I can't really think of a comment to accompany this, Just watch and enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQPNw7R2Zq0

Oh my word, and here's another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUU9WWHPqC4

The first one has a 160bhp at 9,500 rpm bike engine. It must have some clever engineering to connect to the Panda 4x4 system.

Powering through deep snow is amazing but driver visibility must be about zero. Back when I had a Mini 1000, I hit a snow drift going at enough pace to maintain grip. I had no idea it was there until WHUMPH! everything went white, wipers nearly stalled and the engine went on to two cylinders with snow packed around the distributor. I kept it going but what if that snow had been a wall.

DaveMcT said:

The first one has a 160bhp at 9,500 rpm bike engine. It must have some clever engineering to connect to the Panda 4x4 system.

Powering through deep snow is amazing but driver visibility must be about zero. Back when I had a Mini 1000, I hit a snow drift going at enough pace to maintain grip. I had no idea it was there until WHUMPH! everything went white, wipers nearly stalled and the engine went on to two cylinders with snow packed around the distributor. I kept it going but what if that snow had been a wall.

Click to expand...

I noticed that Dave - Suzuki I think it said? As you say, probably some clever engineering involved. I'd love to see it in the flesh, Like that sort of thing.

Same principal applies to flood water of course. Few people will give thought to the missing manhole cover which may well have been blown off by the back flushing flood water or the road works trench now invisible beneath the water - to say nothing of the raw sewage which may be being whipped up around your engine/car in general to infect you next time you cut yourself working on it. One of the things I always kept up with when I was a "grease monkey" was an anti tetanus jag every now and again (as my GP considered necessary). He thought it a good idea as we worked on a lot of farmer's vehicles, and boy can they be filthy! I once came out in a spectacular all over red spotty rash when doing farmer Boyle's Land Rover front hubs. The Doc thought it was an allergic reaction to some sort of chemical being used on the land. Mrs J was horrified when I stripped off for my bath that night, I well remember the look on her face! It went away of it's own accord after a few days and lots of "anti itch" cream

Ps, just occurred to me, I suppose it was the rash which elicited her look of horror? not just the sight of my naked form?

Mechanics really should pressure wash farm equipment before doing any work on them.

My father-in-law was a dairy farmer. He was one of those guys who could make anything with minimal tools. His tractors were bought burnt out and rebuilt. His high lift fork truck had a blown engine so he "just" grafted on a JCB digger engine.

He always said he never kept sheep because sheep dip is too dangerous (bladder cancer is common amongst shepherds). He avoided using chemicals but where they were mandatory always had the best protective equipment including positive airflow "airstream" helmets and all the correct filters.

He used the ministry mandated Organophosphate Warble Fly treatment just once on his cows. Many of them got the "staggers" but did recover. Despite his equipment, he was ill for three days after. He said that he would never ever use that stuff again and would go to prison if that's what it took. Many farmers believe the Mad Cow Disease epidemic was actually due to this chemical treatment campaign - identical symptoms.

DaveMcT said:

Mechanics really should pressure wash farm equipment before doing any work on them.

He always said he never kept sheep because sheep dip is too dangerous (bladder cancer is common amongst shepherds).

Click to expand...

We're talking mid to late '70's here Dave. We did have a steam cleaner for the engines/gearboxes but it would tend to take the paint off bodywork so I wouldn't have risked it. Anyway we were all supposed to be big tough men back in those days, blew out drum brakes with airlines etc, didn't want to be thought of as a wimp! Knowing what we do now-a-days what a load of macho idiots we were.

Going over to the "little Farm" next door - which was a small field with a large shed and sheep dip on the other side of the road from the big farm - at dipping time was always a big thing when I was a lad. The sheep were herded into the shed which had paneling at the other end which funneled them into single file for the dip. The dip itself was a concrete trough deep enough to submerge the sheep in but narrow so they couldn't turn round, smelt a bit like concentrated Jayes Fluid? The sheep were driven from the shed until they fell, one by one, into the dip where two of the men would stand on either side with long poles making sure they were completely submerged before scrambling up the ridged ramp at the other end and into the field. It was a very "manly" experience for a youngish boy with lots of cigarettes being smoked, men hacking, coughing, spitting and swearing swear words I'd never heard before - and wouldn't understand what they meant for years after! Reading your comments above about the dip chemicals I find myself wondering if it contributed in any way to my prostate problems. Oh, and hey guys, - evangelical bit coming up - if you're over 40 or so and haven't consulted your doctor/practice nurse/whoever about getting your prostate checked then make a note to have a chat with one of them a.s.a.p. I never gave it a thought until my youngest brother died from pancreatic cancer in his 50s. The post mortem found out he also had a primary (so not related to the pancreatic one) cancer in his prostate. After having a biopsy done (my doc wasn't too happy after sticking his finger up my posterior! But, honestly chaps, it's more damaging to your feelings than physically) I've been on a medicated watch and wait for over 10 years now and things seem to be fine still - just need to wee every 2 hours or so. My doc's told me cell changes were observed but, on present showing, it's more than likely that something else will get me first! (No, he's not insensitive, just knows I like a man who calls a spade a spade). GET IT CHECKED OUT YOU GUYS! It can be a little scary for the first few weeks if you get bad news, but after that you just settle down and live with it and I can very honestly say I hardly think about it now - only when waiting a few days for test results twice a year. Once you are "on the radar" if something does start to go slightly pear shaped they'll be able to jump on it quickly and the out look after early diagnosis these days is very good.

Hi Jock, Of course you are right. I should have said properly washed. A powerful hose pipe will do the job no need for 3000psi. However, with hindsight jest blasting to remove rubbish paint is good way to prep the underbody for a reliable anti corrosion treatment.

I was thinking about tetanus but also in areas like Lincolnshire where until very recently lindane was used extensively. Sugar beet can't be grown without significant pesticides.

DaveMcT said:

Hi Jock, Of course you are right. I should have said properly washed. A powerful hose pipe will do the job no need for 3000psi. However, with hindsight jest blasting to remove rubbish paint is good way to prep the underbody for a reliable anti corrosion treatment.

I was thinking about tetanus but also in areas like Lincolnshire where until very recently lindane was used extensively. Sugar beet can't be grown without significant pesticides.

Click to expand...

Evening Dave. Talking about sugar beet. I had a very poor night's sleep last night mainly because I twice thought I heard water dripping so was up wandering around the house trying to spot it - I never found it and by now Mrs J was not too happy so was trying to lie quietly but i couldn't sleep so, at about 5.00am I went through to listen to radio 4. It was the Saturday morning farming program and they were talking to a sugar beet farmer who was telling us that the government were all set to give permission for neonicotinoids to be used to kill the aphids which carry a virus detrimental to the crop. I was surprised to hear this. I thought that neonics were banned because they kill pollinators - bees etc - no doubt we'll be hearing more about it on the news. Is this what the Lindane you mention is?

Hi Jock,

I looked up Lindane , it is used to treat scabies.... there must have been some funny goings on with the sugar beat near Dave, eeek

Cheers Jack

Lindane is now banned but EU allowed it for far longer that it should have done because it was used on sugar beet.