expeatfarmer

They certainly are a good machine, if the MG tractors had evolved after 1965 I think this is the machine that would have resulted. I am trying to track down a rear three point linkage for mine and possibly a loader. A snow blower would be good.

Will you fit the original type tyres?

Slow progress waiting for local guy to machine the track load rollers, I managed to find some 8" dia. cast iron rod which was cut into 1/2" slices, the idea is to machine the original roller rims to a common size and then machine the centre out of the slices to achieve a shrink fit tyre. Just need a trip to Silloth to drop the slices off. Have the clutch in pieces, shoe linings are very good but oily so will fit new ones. In the past the clutch cover has been levered off damaging the fan belt pulley so I will have a go at welding it up and grinding back. Shame because proper removal method is so simple just two bolts inserted into threaded holes in the cover,tighten them through against the flywheel and the cover just pushes off unlike the later engine that requires a sophisticated fine thread puller.

Discovered today that the ITW was originally British rail Maroon, the skimmer has been yellow,green, maroon and blue which possibly would indicate that it has moved between water boards during it's working life.

Now I have pressure washed off 25 years of chicken poo I can see that track frames have been extended from 3 to 4 rollers may have been done when Ford engine was fitted to help balance.

Seen pictures of trencher but never ever heard of one existing, but you never know! These have four roller tracks so maybe they used same chassis to make mine.

Interesting that that machine has oak track pads.

certainly is after so many false starts I thought I would never find one. Welcome anytime Norman I have to move everything again now to make room. Does anybody want a truck load of Jeep CJ7 ?

Rhys Why not wait until you can add in some action shots or even a video !

Bring it with you when you come I have the cheque ready!

I have been down to Dorset this weekend to collect what must be the ultimate in Ransomes barn finds. After some brilliant detective work by my friend Anthony I visited a farm early in the year and discovered not one but three rare Ransomes MG machines. The elderly owner was not really wanting to sell but eventually a deal was made for me to buy two machines and leave him with one that was up and running. The three machines were an MG6 fitted with a Demon loader and petrol TVO engine, the second was a 1957 ITW wheeled tractor fitted with an inboard Boughton winch. This machine was used at Brighton railway station for shunting trucks. Originally fitted with a Drayton diesel engine, the tractor now has a later petrol engine. Fortunately I managed to obtain the original diesel engine which has been very cleverly fitted with a flywheel ring gear and electric starter.The third and possibly most rare machine is an ITC Skimmer tractor an amazing machine used for skimming a shallow layer of sand off water treatment filter beds. This machine is ex Bristol Water and was one of a number sold at the Dorset Steam Fair about 25 years ago. Luckily for me it was towed home into an old barn as a project machine for cleaning out a mill stream that never happened. Much of the actual skimming parts have been removed but thankfully the transmission ,tracks and main chassis are untouched and intact. These machines travel incredibly slowly due to an additional final drive reduction gearbox on each track. The original 600cc petrol engine had to drive the machine, operate the skimming auger and power an elevator that loaded the sand into ITC dumpers. Consequently a number were modified to achieve extra power, this one is fitted with a water cooled crossflow Ford engine which is from Mk1 escort ( even has a Weber carb. ) The plan is to fit the original diesel to the ITW and use the petrol engine on the skimmer. ( anyone want an escort engine?) With the 80th anniversary display next year the timing of the find is perfect as I can now guarantee to have at least one of every Ransomes MG machine on display. Hopefully I will have the skimmer mobile under its own power and the ITW driveable pending restoration. Apologies should read ULTIMATE

What letter are we on this month? Can we see the MG40 yet?

link is www.ethanil.co.uk

I came across a method of removing Ethanol from fuel using water there is a kit available but basically it is a matter of adding water to the fuel which then is absorbed by the ethanol and separates out then with a steady hand you pour off the petrol and leave the ethanol. No smoking /naked flames etc. if you try it.

I shall be at classic car show at Raby Castle Norm so miss out this year. Hope the weather improves.

Thanks Norm. If I let you drive one you will have to buy one! Do you want to make me an offer for the Husqvarna chassis?

The sign would look good at the back of my machine shed at that house I think Rhys should give it to me Just managed to complete my collection by the purchase of two more machines, I will post some pics when I collect them. If we get some summer I will set all the full set of models out on the grass.

awesome!

Going to push my luck today and ask if I can put the cleaned hubs and final drives into the dishwasher to make sure there is no blasting grit left inside, sun is shining so I may be lucky! I am missing a part from the engine, it is the alloy cover that goes over the valve springs on the Sturmey Archer T series engine if anyone knows of one I would be grateful may be some old mowers out there that have the same engine.

I see there is one for sale on E bay.

Hi Norman, call in if you are over this way, I have the other idler wheel to drop off at Rumneys.

Been making steady but slow progress with 137, mostly de rusting and shot blasting parts with a few restoration jobs. The final drive gears were absolutely solid with old grease that had gone hard as were the front hubs. I managed to remove it from the final drives by using a hot air gun and some degreaser on a stiff brush it still took about an hour each side. The front hubs were harder as there is a big reservoir are inside which was solid. The biggest mistake Ransomes made was to fit oil nipples that look like grease nipples, there is no part of an MG Tractor that should be greased all the hubs etc use 140 oil, if you use grease a) it blows the seals and it goes solid after time and lubrication stops. To remove the grease from inside the hubs I had to resort to placing each hub on a shallow tray covered in foil and place them in the hot oven of the Aga for an hour. It was like watching a volcano erupt as all the grease melted and belched out through the bearing seats. ( I even got permission!!!)Our Aga oven has a built in extractor fan that vented all the smoke to the garden. I have cleaned up the barrel and head off the engine sand blasted them and then fine ground the fins to take out the worst pitting applied a few coats of black engine enamel looking quite tidy now. In between shot blasting ( letting the compressor have a rest ) I have started to weld up the scars in the side of the body where the worn hubs have allowed the tracks to rub against it. They must have been shot for a long time as in some places the side is worn right through. I ground out the rust and then MIg welded the scars.

I am fed up with dismantling carbs and finding the bowl and choke all corrode by the Ethanol that someone has decided to put int o petrol. I have now bought a large stock of Briggs and Stratton petrol sabiliser hoping that when I go to a machine after a few months I wont have to strip the carb.

I have seen tractors in Russia working on that system, they are used on very wet peat bogs where flotation is essential and traction limited. Get it wrong in those conditions and you are in serious trouble.

I thought you only had black paint!