| 8_10 Brass Cleaner |
15th January 2009 08:01 PM |
It is, he has had enough of rallying for a bit.
Pat still has his Mann wagon, and that is the one fitted with the Scammell wheels. He just enjoys it at home near Swansea.
The boiler on the Ransomes came from Austrailia, and Pat found most of the parts of another in new zealand, including much of the brake gear, gear change mechanism etc. The rear wheels and axle are correct.
In the end he was only missing the front wheels, front axle, chassis and a few minor parts. A little clever fabrication and he built a super and very correct wagon.
Though it is a Ransomes by badge, it was built by Rustons, and Pat was able to get much info for the rebuild as a result. Michael Thexton told me that the chimney top (the original that came with the boiler) is a Ruston shape.
Having driven it for him many times, I found it a super machine, and a very good steamer, with a good turn of speed.
Pat worked on it every winter and it got better and better. The motion had a thorough going over one winter, some new back rubbers the next. His last improvement was to get Charles Leek to cut some new gears.
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