What did you do to your deuce this week?

Dipstick said:

Don't you just love surprises! Great job on your repair and thank you for the pictures. I wonder what caused the sludge? Moisture? Are you using Dot 3 or Dot 5 brake fluid? Nice Deuce.

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Yeah that kind of surprise is always fun! Thanks for the kind words. My guess on the rust is that it got there over many years of being parked outside and having humidity get pulled in through the normal vent fitting. I know it hasn't been operated in any water in 10+ years between me and the previous owner, and it has been stored indoors for the last 2.5 years. Right or wrong I still use DOT 5 fluid.

cbrTodd said:

Yeah that kind of surprise is always fun! Thanks for the kind words. My guess on the rust is that it got there over many years of being parked outside and having humidity get pulled in through the normal vent fitting. I know it hasn't been operated in any water in 10+ years between me and the previous owner, and it has been stored indoors for the last 2.5 years. Right or wrong I still use DOT 5 fluid.

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You're welcome cbrTodd. I think your right about time causing the problem. DOT 5 is way superior to the earlier brake fluids because it's silicone based. The older types of brake fluid such as DOT 3 attract moisture and will lead to corrosion in brake systems when air is present. It also destroys paint if you have a spill or a leak. Takes paint right off. I know because I have a small truck that has DOT 3. Terrible stuff. Neat that your truck is covered. It will stay in nice shape for much longer.

I'm getting very close to putting my new batteries in. Two days of rain is holding me up as far as painting goes. I thought it might be interesting to compare the original battery support with the one I fabricated. I think mine is an upgrade. The new one dropped right in. The bolt holes lined up perfectly, so the bolts went right in. The weird thing is that the battery door latch was now hitting the tab it engages by an 1/8" I couldn't figure out why, because the new support didn't distort the frame mounts at all. The running board bolts holes lined up just fine. I took an 1/8" of the tab with a cut-off wheel and grinder and then it closed.

What is the tin foil on the battery connections for?

I wrapped the cables in aluminum foil so I wouldn't get paint on them. No tape needed as you would with paper.

Well, after a month I finally started Brutus at 5pm today with his new batteries. He started right up. My self-fabbed support worked very well. The second picture I'm calling "Deuce Owner's Vacation Spot." I mean there's a beach chair, so I must be on vacation.

Oops! This is the picture I meant to send. I'm repainting the running boards now.

Dipstick said:

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Oops! This is the picture I meant to send. I'm repainting the running boards now.

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Sooo... Hopefully you took Brutus out for a spin around the block? New battery box looks great. Nothing like a little green paint and a few hours turning wrenches! I like the rest stop. I have a pair of chairs beside the building. Works really well. A little work, a little rest while admiring the progress. Just good all around!

Mullaney said:

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Sooo... Hopefully you took Brutus out for a spin around the block? New battery box looks great. Nothing like a little green paint and a few hours turning wrenches! I like the rest stop. I have a pair of chairs beside the building. Works really well. A little work, a little rest while admiring the progress. Just good all around!

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Tim, you wouldn't believe how many hours I have in this project if I told you. A million little steps and runs to Ace Hardware and Tractor Supply. Next, I have to adjust the alternator belts and find out why my charging gauge is in the yellow instead of the green. Gonna put my my multimeter on the alternator tomorrow. Thanks for the like!

@Dipstick The stock military alternator has an adjustable voltage regulator. It can be set with a flat screwdriver after removing the cover allen head screw. It may just need a little readjusting. Easy first step (and belt-tightening is sure a good thing).

cattlerepairman said:

@Dipstick The stock military alternator has an adjustable voltage regulator. It can be set with a flat screwdriver after removing the cover allen head screw. It may just need a little readjusting. Easy first step (and belt-tightening is sure a good thing).

deuce is overcharging. voltage regulator?

my 71 m35 killed its batteries, and i finally noticed that when it is running the voltage gauge is in the red. Only when driving it with the high beams on and trailer lights as well did it stay in the upper green. I don't remember what my number was but i know it was over 24. Can I adjust the...

www.steelsoldiers.com

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Hi cattlerepairman. I did that long ago when I had the stock alternator. I installed a Woltech alternator in 2013. I'll have to see if it's adjustable too. I noticed some time ago that the voltmeter is in the yellow when I first start him, then I go bouncing down the road for awhile and it's green. It's like the gauge sticks. We'll see once I get my multimeter on it and check the voltage output. Thanks for the thought!

Ah....that could also be your batteries. If they are low/depleting easily, the alternator has to charge at a higher load than normal right after startup. I have a civy 24V alternator as well (Wolverine) and the gauge dropping into yellow after starting was what happened when my 2 year old batteries started to take a dump.
I was very happy about Costco battery warranties - it ended up being a straight swap (warranty covered it). I never buy car batteries anywhere else but Costco, for exactly that reason.

Maybe stop at your favourite auto parts place and have the batteries load-tested?

cattlerepairman said:

Ah....that could also be your batteries. If they are low/depleting easily, the alternator has to charge at a higher load than normal right after startup. I have a civy 24V alternator as well (Wolverine) and the gauge dropping into yellow after starting was what happened when my 2 year old batteries started to take a dump.
I was very happy about Costco battery warranties - it ended up being a straight swap (warranty covered it). I never buy car batteries anywhere else but Costco, for exactly that reason.

Maybe stop at your favourite auto parts place and have the batteries load-tested?

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Points well taken. My batteries are brand new as of yesterday. Brutus started right up too. Just one quick push of the starter button. He cranked easily.

I decided to check my Woltech alternator output today. I adjusted the belt tension first. Then, I put my meter on it and It was only 24 Vdc. I texted Woltech, who promptly replied and instructed me to momentarily short the output terminal to the terminal next to it with the engine running. I did and it sparked. I tested the output again and it was 27.2 Vdc. He told me that the the field had lost it's magnetism, we just restored it and that this was a lasting repair. Top notch customer service at Woltech!

Replaced the rubber air lines for the wipers. Mine were brittle and cracked. Fuel hose 3/8 did the trick. I hate those spring loaded clamps...too hard to compress with my fingers, when using pliers the clamp snaps sideways and won't move, and when I finally pull them off they...bazinnnnnnng.....fly across the cab. Another 5 minute job that took half an hour!

But....the wipers work enthusiastically again.

cattlerepairman said:

Replaced the rubber air lines for the wipers. Mine were brittle and cracked. Fuel hose 3/8 did the trick. I hate those spring loaded clamps...too hard to compress with my fingers, when using pliers the clamp snaps sideways and won't move, and when I finally pull them off they...bazinnnnnnng.....fly across the cab. Another 5 minute job that took half an hour!

But....the wipers work enthusiastically again.

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I just use regular worm type hose clamps. The look ugly, but they stay where you put them. Air wipers that work enthusiastically? Are you sure about that?

I was without running boards for a month while in the midst of my battery debacle. The one on the battery side had rusted through. I bought a slightly used one and cleaned and painted both. They went on today. I cut and punched four 3/16" neoprene strips to go between the running board undersides and the frame brackets. My hope is that it will keep TDG from getting between the running boards and the supports. I had to drill and chisel the original eight bolt heads off. The threads were incredibly corroded. When I was striking the chisel, big clumps of gray corrosive road cinders fell out from under the supports. I had taken Brutus to the spray booth too. Anyway, nice to have running boards again.

Got my new cab rocker panels from Memphis Equipment today. They are nice and heavy. I estimate 22 ga. They're each 38" long. I've been following ldmack3's cab sheet metal replacement project. ldmack3 was nice enough to post some detailed pictures of his repairs and provide me with some really good advice. I tip my cap to ldmack3! I have no idea when I'll begin. It might coincide out of necessity with my fender replacement. For now, I have to catch up on my yard work.

Dipstick said:

I just use regular worm type hose clamps. The look ugly, but they stay where you put them. Air wipers that work enthusiastically? Are you sure about that?

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Aren't they enthusiastic??


Took me a few days, but it rained today!

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cattlerepairman said:

Aren't they enthusiastic??

Took me a few days, but it rained today!

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

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Yours certainly are! Mine fight constantly. One wants to go real fast the other real slow or not at all. Sometimes I get them to make peace, but it never lasts for long.