tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9675300821813133542024-03-04T22:13:21.658-08:00Found This Ransomes CrawlerLizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850600994503705608noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967530082181313354.post-8174498953199769162008-05-31T01:33:00.000-07:002008-06-03T12:34:48.877-07:00Won Over By A Ransomes CrawlerThree years ago I took over a rather overgrown allotment. It had not been cultivated for years and the ground was hard and full of weeds. The big question was how to bring it under control. Should I attempt too dig it by hand? No, that could take forever. There was only one decision to make - I needed to acquire a rotavator.<br /><br />But, which one? Well, given my interest in vintage machines, it was easy. I wanted a 2-stroke Shay rotavator from the 1950's. So, using the <a href="http://www.lookwhatihavefound.co.uk/rotavator.htm">Look What I Have Found </a>website I found just what I was looking for. I was now in business.<br /><br />After a little checking over, setting points and cleaning the carburettor, the Shay fired up on a second pull of the starter - brilliant! The sound and smell of the 2-stroke took me back years to when I used to help my father. Without delay, I went straight to the allotment to try it out.<br /><br />Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short-lived. Although the rotavator performed very well, the job was going to take weeks. I needed a bigger machine.<br /><br />Back to <a href="http://www.lookwhatihavefound.co.uk/rotavator.htm">Look What I Have Found</a> to search for another purchase. This time, I found a Howard Gem rotavator. Originally, this machine was used in market gardens to prepare large areas of ground. With its 5 horse power, 4-stroke engine, it pulled like a tank. This I was convinced would plough through the soil like water.<br /><br />But, although the Howard worked well, it spread the weeds rather than removing them. It was obvious; I needed a plough and drag harrow mechanism not a rotavator!<br /><br />Back to <a href="http://www.lookwhatihavefound.co.uk/rotavator.htm">Look What I Have Found </a>to search yet again for another purchase. This time, I found a Mayfield garden tractor with all its attachments - plough, cultivator and disc harrows. This must be the answer, I thought.<br /><br />After a careful run with the cultivator toolbar, the results looked very promising. The ground was well tilled and the weeds had been gathered together for scooping up. I was happy ... or was I?<br /><br />With my success in tracking down garden machinery, I continued to search <a href="http://www.lookwhatihavefound.co.uk/books%20on%20gardening.htm">Look What I Have Found</a> for books and information about these machines. This was disastrous. Each search revealed something better. Finally, I stumbled upon an old Ransomes MG2 crawler with tools.<br /><br />That was it. I was hooked. This machine epitomised everything I needed to bring my allotment back to life. From that point onwards, my addiction began. I now have 21 of them blocking my drive, my garage, my garden; from MG2s to MG40s. I love them all!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis98GWBgzVIm3T1T6OGHghNEE56e_JhgUGGURIFz1gKi4lyrWhMT3TffDwei5y06yqoBiwGfX4YEecDuz0FdiM924jIo0D6YVhlpgE5rSGgwjMooikW0HVn8vaKbZsybvVArQzN-QPFnsS/s1600-h/crawler+-+all+on+drive.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis98GWBgzVIm3T1T6OGHghNEE56e_JhgUGGURIFz1gKi4lyrWhMT3TffDwei5y06yqoBiwGfX4YEecDuz0FdiM924jIo0D6YVhlpgE5rSGgwjMooikW0HVn8vaKbZsybvVArQzN-QPFnsS/s400/crawler+-+all+on+drive.JPG" alt"My Army of Ransomes Crawlers" title="My Army of Ransomes Crawlers" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207159972611031506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br />My army of ransomes crawlers</span><br /><br />As most of the machines were not working when I first got them, I have spent many hours bringing them back to life. So, I thought it would be helpful to pass on my experience to other owners and future owners of Ransomes Crawlers.<br /><br />Therefore, over the next few weeks, I will present a series of articles showing different aspects of the machines. Each article will highlight a specific problem, show how the problem was analysed and then show how it was resolved.<br /><br />If there is any specific aspect of a Ransomes Crawler that you would like to discuss, please leave a comment and I will get back to you immediately.Lizziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850600994503705608noreply@blogger.com4