Degsy the hero

My buddy has a Lightweight or Airportable Land Rover. He rang to say it would not start. I asked the usual things; is the battery flat, is the starter motor turning. Turns out those were dumb questions. The battery is ok and the starter does not turn the motor. I was asked to tow the lightweight to the garage to have it looked at. I turned up at the appointed time. I had a tow rope, a useful accessory for any Landy, even Degsy. We hooked up the landys and I towed Mandy, Steve's landy, off the drive. Then I moved Degsy round to the other end and hooked it up again for the more usual method of towing. Mandy might be a lightweight but it is still heavy, especially on a snowy hill. I selected four wheel drive and set off. A few extra revs and a small slip of the clutch and the pair of us were off up the hill. I agreed with Steve that when we got onto the main road that he should select second gear, pull out the choke and with the ignition on, dump the clutch. I hoped it would start. It took two attempts but it started. I unhooked Degsy from Mandy and followed Steve up to the garage. Mandy was parked up and the keys dropped off. In the meantime Degsy drove home triumphant.

Chrissy prezzy for Degsy

Degsy got a Christmas present. I got him a radiator muff. It is one of those things that closes down the radiator exposure to the incoming air. Given it has not got above -2 for the past week and has been cbelow -8 most nights anything that keeps the cold air out has to be a good thing. Cable ties are the best invention in the world and with them I secured the muff ot the radiator grill. It works a treat. The temp gauge is at least a quarter higher than without the muff. I also think that the muff keeps the heat in the engine bay for longer once the engine is switched off and that helps in the long term. It is defineatley easier to start after it has been left standing.

Here is Degsy at the lottie with its rad muff in full effect.

Its parky out there

It has been very cold for several weeks. Below zero for alot of the time. Despite this Degsy starts up everytime I need him which is mostly at the weekend. I took a few minutes to give Degsy his Christmas present, a radiator muffler. It does not keep me any warmer but it does help the engine heat up faster and stay warmer. Fitting it required me to remove the number plate and with a few carefully positioned cable ties the job was done and very handsome it looks too.