Valley Axe Man

Thanks Smithy, yes getting the wings bolted up yesterday was one of the hurdles we wanted to clear, with the amount of cutting and welding, and some distortion that's unavoidable with the different contraction rates during cooling with the mild steel and stainless steel I've replaced the rot with.... It was a good sign when everything lined up and sits fairly true 👍 As for a needle gun, they not a bad tool, just slower than sandblasting and also noisy.... But cleaner without all the dust and sand.... Maybe was looking at just over an hour per side on the back wheels, a good user will get a fantastic finish but I tend to let the needles rub in a small maybe inch and a half circular motion so you get e percentage of overlap as yo move along the work, the slower you travel the better job it does. The one I have is an old Chicago Pneumatic, it has 1/8 needles in it and my little compressor can keep up with it, at work we have a Descouter with 3/16 needles, does a great job but needs a lot if air through it... Yet my landlord has one that he got from Machine mart and he's never had a problem with it just a handy sized job but it does what he needs it to do

Well someone has to brew up 🤣 aye hopefully get a bit more done over next few weeks, though it'll look like nowts getting done whilst we are playing with the wiring loom..... good to see you though, I'll have to get photos of the envelopes and get them posted up.... 👍

And then finally we got the wings bolted up to check alignment after all the new metal and welding, she's starting to look like a Leyland again

Brakes starting to go back together, expanders cleaned, and checked, new discs and new dust seals, so ready now to fit the linkage and slave cylinders

Another productive few hours on the 472, and a surprise visitor for a natter and a catch up over a brew with John JMD, so Gemma set about the inner wing with the mig whilst I set about cleaning the rear wheels off with the needle gun, Gemma having a go on last side after she'd finished with the welder, before setting on with a wire brush on grinder ready for a dose of red lead next...

Cheers Smithy, seeing as these aren't structural we washed the welds downhill to keep the heat input down and try and stop a bit of distortion... But secretly I think Gemma's a natural to a mig welder

A spare hour so little update, patch cut and clamped in ready for the welder to finish off the left hand inner wing, and the steps has the silly 1" box section extension cut off them that must have been farmer fitted at some point in their life to act as a lower step, ground up the welds and cleaned up ready for a dose of red lead

Is that a trader I see in the front right hand side of last photo?

Cheers John, aye we making a bit of progress, think Gemma enjoying it being so different to her job.... though it's still a long way to go to the finishing line...... Should happen see the back of the welding next weekend for a bit, brakes are ready to drop back in so that'll get done whilst wheels are off, but hope to get them cleaned up and silverd before going back on as they a heavy lump to take on and off... no bother, I'm sure there be summat to see whilst you have a brew if you Bob up... 👍

Looks a good turnout of classic tractors there John, be hope Adam keeps the business expanding for the next 40 years. Good to see a bit more progress with the shed, you be having the 83 under cover in no time once the roof is on 👍

Also got the left-hand side inner wing built up tacked in and welded, joint seam sealed, filled, sanded and given a coat of red lead, won't be long before we can start getting a bit of Leyland light blue splashed about then the windows can start going back in and then refit the mudguards.. she starting to look alot healthier than she did when she arrived. We got left-hand wheel off and then cut out the lower section of the left-hand inner wing cut out where it joins the foot plate, small patch needed but nowt serious on this side that the all panel needs replaced...... Apologies photos haven't posted in correct order....

Another productive few hours up at the workshop with Gemma, she done well today as she picked up the MIG welder and set about tacking in the panel that I cut and clamped in Friday afternoon...Sanded up and then the lower edge cut out and another repair section tacked in and welded, sanded and finally given a good coat of red lead. VID_20220306_114426.mp4

Seeing as the sun was shining, decided to take Gemma's Jack Russell out for a wander around the Valley, anyhow as we passed a local watering hole thought it be rude not to keep our fluids up and had a quiet pint.... Anyhows as I ordered I noticed a thing on the specials board saying giant onion rings..... So thought why not .... Photo of Gemma and one of the said onion rings 👍

Just put it at the back of the shed now it's up, it won't take much harm for now, and once the 472 is getting nearer we can have a chat and see... Being your first I wouldn't do anything too hasty .......

Mmm I been there when the 802 was sat where the 472 is now, I bought the 802 as a stop gap but then I got my hands on the 804 I'd been chasing so the 802 got shelved... Only doing bits to it when I got the urge... Im glad it went to a good home though. I guess that's the thing now you've the big Fords that the 262 gets left out.... Reckon it would make a nice tractor though...

A couple of hours this afternoon see the rot cut out now that the wheel is removed, and a new panel cut and shaped, all clamped up ready for a few stitches with the welder.

Oh hell... Just wants using a bit to keep things free... Though once the rot starts it's a long term project... I'm actually surprised that the bottoms of the inner wings hadn't gone on the 472... But there's a lot of sound metal left in her I've only replaced what was necessary.... Thing is if you sent it up would I send it back 🤣🤣

Cheers Zac..... I'll need to get this one finished before I start owt else... Why is she in need of a bit of intimacy with a grinder and welder??

Copied and pasted off one of my fellow Nuffield fans on Facebook.....putting another side to the coin in the red diesel debate..... Anyhow Rick's thoughts..... We are now less than a month away from a major shakeup in the rules governing the use of rebated fuel (red diesel/tractor diesel) in the UK. Traditionally cars and trucks use white diesel, and everything else uses red diesel. From April the 1st this changes and most must use white diesel, construction sites, factory fork lifts and refrigerated lorry's with a separate engine for the refrigeration, must switch to white diesel. Agriculture still retains the benefit of red diesel, so later this summer when you are in a field turning a bit of hay for the cows with your vintage Nuffield, Fordson or Massey Ferguson as this is still permitted you think all will be ok. WRONG its most likely you will be running the risk of prosecution if HMRC wanted to take it to the letter of the law! Some years ago the "Historic Vehicle" class was introduced for vehicles older than 40 years. When it was introduced I received new V5's for my old tractors with the taxation class changed to "Historic Vehicle". Recently I filled in a V62 to get a V5 for a old tractor I had purchased, this to came through as "Historic Vehicle". HMRC notice 75 on the use of rebated fuels quite clearly states that only vehicles taxed at the concessionary rate for agriculture can use red diesel, historic vehicles must use white diesel. Now obviously we will all be waiting to see just how vigorously HMRC enforces the new rules, but its not a lot of effort to change all you old tractors that are being used for agricultural work back to "Agricultural Machine" after all it will still qualify for nil road fund licence the same as "Historic Vehicle" but with the advantage of being legitimately entitled to use red diesel for agricultural use. Will be interesting to hear comments from others about what I have written and what they will be doing in the future.

Brought my 3/4 drive breaker bar home from work and whipped right hand rear wheel off to allow for the repairs to the bottom front edge of the inner wing.... There's a bit of weight in these Pavt wheels...... Wouldn't want to be handling them day in day out......

Fantastic weather for a ploughing match David. Great photos 👍

Cheers Smithy, aye your right, though I think Gemma's quite enjoying working on the tractor... I'm hoping by the back end of summer for it to be out and about so any faults that develops I've time to cure them before the Christmas road run... she won't be the prettiest tractor on the run and look like a bit of a patch work quilt but if I can keep dry and warm it's a bonus over the 465 😂

Cheers Justin, aye we keep getting a bit done, it's surprising how much progress can be made when you can get stuck into it for a few hours, think progress will slow down abit once I start replacing the wiring loom... But once get that done we can give her a bit of work and see what develops before tackling the cab doors... Be a bit of welding and plating needed in them

And lastly whilst in the mood to watch the blue light I welded up the right hand inner wing, dressed off then I've altered the design slightly by seam sealing and then filling the joint between the 1" box section and the mudguard repair section that I bent up, it's normally metal to metal but seeing as water can sit between on top of the now remanufactured stainless steel inner wing and underside of the box section that given time it'll rot out again so my slight change will help stop that. Might as well try and improve the job whilst I'm at it.... Anyhows sanded down and then given a coat of red lead, just 2 holes to drill and tap to refit the side window and once the back wheel is off I'll fit the mudguard and repair the inner wing at the lower front edge to get this side finished off and ready for a bit of blue paint...

Also the lower longitudinal on the left-hand side side window was trimmed after Gemma chopped it out last weekend, and a length of 1" box cut to length and welded in before being given a lick with the red lead brush