Geoff Ravenhall

We have a very good auto electrics supplier in Redditch which has managed to supply all of the terminals, covers and wires to get the job done. I’m going to have to have a re-think on the period battery though. They all seem too large for the hole, plus they start at £200 and that’s plus VAT and postage!

Thanks for the heads-up, Angus. It looks…[Read more]

I think I owe you quite a few pictures as progress has been rapid of late, mainly due to parts that I have already finished finding their permanent homes back on the machine.

Now that the upper rear crossmember has been painted and refitted the radiator could then go back on. Hoses and hose clips had to be matched up as best as I could find, but…[Read more]

The cunning plan for the bearings had to be modified slightly. The bearing supplier could only get bearings that were the direct equivalent to the old ones as you can see from the first photo. This meant that the outer profile was spherical and had to fit into a parallel sided hole; on the one side this wasn’t a problem as the cup was still…[Read more]

The only listing that I have is of the combined Operator’s Manual and Spare Parts List. The pictures are very crude line drawings with no detail at all, just an arrow pointing roughly to the region and a part number.

It’s starting to come together bit by bit, more photo’s soon.

In view of the length of service that this machine has given it is conceivable that somebody with experience of old machinery has modified it to suit what they had at the time. The circular cups that the bearings fit into have been welded to the ends of the roller but around them are the remains of the threaded sections of three bolts, so I guess…[Read more]

I may not have explained myself very well, Angus. The spherical part of the outer race is on the outside of the bearing, not the inside where the balls rotate, and it has been pressed into a parallel sided hole in the end of the roller. A better solution will be to have a bearing with parallel outer sides so that it fits the hole better and stays…[Read more]

Is that a New Year’s Resolution, Charlie? What happened to, “Don’t force it, get a bigger hammer!”? Only joking!

I didn’t know whether to call this piece Trials and Tribulations but I thought it would sound too much like something off Blackadder; anyway, I’ll let you judge for yourselves.

The front roller on any mower is always going to take a…[Read more]

I thought for this update I would start with some comparison photo’s of old and new so you can see what’s available. I’ve also included a photo of the exhaust downpipe so you can see what kind of results that you can get from using the brick cleaner method of de-rusting; the dividing line is very clear cut and you can see for yourself why I do it.…[Read more]

I’ve never seen that method of removing bottom blade screws before but I’m going to try it next time. What we used to do was to try to move them first with a large centre punch (I’m guessing that’s what you do as well) and any that didn’t move we heated with an oxy-propane torch to red hot. That normally broke the rust seal, but if it didn’t the…[Read more]

I’ve been a bit remiss of late but here’s an update on the Allett.

The air filter housing was in quite a state but at least it was complete. At first I thought it had come apart and would need re-soldering together, but on closer inspection it was supposed to be in three parts and all held together with one 2 BA screw. Top and bottom plates…[Read more]

It will make a change from Trusty stuff, but I think I’ll finish the Allett first! There’s some interesting stuff in the background as well, do you need a hand to collect it?

That’s very interesting, Alan. The rocker cover on the Reliant engine looks very similar to the one on the GT6 except it’s only about 2/3rds the length (the GT6 is a six cylinder, 2 litre engine). Maybe it’s the same as a Herald or Spitfire rocker cover- maybe someone will know for sure. Things like fuel pumps and starter motors would have been…[Read more]

Isn’t that the way all things seem to go these days? If there’s money to be made then good sense and sentimentality go right out of the window; look how many of our core British companies have been sold off to overseas investors and competitors.

Work has come to a bit of a halt at the moment as I have to source the right shade of green paint. The…[Read more]

Thanks again for the leads on the oil filter. I’ve looked at the one on the auction site and decided to order it. If it doesn’t fit then I’ll have to think of something else but it sounded like the only sensible thing to do.

Progress hasn’t been that fast towards the end of the week as I have a part time job on Thursdays and Fridays; it keeps me…[Read more]

Thanks for the tip, Andy. The fitting does look the same and the description fits the build year as well- they are for a Reliant 600cc built between 1964-68. The only trouble is that it looks too long on the photo so I’ll have to send them an email to ask for dimensions. It seems a little pedantic but the cover fits very close to the end of the…[Read more]

Thanks for the tip, Andy. The fitting does look the same and the description fits the build year as well- they are for a Reliant 600cc built between 1964-68. The only trouble is that it looks too long on the photo so I’ll have to send them an email to ask for dimensions. It seems a little pedantic but the cover fits very close to the end of the…[Read more]

Hi, Andy, I’ve looked but can’t find them- if you’ve found some on there could you send me a PM with a link or some other way to find them? That would really get me out of a hole.

I think I’ve found an air filter but everyone I ask so far has told me to re-use the old engine oil filter as they are no longer available. Help!!

If you had any doubts about the efficiency of electrolysis for de-rusting delicate items, here’s the proof. The photo below was taken this morning, barely sixteen hours since I started the process, and you can see a thick layer of rust on top of the liquid in the bucket. It has removed all of the rust and all that’s required now is a wire brush…[Read more]

Thanks for that, Charlie, I’ll give it a go if it stops raining. It needs to be a gentle action so that the paint survives intact, so a garden hose will probably be the answer.

The engine and gearbox have now been thoroughly cleaned on the outside and what a difference it makes! Before everything just looked dull and worn out, but now the bright aluminium of the block and gearbox really do lift it. I would be lying if I said it was easy- I spent the whole day painting on brake cleaner then scrubbing it off, then…[Read more]