spring
 

Looks very similar to one fitted to 100 series M/F Tractor clutch covers.

Hi Bob thanks for the info but I'm not familiar with this part or where I could get it from ? you can see from this photo that the spring I need is about 5cms across although there is room for a different size spring , could you check it out for me please. thanks Ian

spring
 

Check your local tractor parts supplies, new or used. pics of M/Ferguson 135 clutch finger spring, with slight bend perfect [ maybe ]. Look at Fiat, Zetor, a lot of two stage clutches use similar setup.

Cheers Bob looks like this spring might just work if I bend the 2 ends at 90 degrees, I will let you know once I've found one. thanks.

The rear section of the chassis is much worst that I first thought and the photos dont realy show the extent of the corrosion so rather than waste time cutting out and welding patches in I have decided to have some sections made and weld in a new rear part.
This is the best of the 4 wheels, the worst one even has the lips corroded away and is beyond repair.

Started repairing the 2 wheel archs today, there are 4 repair plates about 8" x 4" which tock about 2 hours to complete the first one. the size is deceptive in the photos but these are huge unwieldly archs for 11.00 tyres.

Started work on the 1st corroded wheel today, tomorrow I will take it to a local fabricator who can cut and roll a piece of 5mm plate so that I can weld it in.

The restoration moved on 'leaps & bounds' today when a package arrived containing all the underneath pipe work including taps / valves / mounting blocks & the change over valve ontop of the bowser, kindly sent by another Forum member.

WW2 20cwt 180 Gallon Bowsers
 

Hi Ian,

Just saw this Forum. I have a 180 gallon Bowser just like yours. Trailer is Acedes and water equipment is by Thompson Bros. I cannot manage to post the photos. So if you send me your Email address I will send you photos.
regards

Clive

Good find! Where else would you find a sincere discussion of WWII water trailers, but MLU?

Hi Les I have just replied to to your PM a second time ref my email address, cheers Ian

Hi Clive I have just sent you a PM with my email address, look forward to seeing your photos and having a chat, cheers Ian

Rear section cut & welded today, hope to have the front section finished tomorrow.

Hi Clive your blocking emails so I cant send you my email address

Easy job this morning removing the brake drums/hubs but not so easy removing the brake cams & back plates.
Lots of heat / sledgehammer & about 3 hours work finally got the job done.

Finished the welding today, just got to clean up a couple of welds that need to be flush & then off to the shot blasters.

Nice welds! :thup2:

Unable to find a spring to fit the brake adjuster I had a couple specialy made by this company http://www.springmasters.com/

Went to pickup some Bedford QL parts from a well known military vehicle collector in Southern England today and came away with another Pump & valves etc for the Bowser but best of all is a top cover for a Meta or Stellar Filter.
Amazing what turns up when you have a good rummage arround, the plan is to have another top cast and make the bottom sections which should be easy

Tow hitch is now finished and ready for fitting, this caused us a few problems restoring the hitch as it has no return spring but uses a friction material in sprung loaded clamps to slowup & dampen the braking action.
I was not able to replicate the curved brake lining material so in the end brass bearings were made and the front one is in 2 halfs to slow up the hitch movement under braking.

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread...er-restoration

Hi guys its been a long time since I updated this restoration blog so check out the link, its nearing completion so I will start posting again soon.

I'm still after one of these handbooks if anyone can help ? please. :thup2:

British vs. Canadian Water Trailers
 

Please note I have cleaned up this thread by separating posts into two disctinct threads: British WW2 180 Gallon 20-cwt Bowsers restoration and Canadian 180-gal 20-cwt water trailer info.

There are are differences between the British and Canadian built watrer trailers. Although the Canadian trailers were built to the British design, they did differ in respects of methods of construction and parts like brakes etc. The latter were off Ford CMPs on Canadian built ones. The difference between the Canadian 15-cwt and 20-cwt is one or two extra cross members in the chassis and 20" (instead of 16") wheels on special adapters to fit the hubs.

Wrecked British water trailer in Korea

Attachment 119418
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britis...57687925962996

Here is a British water tank left by the BEF 1940 Dunkirk area. Photo from my collection.

A British 180-gal water trailer in service with the Dutch Army, 1947:

Attachment 124769
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...f-2f731cb99b69

A nice large reference picture of a 15-cwt water trailer in service with the Dutch Army, 1946:

Attachment 124921
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...3-ba9571e59cd5