Centurion

I like the program and wouldnt think of myself as a rivet counter :!: But in the final shots the Jeep has a Hotchkiss plastic coated tilt. Which I dont think were available until the 60,s Centurion

Thanks for that where I was getting confused before was it recommended the same oil for gearbox and transfer case but its ok to put ep90 in the transfer case but the gearbox should have sae 90 because of the synchromesh. cheers centurion

well done Jack As you have probably gathered I am one of those groping about in the dark and have to say that this forum has been a great help for information and the feeling that your not on your own. there are people in the same position and even better those that have been there and done it and can and will help you out. regards Centurion

Well I was a bit confused before and Im not sure that Im any wiser now or perhaps Im just thick. I have the Pat Ware book on Hotchkiss 201,s and in the part on maintenance the recommended oil for gearbox and transfer case is hypoid 90ep. If the vehicle is a licence built MB does this mean that the book is wrong and that I should use sae 90 only. I have some semi synthetic sae 90 gear oil in my garage could I use that. Any comments on this dilemma will be greatly appreceiated Centurion

Thanks for the info. Ill let you know how get on. From research I have done so far the price difference between top range electric and bottom end compressed air is not that great regards Centurion

Hi all There are two similar type lamps shown in the Vehicle wiring products catalogue as replicas of lucas MT110 and Lucas mt211. Looking at the pic I think only MT110 has th no plate light cut out Both are for motor cycles MT 110 is 1930-50 nd MT211 1936-50 if thats any help? regards Centurion

Hi all I suspect the answer to this may already exist somewhere in the forum but Ill ask anyway. Has anyone used one of those electric spray guns to paint youv Mv. I know compressed air is better but dont want to spend that much for what may be a one use item. When Im only painting a jeep and not something larger. Also can anyone recommend a paint supplier Im looking for Nato semi gloss finish.( is it like a soft sheen?) is 5 litres sufficient to topcoat a jeep? regards Centurion

Hi Steve From your pic it looks like the lamp is in position. I had some number plates made to fit the space under the Jerry can holder. They are 37 cm wide by 9 cm high in black with raised alloy letters. They were made by Framptons tel 023 9226 4755. They guy there said that he could legally make them that size as the Fitting recess where the plate went was the only place it would go. So they have motorcycle size letters and numbers on them. They cost £40 . But the finished result is excellent. Centurion

Sorry Steve If I confused you by the previous. It is above and to the right of bumperette very close to the underside of the Jerry can holder . Perhaps its because I hadnt been round the back of the jeep for so long :oops: Centurion

Hi Steve I see that you mentioned number plate lights in your first post. My Hotchkiss is 1964 and rebuilt in 1976 and has one which I suppose was fitted by the French Army either originally or at the time of rebuild. It is unobtrusive and is below and to the left of the bumperette. I would send you a pic but the wheels are off and the back is close to a wall. It is similar to the one on page 27 of the vehicle wiring products catalogue ref RCT776. But I think mine is metal cased. If you paint it green would anybody notice. centurion

Hi all I came to mv,s as a reult of a lifelong interest in anything mechanical. I was and still am to some extent interested in classic motorcycles and had thought about something from ww2. But then decided to buy a Jeep so that mrs C could drive it. What I like about it is the apparent mechanical simplicity compared to modern vehicles which even in small cheap ones have electronic management systems etc and the handbooks usually refer you to your nearest dealer. I know that all that is in the interests of safety but its overcomplicated and user unfriendly regards Centurion

Well seeing as there is so much interest and the fact that if this isnt recorded here it may just fade out. I will carry on with what I know. I agree with someone previously that most of the time only the humerous or fairly harmless events were repeated. My Dad had great respect for the German 88,s and spandau machine guns he used to say that when they opened up you were pleased they werent firing at you and sorry for those that were getting it. Also the pak anti tank guns which he said were used a lot in the bocage. " gerry would appear in a hedge in the bend of the road and let you have half a dozen and then just disappear " . One of his usual sayings was, They ie the propaganda claimed that the Germans were worn out that there gear was all ersatz. like there boots were not leather and they had to make coffee out of acorns. Well he said there was nothing ersatz about the guns especially the Spandau machine guns when you were on the receiving end.! He had scarred knuckles on the left hand which were caused be being struck when overtaking a quad, limber and field gun on a motorcycle which he said were difficult to get by as when the got a bit of pace on they tended to snake from side to side. As I mentioned in my previous post if you are really interested in your close relatives wartime history and can no longer ask them. then you can apply for their service record which gives you glimpses into where they went and what they did like this entry from my old mans record. 3 June 1944 embarked uk for ?. well we now know were you were going. The address for the Office is Army Personnel Centre HQ Secretariat, Historical Disclosures,Mail Point 400 Kentigern house , 65 Brown Street Glasgow, G2 8EX tel 0141 224 2670 You can write or phone for and application form but if you apply there is a fee and they require proof of your relationship to the person your asking about. Further this office deals with welfare requests by former soldiers and their families which naturally take precedence so you may have to wait several months for the info. I was fortunate when I applied as I had a service number which makes the search easier. Thats it for now, but for all you Jimmy owners there is another miltary item also called Jimmy that was the figure of Mercury on the badge of the Royal corps of Signals regards Centurion

Hi all Just to add on from Jacks piece my Dad was in the signals during ww2 initially as driver of heavy vehicles and later as a motorcycle dispatch rider. He came over from the Isle of Man and joined up in Manchester the day after war broke out . He was at Dunkirk and was carried out to a small boat by his mates because he couldnt swim so he carried their kit and they carried him. They had driven down from the Belgium border in a large British radio truck which was difficult due to the number of refugees on the road and the fact it wasnt exactly inconspicuous. He said that when the got near dunkirk an Officer told them to destroy it which niggled them a bit because they could have made the journey quicker without it. He was also at the D Day landings, I think on day one with 3 div signals. As with most of these things you dont think to ask when there alive and when there gone its too late. He survived the war and died in 1994 but I wished I had asked him more. In 2004 I sent for a copy of his service record from the Army Historical Disclosures section which gave me some insight into where he had been etc. Its a good starting point. I went to Normandy on june 2004 and had intended to try and track his route from Caen across France but it proved a bit difficult and I ran out of time. I do know that at one time he was dispatching for Maj Gen Sir Brian Horrocks I havnt as yet got round to researching 3 div if anyone can suggest a starting point or suitable books let me know. I could go on with this for ages but dont want to hog the forum. regards Centurion

Better late than not at all. I discovered this site via Classic military vehicleand it is an excellent find. I sort of drifted into the military vehicle scene from motorcycling perhaps its become too mainstream and this is more interesting, definately more hands on. thanks for the help so far regards Centurion

Thanks for that Demon. As I wasnt planning to pull the gearbox Ill leave it for now and do the whole thing when I can. Perhaps I should buy earplugs in the meanwhile regards Centurion

Thanks for the info gents I was hoping that it will be ok to leave until the clutch does need replacing which Ashley confirmed. But the noise sounds more like someone shaking a wheel nut in a beer can any views on leaving that until something more serious develops. :?: Thanks again Centurion

Thanks for that Mark, That,ll be the gearbox out then to add to the other things :? regards Centurion

Hi all I have a 64 Hotchkiss which is in good nick ( well apart from the usual odd bits of corrosion from standing outside on a french air field for a lot of its life) It drives and runs well BUT when on the move and you disengage the clutch to change gear there is a rattle from that area which isnt there when the clutch is engaged. It doesnt slip. does it need adjusting or can i ignore it until the clutch needs replacing :?: Centurion

Hi If after all the previous comments your still looking then they do get listed on Ebay Francais but as with all these things "caveat emptor" regards centurion