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Scammel/Leyland Daf DROPS


paulob1

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Okay collected my truck then drove off to Withams to collect my Green Goddess..

 

First impressions, its big hard and not very comfortable,,,it is very bouncy...

 

after a few miles I readjust my east which reduces the effect of the bouncing on my right foot and smooths the ride a bit...still bouncy.

 

Gear change a bit crude, well compared to my car anyway...but boy she is easy to drive...

 

with the goddess on she is simplicity itself...

 

top speed 50mph...absolute,...not a penny more, unless down a very steep hill...she seems really comfortable at exactly 50. Good acceleration but I find myself missing the gear lever and wanting to select the correct gear...she never seems to be in the right gear,...

 

But overall a good buy, she will be a useful truck...not for carrying tall things but the 432 and other types will go on her with ease...she will be a fun truck to take out onto the fields now and again but dont think she is an off roader like the zils or urals,...a winch would be real useful...I have a monster winch will see if that can be made to fit...

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got it stuck 100 yds into slab common, not sure the air was actuating the diff locks etc so i may be a bit ahead of myself...will not judge her until i know ...

 

1. The air leak is fixed,

2. The Oil leak is fixed

3 The leaking from axles/hubs is fixed

4. The brake lights are sorted, very odd these, staionary they work, once I am moving nothing...now it may be due to the air leak but all the dials are in the white safe zome, so not 100% sure what is going on yet...

 

Anyway am happy with her, she has done a lot of work this weekend....down to portsmouth to collect truck, then to slab common with zil on back then to off to collect zil number two, then at end of day all back to site...a lot of miles, well over 200. i found the oil pressure switch fault, had come unplugged, also think the petrol tank guage is now sorted, still getting a small air leak into the diesel supply, i think, or the bouncing about blocked the fuel filter a bit as she would not start just once TODAY, QUICK PUMP ON THE fUEL PUMP and then she has ran all day without fault...odd...

 

I am slowly getting used to her bouncing and sometimes jerky gearchange but otherwise I VERY VERY HAPPY WITH HER...

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Get used to changing bulbs. You will get through headlight and rear bulbs like you had shares in Lucas.

 

They won't do more than 50 but do that speed fully loaded. The tyres wont last long as they wear unevenly. Have you got the information for correct load restraint of strapping vehicles to the flat rack (yes there is a right and wrong way of doing it).

 

They are a good truck when they work. I was a DROPS specialist in two DROPS Transport Regiments. I lived in one for a week at Longparish training area as it broke down and I had to wait for recovery. Also had one dump all it's gearbox oil at Fleet Services.

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okay thanks for that...got a small oil leak from the side of the engine I THINK..just behind the starter where I think there is a pressure switch...not 100% sure yet but will have it checked. will get someone in to do a proper full service on her, will cost a few bob but i want this truck to remain reliable...

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okay thanks for that...got a small oil leak from the side of the engine I THINK..just behind the starter where I think there is a pressure switch...not 100% sure yet but will have it checked. will get someone in to do a proper full service on her, will cost a few bob but i want this truck to remain reliable...

 

 

 

Have you got the service schedule for the DROPS? There are dozens of grease nipples on the truck and ideally you need an air operated greasing system.

 

When you are dropping/picking up the flat rack how are you doing it? You are supposed to use the different switch positions for the LHS but it can be done quicker just leaving it in position 1. Paint the top of the A frame where the hook engages white. Lubricate the surface of the rear rollers with oil to stop the rust. Don't drag the flat rack. When it's in the air use the hand brake, then release as soon as it touches down (or apply when it lifts off)

 

Have you noticed the manouvering brake on the cab floor?

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no to the manoeuvring brake, will have a look next time i am in the cab...am thinking of building flat rack with a winch fitted for hauling dead trucks onto it...making up a couple of heavy duty ramps for when I need to load things and will likely get me a couple more pallets for various other tasks..

 

Need to get some cheap now...

 

Got the operators manual and a workshop parts manaul...need the service books next,...anyone know where i can get these from,...

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Worked on a Drops on our last Excercise which had made it back to base, but then struggled to start. It had sat at the Garrison for 3 months without anyone successfully repairing it. With a little investigation it turned out to be air getting into the fuel lines. The fault (poor design?) is on the offside at the rear of the engine where the plastic pipes from/to the fuel tank are fitted into quick fit brass couplings connected to the solid pipes over the engine. The engine vibration wears the couplings, and makes the end of the plastic pipe rough, and the seal eventually fails.

 

They are awkward to get to (with a basic army tool box!), but overall easy to replace.

 

Jules

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