Ian

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

Yes even I fluff my lines once in a while... You tart...
 
 

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

Great work as always Richard.. The 12 ton press will make life easier on the joints

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

If there was more than one Nigel I'd never get anything done
 
 
 
Thanks Norm.. A bit more of the same in the next video with a splash of "how did he do that?"
 
 
The strip down continues..
 

 
 
Right side A arms and hub.
 

 
 
Left side and rear shock...    Quite amazingly I have had no problems getting any bolts out, a few were very tight to say the least, I think only 2 small ones have broken and they only held the original bodywork on anyways so they are not needed now.
 

 
 
Lot's of welding has been happening, you may remember the sump/engine guard mounting brackets that I couldn't weld on upside down..
 

 
 
Ground back... Ok, this is a different bracket but you get the idea
 

 
 
And fully zapped up.. It ain't gonna move now
 

 
 
Speaking of welding, you will now see why I didn't want to get the engine running before fully welding the frame up...   Lot's of bit's to weld that just couldn't be done with the engine in!
 

 
 
There has only been two bolts that were a right pain to get out, but that was only because I didn't have the right tool was the swing arm bolts with "big ar$e" 17mm Allen key bolts!
 

 
 
But yesterday I was able to borrow the right tool, a 17mm Allen key thingy that fits on a ratchet (Thanks Karl) and after a lot of force that bolts freed up with a loud crack..
Of course the swing arm bearings are shot..
 

 
 
An almost naked frame.. The sump guard is doing a great job of keeping the frame steady on the bench
 

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

Great work as always Richard.. The 12 ton press will make life easier on the joints

I think you might have enough lift there
If it snows this way this winter all I can do is try and clear it with Why Not... Not ideal but doing lot's of donuts might move the white stuff about a bit

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

Oops!
 

 
 
Just a silly fun photo

Yes even I fluff my lines once in a while... You tart...
 
 

I bet the swinging arm bearings are bushes and no grease nipples?

Little bit of progress. So while Ian was cutting up Deck Carrier Bars for his project, I was cleaning and repairing mine.
Finished all the repairs to the Deck Carrier Frame and painted after adding weld metal to some of the parts -

 
Finished cutting the metal for the Baffles and Grinder is good as new .
Started to put the location of the important bend in the facing plates by improvising a press using the Brick reveals of the garage side Door opening-

 
 
Gave up after getting the bend started, as it was too painful for the old joints (the Baffle shapes are also cut out and finished now).
So to sort the metal bending jobs and future projects, I hit the button and ordered a new 12ton capacity Press so I could manage better.
So a reshuffle is required in the workshop tomorrow.
  
 

You're right there Chris, always liked to have stuff arrive.
Just good, clean working order that won't rot through in a few seasons Ian. Brush painting it, so no superior finish  .
 
Finished the Wheel Bolts. Had to Screw cut the start of the 3/8" UNC threads, then use a Die as it was quite hard for me with the Die stock straight off by hand-

 
With the Wheel Bolts done, The Deck Undercarriage is finished ready to fit. Also the Deck Belt Tensioner-
 

 
Deck Shell clean up has been interrupted 'cause the 10 yr old Angle Grinder started haemorrhaging grease.
It had been stored a while, and when I went to use it for this job, Oil had seeped out of the head into the Storage case.
So I presumed it was the old grease breaking down and separating. Got worse, so I dived into it today for an inspection and clean up-
 

 
Both the Race Bearings are good, but not sure about the Driven Shaft (small end) Bearing. Anyway I cleaned up the Commutator and fitted new Brushes.
Repacked the Gear Head with Graphite Auto CV Joint Grease and sealed the joint to contain the Grease, except for a small section at the front, so if it seeps out there, I'll know if there is a problem again. Runs perfect and sounds like a jet engine on wind down, so hopefully get some more use out of it   .
Had to do this job as the steel has arrived and I have to cut it up for the Baffles......That's the Weekend arranged then !.
 

Spending a few hours making the Husky linkage fit the Gutbrod and made it hydraulic lift.  Stripped the ram, Ex forklift tilt ram , And extended the stroke.
Took quite a time to figure out the stroke position but very happy with the amount of lift .

If there was more than one Nigel I'd never get anything done
 
 
 
Thanks Norm.. A bit more of the same in the next video with a splash of "how did he do that?"
 
 
The strip down continues..
 

 
 
Right side A arms and hub.
 

 
 
Left side and rear shock...    Quite amazingly I have had no problems getting any bolts out, a few were very tight to say the least, I think only 2 small ones have broken and they only held the original bodywork on anyways so they are not needed now.
 

 
 
Lot's of welding has been happening, you may remember the sump/engine guard mounting brackets that I couldn't weld on upside down..
 

 
 
Ground back... Ok, this is a different bracket but you get the idea
 

 
 
And fully zapped up.. It ain't gonna move now
 

 
 
Speaking of welding, you will now see why I didn't want to get the engine running before fully welding the frame up...   Lot's of bit's to weld that just couldn't be done with the engine in!
 

 
 
There has only been two bolts that were a right pain to get out, but that was only because I didn't have the right tool was the swing arm bolts with "big ar$e" 17mm Allen key bolts!
 

 
 
But yesterday I was able to borrow the right tool, a 17mm Allen key thingy that fits on a ratchet (Thanks Karl) and after a lot of force that bolts freed up with a loud crack..
Of course the swing arm bearings are shot..
 

 
 
An almost naked frame.. The sump guard is doing a great job of keeping the frame steady on the bench
 

The Mill is a lovely place, George. 
 
As to the drove road marker, my previous abode had grave stones as floor flags and various other stones from the local abbey.

Hi All
Tidy time again at the mill getting ready for the winter hope you like the merry tiller at work and truck carrying an other load of logs
Last picture of stone is from the 1700 and is a drovers road marker it is built into a fireplace in the village sorry it is not very clear as it is well worn
PS the exact date is 1683 wee bit before my time

Getting clever with the video's now, Ian.

It was hard to tell you and your twin apart Ian,   luckily there was only ONE Nigel.

Thanks mate, I'm quite liking them too
 
While busy welding the mesh on the left side I thought I could feel my right leg getting warm!
For some reason I forgot to tuck my jeans over my boots this morning, the foam in the tongue had caught alight and was taking my jeans with it!! Oops!




Fire put out and the mesh welded on..




With MadTrax on axle stands it was time to start making something heavy..




A engine/sump guard made from some rather thick and heavy diamond plate..
The diamonds are on the other side.
A big thank you to Nigel for offering me the plate to use.




A test fit after cutting it to shape.




The front of the guard needed to be bent up a bit, after cutting it part way through and beating it with a big hammer it was time for some heavy duty welding..
Me like my Murex TradesMig.






Another test fit to test the... er.. fit..




I needed something nice and strong to mount the heavy sump/engine guard to the frame...
So I started slicing up some nice thick angle iron.




Sliced, cleaned up, drilled for a bolt, and a captive nut welded on..






Welded on.




Although my welding is getting much better, I just can't get the knack of welding upside down for some reason!!
Which is why the mounts will be fully welded on when I can turn MadTrax on her side..




One of the mounts had to go on the side rather than under the frame tube... Nice welding eh




I think the engine/sump guard is strong enough


You may of noticed a gap between the top of the leg guard thingys and the frame..
Which is why I made a couple of these..




They slot in here..




Welded in.. That looks a lot better now.




I had to find some storage space for a lot of parts, so the "rack sort of thing" under the bench was turned into a big shelf using er.. metal shelves..






So why do I need parts storage space?
Well....
This started happening.




Followed by even more of the same.






Until finally I had reach this stage by the end of play yesterday.




On Monday that last parts will be stripped off, then some serious welding can begin
Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings, comments and questions are always welcome..

To finish up this update, here's the latest video fresh off of MooTube where you can see MadTrax being stripped down and even two of me at the same time...
What more could you want eh
 
 

Thanks mate, I'm quite liking them too
 
While busy welding the mesh on the left side I thought I could feel my right leg getting warm!
For some reason I forgot to tuck my jeans over my boots this morning, the foam in the tongue had caught alight and was taking my jeans with it!! Oops!




Fire put out and the mesh welded on..




With MadTrax on axle stands it was time to start making something heavy..




A engine/sump guard made from some rather thick and heavy diamond plate..
The diamonds are on the other side.
A big thank you to Nigel for offering me the plate to use.




A test fit after cutting it to shape.




The front of the guard needed to be bent up a bit, after cutting it part way through and beating it with a big hammer it was time for some heavy duty welding..
Me like my Murex TradesMig.






Another test fit to test the... er.. fit..




I needed something nice and strong to mount the heavy sump/engine guard to the frame...
So I started slicing up some nice thick angle iron.




Sliced, cleaned up, drilled for a bolt, and a captive nut welded on..






Welded on.




Although my welding is getting much better, I just can't get the knack of welding upside down for some reason!!
Which is why the mounts will be fully welded on when I can turn MadTrax on her side..




One of the mounts had to go on the side rather than under the frame tube... Nice welding eh




I think the engine/sump guard is strong enough


You may of noticed a gap between the top of the leg guard thingys and the frame..
Which is why I made a couple of these..




They slot in here..




Welded in.. That looks a lot better now.




I had to find some storage space for a lot of parts, so the "rack sort of thing" under the bench was turned into a big shelf using er.. metal shelves..






So why do I need parts storage space?
Well....
This started happening.




Followed by even more of the same.






Until finally I had reach this stage by the end of play yesterday.




On Monday that last parts will be stripped off, then some serious welding can begin
Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings, comments and questions are always welcome..

To finish up this update, here's the latest video fresh off of MooTube where you can see MadTrax being stripped down and even two of me at the same time...
What more could you want eh