No time for a proper blog- I've got Bob's engine to get to a position where Gary can check the cam journals- the sump and big end caps are off. The shells show scuffing which, had they been left much longer would have started to score the camshaft journal as well. As it is three of the jounals Gary reckoned were ok but the fourth (on No. 3) is damaged so it is (as Bob's owner told us!) needing a crankshaft regrind!

 Loads has been happening here, Yesterday while Gary continued to sort out the electrics on OJ ( there is almost certainly a regulator problem) and dealt with the lengthy business of getting the throttle linkage into a condition to allow the throttle lever to actually do something (worn linkages) and dealing with the carburettor which, despite a thorough overhaul, continued to misfunction.  In the meantime Dave was starting to dismantle Daisy May to the point where Gary could take the head off and find out why the gasket had blown. Off came the fuel tank and throttle linkages, the manifold was left attached with the exhaust off. Eventually he was down to the rocker cover. Lots of oil which is always good to see, head nuts were undone and Gary and Dave together lifted off the head and placed it carefully on the ground.

The gasket showed tracking between two of the cylinders and some other defects.  The gasket faces on the head and the block were scrupulously cleaned with fine emery - I just missed getting a picture of them- and soon Gary and Dave had the head back on and Daisy May back to where she was in the morning.

Next thing was to sort out the starter motor problem. The new one which arrived  listed as being for a TEF was no use to us at all as it neccessitated changing the polarity of everything on the tractor!  So it was back to the longer process of sorting out the  original starter motor. The commutator skimmed to eradicate the undulations and the bushes (unworn but barely making contact) were cleaned back to bright and the starter switch dismantled...

It was rather corroded!  So much so that it was not possible to save it and we are waiting for a new one to arrive.

I've just put a rather fine TEF dashboard on ebay...

It s unusual in that it is as solid as the day it was made and has, beside a fine example of the brass Kigass starting instructions with all its corners intact, a 'Supplied by' plate as well.