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New to me m108 2.5 ton crane/wrecker

73m819

Rock = older than dirt , GA. MAFIA , Dirty
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Up date, mission had to be scrubbed for today due to a unthought of issue, a good chance a go will be had for a Mon, or Tue, or Wed. mission,
 
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Jeepsinker

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Understood. Doesn't hurt to ask. So you guys are goin to trailer it instead of a lift tow right? By the way Ron, I'm sorry I didn't get to stop by on my way through. It just wasn't in the cards. I'll shake your hand someday though.
 

73m819

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Yes on a trailer, it was thought that the tiers were not road worthy enough for a road march.
 

SETOYOTA

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Ron aka 73m819. Did real solid favor today. Made the recovery a breeze. Brought his knock wrench and had the lug nuts loose before I could get the tire down to him. Great ground guide and even took point with a m923 to block 2 lanes of traffic so we could pull into the road. Invaluable help today


The recovery went as good as possible. Sunday fellow steelsoldiers hurricane48 and I made a recon trip to evaluate the property for possible egress. Also worked on the old m108 that had been sitting in place for at least 3.5 years but I think maybe much more. It had sunk down in the earth 5+ inches. All the way to the lip of the wheel/rim.

Anyhow we drained the old fuel, cleaned the plugs, squirted a little oil in the cylinders, new batteries, checked radiator, new gas, waited a bit and hit the starter button.........................to our complete surprise it fired on the first hit and settled down to a nice idle. Let run for maybe 30 minutes and shut her down to return another day for the actual recovery. Made no attempt to move it.

Ron met up with myself and hurricane48 aka Rocky today. Very uneventful stuff for the recovery itself. We changed one flat tire. Fired the old girl up and let her climb herself out of the 6 inch deep holes she had been in for so many years. Drove over to the trailer and loaded up. Easy peezy.

As mentioned earlier Ron led the way into traffic blocking both lanes for me. I had my strobes and wig wags operating and hauled this beautiful machine home about 150 miles with no issues. It could not have went any better!
 

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Recovry4x4

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Excellent Chuck. Great little truck. Funny story. When I bought mine in Lake City, I put it on my piggyback device and toted it home with the M275A2. I didn't install the boom supports. Somehwere down around Ocala I happened to look back and the boom had walked about 1/4 of the way around. Scared the heck out of me.
 

clinto

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That's awesome Chuck. Congratulations!

I can't wait to see it done.
 

SETOYOTA

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I bet that was a pucker moment.

I do like the truck quite a bit. It's in much better condition than I originally thought . I have not tried the crane. Hope to get to that this weekend. The motor seems to run well so it will stay a gasser for now. Can't see replacing something that works. I am looking for a parts deuce for spares. Need to find some ndt tires too. Really not sure what I may need.


any pointers on the crane? What do I need to check?
 

Recovry4x4

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Hoses. TM says the hydraulic tank holds 50 gallons. More like 25. There is a return hose underneath that you should probably replace before you put big money in hydraulic oil in the tank. Lots of zerks that will likely need attention. The high pressure hoses are 1" but there are a few fittings made of unobtanium. Andy Bell in TN machined an adapter to use common fittings but never marketed them. Most folks just welded a different end on the hard lines to keep it running. Run the truck in 5th gear at around a thousand rpm with the transfer case in neutral and the PTO lever engaged and it should start working. Check that little driveshaft between the PTO and pump too. A 5 ton wrecker is 100 times more complicated than this little truck but doesn't give you 100 times more advantages or capacity.
 

SETOYOTA

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I had 816 5 ton. It was just simply 2 big for my use. I love the size of it.
 

rebelqwes87

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I bet that was a pucker moment.

I do like the truck quite a bit. It's in much better condition than I originally thought . I have not tried the crane. Hope to get to that this weekend. The motor seems to run well so it will stay a gasser for now. Can't see replacing something that works. I am looking for a parts deuce for spares. Need to find some ndt tires too. Really not sure what I may need.


any pointers on the crane? What do I need to check?
Man I really hate that I just came across this thread! I live 15 minutes from where that truck has sat for years, I would say more than 5. I would have been more than happy to lend a hand. I have always had eyes for that truck just not the money lol. I stopped by a couple years back and talked to the lady about it and some trailers that she had. I'm gonna miss seeing it when I drive by, but am glad that somebody that knows and appreciates what it is got it. I sure hope that it makes it to the rally! I have a couple of good NDT's mounted on wheels if you're interested.
 

clinto

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Are you going to do it in Strata Blue?

415454_307227406003133_1492674769_o.jpg306049_208114849247723_3336029_n.jpg10460501_700367590056499_449784268140112325_n.jpgM35_La_Scie_Labrador.sized.jpegM35_Fox_Harbour_1960.sized.jpeg1960_G.sized.jpeg

I do love me some Strata Blue G742 goodness.
 

SETOYOTA

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I sure would be interested in the ndt's. Yes the lady was very nice. Her original asking price was way way high and it was deteriating. Very badly. The asking price was so off base I think it scared away any potential buyers. I explained why I wanted it and what my plans are for the truck. Also went over my experience and knowledge of mv's to establish a value. I got a very good deal I think . Her yard guy was pushing to have it scraped so I'm glad it has a new home.

she now lives in MS and I think she is now trying to move on from her husband's death. It was his baby according to her.
 

SETOYOTA

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While I would be whAt most people call a purist this truck will be 24087 od. My first mv was a strata blue m38 and my hauler is a f750 in AF blue. I just don't want a blue deuce. Who knows its a long time from paint.
 
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