[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi guys, thanks for the positives……I too read that my article had been ‘altered’ I have the original piece, and I can assure you the words ‘2 stroke’ are not there……. I will advise Peter Love of his editorial ‘faux pas’ and hopefully he will add a correction in part 2 of my piece!

[vhgmcbuddy]

Looks like you have two different tines there for different machines.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Just to say the second picture shows it best. If they were flattened out, it looks like they would be the same length.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Neil.

If I had known you were getting a large batch made I would not have made my own!
I have a Boxford AUD centre lathe. Not really designed for large batch production.
Do you have access to a Turret Lathe?
Also I opted to weld my spindles, rather than threading the ends and using nuts.
Your prices are very reasonable, I know the labour involved.
I have given some thought to lubracation of the rollers. In the end I used a liberal coating of Copper grease on the pins when I assembled the rollers.
Time will tell if it asks any difference.

All the best.

Iain

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Niel.

Now you tell me!
Just out of interest, what steel did you use?
I went for the EN24 as it is tough and quite wear resistant, though not cheap! £85.00 for 3 Meters.
Thanks for the info on the paint I will visit my local paint shop next week.

All the best for 2018.

Iain

[vhgmcbuddy]

Time marches on!
Since my last post I have refurbished one set of drive and idle wheels.
Thank god I have a good lathe.
Machining 30 sets of spindles and rollers took a long time.
I used EN24 steel for the rollers and mild steel bright bar for the spindles.
Finished welding last night.
I still have to refurbish the second drive wheel and weld on new rims to the idle wheel.
I have been painting everything with Red Oxide primer as I went along. Now I am starting to think about top coat paint.
Can anyone advise on the paint codes. Both the Blue and the Red?
I have to get a move on now as I have work for my MG5 in the spring, hauling logs in a small wood.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Progress update.
I have the engine connected and running. New adaptor plate is in place to connect the riding seat and plough. Minor adjustments to the clutch and gear selectors now needed. The unit is useable at last, next job will be a nut and bolt strip and rebuild of the rotobox which is rather tight. new bearings and oil seals is my hope with new centre tines

[vhgmcbuddy]

Just renewed me and Jr hopefully!

Happy New Year to all, especially our club officers who do a grand job all year.
Peter

[vhgmcbuddy]

Geoff, the Trusty in the picture has a fan cowl which is the opposite hand of the one grafted to my Mk20, i.e. anti-clockwise fan rotation.

The serial no. plate for the engine is long gone, but the Trusty is 4256T, which you have already added to your survivors list. although it would be nice to know what engine was fitted originally, if the records show this.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Gold stars all round gentlemen!! There’s no fooling you. I deliberately did not post the photo of the drive pulley side of the block, as this clearly showed the number M189, identifying it as Mk20/25. A measure of the bore diameter confirmed it to be a Mk20. The original cowling must have corroded away, to be replaced by the cast alloy one. When removing the cowling, it became apparent that the two halves had been spaced apart with Plywood, in order to fit around the flywheel. You might just be able to see this in the photo’s.

The only machine I had seen with anything similar to this cowling was Brian Carter’s Atco Tractor, so had palpitations thinking I might have a rarity!! I think you are spot on Andy with regards to it being from a Rowtrac. Looking at photo’s on the old forum, it is a perfect match, although mine has been modified slightly to fit around the Mk20’s cylinder head.

Amazingly, the Mk20 was in pretty good nick internally, apart from some severe pitting around the exhaust valve. Will be kept as a spare parts donor for now, unless I happen across a suitable replacement cowling, then it might just rise from the dead!!

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi snowfish i have a howard dragon (made 1981) and l have the reversible plough /rotavator and sickle bar attachments. i also have 4 howard gems plus some other smaller howards. i have ploughed but getting a good grip with small wheels is a challenge. i also have an auto culto with a plough and one of these auto culto ploughs would be my choice if you want to experiment with a gem ploughing.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Great write up but shame its only 2 pages

BRING BACK FHEC MAG. Why they stopped it I dont know

[vhgmcbuddy]

Progress update

The gearbox and ancillaries are all assembled except the clamp and gear level / cables as the new units arrived yesterday. About 1/2 way through machining a new engine mounting plate adaptor. Hope to have this as a running unit before new year now. Can look at the rotor box afterwards

[vhgmcbuddy]

Merry Christmas, Have a good one everyone. All the best for the New Year.
Owen.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Just renewed on line Plonker

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