restoration Mk1 Militant Tanker

[Zero-Five-Two]

Happy New Year to all our readers, hope 2019 will be good to you.

Time to catch up with the Christmas tankering.

Brake linkage is all finished, cleaned, freed, repaired as necessary and then given the repaint treatment.  Ready to fit back on when the time comes.

Moved on to the spare wheel carrier bits that have been lounging behind the shed since the cab top moved out.

Most of it started like this.  Complete, just badly corroded and in need of cleaning and repainting.  Several hours of wire brush in the grinder, then paint shop washing line and we get to this

 Brake drums got a coat of green at the same time. More bits ready to go back on.

Quick question for those with significant others.  Could you get away with putting truck parts on the posh oak dining table?

Answer, only nice clean ones, and after asking very nicely.

Cupola hip pads being retrimmed

Had to borrow her sewing machine too!  There may be a substantial price to be paid for this, later.

Anyway, had some cloth left over from the seat recovering, so thought I'd have a go at retrimming the Hip Pads.

Original ones looked like this, but were so rotten...…...

They just fell apart like this.

So, bit of guesswork with the calculations, bit of string as a compass to draw the curves, cut out and sew together.  First attempt went into the bin, but a few adjustments and the mark 2 version looks quite tidy.

First one off the press, and 2 more to do.  I think they'll do nicely

 

[Highland_laddie]

Kudos for the perseverance. Looking forward to seeing the video of the first roll out under her own power. Thanks for keeping the thread going it's great to see the results of your continued efforts.

 

[Ex-boy]

7 hours ago, Highland_laddie said:

Kudos for the perseverance. Looking forward to seeing the video of the first roll out under her own power. Thanks for keeping the thread going it's great to see the results of your continued efforts.

 

I second that. You are doing a great job, and I would hope your other half would appreciate that and not ask too high a price.

[Zero-Five-Two]

Fortunately the good wife is quite supportive and like everyone else is looking forward to that first run out video.  Hopefully that is not too far off now, things are coming together quite well.  So long as we don't get too many bad weather days in this and next month, another six weeks or so and we'll be on it.

[Gordon_M]

I'd guess the priority job would be to finish paint at least the back of the cab and the front face of the body - unless you have already managed that?  

There's no way it would make sense to refit the spare wheel gear without those faces being painted first.

[Zero-Five-Two]

22 hours ago, Gordon_M said:

I'd guess the priority job would be to finish paint at least the back of the cab and the front face of the body - unless you have already managed that?  

There's no way it would make sense to refit the spare wheel gear without those faces being painted first.

Absolutely!  It's the old cart before the horse thing, and has been for the past year.  Spare wheel came off to get to the back of the cab in the first place.  Back of the cab needed to be done before the top half of the cab went back on, and so on.   No point in painting just the back of the cab, better to do the whole thing at the same time, hence the radiator and oil cooler sorting so it can all get top coat at once.

There is a sort of a plan, honestly!

[Zero-Five-Two]

A short while back we fitted the top half of the cab back on.  Took about 4 hours in all, and the whole lot got shot on video.  It's taken a while but I've managed to edit out all the standing around, arm waving and shouting at each other and got it down to 15 min of action.

Hopefully this is the link to the youtube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mit4QEZtc3I

[Highland_laddie]

Hi Rob,

just tried the link but youtube says this video is unavailable.  😪 

[MatchFuzee]

The link works now.

[Zero-Five-Two]

Sorry about the unavailability, I didn't upload it properly.  Bit of a technophobe sometimes

[radiomike7]

20 hours ago, Zero-Five-Two said:

Sorry about the unavailability, I didn't upload it properly.  Bit of a technophobe sometimes

That seemed to go well Rob, I have never used the winch on a Militant, do you have to carefully release the winch brake to lower the hook?

[Zero-Five-Two]

2 hours ago, radiomike7 said:

That seemed to go well Rob, I have never used the winch on a Militant, do you have to carefully release the winch brake to lower the hook?

You can power it down, by engaging reverse gear instead of first, but you are straining against the brake which probably doesn't do it too much good.  So long as there is some weight on the hook, like when lowering the jib, carefully releasing the brake is the way to go. 

[Zero-Five-Two]

After the stripping the brakes, next up, the hubs.  2 of which have been leaking badly, and a pair of NOS gland seals have already been picked up from an AEC supplier on fleebay.

End cover comes off to reveal a very large four and a half inch A/F nut (that's 115mm for you modern types) holding it all together.

Not exactly Snap-on!  Still haven't got round to buying a proper socket, yet.  Made this for the Timber Tractor years ago, and it works so don't fix what ain't broke.  You just beat it with a sledge hammer.

Stripped out and wrapped up to protect axle ends, while the rest gets the treatment at home

Hung each one on a wire to keep all the spacers in order

All the old oil and muck has now been washed off, bearings and spacers are all stacked awaiting polishing, hubs awaiting de-rust and respray.  Hopefully that will happen during the evenings this week ready for refit next weekend

[Zero-Five-Two]

On ‎1‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 8:47 PM, Zero-Five-Two said:

…….. Hopefully that will happen during the evenings this week ready for refit next weekend

Did I say that?  OK, well, maybe next weekend then!!  Didn't get much done at all last week, something else always seemed to get in the way.  Still, managed to get stuck into it yesterday and today.

All four hubs cleaned and painted, ready to refit.

Moved on to sorting out the 2 leaking hub seals.  Militants don't have a seal as such, in the sense of a rubber ring affair, they have what is called a packless gland.  A metal bellows that uses spring pressure to form a metal to metal seal.  Any damage or scratches to the 2 mating surfaces and hub oil just pours out.  

Packless gland on the right, with the brass mating face upwards.  Hub plate, (the other half of the seal) on the left.  Spot the damage at 12 o'clock on the hub plate.

Having lashed out £50 odd on 2 new glands, I was a bit peeved to say the least when I found this.  A new gland isn't going to help that.

Part of the cleaning process, is to polish the mating surfaces with fine wet and dry, so nothing to lose but see if it will polish out.  Started with 180 grit and worked up

Gland getting the works, using a bit of plywood as a flat surface

Finished with 1200, and finally cornflakes packet and brasso

Rather pleased with the result on the hub plate.  Hopefully it will do the job.

Still got a whole load of nuts, bolts, clips and things to clean up before actually fitting, but otherwise we are ready to go, next weekend?

[Zero-Five-Two]

Well, this weekend happened and I'm pleased to say we nailed it.  Took 2 trips, yesterday, with the car delivering all the bits.  Bit too much weight carrying both hubs and drums together.  Early start this morning and cracked on, took all day  but got the right result.

Back plates and rear dirt seal first, and build from there.  Son Stuart assisting, took a hub each and on we go

Shoes next, then hub and drum

Had a couple of minor issues, couple of blocked grease nipples, and one pair of shoes that just would not behave, but otherwise things went fairly well.

Last job, wheels back on.  We've still got to clean the rims, so they will have to come off again later.  Haven't fitted the brake chambers or any of the linkage yet, either.  I'm leaving them off for now to allow more room for chassis cleaning first.

Just one downside!  Having spent most of the day bent over in this sort of position, and lifting heavy drums and hubs, the old spine is protesting violently this evening.  Don't know about "the joy of movement"  the joy of sitting still is pretty good just now, along with some "medicine" to numb the pain.

 

 

[Highland_laddie]

Cracking' (or based on your back should that be creaking') job 😀

 

Although there's a lot to do, with the recent reinstatement of the cab and the hubs/wheels it must feel like real progress.

[Zero-Five-Two]

Absolutely, have ticked off quite a few big jobs recently, well pleased with the progress

[Zero-Five-Two]

Another week and another round of pretty good progress on the old Tanker.

Got a colleague with a steam cleaner to give the chassis a once over during the week.  300 degrees steam at 60 bar pressure apparently.  He said I should stand well back!

 Started well, looked good to me, bits of crap going everywhere. But, he decided it wasn't going well enough.  Needed to get a bit more up close and personal with it

He was right underneath it at one point.

Did strip off all the muck and loose paint alright.  Quick whizz round with the wire brush in the grinder on Saturday, and on with a coat of underseal

Just done the chassis rails so far, bit more cleaning required on the axles etc, then a coat of DBG will finish the job.  Well pleased with the result.

Back at the home workshop, started looking at the number plate and convoy lights.  Both well rusty, and looking past their best. But with replacements being advertised at £80 a throw, I was keen to try something

So, strip out and try and make a good one out of the two

Doesn't look promising, but with a good deal of patience, loads of penetrating fluid and a bit of gentle heat, I got enough serviceable bits to make up one good lamp, complete with an original War Department 5 watt bulb that must be older than I am!

All cleaned up, ready for refit, and a coat of green next time there is one passing.  One down, and one more to find.

 

[sprocket316]

Fascinating thread, look forward to following the progress.

[Zero-Five-Two]

Thanks for the compliment, and it reminded me I've got a couple more pictures to post.

Chassis now all clean an' green, and ready for brake linkages to go back on this weekend

 

 

[DarrenH]

how do!  i just wanted to take the time and heap praise on your rebuild, fantastic work ive been reading the thread over the last week or so.

 

it was only about page 9 i noticed we are in the same town !  but i expect the militant is not, regardless maybe i will see it in the flesh one day

[Zero-Five-Two]

Things have been a bit chaotic over the last few weekends, what with the Timber Tractor spitting a push rod out etc, so tanker work has been a bit limited.  However got back on the plot this last week and got quite a bit done.

First job was to finish the rear brakes by fitting the remaining linkages and getting them adjusted up.  Heavy work, jacking wheels up and down and so on, but we now have a full set of stopping power, and a fully functioning handbrake.  No more need for blocks under the wheels.

Next up, Hip Pads for the cupola.  Made them a while back, but needed to adjust the method of securing the plastic dustbin lid.

When I first fitted the thing in the first instance, I used rubber bonnet catches

Does a nice job of holding it on, until you want to fit the upholstery

There isn't room for both, so had to go to plan B and bodge it up

Very Heath Robinson, but it will be OK until something better turns up.  Homemade pads look good though.

Been doing a load of miscellaneous small bits in the evenings lately getting stuff ready for a session of green painting.  That happened on Saturday, with Headlights, convoy and number plate lights, pile of little brackets and bits and lastly the rear light mounts all getting a coat of DBG

Cleaned up and de rusted, lights repaired or replaced, and new reflectors

Convoy light and plate.  Tanker has 2 convoy type lights, the other one is for the number plate and  I managed to acquire a second one last week, along with a few other small bits that needed replacing, so we are all good in the lighting department.

Hopefully this weekend will see the cab ceiling panels fitted and all these freshly painted lights going on.

[Richard Farrant]

On 1/20/2019 at 9:08 PM, Zero-Five-Two said:

Well, this weekend happened and I'm pleased to say we nailed it.  Took 2 trips, yesterday, with the car delivering all the bits.  Bit too much weight carrying both hubs and drums together.  Early start this morning and cracked on, took all day  but got the right result.

Back plates and rear dirt seal first, and build from there.  Son Stuart assisting, took a hub each and on we go

Shoes next, then hub and drum

Had a couple of minor issues, couple of blocked grease nipples, and one pair of shoes that just would not behave, but otherwise things went fairly well.

Last job, wheels back on.  We've still got to clean the rims, so they will have to come off again later.  Haven't fitted the brake chambers or any of the linkage yet, either.  I'm leaving them off for now to allow more room for chassis cleaning first.

Just one downside!  Having spent most of the day bent over in this sort of position, and lifting heavy drums and hubs, the old spine is protesting violently this evening.  Don't know about "the joy of movement"  the joy of sitting still is pretty good just now, along with some "medicine" to numb the pain.

 

 

Hi mate,

It does not get any easier I can assure you, after 53 years in the trade I can vouch for this !

[sprocket316]

My wife likes how you've built yourself a little roof to keep the hubs and yourself out of any bad weather !

Nice one, enjoying the progress reports.

[Zero-Five-Two]

Was getting some ear ache from a colleague the other day for not posting the latest goings on with the tanker, but to be honest I haven't had much time to do a lot recently.  Had a few family commitments and, of course, it's show season with the timber tractor, so available weekends have been a bit sparse.

That said I have managed a bit of progress.

Cab ceiling and storage trays all fitted in, then spent most of a whole day with a kiddies paint brush painting all the rivet heads green.

Fitted the passengers seat, but I'm going to have a re-think with it.  It's very low down and not that comfortable.  I added an additional bit of frame to the timber tractor, to raise the seat up and move it back, so I think more of the same here. Might not be original, but don't want to arrive at a show feeling crippled by a duff travelling position.

 Front bumper has been cleaned off and given a good coating of primer and stonechip ready for a top coat of DBG

 New headlights ready to fit, Chrystal Halogen 100watt jobs.  Again not exactly original, but nice beam pattern, far better than the vague glow you got from the old ones. At least I'll be able to see where I'm going.

Test fitting of the new rear lights, so that I could measure and cut the correct cable length to the rear junction box inside the chassis.

Most time consuming job here was running the new front to rear loom along the chassis.  A 24ft length that is clipped on every 12 to 14 inches with a brass 'P' clip along with all the brake pipes and other bits.  A right ball ache of a job.

Spot the 2 different shades of deep bronze green on the lights and the chassis.  Allegedly they are the same colour, mixed to british standard etc, just different suppliers. Not even close to matching really.  Shall have to be careful when it comes to the final top coat, otherwise it will look like a patch work quilt.

Plan now is to fit up all the lights and the bumper, then take her for a little run out to see how she goes. But that wont be for a few weeks yet, next 2 week end are at shows with the other one.  Only got one pair of hands!!