picked up the wrong can? doubt has been placed in my mind as i do have some stuff that 18 months old and some thats 3 months. But also fuel starvation? wonder if the fuel tap has broken up inside, or the pump may have been on last legs. I have had one of those spark testers fitted and the spark looks constant and good so I will change to the electric pump, different pipe with new fuel. Also try it ungoverned. I did set the valve gaps accurately but will see if a stuck valve, will it tick over smoothly with a stuck valve though? ticks over very smooth at the moment. Will change the plug as well just in case. Thank you all

It's a Magnum so all electronic, not sure i can adjust timing can i? I've set the gap between module and flywheel. It does sound like ignition but not sure. Tried it with and without an air filter. Thanks

Hi All, Been trying to get my Kohler Magnum 16 engine running. It starts really easy hot or cold, tick over is fine and very smooth hot or cold, but, when increasing the revs it pops and splutters and does increase but still popping a bit, when trying to drive it just goes flat and gutless, a small bit of choke does help but still wont rev nice, will drive but not well. The pump is mechanical and came off my K301 12hp. Carb is rebuilt and been tested on a rebuilt engine so came set, I have re-adjusted it slightly but doesn't make much of a difference. I've not had the engine running before so can't say i've done anything to it that would have made a difference, all i've been told is it did run years ago. Don't know if it's normal or not but when throttle is full, with engine off, it opens all the way round on the carb. When engine running and throttle on full it only goes half way and splutters. Any ideas chaps?

Probably not Andrew But could have fun winding him up though

Thats really nice! I like that a lot

That does look a hefty, scary bit of kit Looks in very nice condition though! Help with the tractor is here when you want it mate

Another nice find mate And i see by the position you have been offering it up to attach to your Morris The ultimate work tool a Morris, you can drive to a job in it, cut the grass with a rear mounted cylinder mower. and use the snow plow to get there in winter Not sure how you'll mount the sickle bar though Who needs a tractor

A holesaw worked wonderful, i needed two 51mm holes in 20mm plate in the end as i decided to use a piece of thick tube as a sort of bushing to spread the load. I melted a Bosch drill in the process and the Makita drill is not sounding quite as fresh as it did, but the hole saw has all its teeth and still sharp which i was surprised so i drilled a further two 51mm holes in some 6mm thick angle for a brace the other side aswell. 54mm hole in 20mm plate. I'm adapting a forklift frame to fit my MF50b digger so i can move pallets of bricks, bulk bags of sand ect. with much welding and lots of thick bits of steel i have achieved what i set out to do. Only been putting this off for nearly 3 years. Holding the frame to the front bucket with a ratchet strap always seemed the easier option

Looks like a nice shack Ian Bet you cant wait to start building tractors again. Is it far from where your new house is?

Very nice Andrew Looks like it was worth the wait. Bet your wife is happy you got a shinney one this time

That looks a really tidy machine Bet your well chuffed

Thanks guys, i'll get one the right size and give it a go