Our 'Self-propelled Pump'

  She has been struggling to prime the pump recently and water had been pouring out of the primer exhaust when it wasn't mean to.  On the side of the pump there are two twist off caps and inside is a rubber diaphragm. The left hand side was completely split in half and the right hand side had shifted and started to split.  The little clips that hold the rubber in place are hugely awkward, you need a UJ wrist to wrestle them out. One clip was very stuck and I pretty much had to destroy it to get it out. I think I can either reshape it or use a suitable circlip. Its thick 4mm rubber and got some of this is on order. Luckily one of the diaphragms is in a condition where I can make a pattern from it.  Also the battery was on its way out last year, and didn't disappoint, first start after a full recharge and just couldn't cope.  New battery was fitted and, even after 6 months of standing, she started on the first rotation. 

  The back brakes had been making a funny noise and was pretty sure they were dragging so decided to get some maintenance done A local tractor garage (Pecks in Ramsey St Mary) came and helped me get her up on axle stands. 550nm torqued wheel nuts are beyond my tools!  I started with the drivers side but couldn't get the drum off. In order to get to the brakes you have to remove the hub anyway, so I backed off the brake adjuster and took the half shaft out (Its a hell of a half shaft!!!) and a slight tug and the hub came off with a satisfying schlopp. The drum and hub assembly looks big, but when I got it on my bench, it looked enormous!! The brake linings look barely worn but everything was very, very stiff. All the grease had dried out and wasn't moving very well at all. There was nothing wrong , nothing broken but was pretty sure the shoes weren't moving as they were supposed to.  While everything is off it got a good clean up and paint, High Temp paint for the drum, an...