Valley Axe Man

Had a quick run up to Kendal this morning with John JMD for bit catch up with a couple of lads who'd organised a road run, would have taken the 804 and John his 8340 but would have had 2.5 hours each way without the run so would have made for a long day, anyhow was good to catch up up with Tom and Cliff, but here a couple of photo's of what was about,

Nice find/buy there Smithy, must make you feel a bit better after blowing the header trailer tyre? like Justin says looks a pretty staight tractor

A nice little bundle courtesey of John JMD

@mb86 looks like you were getting on a bit there and spotted the gaffer in the cab with you @smithy looks like you been busy again between repairs and haulage and the cheffins trip, was one of those little marshall 302's advertised as a project for £850...

Doesnt look a bad find the 454 Smithy, well done to you and Goody for saving her

And taking to the track now pulling fans is "Angry Anderson" A few bits to do to her Zac? reckon she wants a bit weight to properly get a hold and help keep the front end from getting too high?? i'd say you still want to build your own out of that pair of hedgerow find Nuffys you bought, but just keep it simple, a 6/98vt out of an older Leyland wagon, would rev nicely, then apart from a bit of chassis and a few hours with a tape and grinder and welder she be in, if its a dedicated pulling toy then do away with the pto clutch and fit a 13" single, would stand the pain of the 6/98vt.... and you'd have a simple puller for not a lot of coin, or if you wanted to go abit more power wise, keep your eyes open for a scrap 245 Leyland, use the bell housing off that and find a perkins V8 ex combine or forager, the 245 bellhousing bolt straight up to it and get you straight on to the 10 speed back end of the Nuffy, more fab work needed though as ideally you'd need to make a channel section chassis from the trumpets up to pick the bell housing up and then on forwards to carry the tombstone for the front axle, beauty of that design is if you bring the channels out of the back of the trumpets to the hitch plate your pulling the full length of the tractor, not just across the trumpets... I've had thoughts of a project like that for a while on and off even to the piont of it being chalked out on the workshop floor to consider the lengths etc but its just laying your hands on the right bits at the right price in the right scrap mans yard.... building it be as fun as pulling with it

A couple more additions, nice Finnish Leyland 253 brochure off a mate in Finland, and a passport to service booklet, contains forms to be signed to say tractor is ready for work and the operator has been given adequate instruction to the controls, plus warranty information regarding the first 50hr free service, along with a trio of Kidd brochures and a Horndraulic loader sheet for the 342/460 nuffields....

Most probably Smithy, there be a couple of folk getting withdrawal symptoms with the lack of baking.... sure job will come right.... before too long been a bit had off for bales around about, spotted a 4000 last night on my way home turning hay with a haybob, that fella has or had a 6 pot nuff that he bought out of one of the local machinery sales, not seen it for a while though, and first time i seen this 4000 there..... Both you and Martin been cracking on though making hay whilst the sun shines.... meanwhile at work in the workshop at work it was definatley a case of Betty Swollocks..... overalls is no good in weather like this

Your right Smithy, it is the same loader as the one i have on the model one, good to hear its kept out of the worst of the weather

Cheers Smithy, thanks for taking the time to get the photo's , she looks a tidy straight old girl, and well kept too, i make her to be a 1966, so getting towards the end of 10/60 as the new 4/65 replaced it in 1967. must spend a bit of time under cover does she? Always thought the 10/60 was the last proper Nuffield that looked like a Nuffield should, the 4/65 was troublesome with overheating and vibration issues but did offer a couple of bettered points in the fact they had a longer wheelbase, a better stronger centre mounted steering pivot rather protected the draglink, and altered gearing for the pto to drop the engine revs down abit.

local-ish to you then, if doors both end then easier to extend when more space is needed

Thats a good do then Zac, was she a local tractor when you got her? well if you get you hanger up in the right position you'll be able to add a bit on the back and keep extending it when you run out of room

it won't take long until you've filled that Zac hows it going finding a home for the David Brown? you had any takers yet?

Not as such Mike, nearest UH got to a Standard was an "F" but all is not lost if your looking for a standard, Malcs Models used to do them in narrow and wide wing as well as green or orange, Brian at RJN http://www.rjnclassictractors.co.uk/ took on the Malcs range and still produces them

Glad alls good Iain, now she's looking well, i'll put my money on 285's and 2100's will look forward to an update when you get her finished

Now then Iain, cheers, as you've seen theres one or two scattered about here in one form or another, aye all is ok and well down here in the Valley, hope all's good with you and your family in the Shire? That sounds like you've a few in mind then look forward to seeing your work again. if you need brochure dimensions of any or photo's just give us a shout, or if your looking for specific, i've contacts up and around you that have tractors you can get at to measure if needed

That blue bonnet line be a familar view for you though John, would make a good photo of yours and Martins tractors together Have you still not found a pair of replacement side panels Martin? i see they still missing in your photo after that scum robbed them off you

Looking good John yet again with a wave of your magic scalpel across your cutting mat you show us something fantastic, that'll be a great looking outfit when the sled is finished

Cheers Smithy, theres a few more little ones id like but will see what happens, some will need to be specials, others just standard but will see what happens Just as and when you get there to get the photo Smithy theres no rush You could be right there John i'm still bouncing ideas about with 802 yet but will see what happens when i've made a couple of calls just to see if whats there is still there for sale.....

Cheers Smithy, its the spot my dad picked as to where he wanted to rest, gets a good view but be hellish wild in winter Thats a bad do John, happen you'll get out on her at 2nd cut if we get some rain... i know Dave Charnley said that when they took the 804 in part ex half the splines had worn on pto with all the use on the chopper, be a grand sight to see and hear would an 804 working hard..... Cheers Lee, aye they sound well yes admitted they have their faults but you forget about them once she starts purring away

Cheers John, i heard there was a fire up there and also a slight one with a bit of smoke up kemple end... be the disposable bbq brigade out picnicing.... maybe your right though although you got a hand in collecting both the Major and Marshall, happen thats why the 802 and Nuffy are taking so long hahhaa

There be one or two on here that will remember my dad, so in memory of the 9th anniversary of his passing i took the 804 up to his final resting spot for a bit of a natter and catch up with him in the sunshine, no doubt he wouldnt have been impressed by me swapping the Major for the Marshall but the sunshine shining and a great view to catch up with him

wonder if John managed a few loads in between Matt behind the wheel Martin.... @jmd pity you not got photo's of silage then and now with them being Marshall men at heart, be like old times if they had the 804 for a day

Thanks Mike, the little ones dont get out that often so theres a few that folk don't know i've collected over the years Cheers John, is that the model or the real one?

Found this last night too, an on going project now for a couple or three years, (almost like my full sized 802) , based on a Scaledown leyland chassis but with bonnet and cab fitted that was in box of bits i got given off Phil's brother this cab and bonnet would have been destined for another 804 had Phil got round to building it to go with the one Stuart Borthwick got and the one that now lives at Robs, I should really get on and finish it now its appeared again