Member postings for Terry B

I always believed that the local councils were responsible for the siting, building, inspection and maintenance of schools and other public buildings. Not the government.

As well as the 2 second rule, the another mantra taught on advanced course is that you should always be able to stop in the distance that you can see to be clear.

Having started driving ambulances in 1966 until I retired in 2008 I drove several eras of ambulances. During my service I also trained ambulance drivers and instructors, . The only modifications I was aware of, apart from the electrics, were higher ratio back axles. The J1 Bedfords in service from the 1950s up to the introduction of Ford Transits and Bedford CFs had a 3.5 litre engine and were certainly fast once wound up and could approach 80mph on a straight road, faster than most family cars of the time. The early transits were quick with the initial acceleration, but lacked top speed and it was not until they put the V6 petrol engine in that the top speed improved. The last Transits in service when I retired were capable of 90 mph with good acceleration. The later vehicles with tail lifts were the first in general use to weigh over 3 tons, approaching 4 tons in weight with the equipment. I hope this answers some myths of the times, some one once told me that they had a reinforced front end in case they hit anything this was certainly a myth as you can see of any accidents involving ambulances.

In the 1970s There were instances of Bedford CF ambulance wheels coming of whilst leaving the wheel nuts in place. Two explanations were offered one was metal fatigue due to over flexing when cornering, the other was put down to overtightening of the wheel nuts when changing tyres.

I recently purchased a product called "Oven Mate Mesh Filter Cleaner" from Lakeland. It came highly recommended by the sales lady as she had used it. Followed the instructions on the back, a quick spray and and the grease just rinsed off. Hope this helps.

I purchased a Clarke Metal Bandsaw earlier on this year. On assembly I noticed a tight spot accompanied by a "scraunching" sound when I turned the drive pulley. When I removed the gearbox cover I saw that there was a rough spot on the worm which I dressed out with a needle file. If left it would have destroyed the worm wheel in a short time. Worth checking for if you have not already done so.

Hi Nick

I also went to the Weeting Rally on Saturday. I believe that I must have visited the same stall as you as I purchased several pieces of brass bar and aluminium bar and plate all at ridiculously low prices just in case I need them in future. My wife refused to carry them or I would have purchased more!!

Terry

Regards to the groove round the base of the bullet. I have a couple of inert .303 bullets ammunition and both of the bullets have a groove near the base. As regards to the boat tail if you Google ".303 inch Ball Mark VI to VIIIz & L1A1" you will find an explanation. I vaguely remember reading that .303 machine gun rounds for aircraft had a boat tail end and should not be fired in .303 rifles as the charge was too powerful.

Hope this is useful.

the method I was shown years ago was to put a spot of vinegar in a bucket of tepid water. Use a sponge to wash the glass, wipe with a chamois leather and finish with a sheet of screwed up newspaper. This leaves a streak free finish. Don't wet the sponge too much or the water will run everywhere.

Robert Boby Seed Cleaning Machines made in Bury St Edmunds until the 1960s had a variable speed on the drive for the winnowing fan that looked identical to the one shown . When you turned the adjusting wheel the bar shown connecting the two pulleys pivoted and moved one pulley disc out simultaneously moving the other in thereby varying the speed.

For anything upto that thickness I use a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. No distortion, make sure you use eye protection as the odd metal chip can fly up.

Chris

I used to have the same problem until I turned off the first two or three threads of the studs. This enables me to hang the nuts on and start the nut with my fingertips.

In February I lined the underside of my garage/workshop asbestos roof with "Recticel Instafit Insulation Board" from B&Q.

Before I fitted it In previous summer it used to get too hot to work in there and in winter frost on the underside of the asbestos roof.

I use Mild Steel Blackener purchased from www.surfacemonkey.co. Although it cost approx £25 for a litre bottle it can be brushed on neat or soaked for 30 or so minutes in a 25% mixture and can be reused several times.

The steel needs to be completely free from oil, this can be achieved with any domestic degreasers rather than the stuff sold by the manufacturer and washed in water afterwards. I ignore the 3 or 4 stage process advocated and it still works OK

ega

As you can see from the photo the backplate at the rear of the die holder unscrews and the blue holder screws into the the holder instead of the backplate. The dies are adjusted by two grub screws that you can just see in the picture.

This set was given to me by a friend before he went abroad about 15 years ago. As you cab see by the label it was made by a firm called Stronghold. The smaller print at the bottom states that it was made by "The British Tap and Die Company, England"

Has anybody any idea of it's age?

On the subject of nail guns it reminds me of when I was with the Cambridgeshire Ambulance Service. One Sunday morning we had a call to a local cement works where some outside contractors were doing some maintenance. One of them fired a nail into some wood, it went clean through, ricocheted off the floor and went through the scrotum and up into the lower abdomen of his mate. This was in the early 1970's when "Elf" and Safety did not seem to apply to some.

Regards to the weight of corn sacks. I started work in a granary in 1959. We had four bushel sacks called a comb. A comb of barley weighed 16 stone a comb of wheat 18 stone and a comb of oats 12 stone. Beans would have been 20 stone though we didn't use comb sacks for beans. sometime in the mid 1960's sacks weighing over 12 stone were made illegal. Although I was allowed to carry sacks upto 8 stone I was not supposed to carry anything heavier until I was over 18 years. Not all of the granary staff were heavy built one I remember was only about 10 stone and 5ft 8 ins high and he could work most the agricultural students we had with us for harvest into the ground. There was knack to how you balanced the large sacks on your shoulders not like you see on the films.

I liked Mark's idea for a stop to prevent work spinning round when drilling, so I turned one up out of a piece of Alli. Then I though why only one stop so I turned up another one so the two together make an adjustable back to slide work along when drilling a one or more holes on a common line.

I have followed the Post in the Forum with interest for several years. This is the first time I have added a post.

The Posts on Alligator belt fasteners was interesting as when I started work it was in a granary and Alligator fastners were in use but the most common type were the types in the photo.

You could judge if the machine was running at the correct speed by the clicking of the joints as they went over the pulleys.