Ferret 38C5968

[teletech]

So, before I do a separate post of this as a question: what are folks in North America using for tubes for your Ferret runflat tyres?
I've got one that leaks like crazy so it's time.
Now, I do have a couple spares tyres that have inserts and tubes already fitted, so I might just mount one of those and hope for better times while I look for the proper tube, but it would be nice to know.

 

[Ferretboy]

Hi teletech...i have replaced two tubes in mine...i just used truck tubes of the proper size and the thin flaps....the hard part was removing the bead spreader.....i did not even try to get them back in....all has been fine for years.....

 

[teletech]

Hi teletech...i have replaced two tubes in mine...i just used truck tubes of the proper size and the thin flaps....the hard part was removing the bead spreader.....i did not even try to get them back in....all has been fine for years.....

I think the spreader insert might be the thing they suggest you need a different tube for. Good to know if I remove the insert I can run regular tubes at any rate. I did buy some standard tubes, I'll see if I can make one work.
I guess the runflat insert is a nightmare to remove or install and most folks just slide the tube in or out around them.

 

[Ferretboy]

Well heres what the bead spreader looks like....a bit of a chore to remove and looks like a nightmare to reinstall....but someone may know an easy trick or two.....???

 

[teletech]

Links, links EVERYWHERE!
I keep finding MG links in every crevice. I think I threw out the first handful or two but still:




/PSA
Hey kids, when your parents let you play with the giggle switch of the 1919 in the turret, make sure to use cloth-belted ammo, or at least use protection, a link bag would be a good choice. Otherwise links will go just everyplace and they might just get trapped in a spot that could jam a mechanism and hurt somebody!
/PSA

The Ferret has lots of long spindly linkages running from the forward controls back to the engine and such, including but not limited to throttle, emergency brake cables, forward/reverse selector, and gearshift. A link in the wrong spot could disable or jam any one of these things which is why they used a brass-catch bag and cloth belts when in service.

If I had to guess, I'd speculate perhaps when this was a TV series prop perhaps they mounted a 1919 and ran a bunch of blanks for effect and show people being show people just returned the vehicle with no cleaning done.

 

[Ferretboy]

Hey teletech....its hard to tell what you may find under the powerpack....ive found a brass lock...a points set...pens...coins...wrenches.....handful of nuts ..bolts..washers.....plus all the links and spent cases....a real treasure hunt!!! Good luck!!!

 

[teletech]

I swapped the old pan-head grease fittings in the front suspension for zerks. 1/8" (BSP naturally). With over 30 grease fittings for just the front suspension I figured I needed the help, hopefully you won't judge me too harshly. I also lubed the inner and outer tractas. The hubs were not very low at all, but the inners were almost empty. A few days later I'm developing a puddle on one side so I guess I'll be replacing the seals for that side sooner rather than later. I think folks have determined they can be replaced with some sort of readily-available seal for the inside and outside, but my boot is also really rough so I'd love to find a solution for that.

My replacement diaphragms for the Solex have arrived, looking forward to having the vehicle back on four wheels and mobile again.
So, a shout-out to the good folks at Southern Carburetors in the UK for making an exception to the "we don't usually ship to the USA" policy.

Also, got lucky and found a fellow in Scotland willing to sell me some of the missing bits, including the jump-seats so I can make my interior more correct for the MK1.

 

[teletech]

Hey teletech....its hard to tell what you may find under the powerpack....ive found a brass lock...a points set...pens...coins...wrenches.....handful of nuts ..bolts..washers.....plus all the links and spent cases....a real treasure hunt!!! Good luck!!!

Indeed, when I took apart the Scorpion I found a few empty cases, a couple live rounds, and three really badly corroded smoke grenades.

 

[Ferretboy]

Hello ....of all the links i have found in the bottom of my hull.....not one of them is a browning 1919 ...

I dont know what m.g. the canadians used last....but the links i have found and the ones in your photo are not for a 1919.....they are for an open bolt weapon....gpmg....m-240....??? That type link will not work in a 1919....i hope someone can inform us on this .....

 

[teletech]

Hello ....of all the links i have found in the bottom of my hull.....not one of them is a browning 1919 ...

I dont know what m.g. the canadians used last....but the links i have found and the ones in your photo are not for a 1919.....they are for an open bolt weapon....gpmg....m-240....??? That type link will not work in a 1919....i hope someone can inform us on this .....

Of course you are quite right and now that I think on it I'm sure that's why I threw away the first handful or two of links since I don't aspire to those new-fangled weapons. As to what it was, the Canadians ran the C6 GPMG AKA the FN-MAG AKA the M240

 

[Ferretboy]

Hello teletech and all you ferret lovers if your ever at a swap meet and see this little adaptor its for those pan head grease fittings...ive had this one many years....made in .....but its fine to change over to the newer zerks....

 

[teletech]

Hello teletech and all you ferret lovers if your ever at a swap meet and see this little adaptor its for those pan head grease fittings...ive had this one many years....made in .....but its fine to change over to the newer zerks....

Indeed, I gather it was a fairly common item for old tractors and such. I'm told the fitting works, but is a lot messier than newer zerks.

 

[teletech]

I hadn't looked at the engine tag previously and with just over five thousand miles on the clock I thought i was likely to have the original motor, turns out that wasn't the case. I hadn't thought about looking at the tags because I have plenty of real work to do, but the frustration of not finding any useful markings on the hull led me to have a look. Seems my motor was bored .010 back in 1967 but still good with STD bearings. I wish I knew what the rat right column on the tag represented (R.T. /642). Of course I don't know if that was a military swap or a hobbyist changing the powerpack either.

 

[Ferretboy]

Your tags look to be an english rebuild....different from mine.....here is a photo of a blank rceme rebuild tag...

 

[teletech]

Your tags look to be an english rebuild....different from mine.....here is a photo of a blank rceme rebuild tag...

Well, that supports the theory of a hobbyist replacement motor then, or just possibly some international cooperation going on in West Germany?
My poor Ferret has no idea if it's Canadian or British I feel. some features of both and no real way to know what it's past was.

 

[Ferretboy]

The second ferret i had and traded off was 54-82617......it had an english rebuilt engine also....i think it was common that the canadians had plenty of those for spares....your welded hull number plate identifies your ferret as one of canadian forces ....it should be 54-82521.......i have never found the original aluminum data plate in any of the canadian ferrets ive looked at.....everyone says they were removed as a keep sake......if i could get even a british one to make a mold of....i think i would cast some blanks ....hopefully some day a list of canadian ferrets that went to germany will surface....you may find yours traveled a bit also........thank you for the photos.

 

[Ferretboy]

Heres a photo i found of an aluminum data plate from a british ferret.....they were originally mounted over the welded hull i.d. plate.......in the eme manual there are instructions on moving it to the left side escape hatch to make room for some radio equipment.....

 

[Ferretboy]

Hello teletech....dont know if you saw the photos from my trip to seco in about 1990 ....but they had 12 canadian ferrets.....bottom of the barrel parts vehicles left.....i was given the o.k. to get small parts and loose parts.....i did purchase one ferret....wish i had never traded it off...that was 54-82617 ...i let too many great parts go in the deal.....oh well....i thought i would never need or want them....i kick myself every day now for that.....i wish all the ferret owners great times in the hobby.....and just remember.....keep all those parts.....they aint making any more.....

 

[teletech]

I got the diaphragms back in the Solex and the vehicle runs, but really badly. I think I might have messed up something in reassembling the starter carburetor.
Still, it ran well enough I could pull it out of the shop and turn it around so now the back end is off the ground awaiting brake rebuild. I'm also very pleased to report all my tires are holding air after a week plus, so that's sorted for now.

 

[teletech]

Heres a photo i found of an aluminum data plate from a british ferret.....they were originally mounted over the welded hull i.d. plate.......in the eme manual there are instructions on moving it to the left side escape hatch to make room for some radio equipment.....

Indeed, it would be lovely to find one to make duplicates of. Someday perhaps. Right now I'm just fretting about the delay in my gearshift arriving and worried I'll have to try to find another.