[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin Barry, Grimy and everybody,

 

A bit of a busy week but very productive,

 

Grimy, I started fitting the felt seals and checking the clearance for the lifter movement, the seal fitted the lifter block well and was easy to fit using a small tool I made up,

 

 

 

The thickness of the seal wouldn't allow the lifter full movement, I cut down the seal until clearance was restored, the problem now was the seal was too thin to give any sealing ability, I don't really want to unsolder and lift the lifter cap,   a bit more thought and I will have another attempt.

 

 

 

The other thing I found was the exhaust valves had gummed up in the valve bore and it had slowed the valve movement enough to blacken and burn the seat's, I got the valve head's ground and I cleaned up the seat's, I will have to keep an eye on the stem lubrication in future.

 

We had short trip to Holland to collect some items for another project and got the chance to visit the Louwman museum, a privately owned museum with the most incredible cars and memorabilia,

 

The 1903 Napier racer is wonderful and still used,

 

 

 

The 1903 Spyker 60hp 6 cylinder, 4 wheel drive racer,

 

 

 

A beautiful Yale,

 

 

 

The last thing I ever expected to see would be a genuine Bluebird tyre with silver Bluebird replica,

 

 

The Louwman is definitely worth a visit, it can be found in Den Haag.

 

I have now reassembled the valve 's and run the engine, between the flywheel weight reduction and the exhaust valve re-facing the engine feels sharp and strong, a few more little job's then I will want some warm weather.

 

 

Andy

 

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin Barry,

 

Go to the top of the class for the best description of a job on the Chalmers to date !

 

I have started to fit the felt seals in the lifter block's, hopefully I will have this done in a few day's.

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

When I replaced the flywheel on the Chalmers last year the new steel flywheel was heavier than the original cast item, this was my mistake and I wondered how I could rectify this without having to completely strip the engine to press the crank out, so I decided to try machining the flywheel in-situ running the engine, I made up a carrier to hold a cross slide to hold a lathe tool, this needed to be set-up exactly in position to give a good finish and a clean cut without vibration and judder,

 

 

the system worked very well and the only problem I had was the engine stopped due to the battery going flat as I was only running at tickover and the charging doesn't start until higher rev's,

 

 

the flywheel is now back to the original weight and I am looking forward to seeing how the engine performs,

 

 

I have now got some felt washer's to try and make the lifter block's a little more oil tight, I hope to get this done next week.

 

 

Andy

[WANTED - Saxon 3 speed axle]

Looking for a 1914/5 Saxon 3 speed axle/transaxle, is this car the only fitment for the 3 speed axle or was it used on other car's of this age ?

 

Other transaxle's may also be of interest, what do you have ?

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Afternoon everybody and a Happy New Year,

 

I apologise for the lack of updates, I have spent a lot of time on my "modern" Ford Sierra RS500 touring car, getting it ready for a photoshoot at Donington Park and having it on display at the Autosport International racing show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, the reason for all the work is that the RS500's are now 30 year's old, the show went extremely well with 10 genuine Group "A" sierra's on the stand.

 

 

 

 

Now back to the Chalmers, I wanted to check on a few things after the high mileage we achieved last year, I noticed No3 cylinder was a bit down on compression, I pulled the inlet valve and carrier out and noticed some "blow by" marking at one side of the lower copper sealing ring, this would have gone into the inlet of No3 and No4, I cleaned everything up and added some heavy grease around the seal ring and refitted the assy taking care to align the port's.

 

 

 

I also dropped the gearbox to check the new flywheel I fitted last Spring.

 

 

I want to do something about the oil leaking from the lifter block's, it's not a huge amount but after a long run it is noticeable, at the moment there are no seal's fitted, I am looking to make up some felt washer type seal's to fit in the space in the top of the block's.

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Afternoon everybody,

 

Sorry for the lack of updates but the weather has been to bad to get out, basically too cold !    I went out for a short run to my dad's this morning but the roads being very wet made stopping a little bit more than tricky on occasion, so I think that will be the last time out this year.

 

Over the winter there are several thing's I want to get done to the Chalmers ready for next years hillclimb season, hopefully we can attend a few more hill's that we haven't been to before.

 

With 2500 miles covered this year I think the Chalmers has done really well, it is me that seems worn out !

 

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Afternoon everybody,

 

It is slightly less cold today so a short trip out was the thing to do, the White Lion at Barthomley is a great stop as there is always something to see and they have a great roaring fire !

 

 

 

This lovely BSA was still using acetylene lighting !

 

 

 

It is very noticeable that the oils in the Chalmers feel much thicker in this weather and how they change the operation of the engine, clutch and gearbox, everything was starting to work normally just as I got home !

 

I don't think there will be many more runs out on the Chalmers this year so I will be getting ready to do a few job's on it in the warm workshop.

 

 

Andy

 

 

[Model identification - 1916 to 1918]

Hi Dave and all,

 

Dave, you have found a great car that is so original, have you considered preserving the body condition as it is ?  it would be unique.

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Afternoon everybody,

 

It is getting cold now but the while it is dry I am out on the Chalmers, I have been researching the disused Stoke to Market Drayton railway line which passed near to where I live, I am slowly taking photo's of the Chalmers at each of the remaining bridges, this is about a mile from me,

 

 

 

some of the bridges have been removed but the cutting is still there, this was a long way done a farm track,

 

 

the other day I went through the village I grew up in, I stopped outside the Charlie Bassett's pub, when I was very young I grew up opposite this pub when it was owned by Charlie Bassett,

 

 

 the pub sign has a great caricature of his son Philip "Rastass" Bassett, I remember him very well and he did look like the sign !

 

 

today I drove out to South Cheshire and made a brief stop at the "secret" Hack Green nuclear bunker, it was built in the cold war "just in case" !

 

 

 

 

last week a friend of mine dropped of this brass and copper tank and pump assy,

 

 

I am trying to work out what it is for, so far I believe it is a propeller shaft oiler for a boat of some description, if you have any idea's please let me know.

 

The Chalmers has now covered 2400 miles so far this year.

 

 

Andy

[Model identification - 1916 to 1918]

Hi Dave,

 

Welcome to Chalmers ownership,    from the various images on the web it looks like cars upto 1915 had parallel bonnet's, 1915 and onwards had a tapered bonnet, so your idea of 1916 is a good start.

 

Do you have any more photo's ?

 

I think the Chalmers website closed after the author passed away.

 

 

Andy

 

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

I have been able to get out for a few runs on the Chalmers, the suspension has become very supple after lubricating the springs and the handling is very good,

 

I spent a few hours fitting a carb I bought a while ago, it is a Miller, I checked the carb out and had the very small jet drillings cleaned and made a small inlet trumpet,

 

 

 

the Chalmers started easily and ticked over very smoothly, the mixture adjustment was very hard to get right and there was a very bad transition from slow running to fully open, very "on or off"  this maybe due to the jetting being way out and the adjustment available isn't wide enough or it is a typical race carb, tick over or flat out !     I spent the next morning putting the Rayfield back on.

 

Today was a cool start to the trip to the Klondyke steam party, always a place worth going,

 

 

there was a lovely Albion truck that had recently been found in a barn,

 

 

parked in between a couple of motorcycles was this wonderful Velocette engined "Shelsley special" it was very well made mainly from angle steel !

 

 

it is a very interesting special that looked light and very simple,

 

 

the seat looks very WW2 aircraft, the design idea's are simple but effective, I would love to find some history on it,  I hope we get to see it out on the hills next year.

 

 

Andy

 

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

You never know what you are going to see when you call in at the White Lion at Barthomley, today was no different,

 

 

a pair of scale steamers and a 1920's Triumph,

 

 

the smell of the oily steam was great,

 

 

The Chalmers has done over 2100 miles so far this year and hopefully a few more before the cold stops play.

 

 

Andy

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

After a short break in Wales it was time for a trip on the Chalmers, we had been invited to one of the special opening's of the Swift Gallery in Stoke on Trent,

 

http://www.theswiftgallery.co.uk/

 

A really good collection of photograph's and art showing the icon's of motorsport with special display's of interesting hardware,

 

 

 

the only downside to the day was the rain, we have got used to carrying motorcycle waterproof's with us these day's,

 

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin Colin and all,

 

Colin, If you need any info on the Chalmers please get in touch, I will try and answer any questions you may have, you have a great car there.

 

We were at Kop Hill climb near Princes Risborough over the weekend, it was a fun hill climb with all proceeds going to local charities, there was a range of vintage car's and motorcycles and we did 4 runs up the hill, this was a great model T pickup with a motorcycle on the back,

 

 

this GN was looking quite mad,

 

 

I took one of the organiser's up the hill but it was a little wet on that run,

 

 

there were lot's of wonderful V-twin motorcycles,

 

 

 

 

we had a short wait at the start line on one of our runs, a photo was in order,

 

 

I hope to try a few little changes to the Chalmers over the next couple of weeks, I will let you know how I go on.

 

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Hi Colin,

 

Welcome to the great world of Chalmers ownership !

 

Where are you based, USA, UK ?  I know a nice blue model 17 was sold at auction here in the UK recently.

 

Starting on the handle is not difficult when you have got to know it's little way's, as soon as you get the procedure sorted you will look very impressive.

 

We are at Kop Hill this weekend, it's at Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire.

 

If you have any questions about your car when it arrives please ask away, we need to get you clocking up some miles !

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

Loton Park was a wonderful weekend again, 2 dry sunny day's gave everybody the oppurtunity to drive their car and have a lot of fun, except for for one young lady racer who's Hispano Suiza had a clutch part failure on the way to the meeting, luckily her father and just about every engineer in the paddock helped throughout the weekend to get the car fixed, she was loaned a car to share and had a great time while her car was repaired for her journey home,

 

 

a fantastic effort to "make and fit" the new part in the paddock !

 

The Twelvetrees family brought out their newly finished Wolseley special and improved on the car's performance on every run,

 

 

as usual Mark Walker's Darracq V8 was just incredible,

 

 

 

Chris Williams Napier Bentley never fails to impress with it's tyre smoking start's,

 

 

the Chalmers went well and we managed to go under our given handicap time by 0.02 seconds,   how close is that !

 

 

 

the Chalmers will be checked over this week ready for the Kop Hill climb next weekend, this is a revival of an old hillclimb with all the event's proceeds going to charity.

 

 

Andy

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

We started the Oakamoor hillclimb revival with rain, we ended the Oakamoor hillclimb revival with rain  or put it another way, we got soaked !

 

The original hillclimb route on the road was closed for half an hour with help from local councillors and the police just as it was between 1906 and 1912, then a smaller and steeper road in the village was closed for 2 hours for us to do several runs with passengers,

 

some of the cars in attendance were a 1906 Bianchi, an 8 litre Bentley, a 3 litre Bentley, a type 57 Bugatti, several Fraser Nash's and a Riley special,

 

 

I was entrusted with one of the local councillors, I don't think she realised the Edwardian car's were quite so open to the element's !

 

 

 

Judy Scott-Moncrieff drove very spiritedly in her type 57

 

 

Hopefully in future the event may become a more serious hillclimb as it was originally intended.

 

I hope to be dried out for Loton park next weekend.

 

 

Andy

[Wanted - Chain drive type transaxle]

I am looking for a car size chain drive to back axle "transaxle", no specific make or model, does anyone have one available ?

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Mornin Barry and all,

 

That is a proper motorcycle from a time that will never return !    I am sure his grin is permanent !

 

The photo from Brooklands shows the big hangar that is going to be moved to the other side of the site to enable the museum to relay the original start line of the track.

 

Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement.

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin Barry and all,

 

I am really looking forward to the Oakamoor hillclimb, in fact I am missing Beaulieu autojumble to be there !

 

We are competing at Loton Park with the VSCC the weekend after Oakamoor on the 10th and 11th, then Kop Hill the weekend after, I have not done 3 hillclimb's in 3 weekend's before but it should be great fun, Barry, are you in the UK around this time ?

 

The steam guy's have serious boiler testing regulations over here, I know that every 10 years the entire boiler has to be stripped and inspected along with ultrasonic thickness measuring, a very expensive business.

 

The Triumph is running on a "daytime MOT test"     MOT being a "Ministry of Transport"  test certificate which is a yearly vehicle test which comes before you can apply for your road tax and make the vehicle road legal, obviously you can't ride in the dark !   the other difference is that pre 1960 vehicles are "MOT" and tax exempt but you still have to comply with the test conditions !

 

I haven't heard a Brough on open pipes, it must be wonderful.

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

I have been able to get out quite a bit over the last week or so, the Chalmers has ran well and I have carried out some minor maintenance and an oil and filter change,

 

A trip to the Apedale railway and mining museum's car show has always got things to look at,

 

 

the narrow gauge railway was running in full steam,

 

 

they have a "double deck" mine shaft man cage on show along with a steam winding winch for restoration,

 

 

 

today we went for a drive in the sun and lunch at the White Lion at Barthomley and met up with an old friend on his 1972 Triumph TR6 flat tracker,

 

 

 

next Saturday we have been asked to take part in a revival of a hillclimb that was staged in 1906 to 1912 in the Village of Oakamoor, this was originally organised by Mr F A Bolton, a local industrialist who was an avid motorist and amateur racer, he had some of the earliest cars in the area, especially Daimlers,

 

 

The above flyer shows Mr Bolton on one of his Daimler's and the Napier racer "Samson" both on the starting line on Oakamoor bridge, hopefully we will be able to follow in their wheeltrack's.

 

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

We have had a very busy week, the Chalmers has been on several long runs, we took my "modern" Ford Sierra RS500 race car to Donington for the Ford RS owners club day and my brother Gareth won the Croft circuit round of the British Time Attack championship,

 

I hope you don't mind me adding the "moderns" to the thread.

 

Gareth driving the SVA Imports Mitsubishi Evo VI on his way to a win and new lap record, the car is 2.3 litre with 1100bhp before the Nitrous oxide, the limited slip diff's are programmable per corner and it has 2.5 tons of downforce !

 

 

in comparison my sierra only has 530bhp !

 

 

Back to the "oldies", today I covered over 100 miles, I drove north through Leek and up into the Peak district, calling at the village of Flash,

 

 

just a few miles further I was on the Buxton to Macclesfield road, on this road is the famous Cat and Fiddle pub, the photo below from 1907 of 4 factory 40/50hp cars on the non-stop London to Glasgow trial, AX201 on the left is the actual Silver Ghost, AX205 next to it was driven by Charles Rolls himself,

 

 

 

I parked as close as I could but there was a lot of traffic about, they have built a stone entrance and have moved the stone carving but the building is the same one.

 

A little further down the road I stopped for a cup of tea at Tegg's Nose country park,

 

 

They even brought my tea out to the car !

 

From the high elevation you could see Jodrel Bank Observatory and the main Lovell telescope on the Cheshire plain,

 

 

the Lovell telescope was built in 1957 and is 250 feet in diameter.

 

This years mileage has now gone over 1800.

 

 

Andy

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

we have had great weather for a couple of day's and that has turned into 150 miles of driving pleasure,

 

yesterday I went to Rudyard Lake and had lunch at the narrow gauge steam railway,

 

 

 

 

 

I travelled through Leek and onto Winkhill to call in on an old mate and then a drive out to the famous Yew Tree Inn at Cauldon Low, this old pub is full of antiques and pub games from the last century,

 

 

 

the view from above Cauldon Low is worth stopping for.

 

 

 

today I drove out and ended up near Stafford, I stopped outside the cottage of Izaak Walton, he was a 16th century writer known for "The compleat angler"

 

 

 

I have found a great photo taken at Prescott this year, it is the run down to Pardon hairpin,

 

 

the long course flows well but the short course is the original to keep all the records relevant.

 

 

Andy

 

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Evenin everybody,

 

The Chalmers is going well after working hard at Prescott, I have done a few little thing's to the car, I have adjusted the ignition advance linkage slightly and have found more advance, I have tested this on the "dyno" hill and it does feel stronger and no "knocking" is evident.

 

On a nice run out I stopped at a local "ford" there aren't many of these around here,

 

 

Today we drove to our local show, Mill Meece is going through a large repair/restoration and should be steaming again next year, finger's crossed.

 

There is always something to see, this wonderful Jensen C V8 is a very rare car,

 

 

this scale model of a road roller has the most incredible detail,

 

 

and a great vintage bus,

 

 

with over 1500 miles and lot's of hills so far this year the grin is still here.

 

 

Andy

[1913 36 model 17 in the UK]

Mornin everybody,

 

The Prescott Hillclimb with the VSCC has been a fantastic weekend, this is a great event whether you are competing or watching,

 

 

 

On Friday we used the long course,

 

 

and over the weekend the short course,

 

 

there were some very interesting cars in the paddock, a very nice Ford,

 

 

a beautiful Lagonda,

 

 

the detail on this little Bugatti from Czechoslovakia was incredible,

 

 

there was a lovely Trojan in the paddock having new tyres fitted, he showed us the amazing 2 stroke engine with linked cylinders running as a "square 4" but actually 2 pair's of linked cylinders with the twin pistons giving a high compression ratio, the owner had a pair of very corroded piston's and rods to explain,

 

 

 

as you can see the engine is under the front seats !

 

this huge  525ci  Lorraine Dietrich is very imposing,

 

 

and this twin Harley engine special looked frightening, I am far from an expert on these engines but I will make a guess at 1920's JD model ?

 

 

 

Prescott has been a really great weekend and we ended up with the 1st handicap time award for Friday.

 

 

Andy