expeatfarmer

That would be good Rob many thanks looks as if there may be enough of it left to finish the rebuild of mine.

Changed the governor,now the whole fuel system pump ,injector and governor are from the same running (previously) tractor. Smoking not as bad but still there. So bad though that I have to solve it removed the head again and then barrel, had a brand new piston and rings so swapped both barrel and piston, all back together loads of compression but still smoking, going to try adjusting fuel timing which entails fitting gaskets under the fuel pump see what happens. Although it looks clean I have dismantled injector and have it soaking over night just in case. Thought it might be jetting fuel rather than spraying.

How long ago do you think it was Rob. looks like an abandoned nursery there is a derelict polytunnel in the background.Looks as if most of it is still there wow that would be a find. I will take the picture to Malvern and post it it with a do you know where this is.

In the background is my £140 temporary shelter for some of my crawlers which has withstood 80mph gales all over the winter and only just failed, strangely the sheeting has ripped on the leaward side and is still keeping the machines dry.

Changed the governor no change, checked the spill timing seemed ok. Removed the new head and the barrel fitted a brand new piston and barrel started it up and still the same!!!!!! Seems I am destined to explore the nth degree of set up on all my engines will fiddle a bit more in the morning, good thing about this engine is the electric start at least turning it over is not killing me! Good old Norm re assembled the brake bands on the MG40N and we got that running today, Norman took it for a test drive.

From the amount of smoke it produces it is as if it is getting far too much fuel, I have swapped pump and injector, going to swap the governor mechanism today before i get into the rings. The excess fuel rod has stuck a few times so it may not be releasing properly.

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.

Fitted the new head smoking is better but still pretty bad garage full of acrid white unburned fuel smoke. When I had the head off I examined the bore which was very good. Usual causes of this problem are either insufficient compression or timing of the fuel pump. I am wondering if the piston rings may be stuck with having sat for 25 years, the top one is free but the lower two may be gummed up. I will check the spill off timing in the morning before I remove the barrel.

Checked the exhaust valve clearance which was a bit tight and then noticed that the rocker arm bushes were worn which makes setting the valve clearance impossible. I then noticed that the valve spring retainer was a non standard item, the Drayton engine has two exhaust valve springs of unequal length the outer retains pressure on the rocker arm at all times, clearance is set using a narrow feeler through a slot in the upper spring retainer. This head had both springs held down by a standard collet collar, looks as if the previous owner had adapted a non standard valve which clearly worked but not properly which may explain why the diesel engine was removed and a petrol engine fitted. Fortunately I have a couple of spare brand new heads complete with valves so as a minor diversion I have fitted a new cylinder head. I have done this a few times before so took a guess at the gasket thickness and peeled off a few layers before I refitted the head leaving a piece of lead solder on top of the piston, Torqued the head down and turned the engine over a couple of time by hand, remove the head and measure the squished solder thickness luckily it was 0.9mm on the first go so took out the solder refitted the head and off we go. I was extremely lucky because these heads have a section that sits about 3/4" into the liner which is steel against an alloy head!! they can be absolute pigs to remove, usually evidenced by broken cooling fins on the head and barrel where levers have been applied in the past. Before now I have had to resort to removing head and barrel together and thumping the whole thing up and down on a wooden post with lots of heat to break the head free. This one popped off as soon as I undid the head bolts a sure sign it has been off before and not run much since. Picture on the right is the new head showing the slot for setting clearance in the outer spring cap.

It was about 6.30 pm Norm. Not sure what is causing it, smoke free at low and medium revs but if you open it up it smokes like hell pure white unburned diesel smoke which may be due to a sticking exhaust valve if not that then it will be down to compression, the head has been off in the past so may not have been set with right bump clearance on the head gaskets.

Got the ITW running tonight but then I lost it!

Wired up ignition system, sorted throttle cable Norm fitted tyres wheels and chains. Ready to try starting it in the morning, a few fuel leaks to sort first. New Dunlop Industrial tyres look good , not sure what pressure to inflate them to.

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!

If you have a Ransomes MG machine but are unable to bring it along, please bring some photos that we can display on our "Absent Machines " display board.

Apparently Mark has further registrations so we make achieve 30+ Fantastic.

I now have 27 machines entered for the Malvern display, entries close on 1st February so if you are hoping to come with a machine please e mail either myself or Mark at Tractor World.

Assistance very much appreciated Norm.

Thanks for that Rhys with the small pulley on the alternator and the large on the clutch it should achieve the 1200 rpm for it to charge. Norman was here today and stripped out the burst pipe on the Turf Trak for me, will try to get another in the morning also new filter has arrived. Norman set to and removed the brake bands from the MG40N the gearbox was full of oil and water( mostly water ) to within 2" of the top so no wonder the steering was shot. Drained it all out ready to fit some nice new ones. I spent most of the day making up new mountings for the fuel tank on the ITW to accommodate the starter motor I also fitted a new manual starter mechanism as the original had been interfered with and did not work. Couple of bits and bobs to finish and then I should be able to try starting the Drayton on the ITW. Blasted paint on the wheels was still tacky all day so leaving the tyres until next week.

One of the handbrakes is seized up soaked it overnight hoping it may ease off with a bit of heat. Hope the paint on the wheels has dried so we can fit the tyres today and rig up the electrics. Fitted a pulley clutch housing to drive a small dynamo but not found one yet.

Yes they would but takes too long when you are in a hurry. Engine in, exhaust fitted perfectly fuel tank mounts need to be modified to fit around starter motor.

I bought 310 from an elderly gentleman in Dorset, he told me he bought it from the auction at the STEAM Fair about 25 years ago and at the time there was a fuuly rebuilt shiny machine alongside which he thinks was sold to someone from Hull I have never heard of one since. I also have sand skimmer 311 but that has been cut down to just the body tracks and transmission.Considering that probably about twenty machines were built I would be surprised if there was not one lurking somewhere. Both mine are ex Bristol waterboard.

Reason for split rims is that the wheels are cast and then machined presumably for extra strength and traction weight. I have welded up the screw heads at the back of the wheel to stop the bolts turning when being undone. If I ever need to replace the bolts an end mill would take out the weld. Poor Norman has spent all day splitting two of the wheels which had original tyres so possibly had never been off in 60 years! and rest of the day wire brushing the wheels so I could paint them before we refit new tyres and tubes. As Rhys says the tyres will have a huge side thrust when skid steering and for this reason the tyre beads sit on a very wide sealing face.

Fun and games today, Stormin came to help thank goodness spent most of the day trying to get the four wheels off, the rime are a really neat fit on the hubs and had rusted solid, each wheel had to be heated up with the gas bottles quenched with paintbrush cleaner and then pried off a bit at a time with a 6ft pry bar. We got there in the end I will put some copper slip on when I refit!!! Rebuilt the mag and carb for the skimmer in between .

Hope so !

That's the plan cat litter is good for sopping up oil spills !