[MV] Ref DA Coledeuce inertia
bleffler@vnet.ibm.com
Fri, 20 Feb 98 08:32:59 EST
I thought I might relate something about aquiring my M211. My truck was
originally issue to the VTNG and then found its was into a conversion to
a water tanker for 3 different fire dept.s after the change to a 1500 gal
H20tank. The principle complaint I learned from members of the last 2
dept.s was that it was too slow. Considering they were in a hilly area
with all dirt roads and the truck was 4000lbs overweight might have been a
factor. Anyway, whenit was taken out of service, it was winterized and
just parked beside the station outside where it sat unmoved for 4 years.
When I found it, all the tires were up but low on air, low on brake fluid,
3/4 of a tank of 4 year old gas, and dead batteries. We crawled over, under,
and through it finding everything suprisingly in tact. Checked the oil,
hooked up some batteries we brought, added some alcohol to the gas, hit all
the switches and the thing roared to life!! I gingerly put it in gear and
it moved! No frozen brakes at all. I bought it right then. However it was
about 130 miles from home. We discusses the best way to get it home
and finally decided that using secondary roads, we'd try to drive it on its
own power. After a oil change, coolant change, tire airing, and a trial run,
we took off with the chase car close behind. The only problems encountered
was one brake that started to drag on the front end. We backed the adjusters
all the way off and had no further problems. NowI can feel some of you
cringing as you read this, and I know it was probably not the smartest thing
I've ever done. But it definitely was a blast. My point is this, if you've got
the time and a safe area, try to see how well everything still works before
you tear it apart anticipating the worst. This was our prime motivation.
Any major work we undertook would have been done 3 hrs from home and any kind
of parts with no training for vehicle type. An equipment hauler would have
been the way to go, but location restricions, and budget resrticions made me
look for options. Worse case was a break down and tow bill which got cheaper
with every mile the truck went on its own. Sorry for the book, but thought
there might be some interest and relatability.
Brian
54 M211
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