difflock

Exactly the sad case with David Brown, as was. Introduced a cracking 4 cyl engine with 3 big ends , knocking out about 40HP. Then pushed this same basic block to near double the HP, still with 3 big ends. Ditto the superb David Brown 3 point linkage, fine for a 40HP 2wd tractor, but sorely inadequate for twice the weight and HP. Essentially unchanged. AS I found out when I bust the DB1490 ramshaft and discovered just how doncy the actual arrangment was:blushing:

Ummm, but Wisecobandit as engineers better understand the ICE and metals and ceramics et al. And with better quality fuels, technology and electronics. Perhaps not? Be so likely to spit the dummy out, that is. So! Dinny be such a Luddite.

It appears it is easier to get a boosted smaller capacity engine to meet the EC CO2 regulation "bands" therefore a lower Road Fund Duty (As if it were ever spent on the roads!!!!!!) and therefore a more salable product. The law of unintended consequences. Ditto for 3 cyls replacing 4 and 4 replacing 6 cyls. Due to lower frictional losses with a lower no of cylinders and other moving parts. Also lighter, therefore more efficient. I will however readily admit, that the 1.6TDI is a perfect replacment for the 1.9TDI HP for HP and ft lb for ft lb. But the 1.6TDI is now being replaced by a 1.4 TDI (not sure if 3 or 4 cyl though) Progress folks, simply progress. PS The "boosted" 1.2TSI petrol is an absolute honey of an engine, despite being titchy in capacity AND petrol, it lugs like a diesel, quite astounding really. PPS I also put 253,000 miles on the 1.9TDI, on the origional head gasket. Kept coolant topped up though, despite a Motorway leak that necessitated driving at 50mph until I reached the docks and water. Drove on the temp needle rather than the speedo, which actually worked (it was a split/chafed through hose)

I intend to start in the blowing East wind in Feb, if we get it. drys the ground and fair "tobers" the fresh cut grass.(it virtually dissappears overnight in the frost) plus sets back the fresh growth. Generally start in the rural graveyards and rougher rural sites. we can then ignore them during the proper start to the urban grass cutting circuit. Cos generally it is kinda wet here in March into April & May when the growth takes off.

I recall the brake pedal in the 1998 TDI Galaxy (with ABS) would slowly go right to the floor, with reasonable pressure, if the engine was running, from new too. That puzzled me, but she always passed MOT's, despite the brakes never being that effective. M

One pays ones money and takes ones pick. I tried the 230V Krpan, then switched to a PTO Krpan, but wished I had stayed with the 230V option as it would now be so much handier for cutting to length out of billet bundles , as and when when required. The Krpan circ saw is NOT anywhere near as well constructed as the Krpan Winch or Krpan hyd splitter. Very very lightly made up, in comparison to its siblings, to the point of being easily, very easily bent and damaged, unlike the winch or splitter.. But still SO much quicker and easier on the back than the chainsaw.

WoW! Just googled Alex Honnold. Seriously impressed with his ability and demnour. A serious question though, how does he manage virtually without water on these extended climbs?, since he obviously cannot carry, what would be deemed to be sufficient for adequate hydration?

I would NOT slag off a smaller capacity engine for towing. Look at the 1.0l Ecoboost Ford are fitting to their Mondeos n other models. Or the VW/Skoda 1.2TSI, that pulls like a diesel. The times they are a changing. BUT Do NOT expect to neglect the maintenance and get away wit it. Use the correct oil, keep an eye on the dipstick, and simmer the turbo if working hard. i.e. Dont just "pull the strangler" From someone who worked a variable vane turbo on a 1.9TDI hard, and got 253,000 miles on it with ZERO maint.

Oh ere Mrs. Watermelons is more than a "dead on" description. I like that catchy title. And God (but, sorry, there is NO God under their scheme of things) help a country run on their principles. Cheers M

Winter tyres work. Simples! on my 5th winter on a set of Continentals. BUT They are loosing their "bite" due to being down to 4mm, they need a certain min depth of tread to work. They are also "grippier" in that multiple sipes allow the individual tread blocks to squirm about, thus shedding the snow that get trapped between. Driving on hard packed frozen snow or ice is more like driving on a wet road, BUT if water about on top of the snow or ice, all bets are off.

^^Wot e said^^ In spades, whatever that means.

Folks; First I agree our climate is changing. BUT We experienced Ice ages and interglacial periods while mankind was running about in little but a fur lioncloth. AND Any anthroplogical influence is primarily due to excessive population growth. Which produces many other nature-unfriendly by-products apart from Co2, like over-fishing, despoiling natural(and the more beauitful the better!) beaches to build tacky resorts for drunken holiday makers etc etc. marcus PS When I see the Green Party promoting, birth control, eugenitcs and euthanisa, I may perhaps sign up, because, only then, would they seriously be delivering on their promises.

Our local paper had a front page item this week, focussing on the recent past, current and ongoing outgoing Concils "SPEND" as the blow ALL their reserves, so as to merge with their neighbours (to form the new "super" Councils) with nowt but DEBT. As investigated by the Taxpayers Alliance, also as predicted my myself for the last 3 or 4 years. FFS!!

Our local paper had a front page item this week, focussing on the recent past, current and ongoing outgoing Concils "SPEND" as the blow ALL their reserves, so as to merge with their neighbours (to form the new "super" Councils) with nowt but DEBT. As investigated by the Taxpayers Alliance, also as predicted my myself for the last 3 or 4 years. FFS!!

:thumbup::thumbup::blushing::blushing:

It is plausible, and after all the stop IS instant, at the cost of the blade and aluminium stopper. But, bear in mind a "cut" , even a deep or bad cut is WAY preferable to chopping a finger off. The sausage test was pretty clear, it did get "nicked" before the blade stopped. However the real finger test was not realistic, in that he very very very slowly edged his finger up to the spinning blade, therefore it did NOT even get nicked. But yes, only suitable for dry joinery timber, an for God's sake DONT sneeze! m

HEXAMINE tablets. Easy to light and high energy. PE4/Semtex will also work, as it burns real good.(seriously!)

"Banana" boxs as above are how I light the Solarbayer. Handful of dry newspaper, carried out from beside the stove. A banana box on top, fits nice n snug, then once that has started to kindle, another full banana box of kindling on top, which saved any double handling. The corroguated cardboard makes for a very hot flame. Cept, a few particular of these type of cardboard boxs now appear to be treated with fire suppressant/fire retardent treated?? Cos they were def dry, but awefully difficult to kindle.

I find a few pages of tabloid newspaper, not exceeding 10 or 12, crumpled up and placed in the middle of the grate surrounded by selected random split conifer, after lighting place a knarley splintery lump on top. With a good pulling flue. And one door held ajar by the latch. Woila! No firelighters needed.

(i) How do you match heat output to heat demand, or how well does the boiler control panel modulate output to match heat demand , or where do es it "dump" excess heat if required? (ii) With the ambient heat inside the house, the boiler is prob easier lit, plus walking away for a few mins is less of a chore. (iii) how much room have you to store fuel beside the boiler, how do you bring it in from outside? (iv) In the house would make a big difference to me, it is a nuisence having to put feet on to go outside on a filthy windy wet night. cheers Marcus

Is Hugo relaxed, I cannot really decide? PS I took about 10 flash photos and he literally never even twitched. He is casting big-time at the moment so handfuls of dog hair everywhere.

Oops! A point I intended to emphasise. Look for ease of lighting, some of the perfectly satisfactory once lit log burners, can be a trifle tedious to light. Otoh Froling and Harz have a third door, which(per their claims leastwise) allow one to simply fill the chamber with the logs (but split timber logs obviously) then stuff in a handful or 2 of crumpled up newspaper, light paper, close the door and WALK AWAY. The boilers operating system/software will take care of the rest. Our Solarbayer=Vigas (afaiaa) is a bit tedious to light, in that one has to kindle a hot burning fire before loading the main charge of logs. PS I imagine the mesa mixing system is sommat to do with a vertical riser tube within the accumulator tank that helps/encourages stratification(from recall, having lusted after a Windhager in the past, available in Ireland but sole supplier is based in Cork, 400 miles away, sigh) cheers M)

Froling, Herz, Windhager, HGD, et al. Mostly Austrian, some German.

Having spoken too two Americans reasonably recently, about bandsawmills, I found their reception staff to be very easily understood, helpful and clear. Ditto the sales staff, esp at Baker Mills. otoh When I phoned Northern Bank card services about a stolen credit card, from France, in the early days of mobiles (ouch££££) I was routed to a call centre somewhere in the Deep South, since; (i) The dialict was almost indecipherable. (ii) The woman who answered the Ph was as thick as 2 short planks, kept "telling" me I was Austrailian, and was converting from Aussie $ to French francs, cos Northern Bank, had recently been owned by the National Bank of Australia. Despite repeated explanations about NI/ £stg etc etc, etc etc I, only then, understood Basil Fawlty's sense of immense frustration!

What value should or could I put on each m3 of conifer firewood (NI market prices)for the 12.5 tonnes/37m3 of timber I will need to burn (per RHI EPC figs) to replace the oil. If i sold the firewood; 37m3 @ £100.00 = £3,700.00(wildly optimistic?) Or even 37m3 @ £50.00m3 = £1850.00 And with the Morso running we only burn about 2,500 litres of oil per year. So current oil bill = £1,250.00 (@50p/l) Or to boil it down. RHI pays for installation costs (So ignore the RHI payments) Then simply a straight comparison between our oil bill and the value of the equivalent wood that I could otherwise sell. and have the blissful convience & instant control of oil heating. (& With the existing wood burning installation as a backup if oil prices go crazy again) Signed Gibber, Mutter n Twitch