We've cut tires using various methods, latterly a chainsaw with a short bar and the rakes filed off the chain. Before that it was a gorse knife. The last one we did looks rather ugly, we cut it at the width if the wheel (20") but it came down to 17" once it was stretched onto the wheel, but it took quite a bit of putting on so we weren't interested in taking it off! The newest tire cutting method now favoured round here consists of a centre bearing which fits in the centre of the tire, lying flat on the ground, and an arm extending out over the face of the tire with a circular saw blade mounted on an adjustable slide. It is apparently a simple matter of strolling round and round the tire and dialing on a bit of cut every revolution. I've not seen it in action, but the tires it makes are very well finished indeed.
Most huts here are homebuilt these days, there's a few about from working days but most are reasonably modern, built onto old truck chassis. Ours (the big green one in the pictures) has seven bunks, although one is in the kitchen, a coal range with wetback for hot water, gas fridge (essential), the requisite storage for cooking and eating gear and of course a kitchen sink, and enough room in the kitchen for 25 people to comfortably have a party, more if everyone is reasonably friendly!
And yes, the 6 horse is a wee beauty. An absolute pig to get moving in top gear with a reasonable load behind, but a fantastic wee engine. On the video you'll notice it ticking over quite sedately as it comes up the overbridge from the traffic lights, not because it was struggling on the gradient, but because it was right on our tail and somewhat higher geared than us.
The headlights seem to be so other people can you! We had ours lit to head back to the stand in the dark after attending a bbq with the clydesdale folks, where Mr John W ably conducted a small fundraising auction, and the light it emitted was more or less nil. It was enough to reflect off street signs, but didn't seem to cast much light on the road. On a dark night though, in the absence of any street lighting, I imagine it might cast a glow on the road such that you might see where you are going, but the showgrounds had a reasonable level of light pollution from the surrounding burbs.
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29th December 2012, 08:51 AM
Hybrid Mode
