Unicorns are real.... NOS MEP-802A

[Light in the Dark]

Chaps, I didn't think it was possible. I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire 2 NOS MEP-802A units. These are honest to goodness, never fielded units as best I can tell. They still have the original tape over sheet metal seams, battery connections, heck... one of them retained part of the original cardboard wrap when it left DRS in Bridgeport. I will add more to the thread, but I just wanted to share with you some photos of one of the units.

 

[Light in the Dark]

I have never seen load lugs or the operator control box so clean. To have a set that has never gone down range is pretty special... but two??

 

[rickf]

Eh, I would have had to reject them. One has the paint scratched on the generator head and one has a dent in it.
DANG you got lucky! Did you get a lucky price also?

 

[rcamacho]

Very nice!


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[kloppk]

Nice score!

 

[robson1015]

Great lookin units-congrats ! Gov Planet?? How much ??

 

[Light in the Dark]

Eh, I would have had to reject them. One has the paint scratched on the generator head and one has a dent in it.
DANG you got lucky! Did you get a lucky price also?

The unit photographed had the larger dent towards the back, the other had a bit more dust on it, and seemingly a very small impression dent near the top left corner of the dead crank door. I believe both were damaged in whatever warehouse they had been sitting.... but yeah, I almost rejected them because of these egregious flaws.

No, these were not cheap by any measure of the word. I can tell you though that someone got them for a song. These were sold as scrap by the base which surplussed them.... our government at work folks.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Great lookin units-congrats ! Gov Planet?? How much ??

No, these were not offered through the auction chain. I was offered them by a private party whom I have received gensets from before. I have not made up my mind on what I want to do with the second one (the other unit was made available to a local SS member), so I would rather not discuss what it cost me. This is one of those cases like when buying guns... there is what they actually cost you, and what you tell your wife they cost

 

[Light in the Dark]

I mean for crying out loud... look at all that sign of wet stacking

 

[Light in the Dark]

One thing that I found interesting in discussing these machines with a DRS factory guy the other day... Lister Petter provided the engines to DRS with break in oil (just like the tag states on any Tier reset units with under 100hrs on them). That's not the interesting part... he states that "We at the factory did not run break in oil in them, we used regular diesel engine oil. Lister Petter ran them with break in oil before shipping to us, we used regular engine oil in them for our testing and we did extensive testing before we shipped the sets out."

So when they left Bridgeport, they were filled with regular weight oil, not the special break in fluid. I was asking more to understand how best to reactivate this machine... seems the drawing board is truly clean for me. I guess I could run a real nice T6 or something in it essentially "from new" and not worry about ring seating? I'm still on the fence, but I did find the fact interesting.

 

[Chainbreaker]

Wow, unicorns indeed! You bagged some very nice units there!!!

 

[Ray70]

Awesome score... I'm by no means an expert on oil, but I would be hesitant to run straight synthetic right from the start, not so much for the rings but more for the lifters and cam. They use hydraulic lifters / cams which normally you would use an oil with high zinc content to break in properly. For the sake of a few bucks you can get bottles of zinc additive and put it in with whatever oil you choose. Cheap insurance for your investment, in my mind. Not to say synthetic will wipe you cam lobes, but the old hot rodding crowd has always said to break in you new cam and lifters with zinc additive and "2000 RPM right out of the gate for 20 minutes".

 

[Light in the Dark]

I will probably end up running John Deere break in plus, just because I don't see any harm in doing it that way regardless... just musing really.

 

[cbisson]

The unit photographed had the larger dent towards the back, the other had a bit more dust on it, and seemingly a very small impression dent near the top left corner of the dead crank door. I believe both were damaged in whatever warehouse they had been sitting.... but yeah, I almost rejected them because of these egregious flaws.

No, these were not cheap by any measure of the word. I can tell you though that someone got them for a song. These were sold as scrap by the base which surplussed them.... our government at work folks.

Which Rapco color would best match these units if you wanted to touch up the chips and scratches?

 

[LEOK]

Maybe they were damaged during shipping and sat while claims were made and then never settled
I'M JEALOUS

 

[Light in the Dark]

Which Rapco color would best match these units if you wanted to touch up the chips and scratches?

In looking through my notes, I have purchased this before: https://www.armyjeepparts.com/p-2338-34094-lusterless-carc-green-rattle-can-34094.aspx

I recall it being similar, like 95%, but not identical. Being that its truly not CARC (which is a good thing for your health), perhaps its not able to be 100% replicated. But hopefully others who have repainted OD sets before will chime in.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Maybe they were damaged during shipping and sat while claims were made and then never settled
I'M JEALOUS

Definite possibility. Doubt I will ever get such a chance again, which is why no matter the cost... I had to jump on them.

 

[Ray70]

I also use the Gillespe coatings 383 green from Rapco Parts 34094, looks to be the exact same can as what LITD gets from Army Jeep Parts.
It's probably a decent match on such a pristine NOS unit, but a little off on "Used" machines due to the fading of the original CARC coating.
Ends up a bit darker and a bit glossy compared to a faded 15 year old machine, but definitely better than chips and scratches.

 

[DieselAddict]

Yep, I picked up a few out of Ft. Bragg a few years ago when a lot of them came out. I sold 2 and my brother got the other one.

 

[smokem joe]

My 803a I kept for my primary was the same way. It was issued to a national guard unit and only started a couple times to charge the batteries. Paperwork left in the door documented every minute it had been running. It had the great sum of 5. something hours on it. It was clean enough to eat off of inside