expeatfarmer

Managed to get all the parts back today, replacement crank was ground to -30 thou. to suit available shells. Hope to start re-assembly in the morning.

Must have been that tasty fairy cake that you had with your coffee that focussed your mind!

Bad news, at some point in it's past there has been a catastrophic failure in this engine which has smashed various holes in the block. These have been superbly repaired with alloy welding, it now turns out that the crank must have snapped and been welded and then re ground. Before grinding it measured 40 thou. oval, machinist tried to grind it round and found a cavity in the weld so unfortunately crank is scrap. Goods news is my friend Anthony in Hereford has sent me a replacement which just needs a tidy up and we should be good to go.

I also have a couple of MG2's I will list shortly. I is complete and again original in grey paint with red fuel tank, it came from a shed on an old airfield in Kent, the other is a part restored machine in pieces.

In readiness for the rebuild I decided to strip the oil pump s and check the internals. One of the ball valves at the base of the pump was completely blocked with a jump of white metal !

Thanks Chris It is in Suffolk collection in person only!!!!

I have a 1952 MG5 for sale, surplus to my collection. It is totally original paint and has traces of coach lines present. Runs and starts well, good tracks with newish rubbers. Toolbox with plaque from Gibbs of Essex. I have fitted new jets to the carb, set the valve clearances and rebuilt the magneto. Looking for offers £700+ Can deliver by arrangement. Call me on 016974 78292. I have the original serial number plaque and some new ones ready to stamp.

A few more tweaks on the digger today, Titch made me some decals for the Ramdozer which I spotted on an old brochure. Not that I am that old but I do find it hard work moving dead machines and working on them so today I set up a new toy to make life easier and hopefully let me carry on playing. I also managed to get my 1952 MG5 running nicely and have now placed it on the for sale page.

Possibility of a new crank shaft from a stock in Canada!!!!

Found some -60 shells in Malta so all may not be lost.

Possibility crank journal may be shot, going to take it down to -30 thou with a set of -40 in reserve but that is about the limit so I may need an MG5/6/40 crankshaft if anyone has one. I must stop letting people have my spares for their projects I had a spare myself until about 3 months ago but let it go to another needy project.

Dont know where you live. Tom is looking for you for some Wheelhorse gearbox bits.

I see you have sneaked a pulley on to the flexi drive coupling/clutch case, is that for a pump or a dynamo? If you are after lights, I bought a pair of brand new ford Dexta lights off Flea bay for £28.

Crank should be ready next week. Taken it to gavin today.

Spent most of the day making up a guard to go around the digger valve block to protect the driver if a pipe burst. Used parts from a Ransomes grass box!!

Taking it to Rumney at Silloth who I think is the guy you mean, he used to have a crawler ,I bought all the implements off him some years ago.Just waiting for the parts to arrive.

Stripped out the engine, big end journal is badly scored, looks as if previous engine owner fitted new shells to a scored crank and subsequent wear debris has blocked oil feed. A lesson to be learned when buying parts, I checked big end for play when I had piston off but did not strip it to actually look at it. Engine has run for about 20 minutes before serious rattle started and oil pressure disappeared.I will now replace all crank bearings and timing chain and then I know for sure that every bearing in the whole tractor is as spec from new.

Titch sanders at Machinery Decals supplied the decals and some unique ones for the dozer copied from an original brochure picture. Thanks Titch. Most of the new parts came from Neil Jarrett and Stennets of Ipswich. Without these guys our hobby would be a lot harder.

Just finished sorting all the hydraulics and it works a treat. Unfortunately the engine has developed an awful knock, the only thing not touched in the rebuild was the big end as it seemed ok, now have to strip it all out. Anyone got a good spare engine?

Looks good enough for loading a Ransomes dumper skip making a useful pair.

Certainly has it was a Yorkshire Water Dumper which I bought from a guy in Suffolk! Minus engine and skip. I had heard of a digger that would bolt in to the Chassis and found a company in France that still made them. I have dropped it lower in the frame to increase the digging depth. The dozer blade is an original ransomes Ramdozer I bought off a lad called Henry down in Kent years ago. I used the original frame to make the blade mounting. It also has an electric start, dynamo and lights I mounted a lucas Dynastart above the gearbox driving a large pulley bolted to the back of the flywheel. Ransomes had a similar set up on some of the ITW machines just driving a dynamo but that worked on a pulley on the clutch casing. I still have a new set of track pads to fit and some of the hydraulics to connect once I have changed the connectors and shortened some of the hoses. The dozer has full side tilt both ways for spreading and snowploughing as well as acting as a ground anchor for digging. Many thanks to my friend Rhys who carried out the re furb of the main tub and track gear. ( only another twelve to do Rhys)

A lot of these machines were painted green at the factory. Does the lift work like a winch off the pto? Have you a rear view photo?

Hi Nathan Fuel pipe runs along the floor up the front of the gearbox and is then posted through the brake band chamber through the hole in the right hand side as you sit on the seat. Alternatively you can route it underneath and come up at the carb side of the engine as per MG6 and 40.

Try putting the assembly in the freezer if it is an aluminium piston it may shrink enough to break the bond.

Hi Nathan The standard silencer is about 7" dia. and about 4" deep but looks very similar to the one you have made, no wadding in it though.