Valley Axe Man

Had thought originally Sean but going to leave it as is once finished, aim is to get her to a safe and usable state that's tidy enough to put in a rally field but not bothering if she gets clarted up

Bit more done... She starting to look like a tractor again now.... Roof temporary refitted to measure up for the internal template for headlining, wiper motor wired up and works off the switch panel, bonnet hinges repaired and bonnet refitted, linkage parts top coated in dark blue, hopefully pick the bits up on Friday for rebuilding the hydraulics so hopefully by weekend she be mobile again.

Got the prototype light pods finished off and fitted today to see what they are like, I think a couple of little tweeks would help the job a little bit so will progress with a second pair and try Joe's rubberised paint...but anyhow lights wired up and after a bit of messing about with a new flasher unit we have almost a full complement of working lights just a headlight bulb out on dipped beam and the number plate light to wire up once the roof goes back on VID_20220918_154328.mp4 VID_20220918_154357.mp4

Thanks Joe, I've given the first pair a coat of satin black but I've ordered a tin to try as think I can improve on the design a little bit over these pair

A cheeky swift one on a Friday afternoon at one of our local watering holes 👍 as much as I'd like to say I don't mind a pint of landlord....it's not the same as a pint of Sheep.....

Thanks for the link Joe, 👍 think that needs a bit of investigation, being stainless I'll have to give the pods a coat of etch primer before anything once they had a good rub over with some scotchbrite to get the paint to stick....

Cheers John, it's funny what goes on when the workshop foreman is away for a few hours 🤣... I know they not the original but will be pretty close in appearance so reckon they will do. I'm not restoring a show winner, just a safe usable tractor 👍

A cheeky couple of hours spent between jobs at work with one if the old hands that I was apprentice to back in the late 90s, anyhow we got talking about the rear light mounting pods for the tractor, and how hard good ones are to find, anyhow a *** packet sketch and a bit of tin found and after a nip and tuck and a bit of the blue light we have a prototype light pod, dimensions are almost where it needs to be, so after a few holes and a bit of satin black paint it should be a usable thing that won't look too out of place to the original rubber ones ...

A few others from the show

Been to collect a few bits for the 472 and called in at Wray tractor show on way back for a quick chat with bloke I bought it off and to look at Tom blade's bit of gold 👌

Attended last of this year's local shows yesterday, held on Duchy of Lancaster land at Dunsop Bridge Gemma and myself took our 465 and 804 along, bonus that we caught up with organiser of last week's local tractor run, they'd had a run over to Lancaster and back and raised just under £400 for the Blood Bikers charity, so we topped the funds up to a round £400 seeing as we were already on another event and missed the local run... Anyhow a few photos from yesterday....

Looks like you had a good day out Mike 👍

Think they will sell well Justin

Cheers Justin, wasn't a bad day but could have done with a few more exhibits, seems to be quite a few Nashes about the shows at Longridge but yes those 6pots have a good following

Was a few, didn't quite know what to expect being a first time event... Though I think maybe Stuart's road run suffered as there were only about 22 tractors on it... Not necessarily due to Longridge but also maybe due to that vintage rally on this weekend at wrea green....

Local vehicle day today so we had a Toby along to give them a bit of support, few photos of a few of the classics. Marshall coloured Landy was a bit of a beast with a V8 in, sounded fit 👌

Looking good John, your project 22 is making a bit of progress 👍

Sounds like they need a better system.... Or more exit routes.... Glad you had a great weekend other than that Zac 😉

Must have been a bind for you getting out of Dorset after seeing your posts with the hectic queue Zac... Well done on the rosette though

Been a busy hour or three with Gemma today, pushing the 472 a bit closer, still waiting on a delivery of bits to put the hydraulic cross shaft back together but that by the by, rear window glazed and new seals fitted, doors hung on 2 new and 2 refurbed hinges then fitted with new handles and latches before fitting the original glass in a new set of rubbers, Gemma almost a fully fledged tractor cab glazer now... Then she set about cleaning engine off, it's not seeing paint yet that will be once she's seen a few hours on the clock to know she not dripping from any seals or gaskets...then finally after a new air induction hose and a fresh air filter element, the side panels, front panels and side grilles got reffited, a bit more wiring to do now for washer pump and wires need going forwards to tank sender and headlights and horn but she starting to look like a tractor again

A couple of days away for the bank holiday weekend with Gemma down in Denbighshire, North Wales, proper off grid but nice to relax with no distractions

Managed a couple of hours this week of a night after work with Gemma to try and get job pushed on abit anyhow with Gemma taking on the top coats of the out sides of the doors, I set about re connecting the linkages to the refitted spools and Quadrant for the main lift and also to the auxiliary for the tipping pipe... Anyhow things were going well until I found the spindles in the hydraulic unit appeared to be seized .. further investigation required so without further a do I whipped the half dozen 1/2" bolts out holding top cover on, to find the problem of a cracked and distorted spindle that the main lift operates off and this in turn jamming the auxiliary, anyhow a bit further investigation found the cam that operates the fork in Draught position of the hydraulics also cracked and broke.... With Gemmas help to compress the spring whilst unscrewing the cap on the spring we had the parts on the bench.... After a chat with a fellow fan of blues it's a common fault for the cam below to break and cause the spindle to bend... Anyhow a bit of web ferriting has located the bits that are required and are in the process of being ordered.... Meanwhile attention turned to a bit of pipe bending to remake the two conduit tubes that carry the wires to the rear lights, this time out of stainless to stop any further rot.... Next job will be to get some dark blue on the ammased new rear linkage...

He certainly likes a bit of oddball stuff

Hope you have a good few days James, young Sam Hodson did well doing little borough to Dorset in 15.45 on his 880 brown... He's a fair man like for tackling that run but he done a good bit for charity 👍

Looks like you and Jasmine had a good day for the road run Smithy, and certainly looks like you been getting a bit done around the farm too...