From: Bjorn Brandstedt (super_deuce@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Aug 10 2004 - 05:30:50 PDT
Hey Alex,
Like your story!
As you probably know the dyed diesel fuel is for off-road use only. Not very
likely that you would be getting caught using it, but why take a chance...
Important items to check (not mentioned in the story) include the coolant
and the batteries.
You are operating a diesel and the coolant should have additives to prevent
cavitation and of course provide the proper freeze protection. Find a truck
service/dealer place and get test strips for the coolant. Look for
Fleetguard 3-way strips.
Check your battery connections. Bad connections coupled with poorly charged
batteries will lead to "load dump" damage, which the regulator cannot
handle.
Just a couple of things to keep you busy.
Have a great day!
Bjorn
Meadows of Dan, Virginia
PS. 50 isn't old in my book...
>From: "Alex" <alex@glx.net>
>To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>Subject: [MV] Ch 1, New M35 owner saga...
>Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 21:17:05 -0500
>
>Well, the non running truck arrived close to my house on a flatbed and
>sat at the local VFD for a few days. A neighbor with a large wheeled
>loader pulled it up my road and nudged it into place. I set up wheeled
>scaffold around it so I could work on it. The known non working items,
>when I bought the truck were: 1) No brake pedal, 2) Alternator taken and
>replaced with a non working one (on floor in cab), 3) Missing oil supply
>line between turbo and block, 4) Missing turn signal flasher, 5)
>oil/grease on two rear tires. I ordered the oil line, flasher, one
>gallon of DOT 5 from various vendors mentioned on the list. In doing so
>I spoke with some very patient folks at Antelope Valley, Memphis, Fort
>Dodge, and Boyce. thank you all.
>
>I had almost two months to wait before my EUC was approved, so during
>that time I visited the truck on base and tried to learn as much as
>possible about M35's, downloaded the TM's, and asked a lot of what I'm
>sure seemed naive questions of the list members. All questions were
>courteously answered. so thank you all.
>
>After the truck arrived it was time to get my hands dirty. I'm not a
>mechanic (double E by profession) but did work on my own cars while
>growing up and have a garage full of power and hand tools. The first
>thing I noticed is that everything is really big and heavy. I'm an old
>50 something year old and need a breaker bar when working on some of
>these parts. The first thing I attacked were the brakes. The master
>cylinder was full. I got in the cab and pumped the pedal a few more
>times. The pedal came up! The pedal stayed up! Two hours later it was
>still up! Hmmm. I can't exactly explain this. unless when the truck sat
>for a long time the cups/seals stiffened up and bypassed fluid for the
>first few pumps until they limbered up. It's been a week now. every day
>I check the brakes and they are still good.
>
>Next was the fuel system. The front loader guy is quite experienced with
>diesels and I never owned one. so I know nothing. He had me drain about
>a gallon from the fuel tank (that was fun.. I felt like the little Dutch
>Boy at the dyke) into a clean white 5 gallon container. Also had me
>drain down the 3 fuel filters into a glass. The fuel in the filters was
>clean. The fuel in the tank had a very few little blackish globs of
>water and a little dirt. I drained another gallon and he said it was
>good. He commented on the color of the fuel (yellow pee like) and said
>it looked like fuel he used to use but what he now uses is dyed. He
>thought it was "military diesel" but wasn't sure. Then he had me turn on
>the electric pump and bleed the system at the top mounted bleeder.
>
>I Installed the turbo oil supply line, checked the oil, moved the
>alternator belts out of the way, and had my wife stand by with a board
>to choke off the intake (another suggestion from the list). It took
>about 5 or 6 7 second starter tries until it came to life. It idled
>around 8-900 rpm and the oil pressure came up. Since no alternator was
>on, and the water pump wasn't turning, I only let it run for about a
>minute. I went to bed happy to know that it was at least going to run.
>
>Yesterday, I put on the alternator (that wasn't easy, given where the
>bolts are) and started it up and let it run for about 10 minutes.
>Everything came up, the buzzer eventually stopped and all seemed good. I
>moved the truck around the driveway testing the brakes and turned it
>around in the front yard. this went over poorly with the wife. I
>tenuously headed down our switchback laden hill with one hand on the
>emergency brake. just in case the self healed brakes got sick again. I
>did notice the Air-O-Matic power steering wasn't all that helpful. Since
>I've never driven one of these things, I didn't know what to expect. The
>10 minute drive around the neighborhood was uneventful, but I did notice
>a few things. 1) The steering wheel rubs on my stomach. probably a
>combination of my girth and the fact I couldn't find the tilt wheel
>control :) 2) The power steering was worthless. 3) The turning radius
>should be measured in furlongs, not feet. 4) It's noisy as hell. the
>sign on the dash says I should wear ear protection. they're right.
>
>Two mile test drive. all is fine. Brakes are real good. I get back to my
>house and turn it off. When I get out of the cab I hear a hissing air
>leak. It's coming from a pipe attached to the air assist unit. I call up
>to my son for a wrench, tighten the connection and it now holds air. I
>trace the power steering air line looking for a crimp that might affect
>the power steering. The line goes up to the firewall into some sort of
>device with a valve on it. I open the valve, start the truck, and now
>have power assist for the steering. It lets out little gasps of air when
>I change direction, but once underway you can't hear anything over the
>engine din. I go for another 3 mile test ride. all is well. I'm not sure
>the power steering is a great investment. once moving there is little if
>any difference in effort. Oh well, it came with the truck.
>
>After an oil and filter change, next on the list to fix is the horn,
>turn signals, and brake lights. a job for next weekend. Also the oil
>pressure indicator seems all over the place... 10-20 at idle and 40-60
>driving, but the needle really bounces all around like there is a bad
>connection. Anything to worry about?
>Cheers,
>Alex
>
>
>
>
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