Routy56 - can you just....

[Routy56]

Well the trenches for the concrete pour held up OK and over the past few weeks I've been back to:
Dig soakaway pit
Dig and lay FW drain pipes and ICs
Excavate old patio for new flower bed
Reclaim and stock pile old Type 1/crushed
Dig and lay RW pipes and gulleys
Dig off oversite
And loads of "While you are can you just....."

Here's a few photos of the fun:

Nice bridge back onto site...

Soakaway marked out. Don't get excited with using the grading bucket! Soon had to slip the old 600 toothed on to deal with the gravels and flint galore

My builder mate Dave helping me 'square the corners' of the pit

All wrapped up nicely. We used the Polystorm 0.2m3 crates. Dave ordered 1m3 as per the drawings/spec. That's 5 crates giving an awkward shape!
So I bought over one my my yard giving us the nice bundle that you see here at 1.2m3. Overspecced but gonna be taking the RW from the back of the house and new extension, so that'll work

"Can you just pull off all that crushed before we pull the FW drain trenches....."
This was the old patio soon to be a flower bed

FW trench going in..."Well that shouldn't be there!"
Pulling like fcuk through the gravels we found the old RW pipe to the existing soakaway.
About 10,000 gallons of backed up water came out

"Don't worry Dave, we can soon fix it. You did order some slips didn't you?"

FW drain job all going on with a nice fall. But Dave wanted to put two 135 swept bends around this corner
"Dave, we should have an IC on this bend otherwise we have a very long run around a bend"
"No, they don't want an IC cover in the lawn!"
But WTF do I know about such stuff
Then when the BI rocked up, with no prompting from me, he said we must have the IC where you see it going in.
"Dave, I told you so, but WTF do I know!"
We actually get on very well, have some great banter.
Often don't need to talk too much 'cos we sorta know what has to be done to get the job done.

RW pipes going into the soakaway...

A new "Can you just dig off the new patio" done.
The turf and topsoil was placed in the old patio which is to become a new flower bed.
Oversite pulled up as I retreated back out the gate up the back passage

All done by mid afternoon and before it pissed down with rain again.
Had to deflect a "Can you just pull out that conifer hedge while you are here?"
That's the one that BC made us digger the footings much deeper - told you so
R - "No I won't have time, I have 3 things to do today and this will delay the whole job.
Get them chainsawed down to stumps and I'll come back after the build and grub them out"

Another job jobbed (of now) with loads of customer care thrown in

 

[doobin]

About time you had an upgrade of that old girl mate, you certainly seem to get some use out of her!

 

[Routy56]

About time you had an upgrade of that old girl mate, you certainly seem to get some use out of her!

Ha ha! Yes you could be right, I now had it for 13 years and don't have to think about the tricks it can do
It has been serviced regularly and greased everyday. But only has about 2400hrs on the clock.
Paid for itself over and over again
Best thing I ever bought was the Harford quick hitch.
A few years ago when getting a new radiator form the local main dealer, I enquired about a new Neuson.
They wanted over £14,000 for a similar specced machine
Now semi-retired, I guess the old Neuson, like me, will keep going forever

 

[6feetdown]

Ha ha! Yes you could be right, I now had it for 13 years and don't have to think about the tricks it can do
It has been serviced regularly and greased everyday. But only has about 2400hrs on the clock.
Paid for itself over and over again
Best thing I ever bought was the Harford quick hitch.
A few years ago when getting a new radiator form the local main dealer, I enquired about a new Neuson.
They wanted over £14,000 for a similar specced machine
Now semi-retired, I guess the old Neuson, like me, will keep going forever

Can probably add best part of another 10k to that now

 

[Steve]

I can’t believe how dry the ground looks.

 

[Bri963]

Ha ha! Yes you could be right, I now had it for 13 years and don't have to think about the tricks it can do
It has been serviced regularly and greased everyday. But only has about 2400hrs on the clock.
Paid for itself over and over again
Best thing I ever bought was the Harford quick hitch.
A few years ago when getting a new radiator form the local main dealer, I enquired about a new Neuson.
They wanted over £14,000 for a similar specced machine
Now semi-retired, I guess the old Neuson, like me, will keep going forever

Is that Harford hitch hydraulic?

 

[Routy56]

I can’t believe how dry the ground looks.

Yep we was really lucky with the ground conditions at this location. Free draining gravels from about 500mm down.
Only had to use a pump once after the concrete pour

 

[Routy56]

Is that Harford hitch hydraulic?

No but it's similar. It's actually the Harford Pro-Lok
Al, that means is that you have to get off yer arse to crank the release/lock with the ratchet which is supplied.
Far far better than greasy pins

 

[Bri963]

No but it's similar. It's actually the Harford Pro-Lok
Al, that means is that you have to get off yer arse to crank the release/lock with the ratchet which is supplied.
Far far better than greasy pins

I made this for the Kubota yesterday. It’s waiting for its second coat of emulsion. When I measured up the buckets only two are to Kubota spacing so I have a bucket, rake and ripper to make new ears for. If I’m not satisfied I might take a few ”styling cues” from the Harford.

We’re testing a 2 tonne machine with a similar hitch to what you’re describing, not a Harford though, and it’s a pain to get a ratchet on.

 

[6feetdown]

View attachment 46076
I made this for the Kubota yesterday. It’s waiting for its second coat of emulsion. When I measured up the buckets only two are to Kubota spacing so I have a bucket, rake and ripper to make new ears for. If I’m not satisfied I might take a few ”styling cues” from the Harford.

We’re testing a 2 tonne machine with a similar hitch to what you’re describing, not a Harford though, and it’s a pain to get a ratchet on.

The bmc 1 has a huge head maybe 40mm no ratchet required just full wind. Way quicker than the Harford

 

[Routy56]

Not posted on this thread for a while.....
....mate of mine runs a Military Vehicle restoration group aka Battlegroup Raydon.
Charity Status and run by volunteers who are mainly ex Army Veterans.
They come from a variety of background and bring skills from being ex REME, Infantry, Tank Drivers, Gunners and Logistics Corps etc
"Hey Routy, we have taken on a derelict unit and need to put a concrete access road in".....

Trusty old Neuson loaded up the pervious evening ready to leave at silly o'clock. I always do a basic 0800-1600hrs on site

Here we go - get a concrete access Raod in here to Unit 63

Love the smell of marker spray in the morning

Was easy digging with the grader. Load of assorted tish came out with the dirt

End of day one dirt pulled out and stacked ready to disperse the next day....

So being a Tuesday, I went out for a 'training run' with Harwich Runners along the seafront
It was rough with Storm Babet fast approaching

This MSC came flying into towards Felixstowe with a strong tailwind. 3 tugs were in a attendance and soon had it under control

So, was planning to come back the next day BEFORE the rain from Storm Babet hit the area turning everything to mud

 

[Routy56]

.....Day 2 of the Big Dig at Raydon Airfield and BEFORE the rain
Royal Air Force Raydon or more simply RAF Raydon is a former Royal Air Force station located just to the northeast of the village of Raydon, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Ipswich, England.

Raydon airfield was constructed by the 833rd and 862nd Aviation Engineer Battalions. Although only ever used by fighters, Raydon airfield was constructed as a standard Class A bomber airfield. We are working at the former site of the Training Area for the USAF Bomber Aimers

So, rocked up just before 0800hrs dragging my trusty old Terex to site. No volunteers turned up to drive it for me, preferring to tap out complete bollocks on the Facebook Group. Although one local said he could be with me about 1230hrs. "Forget it mate, I'll be done by tea break"
Simply climbed into the heap and ran both machines - keeping me a fit old bloke

First of may tea breaks about 1030hrs. Dirt all moved to the low spot where I had dragged off the top soil.
Note the 'hardcore' crap on the background - "can't you just spread it and crush it down with your grader bucket"
Told you they talk bollocks!
"No mate, mine is 1.7T not 20T. And these days we used crushed material not hardcore, unless you want to come over TODAY with a few sledgehammers"

Bomb Aimers Tower - upstairs is a place where you lay in the 'fuselage' look through a hole at a film runner horizontally below

Loads of lovely old buildings soon to be filled with Vintage Military Vehicle stuff

Dirt roughly graded and tracked in " That's ideal we will sow some grass seed and use it as a weekend camp"

Another view of the Camp Area. Remember that pile of lumpy old hardcore - all gone and topsoil replaced over the top.

And just as the rain form Storm Babet hit the area, both machines reined to World HQ and tucked up in the warm dry Barn

Later that evening I was out with the boys for a Fish and Chip Supper
How I love being 'semi-retired'

 

[Bri963]

Is that a new truck? I hope the volunteers are going to be a bit livelier sorting the exhibits out.

 

[Storrsy]

Can't beat a Gerkin!

 

[Routy56]

Is that a new truck? I hope the volunteers are going to be a bit livelier sorting the exhibits out.

Nope my Navara will be 5 years old end of November - much better all round than the Disco 3s that I had before
Now waiting to go in for a Nissan recall on the system that controls the Ad Blue
The volunteers are great at refurbishing old military vehicles
I shall monitor the progress of them getting concrete done

 

[Routy56]

Can't beat a Gerkin!

Yep and one of my mates even proposed a toast to the Gherkin

 

[Routy56]

Can’t believe that my new Navara will be 5 years old at the end of the month. That means I’m all on my own with servicing and repairs
So today did some prep before the salty winter roads kick in….

….liberal dousing of good old Waxoyl should do it
And rotated me newish General Grabbers whilst at it

 

[CPS]

So after 5 years i guess you like it ok? I have been thinking of one myself lately.
Seen one on Marketplace this week that looked like a decent price, ad said slight drivers side damage but no pictures.... called the guy up, he sent me more pictures.... it had basically been on its side in a ditch

 

[Routy56]

So after 5 years i guess you like it ok? I have been thinking of one myself lately.
Seen one on Marketplace this week that looked like a decent price, ad said slight drivers side damage but no pictures.... called the guy up, he sent me more pictures.... it had basically been on its side in a ditch

Yes after a succession of Land Rover Discoveries which were always in the workshop, the NP300 (D23) has proved to be reliable and a good workhorse
It has been very reliable and only requiring a set of wipers, a new battery (warranty) and a NOX sensor (warranty).
So gonna keep it for at leat another 5 years that’s why I’m giving it TLC
It’s a nice place to be after a days graft either in the summer with Climate Control or winter with heated seats.
Always used seat covers on the leather when out working and used rubber mats from new.
Tows my 3.5T Ifor fully loaded no problem. Has ad blue for Euro 6 and still get 24-28mph towing the old digger
Find a good one and go for it

 

[Routy56]

…..and in the above photo some of you may have noticed my Yang Tong ‘rattle gun’ recently bought on eBlag
As a Makita copy can’t fault it for value at £43.99
Obviously today I’m using it as a nut runner and using a nice torque wrench for the final grunt on my nuts
Here’s a link for y’all to enjoy :

Pardon our interruption...