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andym

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Posts posted by andym

    Fv433 heat exchanger

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    I wouldn't be too sure of that - the Abbot is generally undercooled compared to the FV432, which is why it has uprated fan motors and pump.  Don't forget it isn't usually the engine section that leaks, it's the gearbox section.

    Andy

    • Like 1

    Flat vehicle battery due to Lockdown

    in I may be stupid, but......

    Posted

    The relevance of most of this advice is dependent on the type of lead-acid battery - is it a conventional wet lead-acid or an AGM?  AGM batteries such as the Odyssey or (MOD fitted) Hawker have a much lower self-discharge current and can safely be left for up to a year without charging.  Most modern vehicles, particularly those with stop-start, have AGM batteries as standard.

    Another vote for CTEK chargers by the way, I used to use PulseTech but when they transferred their manufacturing from Mexico to China the quality dropped like a stone.

    Andy

    Fv433 heat exchanger

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted · Edited by andym

    The original heat exchanger was made by BI Engineering in Wellingborough (I've just reminded myself of their name).  It's different to that used on the rest of the FV430s because the Abbot pack is completely different due to the lower profile of the Abbot.  It is, however, similarly complicated with four separate sections - engine, gearbox, steering box and hydraulic fans. 

    The usual problem that affects all the FV430s (including the Abbot) is leakage of cooling water into the gearbox element of the heat exchanger, demonstrated by emulsified oil on the gearbox dipstick.  My theory is that someone got the specification wrong in terms of pressure requirement for that particular section.  I think that the Abbot heat exchanger is also more highly stressed as it's almost half the size of the usual FV430 variant but still asked to do the same job.

    It's a ridiculously tight fit in the Abbot pack, requiring a fleet of crowsfoot spanners to tighten unions that have virtually no clearance between themselves and the pack frame.   It would have helped considerably if someone had decided to attach the heat exchanger to the engine rather than the pack frame as that would have avoided a mass of junctions between steel pipes and flexible hoses.

    I've attached the relevant image from the ISPL and a photo of mine before it departed for rebuild.

    Andy

    IMG_3761aw.jpg

    Figure A50.pdf

    • Like 1

    Fv433 heat exchanger

    in Tracked vehicles

    Posted

    You've opened a right unobtainium can of worms!

    As far as I know, there are no spares unless someone is hiding something, but they probably wouldn't be prepared to admit it, let alone sell.

    I had mine rebuilt by the OEM, whose name currently escapes me,  but it took them two years as a "when we've got spare time" job.  I had multiple conversations with their technical director as he and his chief fitter are the only people who even remember them, everyone else has left and the assembly jigs are long gone for scrap. They tried to find any remaining spares, even getting the MOD to check what they might have lying around at Bicester, to no avail.  They eventually invented a flushing rig and left the exchanger on it for months until the individual elements were sufficiently clean to allow repair, and even then it was touch and go.  I can't remember what they charged me, but it wasn't cheap and they said it had probably cost them ten times what they actually charged me.

    If I had to do this again (and I sincerely hope I don't) I'd take a different approach.  Ditch the hydraulic fans and replace with electric, freeing up space in the pack to possibly fit a modern heat exchanger from another engine although I couldn't say exactly what - space is very tight.

    Andy

    military laptop LXI & radio set up

    in British Radio Equipment

    Posted · Edited by andym

    I've stripped my LXI to send to Florin just in case someone gets excited about exporting 1990s military technology to Sweden.  That leaves me with two circuit boards which were working last time I fired it up, but no promises. if anyone wants them as spares drop me a DM.

    Andy

    LXI IMG_0786.jpg

    Military vehicle storage required

    in Storage & Transportation

    Posted

    It's very difficult.  Even finding a friendly farmer is awkward because these days they are worried about someone discovering that a barn isn't being used for agricultural purposes.  Ditto if you buy an existing barn you'd have to seek a change of planning permission.  The only real alternative is an industrial unit and they don't come cheap!

    Andy

    Foden FH70 refurb restoration

    in Blogs of MV restorations

    Posted

    On 3/14/2021 at 8:13 PM, Motleyholt said:

    I've got two of these Andy, 2 male 1 female?

    The female has been chewed up and has popped off but I think I can fit one of the spare good ones from the cables and swage the end back over.

    20210314_191650.thumb.jpg.cd7bea5fbc50a46b0b942e41c8281d11.jpg

    20210314_191633.jpg

    I'd have to measure them up to see, which won't be for a couple of months I'm afraid - the Abbot is in Cornwall and I'm in Portsmouth!

    Andy

    military laptop LXI & radio set up

    in British Radio Equipment

    Posted

    21 hours ago, Florin said:

    Hello,

    I really like how DRS LXI it looks and really want to build a new computer in a DRS LXI case.

    I looked for almost 2 years to buy one... but it's impossible to find one.

    and I would love to find one completely dead with no chance of  being fixed (it will be a really tragedy to transform a functional old laptop)

    Can somebody please help me to buy only the case?

    I am from Sweden but I am willing to pay for the shipping from anywhere (at a reasonable price).

    Thank you in advance and have a nice day,

    Florin

    I've got one that sort of works - it needs a new screen as there are rows of pixels missing, although it could just be the driver card.  Just beware that they are very heavy!

    Andy

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