AndyFowler Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Looking good mate ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 As promised earlier, I now have shots of the electric fuel pump rebuild. Although it did work ok, though needing a whack sometimes to get it pumping, I decided to fit a complete overhaul kit aquired from Burlens. As was. There was a lot of fine brown/beige sediment in the casing, but as I had a couple of old 12v pumps, I used the best for the rebuild, the only difference between 12 & 24v is the actual solenoid unit. The parts kit. New valves fitted, same valve fitted to inlet and outlet, one just turned upside down. The points being fitted, adjusted later when pump assembled. The two pump parts before being screwed together. Job done, just got to test it works now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Looking good! I have a similar pump on mine, I presume you have also bypassed the original mechanical pump? Any problems with fuel pressure being too high for the carb? Oh and have you looked into pressurising the accumulators? I've been looking around at the kit to charge them from a Nitrogen bottle, brakes and steering are high on my agenda ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted December 25, 2012 Author Share Posted December 25, 2012 The mechanical fuel pump is still in situ on the engine, though I have a new one to replace it with when it stops working, the electric fuel pump was fitted in the system 'coz squaddies used to flatten the batteries winding them over to draw the fuel up to the engine driven pump, as it's a quite a large distance to travel, and it was an easy fix to overcome the problem. As for nitrogen charging, I have a charging head that I got from a chap in America which they use for pumping up shock absorbers, cost around £150, includes I think 3 feet of high pressure pipe and a no loss valve chuck. This is the one I bought http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nitrogen-regulator-king-fox-air-shock-w-no-loss-chuck-NAL-CHUCK-FILL-TOOL-VALVE-/150967321448?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item23265a8368 All I need now is a bottle of Nitrogen. Also hope your accumulator seals are ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Yup, that's the one's I've been looking at! Have you tried the fitting on the accumulator valve? Bit worried about my seals, I can't imagine they are great. I believe they are a common part with the Routemaster? No doubt expensive and difficult to get hold of :cry: I read that you can use welding gas, inert and dry, but not sure if there is any science behind using the nitrogen. I have a BOC account and might also look into the "outright purchase" bottles with no rental costs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Something like this would be a good bet long term I reckon.... http://www.weldinggases.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Hi guys, I have been charging accumulators for years on Saracens and the like, even Routemasters. If you need a charging head, a normal Oxygen one from a welding kit will work, but do not use oxygen! Originally the army used dry charged compressed air, but nitrogen is easier to obtain, try HSS tool hire shops, you can hire a BOC cylinder for a day at a reasonable charge, better than paying rental if you go direct to BOC. The hose and connection to the accumulater Schraeder valve might need a bit of inginuity if you cannot find the correct one. As for checking the pressure, a hand held guage capable of at least 600psi is required. regards, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Thanks for the reply Richard, do you have any experience rebuilding these, or obtaining seals/parts for them? Cheers, Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Thanks for the reply Richard, do you have any experience rebuilding these, or obtaining seals/parts for them? Cheers, Duncan Hi Duncan, The last time I had one apart to reseal was about 20 years ago, while working for the army. I beleive the seals are not easy to find now, they are rubber and leather rings fitted alternatively, unless you have an early one which has a bladder inside. I knew a Saracen owner who was a marine engineer, he sent his away to a hydraulic company and they modified the piston to fit lip seals, which should be more reliable. regards, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 Duncan, check page 7, about half way down, shows my accumulators in bits. I had some new seals made, and I think I should still have some put away somewhere. Recent progress has been a bit of painting on the cab panels, in a small window of sunshine, it rained about an hour after I got them painted. Panels prepped and ready. And painted, slightly blotchy with the rain, but should rub down ok. Not got all the rivet holes drilled yet on the large panel, they'll be done when I start to refit it to the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 You got me thinking about these lights and trafficators, I found this picture showing a martian with them still fitted. I also have a picture of one in service with the trafficators and no indicators... They also seem to have two reflectors per side above the centre of the wheel arches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 That's odd, from pictures that I've see, the reflectors were fitted to the wheel arches , at the front part of the front wheel arch, and at the rear of the rear wheel arch. Much like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Here are two of my "in service" pics showing the reflectors on the arches, not doubting you, there seems to be many variations! \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 It could be a case of the reflectors were thrown at the vehicle, and where they hit, that's where they were screwed on!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 (edited) You got me thinking about these lights and trafficators, I found this picture showing a martian with them still fitted.[ATTACH=CONFIG]72317[/ATTACH] What on earth is that, it looks like a Sentinel steam boiler under the radiator??:shocked: Edit. Thought it was some sort of prototype but looking closer it belongs to Russell of Bathgate so I assume it is a recovery. Edited January 29, 2013 by radiomike7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 I don't know either, possibly water/ballast tank? Certainly looks odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 I can't remember where I got that picture from, but do remember something about steam boiler testing? Seems unlikely in the 1950's... Looks like Leyland did make a steam boiler though?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leyland_steam_wagon_boiler,_section_%28Rankin_Kennedy,_Modern_Engines,_Vol_V%29.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 That's the tea kettle for the gun crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 No doubt, saves time waiting for the water to boil.:-D:-D:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 Progress is currently slow due to blooming wet & cold weather, but I have been beavering away in my shed doing the odd little bits, and on the very odd occassion we have had a bit of sunshine, a very small amount of painting, though only undercoat. One job I have redone because I wasn't overly pleased with the original finished result is the junction box to switchboard cable, first time I covered it with heatshrink tubing, but that seemed to spoil the look, so have stripped it completely and finished it off with braiding, now looks a proper job! Original finish. Repairing again. Sliding the braiding over. The finished look, much better! The only other things I have been up to is remaking the rifle butt block securing surrounds, and finishing off cleaning up and undercoating the removable floor panels. The original surrounds looking a bit shabby. The new ones made up and sanded smooth, ready for undercoat. Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Looking good Simon , I know what you mean about the weather , bloody chilly here today mate ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 Finally had a few days of sunshine, suppose thats now summer over! Spent some time outside doing bits and bobs. Got a few items sorted out and sent off for shot blasting, battery boxes being the main items as they are very rusty, do have spares Also managed to save the brass plates off of the lids, and clean them up, oddly, for the same plate the wording is different. Also on the blasting list are spare front brake cylinders, unfortunately when these were taken off the donor vehicle, the mounting flanges broke, due to the electrlytic action of steel and aluminium, so will need to repair these afterwards. The old brake hoses were also stripped, and the springs were put into the blasting box, and the other bits were clean up in the shed, the swivelling nut was also freed off, as was totally seized, which makes removal of the pipe blooming awkward. These hoses were original parts, even down to the Westinghouse logo, the pink piece on the hose, not seen that before, but then not honestly looked at them too closely on my truck. Have also aquired more palm couplings, and have got these stripped and sent off for blasting. [ATTACH=CONFIG]75074[/ATTACH] Last job I have been on with is refurbishing another coil, handy to have a spare, so got stripped and started painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted May 19, 2013 Author Share Posted May 19, 2013 Now we've had a few days decent weather, I've managed to get a few more things done. The coil is now reassembled, and I have nearly finished repainting a spare junction box. Also found a brand new cover for this too. Got it painted, and then had a visit from a suicidal fly! Got the battery boxes and lids back from blaster with a bit less metal on them, which I have started to work on. The blasting did uncover the Fv number on the side of the box. Started on the rusty lid by cutting out a decent chunk, and taking it to good metal. I did weld it a bit at a time, to try and avoid excessive heat, but still managed to warp the lid a little bit. But when I eventually got it to fit on the battery box, I can't believe just how blooming hard they are to get on,lots of silicone spray needed, jumping on it, plastic hammer, it didn't look to bad. A good sanding, a small amount of filler, a quick spray over of primer and all looks good. I have finally found a decent kigas tank, I have been on the lookout for one of these for ages, as my original one is past it. So another item crossed off my shopping list. Cleaned up it does look in very good nick. Thanks to a bit of sun today, also managed to get a few small items painted. Lots of bits on the go here, another horn unit, door handles, lamp and switch brackets, pipe clamps and other sundry bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Always impressed by your progress, she's going to be the best example of this rare breed! Not had any time for mine lately, but she's tucked up inside in the dry so not feeling too guilty :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 Hi Duncan, progress is much slower than I would like, only doing little odds n sods due to crappy weather. Need a month of sun so can get out and do some panel work. Time is slipping by and the deadline looms closer..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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