expeatfarmer

Struggled on today trying to split the gearbox on the skimmer. In the end I removed the original three speed box and the Ford box as one unit only to discover that the modified 3 speed box had most internals removed and a big shaft that went through both boxes with a large nut on the diff end hence the reason the box would not split. I thought I had a spare three speed but turns out I don't so having to remove the box from 311. The combination of sand and presumably sewage effluent has not done the nuts and bolts any favours so have resorted to cutting most of them off with a battery angle grinder ( wonderful tool Milwaukee )

Are you going to bring a Ransomes or two to Malvern?

Does anyone have a part number for the hydraulic filter mine has been painted over.

Are the game bag, labrador and cocck pheasant a clue or just a handy tablemat?

Might trade a skimmer against the canal tractor!!!

I think Chris has first shout on it James but will let you know if he has changed his mind.

Set to today to remove the Ford engine and gearbox from 310 tractor, engine came out ok but struggling with gearbox, whoever fitted it at Bristiol Waterboard made a very good job of it and unfortunatley removed most of the original Ransomes 3 speed gearbox internals, hopefully I have a spare one in my store but if not I will have to rob the box off 311 which will be a shame as whilst I have been looking at it today it would make an excellent platform for either another digger /crane or possibly forklift. I have also removed the Kohler engine from 311 my what a lump that is I would like to hear it running.It certainly looks as if it would be powerful.

Did not go quite to plan today thought I would finish fitting Steiner loader so that I could use it to move stuff around. Managed to get it all lined up and slotted on to the front mounts only to find that the back mounts were an inch short of the fixing point, tried all sorts with ratchet straps and jacks to get it to slide back but it seems that the front mounting slides are an inch longer on my tractor than they are on later models I will have to contact Steiner and find out what is wrong before I make any modifications. Gave up and removed the loader during which I managed to gouge a hole in the hydraulic filter casing and burst a main pump pipe which will be a real pig to change. Left it all in a big heap and got on with other jobs.

A few weeks before Christmas my front end loader arrived from Ohio apart from unloading it off the wagon I have not even taken off the stretch wrap until today when I needed to move it to get to the skimmer. Turns out the machine has never been used from new although it must be ten years old at least, not a scratch inside the bucket. Decided that the easiest way to move it was to fit it . It comes with a built in oil tank pump and filter driven by a vee belt off the front electric clutch pulley. I will post some photos on Saturday.

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

Any more pictures? Is it an electric fence power unit?

you will have to clean up the striper Nigel I dont want pink stripes on my crawlers! Looking good

Talk to me Nigel I love gadgets.

Is that a Beugler Pinstriping Tool ? I have looked at them and wondered if they were any good.

Unfortunately it was the previous owner that had the mag rebuilt. Good news is that it started first pull of the handle from cold today and ditto when hot.Slow running is not perfect but I have just checked timing and it is a bit advanced so will back it off and see how that goes.

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.

Refurbished mag ready to instal, turning it on the impulse fires plugs that were dead on the other two mags so fingers crossed third time lucky.

Yes it will that is todays plan I have a later MG2 Wipac Magneto to which I will fit new points and condensor and then fit it.

Not readily interchangeable to later machines. Have followed Lucas manual test procedures as far as I can.

I stripped the original rebuilt MA1 magneto cleaned the slip rings and brushes, reassembled it and tested it on the bench at low revs it produced a spark that jumped 1/2" to the vice and at high revs a brilliant white spark that crackled. refitted mag to tractor, fired once, adjusted throttle fired again, adjusted throttle and it ran for maybe 6 strokes. Would not fire again, changed the plug same again, changed plug again same again, strange thing is that once the plugs have stopped working, cleaning them does not make them work it is almost as if there is something being burned out in the plugs but I have no idea what. I will try an earth lead from mag to head but given alloy mag to alloy crankcase and cast barrel and head I can't see why continuity should be an issue but at this stage I will try anything. I had hoped not to resort to a later mag. but fearing personal injury from torn muscles and lack of time as I have other machines to get ready for Malvern I think I now have no choice but to use the later Wico mag which has an impulse starting mechanism.

Yes we did, I have just stripped the original mag cleaned up all the brush contacts tested it on the bench and the spark is jumping 1/2" and cracking so going to refit . Also compression tested the engine 60 psi on the starting handle, thought that might be a bit low so tested two others that are good runners and they have just over 50 psi so more than 10% higher. Put some oil down the bore and tested again no change so no leaks.

Hope it is not condensor as that is buried in amongst the windings on the armature which requires a full strip and re wind.

Underneath the mag label there is a brass screw which contains a carbon brush, when I took it apart this brush appeared to be fixed and so I did not disturb it, turns out this is a spring loaded earthing brush which is on the hT side of the mag if this is not in contact with the slip ring result is a poor spark under load. I will have to check this out in the morning but it means taking the mag out again !!!! ho hum !!!

I did wonder about that but there is an arrow showing correct rotation . Fitted the new N1L mag today from 225, if anything it is worse plugs spark when decompressor is engaged as soon as there is compression sparking stops> Tried smaller gap no better. Beginning to despair now.

The two mags cleaned up side by side. The one on the left is the mag from 225 which is the right model for 137, the right hand mag is the MA1 mag rebuild.