From: Ida Heath (spike@defuniak.com)
Date: Tue Aug 10 2004 - 06:27:04 PDT
I just returned from a twenty two hundred mile trip in my deucenahalf
pulling a camper trailer with wife and dog and I honestly had NO problem or
complaint with the steering that came on the truck from the manufacturer.
Sonny
----- Original Message -----
From: m35products <m35prod@optonline.net>
To: Military Vehicles Mailing List <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 11:23 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] Ch 1, New M35 owner saga...
> Alex, congratulations on the acquisition of your M35.
>
> I may be able to shed some light on the operation of the worthless
> Air-O-Matic steering unit. As you surmised, the unit makes the hissing
sound
> as a normal effect of the air usage, when returning the steering wheel to
> the center position. The air is being exhausted into the atmosphere. The
> reason you feel no difference with or without the air assistance when
> driving on the highway is because the system is designed specifically NOT
to
> assist when moving straight ahead, only when it is needed during turns.
That
> is one of its many benefits: the feel of the road when travelling at
speed.
>
> You were, of course, initially operating with the air supply turned off.
As
> an engineer, I'm sure that you share our opinion that it would not be a
> proper venue for evaluating a system that relies upon air for its
operation.
> The "sort of valve device" is the petcock which is turned off for
> maintenance purposes. It is left turned on for normal operation. A truck
> equipped with our assist kit, and WITH ITS STEERING COMPONENTS ADJUSTED
AND
> LUBRICATED PROPERLY AND ITS TIRES INFLATED TO SPECS will require less than
> half of the steering force normally required on a manually-steered truck.
> You should be able to turn the steering wheel with two fingers, with the
> truck at rest, on dry pavement.
>
> Another important component with which you should become familiar is the
air
> safety valve. It admits air to the steering system, when the truck's air
> supply reaches 90 psi (several seconds after the low-air buzzer is
retired)
> and closes when the system falls below 60 psi. This ensures an adequate
> supply of air for the braking system, in the unlikely event that air is
lost
> via the steering system.
>
> If you hear air escaping from the draglink/torque valve assembly while the
> truck is at rest, chances are that the O-rings within the power cylinder
> have dried out due to dis-use. (If this is the case, it would explain why
> the previous owner had turned off the petcock) There is a rebuild kit
> available to remedy this condition. If you would like a "loaner"
cylinder,
> please ask, and we will be happy to furnish one for your further
evaluation.
>
> Perhaps you would care to re-evaluate the system, and make a further
report,
> once you have received our packet of information about setting up your
> truck's steering box for proper adjustment. We are always interested to
> hear complaints about our system. So far the compliments are running ahead
> of the complaints by about 40,000 to two. Not bad for a product that has
> been around for 57 years. Please feel welcome to ask me any questions
about
> the system or any of our other enhancements available to make your
M-series
> motoring more pleasurable.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Arthur P. Bloom, VP/Military Sales
>
> Inter Agency Motor Pool
> "...for combat, work, or play..."
>
> www.M35products.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alex" <alex@glx.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 10:17 PM
> Subject: [MV] Ch 1, New M35 owner saga...
>
>
> > 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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>
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