Rear bearer removed

Once the rear-end was jacked up, the long wooden floor-bearers were raised an inch above the rear bearer which was therefore no longer load-bearing, and I removed it for a full clean-up and repaint.

The bearer, removed for cleanup, is a substantial bit of steel! I had already painted it in situ, but can make a much better job of it now it has been extracted.

Parts, but only parts, of the bearer were infilled with hardwood. I am considering infilling the whole length for added strength. The whole weight of the rear end can cause the bearer to twist, stout though it is - I have seen it!

The bearer clamp is also cleaned up. I need to find some cloth as iwherever two steel parts were fixed together, cloth of some sort was fitted between, presumably to prevent squeaking if movement occurred. Over 50 years that cloth has largely perished!

This document maintained by JohnB@crownsys.co.uk.
Material Copyright © 2005 John Braga