britainswomble

Me too.......especially if it was the time when I went to school. Pre comprehensive schooling, ie Secondary and Grammar School era. The days when prefects roamed the corridors to maintain law and order, teachers commanded respect and politeness from pupils, and had the authority to deal with disruptive trouble makers, education hadn't been "Watered down" with liberal thinking, correct school uniform had to be worn, teachers weren't bogged down with paperwork and restrictions on how they taught subjects, English language had to be spelled correctly, and the correct grammar used. None of this "It's more important a child expresses themselves, than spells everything perfectly or uses the correct grammar" It takes years to create an excellent education system like we had, and months to destroy it by allowing standards to fall. My last couple of years at school were great, the teachers had our best interests at heart, treated us with respect and became our best friends too. I recently met one of my old school teachers when delivering heating oil. He remembered me and a lot of the pupils of my year, remembering a lot of personal information about us, especially the fact that we used to hide his MG Midget convertible during break times. We used to move it from one side of the school to the other, real teamwork with lookouts for hiding places, pushers and a driver. (Amazing memory.........I left school in 1969) We had some fantastic times, fantastic teachers, loads of fun and hard work, short hours, loads of totty and hundreds of happy memories. What a life. :D

Gonna have to start saving for this one. I drove one of the smaller models at the Ford Training School in the mid eighties. A really good strong simple workhorse. What a lovely looking model this is. I wouldn't do it to mine; but it would look really good "Dirtied" up a bit like the one on the box.

I would have thought the transmission oil should be a straight 30 grade or a universal tractor oil without the brake addative. That would suit both the hydraulics and the transmission. Thinner oils may reduce the performance of the hydraulics allowing it to leak back through the pump when it is hot. The hydraulic trailer coupling fitting is what was known as the Exacta type coupling and larger than the similar Dowty type. Both should be self sealing, so if it leaks then it will have to be replaced. I imagine most tractor dealers will have them as an on the shelf item. Your tip pipe works off the lift arm hydraulic circuit. When the lift arms are fully raised, the oil under pressure is then fed to a trailer tip pipe. With reference to the hitch; does it have a hook or a clevis drawbar. If it has a hook, there should be along pin with a lever on the end to help get it out. There are parts missing if it has a hook, and needs the T bar which fits on to the link arms and the axle casing where the post hole borer was fitted to. This part has a spring loaded pin on the centre leg of the T which locks the pick up hitch in the raised position. There are also two long flat bars with angled ends which go from the lift arms to the pick up hook, which raise it. Chances are if it was fitted with a pick up hitch; you will find the parts you need laying around in the pile of bits in the barn. Good luck with your tractor, it looks to be a real bargain, especially as it's so straight and original. Er..........jus checked.............it az a ook. Get looking for the rest of it P.S. Don't use a DTE oil in the back end.......it is a hydraulic oil, but not suitable for transmissions!!

http://www.railwaypictures.co.uk/data/thumbnails/2/UK_60_100_New_Barnetby_07-08-2003a.jpg This is an engine identical to the one pulling the fuel train into Murco's Sorry it's such a tiny picture, but you can always visit the website if you want to see it full size. Some information on the engine...........Its 147 litres in size, straight eight, turbo'd and intercooled, idles at 400 rpm and produces full power of 3100 HP at 1000 rpm. :o :P *http://web.ukonline.co.uk/class60/technical/engine.html

Sorry to hear about your sad Losses Simon and Mandy. Unfortunately, that is the downside of pets. They have such short little lives and bring us so much pleasure, be they small or large. There's never a good time for anything to die, but at least you've both given them a life of love and companionship, which is more than can be said for a lot of unfortunate animals and pets. We've lost too many cats this year, one died after getting attacked by another cat after an operation, he was only just a year old. We lost a five day old kitten and recently three seven week old kittens that died of what we think was pneumonia, although the vet said there wasn't a lot wrong with them. We also lost our lovely cat known a Row Row (Her greeting), who was run over by someone who wasn't looking where she was going. She was a very special cat, and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried when I had to bury her. All we have of her are photo's and lots of happy memories. She had a very special relationship with us as she didn't get on at all with other cats. :'( Don't ever feel guilty about getting a "Replacement" for your pets; as you will give another beautiful animal the love, companionship and affection it deserves, making its few years with us as enjoyable as it ever could be. Happy memories and photos will always be with you. Sadly nothing lives for ever

Went to Murco's fuel depot at Theale to pick up 18,500 litres of petrol and 20,500 litres of derv, only to be told on arrival that the fuel train hadn't arrived. It normally comes in at six am, but didn't arrive until 9.20. Gave me time to catch up on some sleep as I arrived at 6.15 after a two hour drive. I watched them bring the train in for unloading; something I'd never seen before. Great to watch and loved the sound of the big diesel loco pushing it. SOME INTERESTING FIGURES, for train lovers and those of you that love big kit. The train had thirty tankers in tow, each one had a capacity of 101,000 litres. On the side it displayed a weight for each of 79 tonnes. The loco had a weight displayed of 130 tonnes. A quick bit of working out means that there was an all up weight of around 2,400 tonnes + the loco at 130 tonnes. In terms of fuel capacity; that equates to 3,000,000 litres of fuel (Roughly). That is their daily delivery, and we are talking about a small distribution depot with three loading bays. Most of the tankers are Murco's own and a very large number of Total tankers. Given that the average artic tanker holds about 40 to 42,000 litres, that equates to about 75 artic loads leaving the depot per day. :o Given that 75% of the fuel is tax (At least) and diesel sells at around a pound a litre; that means that Murco's train load will raise 2.25 million pound for Greedy Grabber Gordon and the Labour Dictatorship. :o No wonder they don't really want us to stop using our vehicles, knowing how much tax they are paying, and how much more they can milk us for. >

How do you keep records manually if you can't use your digital tachograph.? Do you put manual entries on a tacho disc, or is there an approved method of doing it. Can you not have two cards with the same ID, or is that a no no. We aren't on digital tacho's, so I know very little about them even though I should. None of us holds a card at the moment although I think maybe one of us should, just in case we have to hire a truck that's fitted with one. I suppose if we needed to hire a truck and it had a digital tacho, then we wouldn't be able to use it; or can we keep manual records too? I'd be interested to hear your answers if you know the ins and outs of digi tacho's? Cheers, Will.

I bought a blue and grey one at the Ardingly Vintage Show in July. They are quite a nice looking tractor. They are available as kits, but I bought one ready assembled and painted for twenty eight pounds. The worst thing about them is the wheels. The front ones wouldn't have been cast four slot as on mine; they would have been pressed steel 6.00 x 18's, which I'm pretty sure was the factory fitting. The rear wheels are wrong too. They are Fordson Major / E27N type wheels, not the scolloped centres as they should be, and the rear tyres are a very poor fit. The three point linkage works and fits well. The castings are fairly good, but although not immediately noticable; the whole casting is narrower than the original. It wasn't until I stood it beside an original that I noticed that point, so items like a loader and muledozer will not fit on to it. Colour wise; I'm not too sure. The grey wings are a bit dark and the bonnet etc seems a little bright; although I think the New Performance Majors were a brighter blue than the Fordson Empire Blue. I don't regret buying it because I love Majors and couldn't afford to pay the prices they fetch on E Bay, but I don't think I would buy another.

Whatever possessed them to stick that ridiculous looking seat on it. Surely an early model with the round wings should have a seat like the MF 65 or Power Major type seat. Does anyone know if it has a P.U.H. or a drawbar on it, as the 35X didn't have either in the pictures I've seen.

A Massey Ferguson 500 Quad Bike.................pulling eight trailers We went to Tulleys Wells Farm at Turners Hill near Crawley and they had a childrens ride which consisted of a quad bike pulling eight trailers made from plastic water barrels with the sides cut open and a seat fitted inside, and floatation wheels underneath. The kids absolutely loved it.

Been making a tipping 10' x 6' trailer for my 1/16th UH Power Major. At this stage I've made it out of cardboard to see if it looks right before attempting making one in plastic. I didn't want it to look clumsy or ill proportioned. As there are few affordable or realistic looking implements for the 1/16th scale; I thought I would make my own. The ideas being simple ones to start with, like the above, a bale trailer, transport box, yard scraper, a Ferguson or Bomford type cultivator. The bale trailer will probably be another tipping trailer, like the Wheatley or Weeks 3-4 ton models, with a 3' bale extension and hay ladders. That should keep me busy over the winter, and most of the implements mentioned should be within my capabilities. I don't have a lot of money to spend on new models, although I do have a Banner Lane UH MF 135 on order and a UH 135 and Power Major in 1/32nd scale. They were ordered in early August from Farmmodels. They were supposed to be available in September................not sure which one though.

Bruder have been making models for a long time. This would almost certainly have been made in the early mid eighties and their models have progressed beyond all recognition to the high standard you see now. I have a mid 1980's Case International 1056 XL. It looks too short to be a 1056, more like a four cylinder one. It isn't very detailed or realistic as it has hollow wheels with an industrial type tread like a loading shovel, the rear hubs are completely wrong. Modern implements still fit on the back although they seem a little large for it. I'm pretty sure they are 1/16th, after all the MB 130 wasn't that big a tractor by modern standards. I bought my Inter because I've never seen one before and couldn't decide whether to leave it as it is, make it look more realistic or upgrade it. Despite being a Ford fan, I've always liked the XL cab and it does represent a twenty year old tractor. If you are interested in an MB; then buy one. I paid peanuts for mine and who knows, in a few years time they may be as rare as rocking horse poo and very collectible. I'm really impressed with Bruder now. Their range is fantastic and the quality for the price and playability is outstanding.

That's a lovely looking bit of kit................what does the model one look like? And before you numpty me, I am joking.

Been on the first day of a weeks holiday................HOORAY...... It started off really well. I got a phone call at 4:15 this morning from Adrian who was driving my tanker. Sorry to call you; he said, but the truck's broken down. The propshaft bearing support has snapped off. I went in to work and had to meet him at Tonbridge with our spare artic unit. Then I went to Shoreham (The one in Sussex, not Kent), picked up a new part, went back to Tonbridge to fit it, drove the truck back to our yard and then got a lift back to Tonbridge to pick up my workshop van. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

http://www.opico.co.uk/agmac/grain-dryers/batch/index.htm There you go...............some grain dryers.

As long as you can still av a B.J.[/in a lay by.......... assuming yer engine is switched off and the handbrake applied. Still if porcus trafficus (Oink- oink) catches you; you can always say you were teaching GF how to change gear with the help of some baby lotion. She was just about to go into overdrive, and you were about to exceed the limit...........going from sixty eight into a full sixty nine..........Har har har ..........SNORT (Sorry my posh laugh again) :D

What about drinks cans as a supply of sheet aluminium. Watch yer fingies on it though....cos it dont arf cut. Cutting it without wrinkling the edge might be a problem so I would suggest a paper guillotine. The type with the long arm would be better than the wheel type. Er....jus tryin to be elpful.

I'll go along with that and add the Massey 2680 to the list.

Weather in East Sussex............Cold and windy (North/ North Easterly) this morning after a very moonlit night..........Wet and a lot colder still this afternoon. Spect it'll probably snow in the next couple of weeks..........it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Annoyed aint the ****ing word for it. I'm bl**dy fuming. Had a letter from DVLA reminding me that my HGV license expires on the 26th of October, due to the fact that I have to have my five yearly medical for it to be renewed. I rang the doctors for a late afternoon appointment; only to be told they only do them at 9am on Wednesdays. Great, I thought, if I'm picking up fuel from Theale, I'll be rushed to get there on time, and probably be sat there with a few more people who also have 9am appointments > > I asked the receptionist how much it was and she calmly said, "Oh, it's a hundred and forty eight pounds" I said "HOW MUCH" :o :o :oand she repeated it again. I said "That is unbelievable" WHAT A RIP OFF. The last medical I had lasted about twenty minutes. They must rub their hands together when they do these. Imagine that..........three in an hour............four hundred and fifty quid, and they aren't swinging on my clangers this time either, cos there aint nothing on the form that asks if my clangers are still attached to my body. They can stick to what is on the form. So much for National Insurance contributions. As this is to ensure the safety of other road users; it should be covered by the National Health Service. WHAT A TOTAL RIP OFF..........IT TAKES ME FIFTEEN BLOODY HARD WORKING HOURS TO EARN THAT SORT OF MONEY. OK SO THEY CAN SAY THAT I CAN'T DO THEIR JOB........SO WHAT........THEY CANT DO MINE EITHER ??? > > > > > > > > >

The Claas Matador is a stunning looking model and definitely on my want list. There were loads of them in Sussex; but I don't expect there are as many now. One of the reasons they kept going was down to Manns of Saxham, who had a very good backup on spares for them. Like many combines; the internals didn't change that much, so spares were never really a problem. I'm inclined to agree with an earlier post about the M133 New Holland combine, they too were a very reliable and popular combine and I'd love to see a model of one in production. The combine I would dearly love to see as a model would be the beautiful (If you can describe a combine as that) Massey Ferguson 500 or a 400 (1961/2) It shouldn't be difficult to make as it was a very streamlined machine, and years ahead of anything else at the time. They had an excellent drivers position with unrivaled all round vision,,, very neat controls, and the first combine to my knowledge to have a hydraulically retracted unloading auger. Perkins 6.354 engine and a hypnotic rotating air screen for the radiator, which had a red and yellow spiral on the end of it. Very decorative for the time it was made. A really great combine to drive. Another little feature on it was the "Saddle " grain tanks. The driver could select which side the grain went into if required; which greatly improved traction and stability on banks. They were good hill climbers too as the engine and grain tanks were both directly over the drive wheels. Sorry........I'm getting a bit pre- orgasmic there ........best stop for a few seconds..........phew...that's better. Luvverly bit of kit though. *

Isn't satellite guided steering clever.......... Do JD's still have the little chrome arrow head on the end of the bonnet. Damned useful for lining it up with the tree at the other end of the field. Its always a good idea to make sure you remember which tree you were lining up with; in case you look away for a few seconds. Pick the wrong one and everyone will hear about your mistake.. :o I would love to own a classic tractor and a plough to enter some ploughing matches. Starts and finishes in conventional ploughing would be my weakness. I've set up many new ploughs and ploughed a lot of ground on demo's, but nearly all of it has been with reversibles. Ransomes, Dowdeswell and lastly Kverneland. I think my favourite small ploughing tractor would be a Ford 4610 4WD with the AP cab and the old floor mounted gearsticks. A lightweight Dowdeswell three furrow reversible would be a good match for it. I particularly like the 4610's hydraulics as they are very responsive on the draft control. That reminds me, I must give the Classic Tractors team some lessons on the workings of Ford hydraulics. Not only have they got lift figures wrong; but they have also called Ford hydraulics "Unresponsive". Total crap. Very responsive and precise is more accurate

Er............stupid question................ Were those pictures taken when the tractor was new in 93; or has it been restored and the pictures are recent. It's nice to see some good pictures of the size of tractor used in my area. There's a future classic tractor if ever I saw one. Bet it sounds nice too. When I sold tractors and farm machinery for a living; people often asked me what was the best way to run a tractor in. I always told them to hitch it up to a plough or power harrow as soon as it arrived. They always seemed to perform better after they were run in on some heavier work. Great pictures, and thanks for sharing them.

I haven't driven a tractor since 1992, and probably wouldn't have a clue how to drive one of the new ones. If you want to really have fun driving a tractor; then Simon ought to get the International out for you. I'm not sure what model that one is, but it looks like a 955 to me.. You would really enjoy driving one of those. A real boy racers machine. Loads of revs and a "Whistly" exhaust that you can hear coming from miles away. Nice long wheelbase so they handle well too. None of the latest refinements, but great fun to drive.

No flies on you are there? Well done. It's time someone showed the decal changers what a real 4000 looked like. Sad fact though, that some people probably think they are getting an authentic looking 4000.