the showman 4,074 #76 Posted February 19, 2016 Looks like you had a successful day and some photos aswell, well done boys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #77 Posted February 19, 2016 I was not going to mention your near beheading Norman but as you have!!!! Managed to get all 7 running by 7pm tonight the MG5 had not been touched since July and just needed a bit of love and a mag clean. On target for Malvern!!! Tittyvating starts on Monday ! 4 S1g, mg_rob, nigel and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #78 Posted February 19, 2016 Somebody was heading into the garage with head held high I shouted to him to duck so what did he do ? Stamped on the brakes and swerved to the left heading for the garage wall and all between him and it ! Being a man of iron he let go the brakes and eventually shut the throttle coming to an ignominious stop amongst power packs , compressors and Petrol engines people want to pay me money for. No damage done and no skin lost so all's well ! 2 nigel and S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mg_rob 70 #79 Posted February 19, 2016 Are these skimmers steered by your feet? Looking at some of the original skimmer photos posted on the forum it looks like the hand levers are for controlling the skimming head. From the above photo it certainly looks like it turns handy enough on gravel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #80 Posted February 19, 2016 Yes steered by your feet which some people seem to have no control over !!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #81 Posted February 19, 2016 Yes steered by your feet which some people seem to have no control over !!!!! Who nearly drove of the track coming up the garden? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocboni 257 #82 Posted February 20, 2016 You would think you would have plenty time to correct any mistakes with it going so slow! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #83 Posted February 20, 2016 Hit one of the brakes and it can swing round quite quickly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocboni 257 #84 Posted February 20, 2016 Hit one of the brakes and it can swing round quite quickly. I must have made a good job of putting them back together.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #85 Posted February 20, 2016 The left one is rather sensitive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,877 #86 Posted February 20, 2016 reminds me of my quadractor you steered that with your feet even though it had a steering wheel, it was an animal to drive 3 S1g, DevonianRedneck and diggerjames reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #87 Posted February 20, 2016 Machine is mobile and running Neil is going to bring most of the parts he has found for me to display alongside the machine. 4 hpearce, nigel, Stormin and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #88 Posted March 1, 2016 Stuart Cox another Ransomes enthusiast kindly copied an article from an old magazine detailing a collector in Godalming that had a skimmer in complete order along with a dumper, his name was Dave Smith does anyone know him? Skimmer performed well at Malvern engine started very well until I took it off the wagon last night when the fuel pump packed up, my own silly fault as it seemed to work ok I left it alone when I fitted the engine. Stripped it down today to find it was full of crud that must have been disturbed during transport. Sorted it now and just about to refit so that I can start moving stuff around the garage. 2 nigel and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #89 Posted March 1, 2016 Godalming is not far from me Jon. Arround an hour ish Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #90 Posted March 2, 2016 When the skimmer conked out on the way down my drive we thought it had run out of petrol so I put a gallon in. Just discovered today that it was a gallon of diesel not petrol!!! No wonder it wont start, best of it is I was sucking on the fuel pipe yesterday to clear the tank outlet and never even noticed. !!! Duhhhhh! 3 Rocboni, Stormin and nigel reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #91 Posted March 2, 2016 Well it was dark and the wind would blow the smell away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #92 Posted March 2, 2016 Still have your body warmer and oil pan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #93 Posted March 16, 2016 By chance I came across these people who still make a modern version of the Ransomes sand skimming tractor. have a look at www.morrishengineering.co.uk, based in Tiverton. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ransomes256 18 #94 Posted March 16, 2016 Jonathan, Seen these working and the design is only a modern twist on the original Ransomes but with latest technologies in engines, hydraulic drives and rubber tracks. Neil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #95 Posted March 17, 2016 Looks like a handy machine. Yet another case of Ransomes either being too soon with technology and failing to follow through or lacking in sales drive to make the machinery profitable. I spoke to the lad that had the skimmer in Farnborough last night, he told me that he cut it up in 1995/6 as it had no engine and due to the very low clearance under the front he was unable to move it anywhere for shows etc. He did say that he had seen others in the past mostly fitted with Ford 1600 cross flow engines ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocboni 257 #96 Posted April 26, 2016 Recently a chap made contact with me saying he had a Ransomes skimmer chassis and that he had cut off and sold the discharge conveyor and front auger just 3 months ago, he was sure that the guy he sold them to had not done anything with them yet so I asked him to contact him, after a few weeks the parts were returned back to his yard, a deal has been done and hopefully the gearboxes are there just waiting for pictures of them before I commit to anything. To be honest I cant wait to get it and weld it back together !! Apologies Jonathan for hi jacking the thread. 3 hpearce, C-101plowerpower and diggerjames reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hpearce 40 #97 Posted April 26, 2016 Well done Rhys, a great find. 1 Rocboni reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #98 Posted April 26, 2016 Well done Rhys. Something for Jonathan to copy. BTW. He's away till Friday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocboni 257 #99 Posted April 26, 2016 Thanks Normin, I thought he was in the huff with me..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,877 #100 Posted April 26, 2016 Really nice rare find Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
