Ransomes MG5 Crawler

[Dieselman 63]

Back from the wash, two bits of cowling. I’ve been sanding this one and it’s come up really nicely - casting is a bit rough but I’m not worried, suits the application well. These bits will remain unpainted as they’re part of the engine. I’ll probably paint the cooling fins high temp silver (as I already have some) as the case is ally so the whole thing may as well be shiny!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Quite a good day of it today. Got the gearbox lid in primer, and the lid for the forward box too. One brass, one ally, same primer, sorted.

I’d tidied the bits that go into the forward box during the week, so I’ve been able to build this piece, now it can be left ready for paint and final assembly.

I’ve also started pulling the magneto to bits and cleaning it. It looks superb now the ally is tidied up. I should finish the other half so I can button the two together and at least it’ll look the part!

 

[Dieselman 63]

A new engine has been acquired. This is a Villiers Mk12HS, someone’s cosmetically restored it which is why it looks so nice, it doesn’t run very well but importantly the mag coil works, sparks, so I think you can see where this is going… was $50 for this whole engine or £70 for just the coil. Got to be worth a shot!

 

[Robotstar5]

I have a Mk12HS in the restoration queue, if you need a manual drop me a PM

 

[Dieselman 63]

I have a Mk12HS in the restoration queue, if you need a manual drop me a PM

View attachment 429805

Nice little engine isn’t it? My friend got it for me, he won an auction for a BSA model C with no spark (has spark, needed a new condenser). The owner of mine decided that everything ally should be painted silver and everything else should be red. This included bolt threads, of course.

Yours has a flat pulley and some kind of small gearbox or clutch, mine has a vee pulley.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Big leap forward, the tines are blasted and in primer now. Thankfully I quite enjoy tedious, repetitive work!

 

[chrismac]

I have a Mk12HS in the restoration queue, if you need a manual drop me a PM

View attachment 429805

I have the exact same villiers and gearbox, delighted to see another as I have not seen anyone with one, probably because its only a villiers lol. Mine was also missing the filter of the carb. bought another though.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I have a Mk12HS in the restoration queue, if you need a manual drop me a PM

View attachment 429805

I have the air filter, do you need one?

 

[Robotstar5]

Nice little engine isn’t it? My friend got it for me, he won an auction for a BSA model C with no spark (has spark, needed a new condenser). The owner of mine decided that everything ally should be painted silver and everything else should be red. This included bolt threads, of course.

Yours has a flat pulley and some kind of small gearbox or clutch, mine has a vee pulley.

Villiers fitted optional 3:1 or 5.2:1 reduction boxes depending on application, this is a better pic of the flat belt pulley on one of my other engines, a Mk.20 with 5.2:1 reduction box.

 

[Robotstar5]

I have the air filter, do you need one?

Depends which style of air filter you have, I have quite a few B10 spares

I pick up NOS stuff when it comes up at the right price like a couple of pancake style filters

If you have the oil bath style filter fitted to the B10/1 or B10/2 type carbs I'd be interested.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Progress. Got the two handle holders through the ultrasonic, that was great for killing off the dirt on them but being badly corroded they also need surface wire brushing before primer can go on. I was quite excited by the next bit because all these bits fit together onto the back of the gearbox, this feels like good progress!

Then I moved onto the impeller cowling. When I bought the machine the guy said ‘I’ve started to take it apart for you’ which I now think was probably not true. I suspect it was tried to get going but failed so lost interest. Anyway, all the bolts are out and I have to guess where they go. Honestly I’m impressed how good everything is given appearances initially. The cowling looks good but imagine it fully sanded and with a dull shine. Hopefully that’ll be soon.

Lastly what suspects me to think it was tried to be bodge fixed, jaw marks on the clutch lever but that obviously didn’t work, she’s stuck fast. Heaps more to do but coming along nicely

 

[Dieselman 63]

Minor update - handles removed, I think I’ll get the frame blasted. The ends are chrome plated bronze. Bet that stopped with the war!

More buffing work on the cowl. This old thing takes a 16:1 mix! That’s very oily. Also uncovered some paint underneath some later grey paint, and it’s much more vivid than the burgundy I’ve been told about. I have a tin of cherry red so I think it’ll be going that colour!

Finally, the tiniest bit of ground sickle bar has been done, proving the McCormick Deering bar does indeed work despite also being ancient. I’ll make a handle and proper base for it tomorrow. Exciting stuff!

 

[dobbslc]

That's going to smell lovely!
Can you box some smoke up and send it north?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

That's going to smell lovely!

Add some Castrol R to it, then hang on to the handles when it's up and running.

 

[Dieselman 63]

View attachment 430420
That's going to smell lovely!
Can you box some smoke up and send it north?

Looking forward to smoky times!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Bit of paint for Christmas Eve, seasonal colour too, look at me go!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Got all (extant) bolts for the head cleaned up at last. These were very rusty but came up well. They live in a hostile environment close to the earth. They fit into the tines, very pleasing. I’ll probably paint them but for now they’re covered in oil.

I took delivery of heaps (you judge) of steel shelving, all free, so that’s tomorrow sorted. Someone’s coming to look at the second crawler so that’s a possible change of plan in crawler land.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Second crawler gone. Bittersweet, but it was the right decision.

 

[Dieselman 63]

So I got a whole wall of shelving up in the main garage, this was awesome. It tidies up the space so well. Then I moved into the workshop and cleaned up a grotty corner with my new and improved shelf system. The trailer is full of unused/redundant shelving to go to a mate. The whole workshop is completely upside down now, more shelving still to go up, hopefully it solves a lot of storage problems.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Boring progress. Magnets cleaned up. Impeller wire wheeled. Another task complete.