Built to Spill...

Well, I finally today got around to doing a job I'd been meaning to do for a while - replacing the oil in the main gearbox. Although it's fairly new, the smell tells me it's probably EP90. Many older gearboxes - certainly those on Land Rovers - don't like this stuff as the EP (extreme pressure) additives can damage phospher bronze components. I've no idea whether there are any in goddess gearboxes, however, looking at the EFS paperwork, it clearly states that the main and transfer boxes need AG90 (no EP additives) whilst the differentials etc need EP90. So with another bottle of Morris AG90 having arrived, I set about changing the oil after a good run to warm it up.

Now, when I did the transfer box in the summer, it was half the capacity. So, when the drain plug was removed, a tsunami of oil shot out - everywhere. Had I used my large drip pan? Nope. So having wrestled the plug back in, I set about trying to mop up lots of by now cold, sticky EP90. Masses of it! With that done, and as it was getting dark, I dropped the remainder and started the slow process of getting the new oil in - finishing in the dark!

Once I had slid it back in the barn, I then had to grovel for some detergent to try to remove the rather noticable oil slick from the concrete pan. Luckily, they had some 'Gunk' on the shelf so with a quick scrub and a hose down, I could go home.

Hopefully, there is no damage to the gearbox as it has been getting noisier. However, there was a good deal of metal residue in the oil as you can see from the picture. I'm hoping I've change it in time!

Window Shopping...

Well, a small crowd of us visited LW Vass this morning to see what they had and what they'd salvaged from the recent closure of Williamsons up in Oldham. They don't usually open on a Saturday but Peter, their fire equipment sales manager, kindly agreed.

We had a good couple of hours mooching through the stores which contain a whole range of equipment and spares ranging from brand new, modern equipment to older ex-AFS green goddess stuff. In the case of the latter they have most normal kit ranging from suction baskets to nozzles to webbing belts and axes to first aid hoze nozzles to brand new featherweight pumps in boxes! They also have a large number of what has been the holy grail in the GG world - ex-AFS ground monitors.

Well worth a visit, although much of this older stuff won't appear on the web so a call or email to Peter is best!

This is this morning's shopping basket - a hydrant key, webbing belts and axe holders, electric gloves, spare seals, blanking cap for the stand pipe, male-to-male and female-to-female couplings, spare hose bandages. Oh, and of course - another ground monitor!

Pop Locker...

I took these shots over the summer but forgot to upload them! Essentially, I took them showing the lockers in their much more complete state with virtually all the kit deficiencies rectified, so the vehicle is almost in the configuration that it was for Op Fresco in 2002/2003.

Locker 5 - the tools locker - now complete with two axes, a shovel, a saw and a pry bar:

Locker 2 - this was pretty much complete when I bought it but a few extra nozzles now:

Lockers 2,3 and 4 - this mainly contain hose including 4 new lengths of Duraline for regular use as this needs no drying unlike canvas hose:

Locker 6 - this now houses the collecting head which is an 'extra' as GGs wouldn't have normally carried these:

Locker 7 - now houses a couple of deck chairs (not original!!) as well as the strainers as these have been displaced from locker 9:

Locker 8 - original except for the nurse valve acquired this summer. These weren't usually carried by GGs but are useful for show purposes when pumping in relay - which is what they were designed to do! The ground monitor is an addition, too - this locker had the storage holes but in the latter days weren't carried. Great for squirting lots of water safely! The hearth kit was a chance find at Witham SV (who sold them off in 2005/2006) - complete, as new and a bargain at £35!

Locker 9 - the gerry cans are still at the back as is the water container. This locker should house the strainers but it currently serves to store the oils and lubricants etc. The correct GG fuel filler funnel is new and was en eBay find.

Forever Autumn

Well, after a significant period of no activity, I finally had the time to get to the barn to run both 326 and 32 (the petrol carrier). I hadn't visited for 7 weeks and 326 hadn't turned a wheel since the end of July!

Anyway, after a few pumps of the accelerator, 326 fired into life and burbled away for a good 20 minutes to blow away the cobwebs and charge the battery.

No real jobs to do other than pop the absorbent battery mat underneath the battery, although that reminds me that the isolator switch still isn't finished! I only started this time last year!!! Hey ho....


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