Bugger

[Spud]

She hasn't been restored at all. The wheels have been done and the front wings have been hand painted, but the rest is just as she was the day she was parked up over 30 years ago

Thats superb Pete, a real credit to your dad. Will you show it when you get its motor fettled?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I might attend a local show or two, but mostly I'm just thinking on the odd summer evening I can knock off early, I'll nip off and do 50 miles or so with my lad.

My brother can take her whenever he likes too and the chap doing the engine work, Matt, used to work for Dad so he can have a go too.

Just a bit of fun. I must have owned 10-12 old tractors over the last few years and another old lorry, but nothing makes me smile like this old tanker. She really does bring back fantastic memories of Dad.

I have his MF 165 away being restored at the moment too so it will be great to get them both side by side together for a photo. Dad enjoyed driving them both, so it's all good.

 

[Netherfield]

Now that is smart.

 

[essexpete]

I can see why you would want to keep it as original as poss. Must be up there with the very best in the country. Most of the Ergos were severely rotted at 10 yrs plus. I think with old trucks some of the best preserved have come from ag based work where a reasonably dry barn has been available. Would it be ok to post your picture on another forum Pete?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I really ought to say it's not pristine.

There is a bit of cab rot here and there and the odd place that's had some attention. Freemans fitted a secondhand cab about 1981 for unknown reasons.


I don't mind you sharing the pic as long as you keep the location quiet.

 

[essexpete]

I really ought to say it's not pristine.

There is a bit of cab rot here and there and the odd place that's had some attention. Freemans fitted a secondhand cab about 1981 for unknown reasons.


I don't mind you sharing the pic as long as you keep the location quiet.

I really ought to say it's not pristine.

There is a bit of cab rot here and there and the odd place that's had some attention. Freemans fitted a secondhand cab about 1981 for unknown reasons.


I don't mind you sharing the pic as long as you keep the location quiet.

Thanks Peter. I have no idea where you are!

 

[ACEngineering]

Aye-up,

Bit of a disappointing day today.

I thought we had trouble with a weeping front and rear crank seal on my Dads old AEC Mercury milk tanker.

We put a bottle of thick oily stuff in it that softens seals. Waste of time that was. Within half an hour there is oil pouring from several places, so we set to getting the sump off. To cut a long story short, we've found 4 cracked pistons, 3 cracked liners and four buggered valve stem seals. It's a wonder it ran at all, but she started instantly, had good pressure, didn't smoke once warm and didn't get hot, so I'm amazed to find all this trouble.

So, I think we need a full rebuild.

Any good places to recommend for parts, skimming, fitting liners and re-assembly? I've found one place and there saying upwards of £5500.

Cheers, Pete.

Theres a decent place near Northampton but the name escapes me?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Kettering?

 

[ACEngineering]

Kettering?

I think these are who i'm thinking of? http://www.knightengineservices.co.uk/

Cant quite remember but sure Dad got some bits for his Mog from them and some helpful advice they seemed to know what they were talking about.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Thank you for your help.

I think we're sorted but I'll keep those details just in case.

 

[mikep]

I have found the historic bus enthusiast people really helpful when I needed parts for a Leyland box. They seem to hoard things but I suppose if you can keep a bus or two for a hobby you are not short of space. I agree on the repairing/ restoring though, you see some old vehicles over restored and finished in two pack that look just wrong. Rather see a few battle scars as it shows a working vehicle not a bit of bling.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

That's what I'm thinking.

It's a difficult decision knowing where to stop though I find. I have lightly hand painted the front wings because they looked very tatty. But now other bits look a bit tatty even though, previous to painting the wings, those other bits didn't stand out at all.

The ladder up the side of the tank is very rusty but it might make the tank look very dull if I brighten that up a bit.

 

[Henarar]

That's what I'm thinking.

It's a difficult decision knowing where to stop though I find. I have lightly hand painted the front wings because they looked very tatty. But now other bits look a bit tatty even though, previous to painting the wings, those other bits didn't stand out at all.

The ladder up the side of the tank is very rusty but it might make the tank look very dull if I brighten that up a bit.

it will soon all be covered in sh!t once you start of round the farms picking up the milk

 

[Cab-over Pete]

It used to be like that. On the round Dad would say at some farms "Don't get out here, stay in the cab"

It was sometimes because of a snappy dog but mostly because the place was a muck hole.

I'm often surprised at how smart the entrance to some dairy farms is these days. They've had to make access for artic lorries so have modernised a lot.

 

[Henarar]

It used to be like that. On the round Dad would say at some farms "Don't get out here, stay in the cab"

It was sometimes because of a snappy dog but mostly because the place was a muck hole.

I'm often surprised at how smart the entrance to some dairy farms is these days. They've had to make access for artic lorries so have modernised a lot.

our access was always clean for the tanker but some as you say were deep in sh!t

 

[Mursal]

Ah, you made your money at the milk H ?

 

[Henarar]

Ah, you made your money at the milk H ?

Dad did M, we got out in 98 when he died mainly because the milking setup was falling apart and would have cost a lot to get up together, we only milked 35 but could have gone to 50 perhaps here with better kit, though that said the cows still made money that last year
I was much more busy contracting then so something had to give

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Dad used to milk cows at home too.
That's why he left the tanker job. After about 6-7 years on the tanker He started the herd from scratch. He would milk the cows, leave with the lorry (which could be parked at home in those days) at about 7.30 am then milk the cows again after he got back.

He did that for a couple of years then left the lorries to expand the herd. I think he got up to about 50-60 after a couple of years then started the lime spreading when he concluded the cows weren't going to make much money. He would still milk each end of the day until I was about 15 then I did some of the milking.

He knew what hard work was.

Quite a few local farmers drove milk tankers. The hours weren't too long so you could get your routine jobs done and there was a week-day off every week to attend markets if you wanted to.