Ransomes MG5 Crawler

[Migmac]

There was one of those in a shed as well. Not seen it for a while though...
Villiers two stroke engine that was somewhat temperamental.

All came were originally bought by my grandad, and he even had a Ransomes crawler, although it was replaced by a narrow/vineyard grey fergie long before I existed.

I used an Allen Scythe, great tool when they are going.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I used an Allen Scythe, great tool when they are going.

Ok so the trio is now complete…

 

[Dieselman 63]

In you come.

Fuel tank is rusted through, line looks bent/knocked too. Wheels are seized in place, tapers won’t knock free. Hmm.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I’ve tried to get the scythe running today with no luck. It’s clearly been very neglected and worked on before by some moron who managed to lose half the screws, didn’t put gaskets where they should be etc. . Bit sad about that. It’s a very early machine, pre-war.

 

[KimB]

In you come.

Fuel tank is rusted through, line looks bent/knocked too. Wheels are seized in place, tapers won’t knock free. Hmm.

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Is that a really early one? I’ve never seen one like that but it’s very cool. My parents have one they want me to get going.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Is that a really early one? I’ve never seen one like that but it’s very cool. My parents have one they want me to get going.

Yeah the type of carburettor is pre-war, they started making them in 33 or 35 I think. The Villiers 11C stopped being fitted in 1943, so it’s rather old!

 

[KimB]

Yeah the type of carburettor is pre-war, they started making them in 33 or 35 I think. The Villiers 11C stopped being fitted in 1943, so it’s rather old!

Great, I look forward to seeing you bring it back up life.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Great, I look forward to seeing you bring it back up life.

Thanks

In an ideal world I’d have the Howard, this and the crawler ready for the show, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to. Still, a goal… this one was bought as garden art, a fate I couldn’t let it become

 

[KimB]

Thanks

In an ideal world I’d have the Howard, this and the crawler ready for the show, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to. Still, a goal… this one was bought as garden art, a fate I couldn’t let it become

That would be nice really nice. Have you got any implements for your Ransomes?

 

[Dieselman 63]

That would be nice really nice. Have you got any implements for your Ransomes?

Only the disc harrows. I’m trying to build a cultivator, but the bits are hard to come by.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Couldn’t get a bolt out… no way to get a spanner onto it, no clearance for a screwdriver. The last of my acetylene went into making this fine thing - the bolt had a slot in it, thankfully. Bolt removed

 

[Dieselman 63]

Villiers mk11c, rings snapped in the hot wash… mmm

 

[Dieselman 63]

So moving on from the tragedy of the very rusted rings, the rest of the case came up really well. I haven’t dismantled the crank as it feels really good. There was so much carbon buildup underneath the rings though. I’ll probably leave the case bare aluminium or paint it silver. It looks nice.

I’m going to investigate getting the head blasted, maybe vapour blasting is the way. I want those fins painted.

Next bit I’ll dismantle and smuggle into work will be that aluminium end cover that the motor bolts to. I also need to make a new felt for mating the engine to the box.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The head has gone to an engine restorer to be cleaned with blasting. He’s also going to order me some new rings too. They’ll replace the lot which is great.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The previous owner said he’d opened this box and it was full of bronze gears, funny as there’s no bronze gearing in here, just an iron shoe with a brass slide which runs off an eccentric. Some serious machining here. I bet bronze casting went away when WWII came along. I really need to work out how to split this box from the main body.

 

[Dieselman 63]

This was the effort of ‘restoration’ the previous owner started. Thankfully after five tines they gave up. I reckon I’ll get all these sandblasted

 

[Blobber]

At least its in safe hands now!

 

[Dieselman 63]

So I’ve managed to pick up an injury and my finger is very swollen which isn’t fun. It’s antibiotics to the rescue which is good. Bloody hurts though.

I am repairing our Husqvarna TS 242, it’s a lawnmower really, but they call it a lawn tractor. It’s 2wd rwd with lawn tyres, it’s not a tractor but oh well. This spindle is totally shot, I’ll have to order a new one and I might do the other side too. New blades which we have in stock for some reason. Look at the wear vs the blade!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Then I moved on to the cutter bar, removing all those tines. The nuts were stuck hard and fast, but I’ve recently bought this M12 Milwaukee 1/2 impact. It’s awesome. Such high torque in such a small package, I love it. Funny to have my tunes going through the Wonderboom and using electric battery torque drivers on this 1930s piece of equipment.

The bolts are push-fit rivet type things and most knocked out just fine, but some I had to press out with an old socket and the vice. There was only one square nut and it fit the only square socket I had. Ideal. Lastly, I marked the steel piece ‘top’ with a punch because it’ll be going to the blasters. Not a terrible evening.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Not a great session. Tried levering the gib key out and got nowhere. Then I tried pouring petrol on and setting it on fire to persuade it out. That didn’t work. Then I set it on fire again with some oil to try and get some movement out of the keyway. Still nothing. I’ve resorted to drilling the key out, but I still can’t shift the wheel off the shaft. Help!