Member postings for Robert Butler

I purchased a nice Super 7 at Easter and am in the process of converting it from Metric to Imperial, a simple matter of component substitution which i have almost completed.

Regrettably Myford are out of stock of Imperial Power Cross feed screws and nuts. I first phoned shortly after purchase and was quoted 3-5 weeks for delivery which was fine, i have however reminded on several occasions and on the most recent call i was told they cannot give a date when stock will be available.

Before purchase and in deed prior to contemplating the purchase of this lathe i came accross an advert on the internet offering high quality replacement feed screws and with a bronze nut as i recall.

The purpose of my post is to see if anyone has a Power Cross Feed screw and nut available which must be in good order or direct me to a source of supply.

Robert Butler

I have just purchased and fitted a Tracey Tooling Services Graduated Carriage Handwheel attachment. The accessory is beautifully made and fitted perfectly. My S7 is/was metric and am in the process of converting to imperial, it was fitted with a metric version of the handwheel and i have now fitted the Imperial version. First class product. Robert Butler

Dear Diane the beast in question before export to Canada. The engine, gearbox and driven axle look to be in good order, the boiler is being rebuilt and the cab requires work. I will try and phone soon but some images of the rear axle and springing arrangement would be most helpful. Robert Butler

Dear Alastair many thanks for the drawing, regrettably the single and twin rear axles bear no resemblance to what remains of this S6, and the photographs such as they are of this lorry when operated as a flat when new. The undriven axle had only one wheel per side rather than twin wheels and was probably "pinched" from trailers made by Sentinel. I have not yet had time to make contact with Diane or other contacts suggested - work tends to get in the way. Once again many thanks. Robert Butler

Dear Alastair many thanks for your efforts, regrettably the rear suspension for the twin axle and single axle bears no resemblance to what is in place on the S6 in question. Once again thank you. Robert Butler

Dear All

The Chassis No. is 9242 and the Registration No. is WN 9752 hope that helps

Just a thought several posts refer to a PM, i thought he had resigned but perhaps PM in this context has a different meaning - please ladies and gentlemen what is a PM and how do i access this?

Robert Butler

Thank you for the various posts.

Sorry for the delay, Domestic Engineering Services considered it necessary to go shopping!

The Chassis No. is 9242 and the Registration No. is WN 9752.

Thank you all once again for your replies, the S6 is a much later model than the one forwarded by Ady. The suspension on this S6 will be under the chassis.

Diane please excuse my ignorance but "which" magazine is your number in?

Robert Butler

Thank you all for responding and Neil for your welcome, the lorry has been out of the country (Canada) since 1958, and has only recently been repatriated to the UK. The front driven axle is sprung almost conventionally with the spring fixed at the front but a cast slider locating the rear of the spring rather than a swing shackle allowing the rear of the spring to slide in the cast bracket permitting the spring to deflect on compression. From the slider the chassis was cut and nothing exists rearward of the original chassis. The six wheeler was a rare beast and with a single drive axle rather than a double drive rarer still?? (maybe only this example).

There is a well known photograph of an eight wheeler which when blown up seems to show no spring behind the second rear axle, I have put forward the suggestion it may have been fitted with a quarter elliptical spring (as Austin Healy Sprite rear spring) rather than a half elliptical spring. This would explain no evidence of the other half of the spring. As the chassis to the rear of the drive axle is missing there is no clue as to the design of the spring and how it is fitted to the chassis or axle.

I understand at the time this lorry was built Sentinel were short of cash so components may have been sourced from the parts bin

Phil thank you, can you kindly pass my contact details to Diane and ask if she would mind contacting me. However others involved in the project are familiar with existing Sentinels and her S6 may be known to them, but any information will be useful.

Robert Butler

An associate of mine has purchased a 1936 Sentinel S6 steam lorry (full size) which he intends to restore. In the late 1940's the rear axle (not driven) was removed and the chassis shortened to enable tar laying equipment to be fitted.

There are no drawings providing details of the suspension and means of axle location for the missing undriven axle. It is his intention to restore the steam lorry as closely to original as possible and having checked with the Sentinel archive there are no drawings. This lorry is very rare and there are no known examples with only one driven rear axle.

Is there anyone out there who may be able to throw any light on this problem. Robert Butler