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Looking forward to them Charlie!
Any chance you will sell DVD’s when editing finished?

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Separate online renewals for me and Jr now successfully completed (hopefully!).

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Happy Christmas to all.
May the New Year bring you the horticultural item you most wish for, and the wherewithal to acquire it!

Peter

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Great read as usual, thanks everyone!
If a club member happens to buy the featured Howard I’d love to know, it was offered to me when I was selling my 352 on that auction site, I was tempted but not really my thing (if it had been a 700 Hirth -one of the rare ones that actually work! – it might have been a different story!) But if one of the members gets it and shows/works it I’d love to see it in action. I’m trying to make a bit more space for my new acquisition, which will remain a secret for the time being but suffice to say Charlie might be interested! Phil and me have already had one attempt to collect it, over 100 miles away from us, but unfortunately the Commer decided to lose headlights on the way there and it was a very foggy day so as not an easy fix we turned back. Early Spring pick up now planned!

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Beautiful machine, thanks for the extra photos Chris.
Very similar machine to the Gyrotiller, but so far as I can glean from the net, no relationship between the two. I have seen a Gyrotiller in the past but not yet the Holt. I’ll eventually make the treck to GDSF, but its a long way from Norfolk!

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Just to reiterate what Charlie has said, EP oils must be avoided completely. They have an additive which attacks the bronze parts of the gearbox.

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Thanks Charlie

Peter

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Is the first photo of the gun tractor a Holt?
If so, did you all clock the price paid for one at the recent large Norfolk auction of vintage tractors?

(£150k for those who didn’t, I’m not envious, it wouldn’t have fitted in my garage with the SIMARS anyway)

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Facinating on the oils, my manual is from when machine supplied in 1949, but MG leaflet I’m guessing is from 1970’s. You takes your pick…… thicker oil may stand less chance of leaking out of seals!

My serial number 350873 supplied new 16/11/1955 to Gillingham Suffolk, bought locally at auction many years ago by the chap who sold it to me, always been a local machine. (Charlie supplied serial number info to previous owner via our old forum in 2009!)

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Hi all.
No, Stuart, its a Perkins 4.108 4-stroke, 1725cc if I remember right, not what you’d call overpowered, especially with a load on!
Charlie, so far as I can tell no bad damage, no funny noises from gearbox and everything selects and works OK. I think its probably advantageous that its leaked so badly, I don’t think much oil will have stayed in the box for very long! I’ll check the serial number when I next go outside!
Busman,so far as I’ve always known its SAE140 in the gearbox.
I’ve attached copy of the first page of my SIMAR 56 manual and an info leaflet from Mechanised Gardening who dealt with SIMARS after Monros packed up. Don’t know about old names for gear oil but MG say 140. Obviously, avoid EP at all costs.

Peter

Attachments:

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Rats, real life has taken over, can’t make it, but hopefully next year!!

Hope its stays dry and you all have a good time.

Look forward to seeing photos/videos and reports!

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At the risk of sounding like a prima donna, I MIGHT be there, on one of the days.
Only depends on:-
1. House move actually taking place (hopefully exchange next week and complete/move end of August.
2. Being sufficiently moved in to justify time at play.
3. Getting ramps and tie points fitted to the Commer, so I can actually get the machines on to the pick up bed.
4. Weather (any threat of rain and I daren’t take the Commer out, the window and door seals are non-existent and I can’t see me fitting them before winter!)

So, if Dave wouldn’t mind pencilling me in (prob for 2 Simars, rotavators requiring a play area not competition stuff),I’ll confirm as soon as I can!!

Fingers crossed, I’d really like to be there!

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Hi Steve
Yes, me and Jr consider ourselves very lucky!
Funnily enough, on a certain internet auction site there is currently a van type pick up with the lower floor and wheel arhes protruding into the load area, no tool boxes or ladder box underneath.
Yes, the engine is a 4108, although there appear to be one or two unusual features (I don’t pretend to know much but the experts on the Commer forum have pointed out the cold start device on mine may not be the usual one). Also, there may be some doubt as to whether the truck originally had a diesel fitted, the ID number suggests petrol when new.
35 odd mpg from the diesel is something I’m quite happy with, though I did find a packet of earplugs in the cab!!

Peter

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Clive. As far as we know she’s original. She has built in tool storage under the bed each side and a ladder store accessed from the rear. Commer fans say they are very rare, but if anyone knows different…..

Alan. She’s actually got the Perkins diesel. Noisy doesn’t do it justice! But the payoff is 35mpg plus. Apparently diesels are even rarer.

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Thanks chaps.

She’s in pretty good condition overall, having been in storage for several years, owned by a farmer then an enthusuiast, regularly dosed underneath with waste oil, we had her up on a ramp before buying, and all looks well! She’d done virtually no miles in the last 7 years, we took a chance driving her home 160 odd miles, but she got here no problem.
I only intend to use her when there’s no salt on the roads, and if possible not when raining, and she fits in a standard garage.

Dave, as you might gather I’m not absolutely sure abour Weeley, but if we’ve moved and if I have ramps, I’ll be there. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m sure.

Peter

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