Ransomes MG5 Crawler

[Dieselman 63]

We’ve been working all day for the past two days moving branches, finally it’s over. Hardly took any pics, just this huge pile ready for chipping.

I put the machine away for the day, then went to tidy up some invasive vine-like plant that has been trying to kill my willow tree - all cut and pulled down. As I dumped it on the pile of waste I bellied out the mower. I’ve never actually done this before but it wasn’t a problem as Ransomes to the rescue! The tracks held up and pulled the mower free. Low beam light in use, for the trainspotters…

I need to lift the machine again as the tracks have jumped a link and are sitting half-way, just a case of tightening the adjusters and getting the track in the right position. Maintenance is key. Also the spark plug lead snapped, so I’ll be seeing if I can get something a bit sturdier than my midday fix of wrapping bare wire around the plug!

 

[Robotstar5]

You need a period HT terminal on the plug lead, they look the part

 

[Dieselman 63]

You need a period HT terminal on the plug lead, they look the part

View attachment 301898

That’s what snapped off. My one was made by a firm called Collett of London

 

[Dieselman 63]

You need a period HT terminal on the plug lead, they look the part

View attachment 301898

Just looking further at that image, and I spot a lovely knurled brass spark plug cap, that beats the standard one and a pair of pliers to nip it up!

Also a Wico series A mag, same as on the crawler. Mine gets a shower of brake dust now and then, definitely not as shiny as that one - presuming it’s one of your lovely engines?

 

[Robotstar5]

Just looking further at that image, and I spot a lovely knurled brass spark plug cap, that beats the standard one and a pair of pliers to nip it up!

Also a Wico series A mag, same as on the crawler. Mine gets a shower of brake dust now and then, definitely not as shiny as that one - presuming it’s one of your lovely engines?

Was one of my engines, sold it a few weeks ago.

Polish the mag top with black shoe polish to get the nice shine

 

[Dieselman 63]

Was one of my engines, sold it a few weeks ago.

Polish the mag top with black shoe polish to get the nice shine

Top tip, I’ll do that. I just read Wico is an acronym for the Witherbee Igniter Company of New York - merged with Pacy in the late 40’s which gave them a British manufacturing plant. I did initially wonder what an American mag was doing on a thoroughly British machine

 

[Robotstar5]

Top tip, I’ll do that. I just read Wico is an acronym for the Witherbee Igniter Company of New York - merged with Pacy in the late 40’s which gave them a British manufacturing plant. I did initially wonder what an American mag was doing on a thoroughly British machine

So that must be where WIPAC came from

 

[Dieselman 63]

Another night in the workshop - back at work now so time isn’t as plentiful. All that work chewing up the hedge and working down the back filled the tracks up with mud. It’s probably not great to have it sitting in there making things go rusty, so I’ve been picking it out with a big cabinetmakers screwdriver. Great tool for the job! One side done, now I’m off to bed.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Would a leaf blower have enough puff for the job?

 

[Dieselman 63]

Would a leaf blower have enough puff for the job?

Absolutely not. This is earth firmly packed in. I’ll get the jet wash out some time and spray the last bits out

 

[Dieselman 63]

Rubber boots on the switches, they weren’t cheap but they have metal inserts.

 

[Chillitt]

Cutting grass was enough for me with an Allen scythe. The Eskdalemuir Observatory had a posh Allen Scythe, it had gears. Anything other than first and you were running behind it! It had a snow plough too, could move some snow with that

From what I found after days of googling they had the same machine that I have now, but this was years ago.. I'd love to find out they still have the snow blower tucked away in the back of a shed somewhere, but its a bit of a trek to liberate it...

 

[Migmac]

From what I found after days of googling they had the same machine that I have now, but this was years ago.. I'd love to find out they still have the snow blower tucked away in the back of a shed somewhere, but its a bit of a trek to liberate it...

Don’t recall a snow blower, after my time i guess. My pal still works there, all the machines are his toys!

 

[Chillitt]

Don’t recall a snow blower, after my time i guess. My pal still works there, all the machines are his toys!

Well that saves a trip... Machine is a Fluron Clio I have 3 attachments, but they are all mowers.

 

[Milkybars]

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[Dieselman 63]

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I will use polite language and say that that is ‘well-cooked’.

Bet the oil in the gearbox is emulsified sitting that long… makes you wonder why the engine was removed. There’s a problem brewing somewhere.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I took mine on the road and the tracks skipped a link, then the fuel pump started playing up because it didn’t like the vibration… had to nurse it back home sharpish! More work needed.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Thanks @Robotstar the mag looks much happier with a bit of polish on. I was tightening the tracks today and thought I’d better check the air filter, there were a few bits of leaf in there, plus some black sludge at the bottom of the oil. The bowl was cleaned and refilled with a light oil, as the manual recommends. Pic is the new oil.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Then mid-journey home, backfires, bubbles in the fuel line… uh oh.

Sure enough it conked out and I had to go and fetch the funnel and pourer.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You need to carry a dipstick with you