1954 Daimler Ferret armoured car
Discussion
gweaver said:
Apparently there is a Ferret Mk 1 in service in Ukraine!
https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1559532999523...
Nick Mead has been sending loads of Mk1's over therehttps://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1559532999523...
Small, fast, armoured, cheap, available. There is a war on, even short term they are better than nothing. Also morale boosting when issued to local defence forces that are way behind the front lines, you have seen them dug in with 1910 Maxims & DP27's so a 1950's Ferret is not that out of place.
gweaver said:
Apparently there is a Ferret Mk 1 in service in Ukraine!
https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1559532999523...
Interesting to see how they have added a gun ring and MG3https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1559532999523...
https://youtu.be/GrRQP2p_Qyg
Hello all, my apologies for not seeing the replies on the thread, I was a bit baffled when I found out they'd sent some to Ukraine too. Still a bit of armour plate is better than nothing I suppose.
After a long winter asleep I still some minor issues with the the Ferret. I have a few shows on this summer so have started cracking on with sorting it out. The front RH wheel cylinder leaks when the handbrake is applied which is just bloody annoying after faffing around with the brakes to get them spot on. I think I have a spare unit in the shed so I'll have to find the time to dig it out and make sure it's OK as a replacement.
Carburettor appears OK but idle isn't great, and still seems to be running well rich. I may strip and rebuild the previous carb as it run beautifully on that and pulled like a train, plus every mile per gallon I can get is a bonus!
2nd gear brake band slips when the gearbox is hot and pulling away. These should self adjust with use and you should give a few pumps of the gear change pedal in each gear prior to starting each time. It's got no better so I had an educated guess at adjusting the screw out a couple of flats today, then took it for a test drive to see if there was any positive change.
Looking inside the top of the gearbox at the brake bands and selectors. Looking at the adjustment screws the bands do appear to be quite worn, as with new bands there should only be a few threads showing on each. Replacement being a somewhat in depth and scary job that I may have to tackle at some point!
Finally a reminder of despite all the annoyances over the last year or so, bugger it's good fun for a trundle down a green lane
After a long winter asleep I still some minor issues with the the Ferret. I have a few shows on this summer so have started cracking on with sorting it out. The front RH wheel cylinder leaks when the handbrake is applied which is just bloody annoying after faffing around with the brakes to get them spot on. I think I have a spare unit in the shed so I'll have to find the time to dig it out and make sure it's OK as a replacement.
Carburettor appears OK but idle isn't great, and still seems to be running well rich. I may strip and rebuild the previous carb as it run beautifully on that and pulled like a train, plus every mile per gallon I can get is a bonus!
2nd gear brake band slips when the gearbox is hot and pulling away. These should self adjust with use and you should give a few pumps of the gear change pedal in each gear prior to starting each time. It's got no better so I had an educated guess at adjusting the screw out a couple of flats today, then took it for a test drive to see if there was any positive change.
Looking inside the top of the gearbox at the brake bands and selectors. Looking at the adjustment screws the bands do appear to be quite worn, as with new bands there should only be a few threads showing on each. Replacement being a somewhat in depth and scary job that I may have to tackle at some point!
Finally a reminder of despite all the annoyances over the last year or so, bugger it's good fun for a trundle down a green lane
Edited by LewG on Sunday 14th May 21:24
Nice work there chap 
It would appear I was talking a load of crap ref adjustment of the brake bands and following a bit of education from Dan and actually reading the manual my previous attempt was mostly wrong
I tried the proper procedure this evening and after a bit of trial and error got it to do as the book suggests whilst also understanding more about how the witchcraft actually works inside the gearbox. New gasket made and back together so needs a test run now to see if any improvement.
The old carburettor came out of storage and I began stripping it to check for any obvious issues as I may end up putting it back on to try and solve the rich running. Photos to follow
It would appear I was talking a load of crap ref adjustment of the brake bands and following a bit of education from Dan and actually reading the manual my previous attempt was mostly wrong
I tried the proper procedure this evening and after a bit of trial and error got it to do as the book suggests whilst also understanding more about how the witchcraft actually works inside the gearbox. New gasket made and back together so needs a test run now to see if any improvement.
The old carburettor came out of storage and I began stripping it to check for any obvious issues as I may end up putting it back on to try and solve the rich running. Photos to follow
So as of recently I've been faffing with the Ferret as per usual, the mechanical fuel pump appeared to be way past best as we were still suffering misfiring and breaking up under high load. Checking the banjo fitting into the carburettor directly from the pump it was full of braided rubber flakes which I suspect were the pump diaphragm breaking up. It's borderline impossible to get to, annoyingly I didn't change or refurb it whilst the engine was out as at the time my attitude was don't fix what isn't broke 
isn't hindsight a lovely thing?
Instead of replacing I bypassed it with an SU electric pump drawing through the original filter, to a regulator and then on to the carburettor. This has finally all but solved the constant running issues we've had since putting it all back together.
We attended Capel Military Show on the Surrey/Sussex border last weekend, I've been wanting to do this show since attending as a visitor last year so it's been a bit of a mission to get the Ferret there. With all the minor niggles we've been having the thought of a 93 mile journey was a bit daunting but the old lady made it there and back without too much trouble! The M25 was as expected, a car park, both on the way there and back!
Home for the weekend
Tyler's ex air assault WMIK with a Chinook, very lucky to have the chance to get these photos!
Drove to KFC in Horsham for dinner on Saturday evening as the on site catering was a bit pants
Finally the crawl home on Sunday evening.
There's a hub seal to attend to as that's started leaking quite badly, whilst I'm there I may as well strip it a bit further as on the same wheel station the inner gearbox/tracta swivel seal constantly weeps too. My sister in law to be is having her prom on Friday so she shall be arriving in style with the Ferret as it's better than a limo, even with a leaky hub
It should be on display at the Pistonheads 25th birthday bash at Bicester in August too, so very much looking forward to that.
isn't hindsight a lovely thing? Instead of replacing I bypassed it with an SU electric pump drawing through the original filter, to a regulator and then on to the carburettor. This has finally all but solved the constant running issues we've had since putting it all back together.
We attended Capel Military Show on the Surrey/Sussex border last weekend, I've been wanting to do this show since attending as a visitor last year so it's been a bit of a mission to get the Ferret there. With all the minor niggles we've been having the thought of a 93 mile journey was a bit daunting but the old lady made it there and back without too much trouble! The M25 was as expected, a car park, both on the way there and back!
Home for the weekend
Tyler's ex air assault WMIK with a Chinook, very lucky to have the chance to get these photos!
Drove to KFC in Horsham for dinner on Saturday evening as the on site catering was a bit pants
Finally the crawl home on Sunday evening.
There's a hub seal to attend to as that's started leaking quite badly, whilst I'm there I may as well strip it a bit further as on the same wheel station the inner gearbox/tracta swivel seal constantly weeps too. My sister in law to be is having her prom on Friday so she shall be arriving in style with the Ferret as it's better than a limo, even with a leaky hub
It should be on display at the Pistonheads 25th birthday bash at Bicester in August too, so very much looking forward to that.
Edited by LewG on Saturday 8th July 10:46
Balls of steel taking it on the M25 but I suppose in rush hour you won't be getting overtaken, more like papped every few mins !
Wish I had spotted you at Capel, we were parked with the Saladin and my front left seal also went at Capel so a filthy oily tyre, how much was a replacement seal ?
Wish I had spotted you at Capel, we were parked with the Saladin and my front left seal also went at Capel so a filthy oily tyre, how much was a replacement seal ?
There's always next year Dan, I did see your Ferret and it's a cracking example, kept meaning to come back for a chat but didn't get round to it somehow! The Saladin and Armoured Engineering stuff was trouser accident time I do have the chance to buy a Saracen at the moment but not sure if I can justify that T minus 2 months to a baby arriving!
Was it just me or was the show quite strict with no vehicle movement etc? I missed my slot to drive round the arena on Sunday annoyingly as my mum and dad came down for the day so I was ambling round with them. I was expecting the arena to be open in the evenings after closing to public for a play a bit like War and Peace. We drove across site to there after getting dinner on the Saturday night as we'd heard from some pals camped in your field the arena was open, sadly it was closed and some marshalls had a moan at us for driving around site. Never mind!
Regards prep for doing a long journey I find check all oils are spot on and just do it really, with the windscreen fitted it's much like sitting there driving a car except noisier and more uncomfortable! You'd be surprised at how confident you can be in it even with traffic flowing well, I'll happily overtake dawdlers as they stare in disbelief at some armour passing them. Personally I've never found the wind up issue to be too bad, although when we return to the farmyard before putting it away in the shed I hammer it across the humps and bumps and get all 4 wheels sliding a bit on the dirt. It's definitely not because it's just fun, it's to relieve wind up, honest
I do have the chance to buy a Saracen at the moment but not sure if I can justify that T minus 2 months to a baby arriving!Was it just me or was the show quite strict with no vehicle movement etc? I missed my slot to drive round the arena on Sunday annoyingly as my mum and dad came down for the day so I was ambling round with them. I was expecting the arena to be open in the evenings after closing to public for a play a bit like War and Peace. We drove across site to there after getting dinner on the Saturday night as we'd heard from some pals camped in your field the arena was open, sadly it was closed and some marshalls had a moan at us for driving around site. Never mind!
Regards prep for doing a long journey I find check all oils are spot on and just do it really, with the windscreen fitted it's much like sitting there driving a car except noisier and more uncomfortable! You'd be surprised at how confident you can be in it even with traffic flowing well, I'll happily overtake dawdlers as they stare in disbelief at some armour passing them. Personally I've never found the wind up issue to be too bad, although when we return to the farmyard before putting it away in the shed I hammer it across the humps and bumps and get all 4 wheels sliding a bit on the dirt. It's definitely not because it's just fun, it's to relieve wind up, honest
Excellent work I hope this one stays afloat better than the last
The last thing we all need is links to Milweb, every day I have a quick browse on there at lunch looking at vehicles I can't afford both in money and time!
The prom went without a hitch, it was around a 70 mile round trip, and what a beautiful evening for it.
A chap came up to us with a huge smile on his face and told me he trained on Ferrets and Bren guns etc, turned out he was the headteacher
The last thing we all need is links to Milweb, every day I have a quick browse on there at lunch looking at vehicles I can't afford both in money and time!
The prom went without a hitch, it was around a 70 mile round trip, and what a beautiful evening for it.
A chap came up to us with a huge smile on his face and told me he trained on Ferrets and Bren guns etc, turned out he was the headteacher
For anyone who doesn't have the mechanical aptitude or the space on the driveway, may I suggest the new Airfix 1/35 Scale Ferret Scout Car Mk 2?
The Tank Museum at Bovingdon are taking pre-orders for the kit, along with a Ferret/Tank Museum mug.
https://tankmuseumshop.org/products/pre-order-airf...
The Tank Museum at Bovingdon are taking pre-orders for the kit, along with a Ferret/Tank Museum mug.
https://tankmuseumshop.org/products/pre-order-airf...
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