hpearce

Just finished scanning these photos and had a quick read at the latest posts on the skimmer thread.
There is only that one photo of the skimmer, the rest have been taken at different rallys and show other Ransomes MGs.
 
From the look of some of the photos they were taken quite a while ago, in among the photos I found a brochure for the 1992 Great Dorset Steam Fair which would back this up.
I did not know when I was bidding on the piece of Ransomes literature that these photos would be included, the seller just added them in.
I had sort of figured that since all the other photos were likely from down round the south that the photo of the skimmer would be from the same general area.
Here's the pics, anyone recognise any of the machines?
Rob

In addition to the 33 machines booked in so far ( still time if you hurry ) There will be a display from the MERL Archives, a display of Literature relating to the tractors, another display of literature relating to implements , a display of photos of machine around the World and a stand from Neil Jarrett carrying spare parts and interesting Ransomes items. If you need a particular part, ring Neil and ask him for what you need.

Now well over 30 machines should be a great show, not too late if you want to take part. Spoke to a guy tonight who has not shown for thirty years and wants to come and take part fantastic!

Here's a couple of photos of my Garner light four-wheel tractor. It has a JAP 5 engine, centrifugal clutch and 3 forward and 1 reverse gears.
The large hand lever raises and lowers the draw-bar and a mid-mounted tool frame. I have the tool frame and 2 ridging bodies and a set of home made grubber tines.
The toolbox behind the drivers seat is an old ammunition box, this I have been told was factory fitted by Garner.

There's certainly no shortage of variety working at J. Cox Ransomes Specialists. 

I wish !
Had a good day today though, gear change cable on 310 had snapped so took the one off 311 only to find gearbox end was 5/16 thread not 1/4,managed to grind it down and re thread it to fit  so fingers crossed I can change gear.
The flexible coupling on the petrol engine off the ITW was shot so stripped out the clutch to change the coupling, clutch is brand new as is drum. Then went on to strip the engine just to make sure all is ok, removed the head, bore and valves are absolutely perfect. Gave the valves a spin just to take off any surface rust. The chap who owned it before was an ex Massey Ferguson engineer and as such I expected it all to be good but needed to make sure looks to me as if it has only run for an hour or so since a complete rebuild albeit 25 years ago ! I have removed the mag again brand new inside, condenser is non original and not fixed well so will change that , points are new but furry so a clean up should be all that is needed. The engine is fitted with an Amal 356 carb. Again great condition but full of white powdery corrosion due to having been left dry for so long I will polish it up and should be fine. I am just hoping that the Drayton engine for the ITW is in the same condition as it came from the same guy, we will see in the morning! This machine will be displayed at Malvern come what may complete with 25 years of chicken poo in parts I have not reached yet, it will move under its own power but that is all there are loads of bits missing and aprt from the magic seat it will certainly not win a concours prize and neither will the ITW or the MG40N but these machines are rare and special and I would like as many people as possible to see them and hopefully others will feel inspired to bring along their machines in whatever condition they are. So inspiring that I have even got a Wheelhorse fanatic as number two !

Which seal do you mean Rhys?
Managed to swap the three speed gearbox over from 311 to 310 today discovered that the two bearings on the pto output shaft were shot hopefully Neil will have some spares. Gear change cable from 310 is snapped, cable from 311 has a 1/4" tail instead of 3/16" as 310. May be able to trim it down and cut a new thread to fit. Both gearbox sump plugs are seized solid so had to dismantle with oil in boxes hence the mess!!
 

 
In the photo you can see the double final drives of the skimmers which reduce the travel speed to 25ft/min 1st gear, 50ft/min second gear and 1mph third gear. Could take me about an hour to get from the car park at malvern to the stand!!!
Next job is to swap the petrol engine from the ITW to the skimmer and fit original Drayton back on the ITW.

You can feel the blast from the exhaust about ten feet behind it.

WHAT?

Drivers in Haslemere are quite confused!
 

Drivers in Haslemere are quite confused!
 

I am extremely pleased and relieved to report that 137 has now had a maiden voyage up the drive, along the road and round the garden. Changing the mag to a later impulse Wico transformed it, started and ran second pull. Not without a glitch though reversed out of the garage 10 yards and it stopped , I thought here we go again, took the plug out expecting it to be fouled no it was fine, changed it anyway to a two terminal 18mm plug, set it up went to tickle the carb and it did not tickle, took the fuel cap off NO PETROL I have used a whole tank full ( 2 gallons ) just trying to get it started over the last ten days. Full tank of fuel and it started first time. I have refitted the air pipe and then the filter in stages to check for any change in running, no apparent effect so it looks as if Cinderella will go to the ball in malvern. I am annoyed with myself for persisting so long with the two original magnetos. I justify it in that I have tried so hard to restore it to as it would have been when it left the factory, I have rebuilt so many bits of scrap to as new rather than replace but there comes a point when common sense and my physical well being prevail over total originality. I will have the mags rebuilt when I can find someone who knows what they are doing. I have blisters on my right hand and muscles I never knew I had. But now it all seems worthwhile.

Good luck. I'll run naked anticlockwise round the oak tree at midnight, beating myself with a birch branch.

I spotted this on the side of a Chuck-Donalds yesterday (no I didn't lower my standards and go in) and thought it was quite funny
 

Boards look like the illustration from Ransomes MG2 List of Parts
 
 

It's a date!

We'll have to sort out a meeting time, place and day.
 
I suggest, Saturday. 1pm. By Jonathans digger/dozer. You can't miss that. I assume he's taking it. If not 137.
 
We could do the same Sunday, for anyone who can't make Saturday.

Ransome MG2 137 lives.
 

Made the bumper, have nice new copper period HT lead and now working on the floorboards.

They are too good to use

Have to wait until next year now!
 

Spurred on by a visit this weekend by Ransomes enthusiast Anthony Brennan and Laura, I have cracked on and at last have the first blue coat on the body well 70% of it. Very pleased with the finish although stupidly I have some runs in the paint which resulted from not having enough light on the job. I am sure they will flat out for the next coat. Also managed to reclaim a couple of petrol caps, I dismantled them and put them in the lathe to polish out all the rust pits finished off with wire wool and then nickel plated for some reason one of them has some bald spots with no plate despite degreasing and etching not sure what I have done wrong so will buff it all off again and try again.
 
 

Plan is to have it finished this month so that I have time to get the sand Skimmer and the ITW mobile for February.