slf-uk

I'm not getting any younger and everything I work on gets heavier....
 
picked this up the other week for £30
 

 
and with some recycling of an old American bike rack that was built like a tank.
 
 
 

 
Ive got this 
 


 
A handy crane with a 4ft boom that swings inside the workshop

Happy Birthday Iain; I trust another Bolens shaped present came your way? 

Many happy returns, Iain, have a great day.

Best wishes Iain, hope you have a great day 

Happy Birthday Iain.  If you are lucky, Joseph might buy you a Bolens.

Happy birthday lian

Many happy returns of the day, hope you have a good one.

All the Best Iain.  

Hi Guy's, not much of an update as I've been away on holiday recharging the battery's and getting away from Nigel's singing 
 
An expansion/overflow tank was needed, the trouble was there was not the space to fit a battery and the original CX expansion tank.. So I made my own
Yep, it's one of those paraffin engine cleaning things with the handle cut off that that you plug into an airline.. I have had it for 12 odd years and never used it, so I found a use for it
Water in at the top, breather/overflow pipe on the right and with a bit of clear pipe put between the two things at the front I will be able to see the water level..
 

 
 
A battery box/tray was needed so I quickly knocked this one up..
 

 
 
The next morning I looked at it and thought it was just too small... Battery tray 2.0 is much better but it will have to wait until MT is back on the bench and I don't have to get on my knees to fit it in the gap between the swing arm and carbs.
 

 

 
 
The time has come that I have been dreading... Sorting out this mess of a wiring loom and finding space to mount the coils, regulator etc.. Wish me luck!
 

 

 

 
 
 

The new bit of the rear frame has been sorted, I think your agree that "kick up" gives MadTrax an aggressive mean sort of look
 

 

 
 
Of course as soon as the frame had enough strength put back in to take the weight of a person.. I just had to have a seat
 

 

 

 
 
You know the saying of "A bad workman always blames he's tools".. Well in this case I can rightly blame my small Mig welder..

With the aid of a new welding mask and Nigel's 30+ year old heavy duty Mig I produced the best welds I have ever done This is the start of the lower rear engine mounts..
 

 

 
 
A couple of rear upper engine mounts..
 

 

 
 
MadTrax can now hold it's own weight up including engine
 

 

I personally place the sticker in position and apply a couple of strips of low tack masking tape over the sticker and onto the suface to afix to .
( i do this with anything from a 3" sticker to a 10" sign as i have a Chinese 600mm plotter  as on occassion i make signs for people )
Then apply a light spray of 1 drop of washing up liquid in 500ml of water .
Turn the sticker over ( use the masking tape as a hinge ) and peel back the backing away from the masking tape hinge to half way across the sticker .
Fold the sticker back over slowly working down from the masking tape hinge laying the vinyl down and removing air bubbles as i go with a propriatory plastic squeegy , thpough a credit card etc can be used but are not as solid as the correct tool .Then once the backing is reached , peel it off as you work down using thy squeegy .
If no masking tape is at hand just peel a little of the backing paper back and turn it over to make a buffer to keep the sticker from touching the surface till you have it positioned and gently press a little down to hold it before going the whole hog with the squeegy .
Air bubbles are removed by use of a needle point and circular movement of a finger around the bubble working inwards .
If you have corregated surfaces then warm the sticker with a hair dryer to get it soft so it will mould easier into the undulations .
A " Stippler " ( Hard bristled brush ) aids this moulding process .
The same goes for rounded edges etc , where the slight heating from a hairdryer allows for a much better adheasion over time ( no lifting along the curve line ) .
For a better quality approach buy some low tack lifting paper and cover the whole sticker with it and use the top as masking tape and proceed from there .
The extra covering of the low tack lifting tape eleviates any damage to printed stickers whilst squeegying them down .
There are many companies who sell the lifting tape but i use MDP at - http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/
Check out their vehicle wrap and pimp up your Bolens   They dont all have to be red ! .
Their digital paper is also amazing as you can design and print your own stickers just how you want them using a std inkjet printer , i still see some i did around 6 years ago for advertising on shop doors .
Though these need a lifting paper as a barrier when applying them , Print a sheet out and cover in lifting paper then cut out with scissors or knife .Peel off the backing paper and apply , once happy remove the top covering of lifting paper .
I prefer the paper tapes for application work and the opaque plastic tapes for building up layers when prepping a sign using multiple colours as it is more easily viewable through.
Hope this helps .

Happy birthday Joseph, I hope you had a lovely day.

A photo of Bryan, my last 90. Sold two years ago after 15yrs ownership. Much missed. 1986 fitted with Isuzu 2.8 td, Alli Sport full width intercooler, Disco transferbox. Citroen BX seats and various other mods.

I need backup.   Where are you  Chris.

My birthday is coming up next month, I could really use a nice straight Land Rover. I probably shouldn't hold my breath huh.

Good answer! We will leave it at that! 

Very good job, I like that.
 
Iain

Last October I bought a 1984 Land Rover 90 from a friend of the family. It has been used on his farm for well over 20 years, is totally original and had been sitting in a barn unused for over a year. I have not had much workshop time over the last year so it has taken a while to do the chassis welding and sort the other issues. Can't be too many original 90's left.
 
On Friday I put it in for an MOT and it passed with no advisories  For some reason the MOT man liked my work and asked if I wanted a job. Not for me, but good to receive the complement and good that he is happy. 
 
I had to take some pictures for the insurance company and someone jumped in while I was taking the other pictures. For some reason Joseph thinks the 90 is his and is asking all sorts of questions about running cost. It is his birthday tomorrow so while he thinks it is already his, he will not be disappointed to not have it as a present.
 
Iain
 

 
 

Last October I bought a 1984 Land Rover 90 from a friend of the family. It has been used on his farm for well over 20 years, is totally original and had been sitting in a barn unused for over a year. I have not had much workshop time over the last year so it has taken a while to do the chassis welding and sort the other issues. Can't be too many original 90's left.
 
On Friday I put it in for an MOT and it passed with no advisories  For some reason the MOT man liked my work and asked if I wanted a job. Not for me, but good to receive the complement and good that he is happy. 
 
I had to take some pictures for the insurance company and someone jumped in while I was taking the other pictures. For some reason Joseph thinks the 90 is his and is asking all sorts of questions about running cost. It is his birthday tomorrow so while he thinks it is already his, he will not be disappointed to not have it as a present.
 
Iain
 

 
 

The important thing is that white is on the top, much like white tractors

RED, white.  WHITE, red.  Sounds like you are just trying to confuse Joseph.   Paint it green to match his overalls.

CAN YOU TELL WHAT IT IS YET!!
Who can recognise the parts ??
After  I changed the engine on my Gutbrod 1032 I had a very heavy mower deck. I also had a small Murrey ride on with no deck.
I have several areas of grass which are right upto very large hedges so it has alot of suckers growing underneath. I made this trailed mower to get under the hedge and cope with the brush without getting scratched when mowing. it can be towed directly behind a machine or  to either side. 
It is the hole Gutbrod deck and the rear chassis mounting the engine from the Murry. Hight adjustable via old jocky wheel and solid rear tyres. It proves to be that successful I had to put flaps at the rear as it was throwing sticks 20ft out the back. 

At least the roof is the right colour  I need one of those "beware horses" decals for the back from The Showman
 
Iain

That's a very tidy and straight Landy Joseph!  Wish my Dad bought me a landy when I was your age......
 
I think Alan's right about the colour and the Showman's  love of the RED, I think Bolens White would be more appropriate Iain. 

At least the roof is the right colour  I need one of those "beware horses" decals for the back from The Showman
 
Iain