Bonfire

What the hell are some of those 'people' on?! ...... "Spend 100,000 pounds on a car rather than giving it to charity, you mark yourself out as a bad person, a selfish ar*e who harms everyone else". How long before one of them credits himself with inventing a new craze, "communism" James.

Hopefully if they get any further up their own ring-gears they will dissapear, which would be good for the environment as all the lentils and stuff they eat give off lots of global warming gasses, only problem is you can't attatch the word 'SUV' to it so it doesn't get talked about as much

Yes, series are toe-in.

I love landrovers cos I spilt a load of EP90 in the back the other day and laughed whilst I washed it out with washing powder and a broom. Try doing that in a mondeo. (although my m8 did have a whole lot of siligasket go off in the back of his disco, stunk for ages and got right in the carpet!!). James.

I also use tractor batteries, or at least I will when my current one expires (not long I expect). I'm a mechanic at a John Deere dealer so I can get them through work. As well as other sorts of loverly handy things.... James.

At one stage I crazed about getting an old tractor (but a motorbike won out in the end!!), probably a Fordson Standard, although I've always thaught Nuffields have been pleasant to look at. I was up at an auction the other month and the prices Massey-Furguson 135's go at are unbelievable!! Especially the just-been-blinged ones. I work on modern John Deeres and one or two of the places round us run 135's etc and IIRC a Grey Fergie and I like getting to work on them...No common rail Diesel systems or can-busses!! A friend of mine runs a Massey 135, Massey 165, a John Deere 2130, John Deere 2140, Nuffield Universal 4. They are all in original condition except one and get used fairly often. Which is always nice to see. IMHO. James.

Used to run the series 3 on paraffin occasionally, where I used to work (about 8-miles from home) they stocked it and I was forever late in the mornings.... Not having time to stop off for petrol so forever messing about running on fumes. Not wishing to find out the accuracy of the guage the hard way, after work I would run it for a while then put some in. I used to fill up with petrol ASAP when I got home because of the smell (nice but not very legal) and getting it going again. The worst thing was having to let it tick over for some time...this resulted in it cooling down (hence the rad screens on Fordsons etc) and of course then you get the white smoke that stinks (good for bore washing too I imagine) Mixed with petrol in a decent ratio I should imagine it would be much better and of course cut down on pinking. The ultimate of course would have been to have fitted a second tank and change it over 'tractor style'! Where I work now has got red Diesel, and I drive a TDI but I dont think I'll go that route I think there is a recipie on the net somewhere about making your own TVO with petrol paraffin and Diesel. James.

Thanks for the tips and part no's. I know that the stub off the thermostat housing is clear, as I removed the pipe to help the bleeding..thinking about it it probably didnt help as IIRC it takes its flow from before the thermostat....I will have a look when I can and see if I can unblock the valve or maybe do away with it seeing as it was deleted on later models, Thanks all. James.

Evening one and all Had some 'fun' bleeding through my 90 cooling system today but got there in the end... On a 300tdi 90 engine the pipe that runs from the thermostat housing to the coolant bottle and branches off to the top of the radiator...the funny round valve thing (looks like a minature brake servo) that sits in the middle and forms the 'branch'. Blowing down the pipe from the thermostat housing seems impossible, is it supposed to be like that? The hose on the other side passes air (!) fine. I was wondering because if this was why I was having trouble. Also, the coolant bottle never seems to get hot. The engine runs at normal temperature etc. Thanks much, James.

The idea of some really enviromentally friendly cars being zero for road tax in my opinion does not seem right, unless 'hybrid' means its part car- part flymo it still takes up space and wears the road out....!! also, if i never heard the following expressions ever again it would be too soon..... 'Gas-guzzlers' '4x4's will be HIT' 'Panic at the pumps' etc. etc. James (cringing)

I have found at work that brake cleaner works OK, and Carburettor cleaner is even better, it works on 2nd hand tractors that have had stickers fitted for 10 yrs (not always 1st time though!) Usual disclaimers James.

IIRC on the 35 there is a thermostart thing on the inlet manifold, with a wire going into it and fed from a little reservoir of fuel behind the fuel tank which dribbles out to preheat with regards to the cold starting prob. Also I'm pretty sure there is two bleed screws on the pump body one higher than the other. perhaps the tank swilling has dislodged some muck in the fuel tap/ gauze but then you say there is fuel coming out the bleed screw. James.

Perhaps either the part of the flange the seal runs on is worn, or there is play in the diff pinion bearings so the flange is moving about which wears the seal out?

The Hella type shown above with the metal L shaped key is (or an extremely similar one) is also used on the John Deere tele. forklifts (and Combines IIRC)... if you've got a JD dealer near you, I'm off work for 2 weeks otherwise I could get the part No. That said it would possibly be cheaper from another source. James.

I plumbed in some pipes to take the valve out of the question (thanks Les) and the brakes were OK so I got a new valve which sorted it. Thanks for the advice. James.