Ian

Another word would be "Boom".... Quite often followed by the words "Oh", "no", "I've", "killed" and "it"!!!

They must of been really panicking when they hit the brake pedal!!

If you have the paint it would be a shame not to use it

What colour are the wheels going Norm? I'm not sure off white would look right.. Maybe red or silver?

So how did the block at an angle look spinning around on the lathe??? Blurred! So I thought I'd better turn the camera flash on which has the power to stop time for a split second The boring drill bit wasn't quite big enough so I had to use a boring bar to take the hole out to the right size.. "NEWS FLASH.... Tescos has just delivered, but as we were starving we had a pizza while we were waiting!" Anyway, have a photo of a spindle stuck in a steel block at just the right angle A quick bit of reassembly to check block to disc clearance.. There be plenty I will be tapering both ends of the block to make it look nice, but also to give a bit more space allowing me to get the block a bit closer to the wheel.. Mounting the calipers should be easy, just make a bracket to bolt on the caliper and weld the other side to the block A bit of mass production, all machined to length. Turned down to the right diameter and one notched.. The notch is for fitting a rose joint.. This will sit about here... I need to bore a 3/4 inch deep hole in the block to sink the steel bar into.. Which will get the rose joint sitting about here... And that folks is this thread up to date once again... Making my own front end (steering and brakes) is certainly a lot of work and lot's of thinking is involved, but I'm really enjoying the challenge.. Your never too old to learn

Evening all, I was going to do this update later until Tescos had delivered and dinner had been eaten.. But as dinner is currently in the back of a Tescos van which is stuck on a grass verge somewhere (awaiting a tow), I thought I'd make a start now... I hope you all like lot's of photo's as there's quite a few I've turned my attention back to the front end, it would be nice to get it rolling so it can be taken off the bench and wheeled outside for a good look... Anyway, I did a little tweak to the disc hub thingy to create a bit more caliper space inside the wheel.. I'm happy there's plenty of clearance now.. My front end design came from http://www.ronsbits.co.uk a place that sells mower racing parts to... Well, mower racers My starting point is this lot.. A block of steel that need cutting in half, a length of steel bar that needs cutting in four, and four rather large rose joints, here's two of them.. Steel block sliced in two, one half has been faced off in the lathe to make sure it's square.. Or even rectangular The trailer spindles I'm using need a little trim in the lathe, here's Nigel trimming one of the spindles.. Ta Daa.. Now for the fun bit.. The block needs a hole bored through it at a 6 degree angle to give me some good steering geometry.. If I had of had a big enough drill bit I could of just set the bed on my pillar drill to the right angle and drilled the hole.. But as I don't have a big enough drill bit I had to work out how to do it on the lathe.. After a lot of thought I came up with a simple solution using a bit of cardboard and something that looks like a tuning fork but minus the handle! Plonk the block (making sure it's the right way round) in the rectangle conveniently marked out on the cardboard.. Line the ruler up with the other line which just happens to be at the correct 6' degree's to the block.. And add the half of tuning fork until it lines up with the ruler. The end of the fork tips (I need to think of a better name for it ) also has the correct angle to make it line up right... Clamp everything down firmly (there was a 8mm thick plate under the cardboard for firm clamping), and weld the fork to the block..

Thanks Andrew, it was great to catch up with you again And you managed to drink one of my tea's.. A brave man indeed

Nice work Paul, they look grand

Your Ariens looks to have no problems pushing the white stuff about I tweaked your post a little to show the video..

Sounds like your cornering the Lawn Ranger market Jack Once the Wh bug hit's there's very little that can be done about it

Interesting thinking Chris

Thanks mate Thanks Norm, yes wheelie bars could be handy Thanks mate, I couldn't of done it without your help and bead/swage roller Thumbs: Thanks Andrew, it will be good to catch up with you again.. Who looks nuts?? Thanks Chris, I'm mostly pleased with it.. I may or may not change a few of the lines on the fender pan at a later date.. We shall see.. For you viewing pleasure..... The latest video freshly uploaded this morning..

Looking good

Hi Charlie, I use Xara Extreme for my photo editing.. I need to get an up to date copy of it as I've been using the same version for 9 years now!

Very nice Paul, just don't over do the restoration.. It looks nice in it's working clothes

I saw this over on RS the other week, it always bring a smile to the face

I'm glad you turned the heater off.. I was starting to think you were painting it pink Good work Nathan, your soon have it done at the speed you are going

It's good to see work starting on the Ranger.... I use IH red as well.. IH white looks good on the wheels too

My eye's are a bit sore today, which is always a sign I've been doing lot's of welding!! And yes I did use a mask Starting with something small patch at the front.. Chopped.. And patched back up.. Only a bit longer.. Rear panels mostly tacked in place... I was standing on the GT 14+2's seat to get this high up photo Mostly welded up and hit with red oxide to get it all one colour.. When I first put the pan back on I wasn't sure I liked the shape or not.. Maybe the "dropped" bit's should of gone down at an angle? Maybe the top of the drops should have more curve? Anyway, with a seat plonked on and a couple of exhausts sticking it looks a little better.. What do you guy's think?

Thanks Chris, yep the bead roller is a great bit of kit. Thanks Mark, it will look even better in the photo's below Thanks Iain, all I've done really is copy the shape of the back of the original Raider fender pan... Just a bit bigger Agreed Ta muchly Neil.. Interesting thought about a tool box on the back... It would have to be a very light box though as it would be behind the rear axle line as a heavy one would aid not being able to keep the front wheels on the deck Thanks James

Another vote for an all black hood stand here

That's a nice haul Chris, shame you didn't get it a few weeks back, those red wheels look like they would bolt to Why Not's front hubs.. Could of saved me loads of work

Thanks Iain... My plan to get the back looking right? See below Ta muchly Andrew.. An armchair is an interesting thought, but there isn't the space.. The photo's make things look wider than they are.. This morning started with some cardboard templates to try and work out what would look right.. But before I could turn the cardboard into steel I need to A... Make the center bit first.. And B.. Find some steel to make it out of! Treasures from the scrap pile Adding a curve to the center bit.. Yes that is a broom handle I'm about to fold the metal around As it turned out the curve was a tad too tight so it was reshaped around a scaffold pole.. As Nigel (thanks mate ) has a bead rolling machine I thought I'd put it to good use and roll the traditional Wh swage line in the back.. And now the part which ties the arches and center section together... I need to tweak the shape a little and add the swage line tomorrow, then it can be welded in... I have to say I'm quite chuffed about how the back end has come together A view from underneath.. The flanges will be staying as they will add a handy bit of strength to things once they are plug welded together. The flange will also be used for mounting the fender pan, keeping the mounting bolts nicely hidden away..