MrEd Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Greta thread and what a vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Ashby Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Nice work guys, that's where the time the time goes on the sort of work that you'r carrying out on the springs and axle case but it produces a quality restoration. Keep at it Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 Thanks for the nice words guy's, it is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted November 3, 2021 Author Share Posted November 3, 2021 Gradually getting the springs assembled. New center bolts had to be machined as what we had were too far gone! We applied graphite grease between leaves to stop rubbing and hopefully stop water getting in between leaves as per 1943 TM. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Looking good mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 We started to clean the rear axle a while ago, now the springs are coming together we carried on with this task, firstly we took the wheels off, jet washed again and cleaned with the wire wheel. We just managed to get as much primer on before the rain started on the last part of Sunday. we will take the drums off another time to inspect and rebuild. Again like the front axle many casting numbers and stamping's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 During the week my brother has been carrying on with the springs, nearly there now. New rebound clips, bolt tubes and rivets have been made also. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 New rebound clip made and riveted in place, bent to shape, both helper springs assembled using graphite grease. Obviously needed touching up with paint as this was burnt off due to being heated up. We are almost ready having all the springs assembled and hope to soon have axles and springs in place weather permitting as we are working outside! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reid Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Your hard work on the springs will pay off with a better ride the back end was always a bit stiff especially without a trailer Seeing your progress makes me wish I'd kept the Federal apart from the cab tinware which I think will repair fairly easily its in pretty good condition. I wonder if the rear tyres are the new ones I put on in 1993 I always remember one was an odd one with a central groove seems to be still there Word of warning be careful if you do change tyres I had a locking ring blow out on one, gave me a fright I had borrowed a proper cage from a local tyre depot,who hardly ever used it nearly all trucks had well base tubeless rims even then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 2 hours ago, Cushman 53 said: New rebound clip made and riveted in place, bent to shape, both helper springs assembled using graphite grease. Obviously needed touching up with paint as this was burnt off due to being heated up. We are almost ready having all the springs assembled and hope to soon have axles and springs in place weather permitting as we are working outside! Nice neat job their mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Garwood Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Hi Alan, Thanks for the advice, at some point we will be removing the tyres from the rims so as to have the rims sandblasted so when we reassemble them we will make sure they are inflated inside a cage. We think doing all that work on the springs will make a difference, as you know the rear springs are exposed to the elements and rust built up between the leaves where as the front springs sit under the cab and keep fairly dry although we did strip these and thoroughly cleaned them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Garwood Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Hi Phil The springs are getting there ! just a touch up on the rebound clips then paint the complete assemblies. We will probably fit the main assembly first 14 leafs then the helper spring 4 leafs as they are so heavy when all 18 leafs are bolted together. Thanks for getting the wire wheels so quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 U bolt saddles, spring seats and U bolt brackets cleaned and primed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 5 hours ago, Cushman 53 said: U bolt saddles, spring seats and U bolt brackets cleaned and primed. Lovely job as usual. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 We wrapped up as best we could at the weekend to make more progress! We really wanted the rear axle in top coat now, one for more protection through the winter and two to hopefully have the chassis sitting on it soon, We finished cleaning in the hard to get areas, and on a quick inspection the shoes seem to have plenty of life left in them so we are hoping we will get away with a good inspection and clean in this area. The front shoes we will replace as these were soaked in oil and we have new for this. Once done we covered up for now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 We have been working on the springs and assembling ready for installation, with the very useful aid of the pallet truck and an old plastic box we were lucky enough to get the rear springs in a good position ready to be installed, for anyone who may not have experienced such weight I can tell you that it is a real struggle for two people to lift just one spring together, if the helper springs were assembled as one unit there is no way any two people would lift them, that is why the helper springs were bolted in place separately. The springs really were no trouble to get into place at all, the rear part slides into the rear hanger and the front part is held with a shackle pin. It is quite exciting times to see little things taking shape, both rear springs are in place now...hopefully soon rear axle! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 2 hours ago, Cushman 53 said: We have been working on the springs and assembling ready for installation, with the very useful aid of the pallet truck and an old plastic box we were lucky enough to get the rear springs in a good position ready to be installed, for anyone who may not have experienced such weight I can tell you that it is a real struggle for two people to lift just one spring together, if the helper springs were assembled as one unit there is no way any two people would lift them, that is why the helper springs were bolted in place separately. The springs really were no trouble to get into place at all, the rear part slides into the rear hanger and the front part is held with a shackle pin. It is quite exciting times to see little things taking shape, both rear springs are in place now...hopefully soon rear axle! Cracking job gents looking great. Bit bloody cold though 🤧 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 Thanks Phil, yeah was bloody cold 😬 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted December 18, 2021 Author Share Posted December 18, 2021 Back axle finally back on! After many months we we able to pull the trolley out and quite easily with the forklift the back axle was reunited with the chassis. Happy days. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Looking great coming together nicely. Whats next front axle ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 Hi Phil, Thanks. To be honest we are not too sure if we will put the front axle on or not yet! The reason being is that we have the trolley back under the front end if we need to move it about, if we were to go with the front axle it would need to have the steering assembled as well to be able to turn, the forklift can still pull it out but we are in a fairly confined space and nowhere to pull the chassis straight as we have a building in front of us. Spent today sorting parts and moving things around until it got too cold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 Thats makes sense, you've got to go with the easy route dealing with that weight. Oh Have a Very Merry Christmas. 🍻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Reid Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 It's only when you start working on these bigger trucks that you find out how heavy everything is. I had a puncture on an inner rear tyre on a road run and thought I'd better change it to avoid damaging a nearly new tyre. After jacking up, undoing 10 outer wheel nuts, 10 inner nuts, heaving the spare off and bolting everything together I didn't have enough strength left to get the flat back onto the carrier and had to leave it at the roadside to pick up later. Best not to go it alone haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushman 53 Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 Thanks Alan, good advice! The weekend was spent painting the front axle, fitting front springs and lifting front axle in to place and bolting in place. The springs were attached and with the help of the forklift we lifted the front axle up on a pallet and it so easily lined up, U bolts dropped in really easily too! The plan was for now to drop the front axle onto our trolley so we can move it in and out to work on as we are in a confined area, trouble is the trolley won't take the weight now so for now we dropped the front end onto a couple of pallets so we can move chassis around. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Whiting Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Coming along very nicely cracking job gents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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