Saving Old Seagulls

Having just repainted my early Forty Minus tank (SJM35), I would like some advice about tank transfers. SOS John states his oval tank transfers are suitable for 1960s and 1970s tanks. Would these transfers be correct for 1950s tanks? John has previously supplied me with his FV/FVP transfer, which lo...

Yes, indeed, and the round water inlet holes in lieu of slots (like FV/FVP). Although I am interested in when (serial nos. or dates) these changes occured, I am especially interested in when functional change like the steering angle limit was introduced. Do you think that perhaps they were introduce...

Thanks Keith,
What engines had the gear lever stub? Was this contemporary with this 40-?
When you say later modifivation, was this in the 1960s/
Thanks for the info.

Jeremy

There has been some recent activity on this site in determining when the '...for the world' superseded the '...in the world' wording on the flywheel cover. I am interested in the steering angle restriction. Early 40- and presumably 40+ appeared not to have the feature machined on the top of the driv...

On advice previously on this site, I used caustic soda. It is readily avaiable and works really well. It also damages paint if the solution is sufficiently strong, so not to be splashed onto the outside of the tank.
It also cleans up - just for cosmetic reasons - the bronze transom bracket.

yes, I can see from your explanation that turning over just the gearbox is the only way to tell. i will now remove the gearbox and give it a go.
Thanks for your advice.
Jeremy

Thanks Charles, The smaller dia (0.75") thin shims that had previously been fitted in lieu of the thrust washer have worn the end bearing face locally. SOS John has been on hols so I haven't been able to contact him, so thanks for the details of the thrust washers. A 13 gauge (0.092) or 14 gauge (0....

Thanks for that advice. My SJM is 1955/6. The gears look ok, but somebody has put in shims of 0.75 dia in lieu of 1.0" which has locally worn the bearing in the end cap producing a lot of backlash. I thought that I if i was going to put in the correct dia thrust washer I might as well get the thickn...

Well done. I have just acquired an early Minus (SJM35). It runs and seems ok. It is not in as good as condition as yours, but apart from the throttle lever I think is reasonably correct. The tank is very dented, but I lack your skill and determination to do what you have just done. My excuse is that...

I am about to set up the gear meshing of my Forty Minus (SJM). Am I right in thinking that the end float should be 0.005" to 0.015"? Is this achieved by fitting different thickness through hardened thrust washers? Would they need to be surface ground to the required thickness? Can shims be used to a...

I dont understand why the rotor looks as if it is upside down. I am relatively new to Seagulls, but I would have thought that the 'extra meat' or flange would be at the top. Because, as the water flows upwards, the flange at the bottom would give some unwanted restriction to the flow. Additionally i...

All I originally asked was what does SJM and SJP stand for! I wish I hadn't then commented on gearbox shaft seals! An interesting debate. Our interest in Seagulls does not automatically mean that we defend every aspect of their design and manufacture, but can take a balanced view and indeed like or ...

I dont know enough about Seagulls to say why did they do this, and why didnt they do the other. However, I have just come in from working on the gearbox of my SJM with the question - why the devil didnt they fit dynamic shaft seals, which was proven technology by the mid thirties. Perhaps cost? Jeremy

Thanks Charles,

It was a fairly simple question, but inevitably the answer was not as straightforward as I had hoped. Typical, I suppose, of industrial manufacturing history.

Thanks again.

Jeremy

I have taken a shine to the early model 40s, and am curious about the model numbers/names and for what they stand. F obviously stands for Forty. I have read recently on this site (?), that V stands for Villiers. So FV is a Forty with a Villiers carburettor, and presumably FVP is a Forty plus with a ...