Ian

Back in the arena on Sunday, and here's Ethan and machine not being towed    Only kidding mate, I know the machines fought you a bit over the weekend..

Why does this one remind me of the alien out of er... Aliens?

The Weeks without the water leak.....

I think it was scared of fingers

The sound of this engine was just fantastic.. You could feel the rumbles through the ground.

Lot's of chattering going on in the arena..

The Wheel Horse spinning display team entertain the crowds while trying not to hit each other

It's the Wacky Racers

Evening all, what a busy, hectic and fantastic weekend Tractorfest has been.. It has left me feeling shattered but I can't wait for next years show

Anyway, my brain has been awake enough today to grab a few stills from my video footage for you all, I might of got a little carried away

So let's start with Kev and his finger chasing a water leak on the Weeks..

One of those "Gulp" moments as I do my first ever talk over a PA system to the crowds!

While the Showman ran off and hid from the microphone

Steve made a valiant start on turning the soil in the working area with the Jobber..

But due to the show only being on for 2 days the reinforcements were called in

Nigel and Noddy ploughing. This was Nigel's first time ploughing, by the end of the weekend he had it down to a fine art.

Chris on his Trachorse doing a bit of leveling..

But even though he tried he didn't manage to bury the cameraman

A Colbey doing it's soil turning stuff.

I can't remember this chaps name (sorry of your reading this ), but he is a top chap, always willing to help and give advice about ploughing etc

And this photo just because I like it..

Stay tuned as there is loads more to come.... I did say I got a little carried away grabbing screen shots

A fantastic display as always Chris

And one of the Jobbers was seen in action

I will 2nd that.. Thanks Kev and Ethan for making it a great weekend, you both made us all feel at home

Your going to have to wait a while for the video though Ben, rather a lot of footage to go through

What a fantastic weekend that was.. And rather fun as well

I didn't take may photos at the show but I do have a lot of video footage to go through when my brains awake enough..

that axle looks interesting...

It does indeed

 Good job you have double width doors on the Shack Ian !, Is this one going to need a Drag Chute and Castors on the back?.

Yeah the double door will come in handy for sure     Not sure about the drag chute Richard, but a set of wheelie bars would be sensible

I'm thinking "duallys" but put the second set of wheels inboard instead of outboard!

Interesting thinking Doug, but the axle would still be way too wide..

Which is why yesterday I cracked the Reliant axle open to see what was involved in the narrowing process

The diff is in good condition but the bearings have seen better days and will need replacing.

The actual axles are quite meaty bit's of kit's, 27mm diameter.. For some reason I was expecting them to be a little smaller (Well it is Reliant after all), so I was happy to see the actual size of the axles

I don't really need to take the rear hubs off, but while the axle is apart I should really fit new hubs bearings so off the hubs must come..  Even with the brake shoes etc removed it's still going to interesting getting the axle and hub under my 10 ton press.

I was thinking that taking some spare chain was a little OTT.. Not so sure now

I think I'm going to have to book Karl in for some welding lessons

Yep, I'm welding on full tilt.. 6013 cheap welding rods. The bushes are steel one's Mark. I turned them up on the lathe as I didn't like the chances of welds holding on to the cast bushes!  I should of just tried it, It may of worked better

I will also add that my welding isn't at it's est when I'm having to lay on the ground to do it.. If I could put the axle and sprocket on the bench to weld it up all would be fine..

Thanks Mark, chatting with Nigel about the problem we thin it's all down to my arc welded not being able to produce enough heat to really get a hold on the axle!   At some point very soon I'm going to take my Mig welder to Nigel's and try it out with gas and proper welding wire.. If it does what we hope it will then the time to ditch the arc welder will come

We do like it George       If it were mine I'd not restore it, I think it looks great as it is

Just a thought on the key way Mark, do you remember when I found the knackered key way on the GT's hydro pump and I started making a "key" that would fit out of brass stuff so I could stick it in the key way and weld around it?

Would that work on your axle?

That's quite a transformation Charlie... You have done a fantastic job

Er... Too late Ben, it broke twice today!!

Backing it out the shack to load it onto the trailer and a sprocket sheered off an axle again!!

So, I welded it up again, drove it up to the yard at the top and drove it onto the trailer with no problems..

20 min's driving later and Nigel and I arrived at the show site...

I unloaded the 6x6 and guess what.. Yes my welds sheered again :banghead:

So back on the trailer the 6x6 went and off to Nigel's workshop we trundled where Nigel's son Carl who knows how to weld and has the bit's of paper to prove it welded to sprocket back on again.. And a rather good job Carl made of it too

Back at the show site once again and the 6x6 was unloaded and given a test thrashing by Nigel......    Nothing broke

Another one!!      So, how many walk behind mowers do you have Ben?    All of them I'm starting to think

A nice machine Ben and certainly something different

Your own version of WH Red Square

Very good

Your new "C" looks a good solid machine James.   I love the "C" deep dish front wheels

For those at the show who want MOM stickers, come and speak to me. Mark has sent me down a load for those that want/have asked about them

Thanks Guy's    What I didn't mention last night is the er... Slight change in how the 6x6 steers as you will see

Which beast Koen?  I sometimes call the 6x6 that but it's more of a "just in passing" name than a nick name..

Or are you talking about this beast?

My first two "ride on's" were both Westwoods... Quite strongly built machines but it's a shame they skimped on the glue that holds the paint on

The only one in my herd that has a nick name really is "Why Not"

Well, yet another day in the shack trying to get the 6x6 driving again, and what do I have to show for it!!!

Only a few photo's that were grabbed from some video footage

Going in!!!

In! 

Coming back out after remembering 1 second too late that there was a tree on it's side in the nettles!

The Raider looks like it's angry with me!

At least it wasn't only me that crashed the poor Raider

And to finish off..... Going up

It looks just fine to me Chris, I like your "dare to be different" attitude by getting a red gazebo