Ian

Oh dear chaps ,sound like junior has been given you a good work out , I will ask Michael if he knows anything about the shnake engine pull , he did say I could exchange it if there were any problems as I payed him extra for that . He also said that the tank was possibly  leaking and he may have another replacement . 
Thank you sooooo much for your perseverance on this , I hope things start to get on your side soon .

Isn't it amazing what a squirt of WD40 and a wipe with a cloth can do
 

 

 

Hi Guy's the time has come to let my GT-14+2 move on to a new home.
 
It's a 1971 model fitted with a Kohler Magnum 16hp engine which is by far the best starting Kohler engine I have ever had.
A battery/weight box on the front.
Cat 1 Three point linkage on the back..
Oh, the roll bar is a bit hard to miss..
 
I will be sad to see the ol girl go, but I need the money to buy something else..
 
Collection from Hawkhurst if you hadn't guessed
 
£1000 or offers
 

 

 

 

 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Some machines just like to fight you, and the RJ has picked the very last stage to er.. Pick a fight!
 
With the fuel tank sealed up inside and painted, and the carb passing the leak test before it was installed the time had come to fire the RJ up and have a drive/adjust the shifter linkage..
I'm not sure if he didn't like coming off the bench or is just scared of being at ground level but the fighting started!
Problems with the pull start not being able to keep hold of the end of the cable and the re-coil wasn't!
Cable and re-coil eventually sorted only now the jaws bit that grabs hold of a hexagonal shaft on the engine wasn't grabbing any longer!
When the pull start is off the engine it works fine, but once fitted!!   
 
Sometimes walking away is the best option and go back to the problem with a fresh head.. Which will be happening tomorrow..
 
The dull weather makes the paint look darker than it actually is..
 

 

 

 
 
I almost forgot!!!
 
 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Isn't it amazing what a squirt of WD40 and a wipe with a cloth can do
 

 

 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Thanks Iain, it was painted with enamel.
 
 
Neil's RJ is so close to being done I can almost taste the first test drive
 
A few detail jobs, the points cover was missing a gasket so I had to make one...
 

 
 
The exhaust was missing a clamp and little doo dat that clamps between the exhaust and frame... Sorted
 

 
 
The foot pegs didn't have the optional? foot rest thingys (I don't even know if RJ's could be ordered with them?) so Nigel put some rubber shrink wrap stuff over the pegs to give a bit of grip and stop the paint wearing away.
 

 
 
Sorry Neil, a change of plan for the wheels... We thought gold would look much better and Nigel had all these cans of wheel paint kicking around you see..........
 

 
 
Only kidding
 

 
 
A second coat is needed at this point.. As is first coating the other side
 

 
 
Wheels second coated and bolted back on...... I can't help but grin every time I look at the RJ
 

 

 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

Yesterday the little RJ started going back together, lift cable first followed by the engine.
 

 
 
I put a couple of bit's of inner tube on the frame before dropping the engine on.. It makes it easy to line the bolt holes up and stops the frame getting scratched while moving the engine about.
 

 
 
Cleaning out the grease nipples in a little petrol
 

 
 
Pulleys and drive belts on.
 

 
 
Front axle and steering on.
 

 
 
The crowning moment..... The tank isn't fixed under the hood yet, but we just had to have a look
 

 

 

 

 
 
Not much left to do, the paint for the wheels and the fuel tank sealant should arrive tomorrow, and I need to sort the carb out now the rebuild kit has arrived..

Really moving on with the RJ rebuild now, the frame has been cleaned up, primered and the underside has been top coated hence why the frame is on it's side
 

 
 
Is this strange two part valve arrangement a USA thing?  We had never seen it before!
It turns out that the strange two part valve is to make it easier to ballast the tyres. Thank you Evanloock on RS for the answer
 

 

 

 
 
Top coat time,
 

 

 
 
Meanwhile I find this old WH rear wheel with bolts welded through from the outside (not by me I should add)... 
 

 
 
Makes a perfect tool to hole the RJ's front wheel for a clean up.  Note the crack in the paint...
 

 
 
Well, the crack is actually in filler!!   Someone did like the ol bondo in the past!
 

 
 
And to bring this build thread up to date, lot's of freshly painted panels and parts
 

 

 

 

 

 

Glad your enjoying the build Neil, how could we not do a thread when there are so few RJ's over here...  It gives me something extra to make a few video's about as well
 
More progress..
 
Getting the knackered tyre off the front wheel rim was fun, the tube put up more of a fight than the tyre!
 

 
 
Does anyone know what the random hole in the wheel rim is for? It doesn't seem to line up with anything on the RJ and I'd of thought it would have two holes for bolting a wheel weight onto!
 

 
 
I wondered why the paint off the bottom of the gas tank had been stripped, someone has done a solder repair..
 

 
 
What's Nigel spotted in the tank?
 

 
 
Nope, it's not a mini star system but quite a few holes instead!
 

 

 
 
Some detail brought back by cleaning up  the pull start casing..
 

 
 
Cleaning up the rear wheels.. Someone at some point had flattened the paint back to a beautiful smooth finish and then for what ever reason gave them a quick (very quick) spray with grey primer..   The odd rusty bit cleans up very easily
 

 
 
The other rear wheel decided it wanted to leak water on my bench!     10psi later and water was pouring/bubbling out all over the place!    I'm not looking forward to popping the tyre off the bead to clean the water out and see how badly rusted it is inside!
I must remember to take a photo of the tyre valve tomorrow as I've never seen one like it!
 

 
 
A hint of things to come
 

 
 
Not forgetting of course
 
 

More of an RJ update for you chaps, let's have a look at the hood/bonnet shall we..
 
Interesting, a repainted gas tank with no fuel tap (Neil did mention it leaked ) and lot's of paint cleaned off the bottom!
 

 
 
What's going on under (or is that above?) the tank?
 

 
 
Soooooo... Someone has ground back the filler smoothing out the underside of the hood/bonnet to weld on new fuel tank straps! 
I'd guess when the hood was painted no tank straps were fitted.. It so happen that the strap welds are in the same place as the filler cracks above!
 

 
 
Who ever did it thought something sucked as that's what it looks like has been written!
No idea why when I upload this photo it turns it sideways!
 

 
 
Oh, and the top of the tank never got painted!
 

 
 
Out with the grinder and a workshop full of filler dust later it was good to see the rust was surface rust only, and only where the filler had cracked...    And a random pop rivet!
 

 
 
As the bonnet/hood has quite a lot of ripples under the filler, there was no point in taking it all out only to replace it.. So with the surface rust carefully cleaned back to bare metal the first layer of filler went back in..
 

 
 
Easy sand no pin holes filler eh! At least the easy sand bit was right.. No worries, a second skim will sort it.
 

 
 
Meanwhile I catch Nigel dancing with some masking tape and a bench full of RJ parts!
 

 
 
Some parts like the gear (I'm not sure it should be called that!) lever had never be repainted, so here it is with all the thick surface rust cleaned off awaiting some red oxide primer.
 

 
 
Some parts in the "need to to have the paint flattened back to give the primer a good key" Que
 

 
 
Some primed parts hanging about the place.
 

 
 
The hood now looks good with a fresh coat of red oxide primer, I'm happy with the overall shape of my filler work, there's a just a couple of little spots that are annoying me.. I will sort them tomorrow.
 

 
 
 
 

Thanks mate, were still waiting to drive the RJ as you will see..
 
So what can I say about the RJ... I think AARRGGHHH sums it up quite well!
 
I don't know what the RJ has against us but it's really fighting us at the very last stage!!
 
You would think something as simple as putting the steering wheel on would be easy, but no!
When the RJ arrived the steering wheel was held on with a bent nail.. Now most of the time it's because the original roll pin? has been lost at some point in time..
Not this time.. The holes in the wheel and column didn't actually line up very well so a nail was the only thing that would fit in!
I guess the steering wheel isn't the original!
Anyway, some very careful drilling and the wheel is now held on with a custom made quick release clip thingy 
 

 
 
"Deep breath"... Now onto the engine..
 
The very nice looking Schmacke or is it Schmacko? (It's hard to read on the photo's) has been driving us nuts!
The recoil didn't want to which was eventually sorted, the the "gripping" bits that grip the hexagonal shaft on the engine decided it didn't want to to the gripping bit!
Quite why we just can't work out, nothing is broken and it works 90% of the time when not fitted to the engine..
Fit it to the engine however and it will work for a couple of pulls then stop again!
If I had to count the amount of time the recoil unit has been on and off the engine both Nigel and I would have to remove our boots and socks as we would run out of fingers to count on very quickly!!!!
 
In the end for the sake of our sanity we decided to swap the recoil until over for one that works the more normal way, which in it's self is almost a straight forward swap...
Woo-Hoo we can pull the engine over again.... But why is the engine cover moving around so much???
 
That would be because there should be a bolt where this hole is... The trouble is the backing plate is missing most of the threaded bolt hole as it had been broken off at some point in it's life!
We do have another good backing plate to swap over, but that involves a lot of stripping two engine down to swap parts..
 
Forward one step, back two or is it four?
 

 
 
It's not all bad news though, we have had the engine running.. For a short while anyway..   Once started it would run quite nice for a few mins, then start running rough, then eventually it would stop!
 
Best have a look at the carb again, pulling the pin out that holds the float in place was nerve wracking as the casting one side which holds the pin in place isn't as strong as it should be..
 
Can you spot a problem?
 

 
 
Yep the new O ring doesn't like petrol and has grown somewhat!
 

 
 
No chance what so ever of getting this jet thingy out!!!
 

 
 
It looks like someone has been at the float valve thingy already!
 

 
 
Getting it out was er... Shall we say interesting!
 

 

 
 
The carb has now been put back together and will be going back on the engine once the backing plate has been swapped over (tomorrow hopefully) and the "will it run ok?" sequence can start over again..
 
 

She is looking awesome , I wished I gave you the dozer blade that I have for her to be painted the same colour , you both have done an amazing job and I can't wait to see her doing som MPH .

Hi Guy's the time has come to let my GT-14+2 move on to a new home.
 
It's a 1971 model fitted with a Kohler Magnum 16hp engine which is by far the best starting Kohler engine I have ever had.
A battery/weight box on the front.
Cat 1 Three point linkage on the back..
Oh, the roll bar is a bit hard to miss..
 
I will be sad to see the ol girl go, but I need the money to buy something else..
 
Collection from Hawkhurst if you hadn't guessed
 
£1000 or offers
 

 

 

 

 

The mower that you have is a Qualcast Panther.

I think it's a Ransome, I will have a good check later. 
 
Thank you Hillsider for pointing out it's a Qualcast Panther
 
Dusty, dirty but everything turns as it should do.. It even comes with a grass box.
 
£25 or offers..
 
Collection from Hawkhurst, Kent.
 

 

This wasn't a planned thing, but as we had 5 Wheel Horses in our workshop we thought it would be nice to see them all lined up
 

 

 

 

Not a great deal to report as I've not been up the workshop apart from a few hours Friday where my body needed a break from all the festive sitting around!

Trying to follow a wiring diagram on a smart phone (printer out of ink) was interesting but I did manage to remove a few more un-needed wires from the loom...
It's starting to look less frightening now
 

 
 
Just before silly season hit I pulled the gauges out of a box to finish them off..
The glass "eyebrow"/top/bit that actually holds the gauges in (the pods were make from ride on mower headlamps remember) needed a little something to stop them from flying apart during high speed jumps/crashes (delete according to taste/fear/bravery).
A bit hard to see from this photo snatched from video footage, but there is a small Allen key bolt that screws through a hole in the lip thingy into a threaded insert welded to the pod body.
 

 
 
Gauge pod body's and trim/eyebrow top ring thingys hit with the black stuff..
 

 

 
 
To finish this update off here's the latest MadTrax video where I play around some more with special effects and a few sound effects as well..
I even do some work on MadTrax
 
 

Yesterday was spent cleaning and painting the engine.. Once the radiator and mountings plus the carbs were off the engine looked a lot smaller..
And a lot cleaner after lots of time with wire brushes on a drill
 

 

 
 
Parts like the fan shroud were very rusty..
 

 
 
But after a lot of cleaning, priming and top coating it looked good along with the radiator..
 

 
 
And the radiator/front engine mount thingy.
 

 
 
The engine looks quite good too