Well well that has to be top of the tree …what a collection yes what a collection …I can feel the heat …smell the hot engines and diesel …the dust took me back AGAIN …and as I said before all be it in an F89 … big thank you Robert 52 brought back lots of memories from that era
Perhaps some of those among you who worked out in Jeddah for TA might select from the photos I’ve posted, re-post them one by one and bring the pictures alive, and with knowledge and experience add detail… Robert
I sometimes feel like an interloper … this is primarily a Trans Arabia thread .but have been allowed in thank you I could start a SARAMAT thread but I would be lonely as I think I,m the only survivor!!! however I know what it was like during the hay day and really enjoyed my time there good and bad alike and as a result like to join in
cheers … inshalah
robert1952:
cheers Backsplice!Here are another couple of shots of the Jones machine that became TA 104. Robert
At S Jones Uk base at Aldridge outside the workshops
Ken b
10
@Jerry Cooke and Ron Hawkins…how was your attack against dirt/dust in the M/E?
I hereby attach a scan of a 1957 leaflet stating some devices on the ■■■■■■■■ 335
What did your tools look like…home- thus self-made or approved tools like the 1952
cover tells?
A/J. ■■■■■■■ engine , reliable & strong with good preventive maintenance these engines would out live most, paying particular attention to the desert dust !! ,which was very obvious when you tipped the cab over , the sand that came through the fan blades . Had polished the front of the rocker cover and the timing chest silver , the proof was also evident on the head lights the glass this became frosted , the finer points of the ■■■■■■■ payed off with the excellent sealing of all breathing parts, all filter changes where important .The tools where not special apart from inch toque dial injector setting,
But the knowledge in the field even this could be over come , also unblocking of injectors in situa was possible , this engine was brilliant The Crome spanners in the sun got to hot to handle so we kept them in petrol this keeps them cool,this was a fact ,great days in the M/E driving and repairing !the Mac &Trailers , the ERF rules OK Ron
@Ron, smart mechanic! Good idea to put your tools into petrol because of the high temperatures.
So as for tools it were the snap-on torquemeter/wrench and dreadnaught, belzer and shelley?
How did you all cope with working on the hot engines…time to have it ‘cooled’ with that high
temperatures was not available…did you wear gloves or covering the parts with wet cloths?
I will later scan something more on this
Guess the air-cooled picture you attached was a Büssing or a Vomag?
A /J ,The Sherlock Holmes of Teseco TMS in S/A , working as there project manager,I had a ERF with ■■■■■■■ engine almost brand new that had very low oil pressure, i dispatched this truck under warranty to GCC Damman for investigation ? I had recently left this company as there ■■■■■■■ engineer, so I new the ropes!! They informed me that they had found some card board in the sump and accused us as the culprits ?the warranty would not be honoured? And we will be charged for there work !!! Well I was in my element and created a stink , I got hold of the cardboard, carefully opening it up found it to be a cardboard box about 18inch x 6inch this had been sucked tight round the filter mesh stoping the oil flow !! I then noticed some indelible ink markings on this box ,this was proved to be a box that was issued to ERF Sandbach with fan belts in for the build up on there line. This had some how got into the sump when the the vehicle was built, apparently the sump was removed when the engine was being fitted in the chassis this box had been left in the sump This I proved to Ray Cottingham the M/E ■■■■■■■ man from Athens who agreed to extend the warranty on this engine . I was so keen to pass on my knowledge to the Thie mechanics I started a training school up at Taseco Tms Ron
Lovely story Ron, so we have another teacher on board over here! It’s the stories behind, preferably with
pictures or documents that keep up the good memories! So you’re coming from the ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Can
you confirm there was a ‘goldlooking’ medal/coin down under in the crate of new ■■■■■■■ engines as a
reward for the mechanic who installed/mounted the engine? Not to be confused with your personal golden
spanner by ■■■■■■■
Another Mick Jones shot! Robert
robert1952:
Another Mick Jones shot! Robert0
Did ■■■■■■■ engines use that much oil per trip■■? Ron That they had to carry there own very special can?
Ken
A/J,you know,that i know, that you know ? Good man ,true memories we all have, makes up the life we have ,the medal may be in this castle ? But I carnt find the key ?photo taken near to King Solomonds mine Najran, you can see the minerals in the rock !! thanks for the memory of the Dial indicator , I can still feel the tension as it tries to slip out of the slot !!because of its worn use , This engine was simple and brilliant at the same time, the diaphragm on the fuel pump to straightened out the pulsation presser from the gear pump , the double lobe on the cam shaft to hold the "hammer down "for correct injection, this was some engine no problem with head gaskets, rarely did it give trouble?and when It did ? the oil cooler must be changed ,this could trap foreign matter ? back home in cold climates !! Sometimes a driver may shut down to early after along haul !not allowing the engine to cool down we did have a couple of inlet vale seats drop,!! this was because of cold air got through the exhaust into the cyl with the overlap of inlet & exhaust shrinking the inlet seat .can you imagine the trouble this caused ,next morning when the driver reports it just went klunk ?educating is what it’s all about ■■■■■■■ rule OK. Ron. Nice one KB,lubrication was the answer to smooth running ,talking of this ?!!! I flew into Jeddah sitting with the BP reps wife she was lovely and got to know each other very well on this 61/2 hr flight !! later she came to our villa I thought ? I know it was to see me again ? Ron, ps Wirlinmerlin should have been on this flight ? Hold it Tiger ,how are you Ron
A/J We never used gloves,gloves !!i just had on shorts boots and a leather belt that had turned grey with the salt it was red hot ,even hotter on engine repairs ,we had a job to do just got on with it ,the scalding engine oil came out like water, tried to shield from the splashes no pit , Jonnie Davies and me looked like scabby monkeys, always last in on the night ,!! covered in sand that stuck to the oil , finding all the hot water had been run off In the villa ,this was the only bug bear , but do you know I would do it all again, but the clock Carn’t be turned back , great adventures in the M/E made up for all the hard ships Ron
This thread is absoultly brilliant reading ,all you men who contribute, may think !,why would anyone want to know this or that, run of the mill ordinary daily chores ,. what did you eat all day? etc ,but we /i do, because it will never be done again, so thank you all.
I fully agree! Memories are made by persons to keep them alive.
I regret the majority of drivers are no longer with us but for the ones who were on the M/E-stage
it woud be nice to maintain all there was to all there is now.
By the way…
- how about music in the lorries, or 8tracks, even CB?
- what did lunch look like, apparently not the buns and sandwiches (with a pint of beer) as in UK?
- how about fuelling…was there a some kind of creditcard like UTA, DKV, Shell Eurocard or how?
- were there shortages on certain parts?
- what was the daily language? hand and feet? english, arabic, farsi
- how about overnight hauls…sleeping under/in the lorry, any arms with you?
Will input some pictures tomorrow for further memories
yes i agree ERF, i have learned one thing to day, that i suspect only a handful of men in the country knew before today ,““that keeping your spanners in petrol to keep them cool.””
.how amazing is that.what a fact to know.and i bet the men that used that method never give it a second thought,“classic.”
Lots of dribble is written on here, me included,but that.words fail me.
i know about the mixing with diesel -20 .[never used it ,]and cleaning engine parts.
. I Wakey wakey come on get up ,I will tip the cab if you don’t get up , put the kettle on let’s have some grub , come on here while I attend to this hub, don’t put rice on there’s no time for that, I just want to get the job done, and get back
Wow, compliments for your pure and genuine stories, containing a lot of sense we didn’t know/realise!