Dieseldogsix:
Happy Jack…Dennis
Thanks for that “D dog 6” now the titles been changed to “Happy Chris”!!! Dennis.
Dave the Renegade:
Which of you Smiths drivers who are on Trucknet,drove a 240 Big J the longest.
Cheers Dave.
Hi Dave,
I was at SoM ‘76 to 82’,as I drove nights,days,trunks,tramping,roaming I drove a variety of Guy’s & ERF’s,but in all honesty the least time was spent in the 240 Percy Thrower,probably 2 years no more,most of my driving time was spent in the new ERF’s that Smith’s obtained early '80’s,either way they were probably my best years in road transport,but Alex wanted his pound of flesh,and he got it!!
Rgds
David 
5thwheel:
Dave the Renegade:
Which of you Smiths drivers who are on Trucknet,drove a 240 Big J the longest
Cheers Dave.Hi Dave,
I was at SoM ‘76 to 82’,as I drove nights,days,trunks,tramping,roaming I drove a variety of Guy’s & ERF’s,but in all honesty the least time was spent in the 240 Percy Thrower,probably 2 years no more,most of my driving time was spent in the new ERF’s that Smith’s obtained early '80’s,either way they were probably my best years in road transport,but Alex wanted his pound of flesh,and he got it!!
Rgds
David
Hi David,
I would think the B series ERF’s were a more comfortable lorry to drive than a big J.I never drove a Big J,but drove a Seddon which was similar and found that not very comfortable at all,the steering wheel was offset,don’t know if the Big J’s were like that.
Cheers Dave.
Hi Dave,
Yes the ERF’s were a great leap forward in driver comfort,a very high % of them were 240 powered,and in comparison to the other fleet marques in Smith’s,those lucky enough to get one,felt like a dog with 2 doodahs!!
I honestly cannot remember if the steering wheel was offset or not,perhaps another can advise,perhaps Dennis can shed some light on the question?[that should wake him up!]
Rgds,
David
Hi David,
Yes we will have t await Dennis verdict on the two vehicles,as he has run both.He is the chap to give the verdict on the merits of the Guy versus the Seddon 
.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
Hi David,
Yes we will have t await Dennis verdict on the two vehicles,as he has run both.He is the chap to give the verdict on the merits of the Guy versus the Seddon
Cheers Dave.
The off-set steering on the Seddon was only applicable on the olderSeddons,the 13/4s.I think it was because they had a narrower track(probably a Moss front axle)When I bought K.Fell & Co in '76 they had two Seddon 4 wheelers the old one was off-set and the M reg 3 year old one had a “normal” set wheel.The steel cab 32/4 tractors had a normal setting wheel same as the Big J.The Seddon 32/4 cab didn’t seem as cramped as the Big J as it had a flatter bonnet,and for some reason had a straight gear stick as opposed to the Big Js “bent” stick which was a source of driver complaints! I’m sure the SOM lads will “resemble my remarks” about the Big J!! Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
loader8:
invincibles? warriors?
just how old are you?I was sat on the bonnets of a Beaver and a Comet when I was 6 or 7! Dennis.
Leyland Hippo when I were that age Dennis.Eyam,Derbyshire to Huddersfield,took all day and was deaf at school for a fortneet.
I’m not deaf anymore though,just daft.Whats that song that The Who sang about a lad called Jack who lived in the back of somewhere on the IOM and was as mad as "hatter"Dennis.
He didn’t live in the IOM,he came from Furness and he lived in the back of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls or summat like that.
What’s all this about beavers bonnets?
Bewick:
Dave the Renegade:
Hi David,
Yes we will have t await Dennis verdict on the two vehicles,as he has run both.He is the chap to give the verdict on the merits of the Guy versus the Seddon
Cheers Dave.The off-set steering on the Seddon was only applicable on the olderSeddons,the 13/4s.I think it was because they had a narrower track(probably a Moss front axle)When I bought K.Fell & Co in '76 they had two Seddon 4 wheelers the old one was off-set and the M reg 3 year old one had a “normal” set wheel.The steel cab 32/4 tractors had a normal setting wheel same as the Big J.The Seddon 32/4 cab didn’t seem as cramped as the Big J as it had a flatter bonnet,and for some reason had a straight gear stick as opposed to the Big Js “bent” stick which was a source of driver complaints! I’m sure the SOM lads will “resemble my remarks” about the Big J!! Cheers Dennis.
Hi Dennis,
It was a Seddon 13/4 which I drove with the offset steering wheel,not a nice lorry in my opinion.Glad you have put us right,sounds as if the Big J’s were ok.
Cheers Dave.
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
loader8:
invincibles? warriors?
just how old are you?I was sat on the bonnets of a Beaver and a Comet when I was 6 or 7! Dennis.
Leyland Hippo when I were that age Dennis.Eyam,Derbyshire to Huddersfield,took all day and was deaf at school for a fortneet.
I’m not deaf anymore though,just daft.Whats that song that The Who sang about a lad called Jack who lived in the back of somewhere on the IOM and was as mad as "hatter"Dennis.
He didn’t live in the IOM,he came from Furness and he lived in the back of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls or summat like that.
What’s all this about beavers bonnets?
What yer on about! theres more “inbreds” per 1000 population on the IOM than in Yorkshire!!!
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
loader8:
invincibles? warriors?
just how old are you?I was sat on the bonnets of a Beaver and a Comet when I was 6 or 7! Dennis.
Leyland Hippo when I were that age Dennis.Eyam,Derbyshire to Huddersfield,took all day and was deaf at school for a fortneet.
I’m not deaf anymore though,just daft.Whats that song that The Who sang about a lad called Jack who lived in the back of somewhere on the IOM and was as mad as "hatter"Dennis.
He didn’t live in the IOM,he came from Furness and he lived in the back of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls or summat like that.
What’s all this about beavers bonnets?What yer on about! theres more “inbreds” per 1000 population on the IOM than in Yorkshire!!!
Bet you,there ain’t no Beavers .
Dave the Renegade:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
loader8:
invincibles? warriors?
just how old are you?I was sat on the bonnets of a Beaver and a Comet when I was 6 or 7! Dennis.
Leyland Hippo when I were that age Dennis.Eyam,Derbyshire to Huddersfield,took all day and was deaf at school for a fortneet.
I’m not deaf anymore though,just daft.Whats that song that The Who sang about a lad called Jack who lived in the back of somewhere on the IOM and was as mad as "hatter"Dennis.
He didn’t live in the IOM,he came from Furness and he lived in the back of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls or summat like that.
What’s all this about beavers bonnets?What yer on about! theres more “inbreds” per 1000 population on the IOM than in Yorkshire!!!
Bet you,there ain’t no Beavers
I’ve just checked the lyrics of The Who’s song and they clearly state “that this geezer Jack lived on the IOM”! Apparently he goes in the same drinker as Chris!!! Dennis.
georgeking:
And that Guy defo hasn’t got the 8LXB in it either!!
Didn’t know you were a Manfred Mann fan Dennis 
Bewick:
Dave the Renegade:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
loader8:
invincibles? warriors?
just how old are you?I was sat on the bonnets of a Beaver and a Comet when I was 6 or 7! Dennis.
Leyland Hippo when I were that age Dennis.Eyam,Derbyshire to Huddersfield,took all day and was deaf at school for a fortneet.
I’m not deaf anymore though,just daft.He didn’t live in the IOM,he came from Furness and he lived in the back of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls or summat like that.
What’s all this about beavers bonnets?What yer on about! theres more “inbreds” per 1000 population on the IOM than in Yorkshire!!!
I’ve just checked the lyrics of The Who’s song and they clearly state “that this geezer Jack lived on the IOM”! Apparently he goes in the same drinker as Chris!!! Dennis.
Well,he doesn’t go in my local,he must be from Peel 'cos Greta Garbo was born there and ran a scallop dredger and there’s no inbreds in t’IOM.Vikings,Celts and Anglo Saxons don’t mix.
Anyroad Dennis,bring yer washing in or it will end up in Carlisle,a gale on the way from us.
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
Dave the Renegade:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
Chris Webb:
Bewick:
loader8:
invincibles? warriors?
just how old are you?I was sat on the bonnets of a Beaver and a Comet when I was 6 or 7! Dennis.
Leyland Hippo when I were that age Dennis.Eyam,Derbyshire to Huddersfield,took all day and was deaf at school for a fortneet.
I’m not deaf anymore though,just daft.He didn’t live in the IOM,he came from Furness and he lived in the back of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls or summat like that.
What’s all this about beavers bonnets?What yer on about! theres more “inbreds” per 1000 population on the IOM than in Yorkshire!!!
I’ve just checked the lyrics of The Who’s song and they clearly state “that this geezer Jack lived on the IOM”! Apparently he goes in the same drinker as Chris!!! Dennis.
Well he doesn’t go in my local,he must be from Peel,and there’s no inbreds in t’IOM.Vikings,Celts and Anglo Saxons don’t mix.
Anyroad Dennis,bring yer washing in or it will end up in Carlisle,a gale on the way from us.
Its already here Chris and doing a fair bit of lumber according to local radio.Dennis.
Thats a marinised 8LXB,you would struggle to get than in any road vehicle,let alone a Big J!!
rGDS,
dAVID
5thwheel:
Thats a marinised 8LXB,you would struggle to get than in any road vehicle,let alone a Big J!!wrong answer there 5th wheel…Gardner saw berwick,s guy in the river and comishened (spel)a one off engine to get
his guy going again…HE HE now i,am in for it.
John
hiya,
During the 1970s in my case 1972 i got a brand new Atkinson Borderer but built in Manchester from a kit of parts bought from companies supplying the Atkinson factory this was seemingly a common practice during this period ( my then boss told me he’d made quite a big saving buying this way) plus he got the motor he wanted and not the one available from the maker i hasten to add the motor was perfect and trouble free with the inside finish above the average,as i’ve stated a pal of mine who visited the Guy factory during the Big J period several times is still adament that no motors were built in-house with the 8XLB installed and he states that should there be any in existance they must have been built from a kit of parts bought from suppliers but away from the Guy production line it would also be necessary to alter the chassis to do the build this lad does know his stuff.
thanks harry long retired.