difflock

Well I knew that! BUT, I choose the more pragamatic "level" loaded trailer/tug stance, ALWAYS assuming the empty trailer hitch height was correctly matched to the 50mm vehicle towball coupling, you know, like the exercise of uncommon good sense. Also what percentage of nose-weight is lost due to atmospheric drag on a bluff trailer shape, or bluff shaped high load on the trailer? And as stated, despite "expert" opinions to the contrary, my farmers Son eye-ball loading worked perfectly when loading and towing a high bluff load of a measured 3300Kg some 400 miles. I did not exceed 50mph and even then worked my way up to 50, having sat at 40mph for a few miles, until I was satisfied with the stability and handling, and then checking and fractionally tightening my tie-downs . regards Marcus

Hmmm, thoughts: (i) to "pull out" of "the tail wagging the Dog", gently ease off the throttle, perhaps very light braking, and pray, but difficult to achieve on a downwith with self-inflicted excess speed combined with gravity assisted acceleration. I think I only had it once in a decrepit Army Series III, which was snaking was due to an almost entirely unsecured/unbolted steering box, for which the hairy arsed REME bloke apologized(400 or so miles later) to a wet-behind-the-ears 2Lt, who had reported the veh defect on each stop, but was ignored until we got to Dover. (ii) What is this nose weight I keep reading about? All I ever do is make sure the trailer is level, on level ground, when hitched to the towing vehicle and loaded, since the trailer wheels will always be rear of trailer centre, the COG will be forward of trailer centre, and if the trailer is level it is not overloading the tug, with a visual inspection of the stance of the tug being instructive. On this basis, I loaded and towed a 800Kg trailer + a 2500Kg SWB = 3300Kg to Wicklow and back, with the softly coil-sprung 461 Van, this yoke behaving impeccably throughout the round trip, despite a couple of blokes telling me the SWB was too far back on the trailer. like? Did they not realize it had a Cast Iron 617 Diesel boat anchor in the engine bay nicely forward of the trailer COG. Plus the dynamic forces generated by braking in particular, in particular with a relatively high 4WD as a load, will so far outweigh the quoted static 50mm ball loadings as to render them almost irrevelant. IMHO and experience. Anyway this has worked for me towing, and no doubt by times overloaded, with mostly humble FWD cars over a 40 year period, only recently having the luxery of the 461 Van. Regards, Marcus

EDIT: To say I now have/will have 2 "G" Wagens, for sale; (i)A 1984 SWB, 300GD, poor bodywork, with rust in the usual places, BUT supremely sound chassis, and bodywork currently being soundly repaired(to pass our rather strict Govt run NI MOT) and minimally painted(because I specifed a Piedbald Horse paint job to clearly identify the repaired areas) but SIMPLY Superb 617 engine, starts absolutly first kick, c/w 4 speed transmission and lovingly refurbished brakes with replacement Girling seal kits. A stained headlining though. I am only the 2nd owner btw. I would need to check the miles, plus 100k, but def sub 200k, in an engine good for 500,000 to 1,000,000 miles. A 35 year old, i.e. soon to be 40 year old, hence free of MOT's classic in the making All parts are original except the front axle which was replaced by a genuine MB factory exchange unit. I shall be retaining the Reg No. btw. (ii) The LWB 300GD, that we bought as a daily driver for the Mrs. 12 to 15 years ago, I fettled the brakes, replacing components as necessary, replaced the wiper spindles(they leak), serviced the engine, 50% coolant etc etc. Then I got the chance to buy the automatic Steyr Puch Van, so she was parked up. As always the chassis is 100% but the bodywork does need attention, though it went through out MOT earlier this year. I need to sort out the v recently(while I was in hosp with pancreatitis) black slime blocked tank mounted fuel filter, directly as a result of wor daughter "running on fumes, en-route to the fuel station no less! A tedious dirty but straightforward job, which I intend to attend to next week. However I had only about only 6 weeks ago lovingly re-set the tappets, and she was driving so much better, it appears this is indeed the critical "tune-up" for these 617 diesels. Again all origional factory spec, incl the remains of the factory A/C so still with the extra groove on the pullies to drive the missing A/C Compressor. Marcus

Is that lead or lead you mean 'K?

Hastings Direct. I was in the car with wor daughter driving, yesterday evening when she got rear ended by a bloke in aVW Passat, who drove away, on the M1 in Dublin. Lydia got his Reg, which married up with her description of the make and colour, and I nabbed the Reg colour and description of the next car behind as a witness, so she duly reported to the Gardai, no mysteries, then this afternoon she phoned her insurer, Hasting Direct. Lord God! 1 Hr and 15 minutes on the phone to an Indian call centre. No legal cover No courtsy car etc etc And £350 excess for a just sub £1,000.00 repair. An expensive lesson in cheap insurance learned for wor daughter!

Read my post above 'K!

But ah haint toltd you yet, about finding, on Wed a fortnight ago, my Grandfathers UVF .303 Long Lee Enfield, manufactured in 1898, complete with matching 1898 bayonet, both in pristine condition, bar a smidgen of surface rust to the barrel. The action is bright shiny and slick, slick slick. And, lo and behold, when I declared my find to the local FO, the very same afternoon, she was most helpful, and simply stated I would have no problem getting it registered to my FAC, with ammunition, to shoot on Club and MOD ranges. Currently left with a local RFD who will sort out the paperwork(on-line) for me next week. Wanna know the biggest irony? There will be less fuss and bother putting a previously unregistered .303 rifle, than putting on the air rifle I have bought out of England, for sporting purposes and vermin control(btw. it is being shipped by the English RFD, to the same local RFD who is holding my grandfathers rifle) Strange or what? Cheers, Marcus, the rather pleased Hat

Ah knew some bugger would start asking akward questions, I had a camera, but did not take any images, mostly because it looks pretty shite in its somewhat poorly black paintwork esp in the dull winter light. cheers Marcus

Being a 1988 LWB, re-engined with a OM605 equipped with a 7.5mm Dieselmekkan IP and a 6 speed gearbox, running oversized BF Goodrich MT's on a 30 or 40mm suspension lift, and driving like an absolute dream.? Best of all, it has the ultra-rare PTO off the transfer box, which I shall swop over to the 290GD Steyr Puch Kastenwagen(German for Box Van) to drive a hydraulic pump, with associated oil resovoir and cooler, primarily to drive hydraulic winch(s)☺️ I will probably also get the 290GD re-mapped to about 150BHP, with a more than commensurate torque increase? And she is already booked in for a full body re-spray in Jan. I obviously intend to attend the 2020 APF in the re-sprayed and tricked-out Kastenwagen, simply to make the rest o you poor saps drool with envy ? Does this make me a bad person? Marcus

Yup!

Actually I fully support JCB in this "publicty stunt", worth many many times the invested cost for all concerned, including btw. B.K.T. Tyres, who had the cajones to supply the tyres, i.e. NOT Michelin or any other "big brand". Mind you I am not sure who owns the BKT brand? I also deduce a lot of the work was "subbed out" to JCB suppliers, so no cost to JCB there, but excellent publicity for the suppliers, and it was also a an attractive "wacky" project for the young JCB Engineers and apprentices to get stuck into with their youthful enthusiasm. And Guy Martin as the driver, genius! So a win-win-win-win . . . cheers marcus

JCB Fastrac hits 153 mph to shatter its own world record for fastest tractor WWW.EQUIPMENTWORLD.COM Apparently setting one world record in 2019 wasn’t enough for the folks at JCB. Following record-breaking runs in June that made the JCB Fastrac the world’s fastest tractor, the team... They did not mention if she was running on a "drap o the Cherry", or praper clear Diesel, most odd?

Ah Yes, Lucas, "The Prince of Darkness" I remember even if Pepperridge Farm dosnt! What could go wrong!

Prob not less than 5 tonne? And try and get EH control, even consider splurging on wireless Romote Control upfront. I got the EH option, having tried the rope operated version first. I regret not getting the RC option, but it was about 15 year ago and only for little more than hobby use. I will probably yet treat myself to a RC control option. Soooooooooo civilized! Marcus P.S You can run the 540 winch on the 1000 setting at tickover revs, so no need to burn diesel needlessly, simply to get line speed. And the tractor will probably usefully, and safely stall, if the log/logs gets/get stuck, on the 1000 PTO setting.

Like a local Parks Supervisor who had lovingly crafted and nurtured an area of Wild Flower Meadow, before they became sooo fashionable, in the midst of acres of ruthlessly weekly/bi-weekly needlessly cut meadow grass. Anyway he went on his hols in July, and discovered to his horror on his return that the area had been flailed to death, "because it was untidy and full of weeds and there were complaints". Stupid Fornicators!

Ah just "pinged" thissun to our Physiotherapist daughter, and let the count-down begin.

A dealer was trying to flog me a HW 97, after I asked about 2nd hand HW 80's, but knew nowt about it, again my chronograph comment, and again the topic mysteriously changed. cheers mth I intend to phone Sandwell Field Sports, Bromsgrove is it, tomorrow, fingers crossed. EDIT. Never got round to contacting SFS. But just bought a Thoben Eliminator running at 22 ft lb in .22. Fingers crossed. Marcus

No body rates the RWS Diana? Oddly I phoned round a few local RFD's today, and despite all of them bumming and blowing about the (sometimes fallacious, as in contrary to manufacturers stated FAC power levels) power of the air rifles they were offering, so when I said; "Well I presume you have a chronograph and pellets of a known weight so I can verify your assertions about the ft lbs". None of them own a chronograph, apparently. How expensive is a Chronograph again? I will check Ebay. Dealers, Huh! Marcus

As above, I am hoping to pick up 2No. in the forthcoming Black Friday "giveaway" deals. Figure we would like USB rechargable, and guessing 200-300 lumens? For DIY'ing for me and handicrafts for the wife, so both optimised for close in work. I dont mind reaching for another torch for distance work or finding stuff. Thoughts please, mth

Hmmm, a wile pity even the smaller of the 2 No. 3Ph options is bang on 5.5HP, and see link; Posch Firewood Tilting Saw - Jas P Wilson WWW.JASPWILSON.CO.UK The Posch Firewood Tilting Saw is a very sturdy firewood saw supplied with a 700mm tungsten tipped circular saw blade.

Peasgood, As mentioned earlier, my front runner was a Air Arms TX200, running at 18ft lb, in .22 caliber, giving about 770 ft/sec(I believe), simply because I might as well plump for the 18ft lb, since over here ALL air rifles MUST go on a FAC. So why not. I think my choice will come down to how comfortable I find a particular rifle to use, probably choosing between a Weihraugh HW 80, the AA TX 200, or one of the RWS Diana models, but all running about 18 to 22 ft lbs in .22. A belated 60th birthday present to myself if you like. Cheers, Marcus

BigJ, £50K (ish), and whether that included the now sold camper unit I am not sure, BUT, unlike most other vehicles NOT subject to massive depreciation. And considering the hours of loving labour invested, and all photo-documented seriously good value inmho. Btw. I have recently trysted to buy a 1988 LWB re-engined with an OM605 and the 6 speed manual(but by an Irish Engineer, Gordon Lucas) as our next daily driver/lifetime keeper, since I have had a bellyfull of modern car electronics in the Skoda Octavia. I will live with the sub 30 mpg, since now retired, we do few miles. I was seriously looking at an LWB 460 re-engined with the legendary OM 606 and with a purely vacuum operated Automatic box, but it was a lot more money. (starting at 37k Euros, recently reduced to 30k Euros and sensible offers invited, for a pre 1990 vehicle!) Anyway we still got, and intend to keep our 290GD Automatic 1999 Steyr Puch van, which is booked in for a strip-down and full body respray Jan next. So did not really need a 2nd automatic, especially since wor daughter still prefers driving a manual? Am I "G"rabbiting on a bit ? Marcus

Consider employing Mike Axle-Berg or Mark Ashton to build a "G" Wagen to your desired spec, with an OM606 turbo diesel and a 7.5mm(or larger if desired) Dieselmekkan IP, power can be "well sufficient", and zero electronics to fret about. Both of them favour a MB 6 speed manual, but a purely mechanical/vaccum operated MB Auto box is also an option. Again zero electronics needed. Their work is equivalent to, and perhaps betters MB factory standards, as even a cursory glance beneath the bonnet will reveal. If this thread does not "show" to non gwagenregister members, look up the "gwagenregister.com" and consider joining. Regards, Marcus link G-Wagen Register - Login GWAGENREGISTER.COM

Looking at a RWS Diana, they make quite a few man sized rifles designed to run at 20-22 ft lb(ish) in .22, giving an advertised 850 ft/sec(though Edgar Bros, the importers, do not stating pellet weight?) And at 8lbs sans scope, the rifle should give me a good physical upper-body workout, so a win-win I imagine. Marcus

?I also got a .177HMR?, since I bought a Sako Quad with both .22LR and .177HMR barrels, but in hindsight I should have bought 2 separate rifles, regardless I fear the possibility of complaints about me shooting "recklessly" whether I am or not, with any kind of rifle other than an air rifle in the circumstances. I have and I will use the .22LR and the .177HMR to attempt to exterminate Magpies, in and around the house and yard, but that is only ever a single shot, not a "plinking" session. And actually at the dog food ranges they are at, a 12 ft lb air rifle should kill them. cheers all. Marcus