please excuse me, as I am new to the deuce, but where is the brake fluid reservoir on a m35a2 located. also, I am having troubles turning the headlight switch. It seems it should move to all the positions, but I don't want to force it and break something. Your help is greatly appreciated, and this is a great site for info on these old girls.
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M35A2 brake fluid reservoir location????
- Thread starter rubi2004
- Start date
- 7,055
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- 63
- Location
- Mid Hudson Valley NY
You need to find a copy of the Operators TM (-10) that has TONS of info you need to know before you drive the truck 10 feet.
gimpyrobb
dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
- 27,785
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- Cincy Ohio
The brake reservoir is located under your feet when you are sitting in the truck.
- 7,584
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- Cheyenne, WY
Go into the resources block at the top of the main page and into manuals to get your info. The top of the master cylinder unscrews after the vent line is removed.
jwaller
Active member
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you have to remove the cap. I dont want to sounds like a mean guy but you obviously dont know anything about these trucks. so do us all a favor and stop and read the manuals. they are located at the top of every page under the resources tab. look at the data plate in your cab as to the exact manual you need to read but suffice it to say you need to read them all.
- 7,055
- 143
- 63
- Location
- Mid Hudson Valley NY
This is what you need to read:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=1&fid=file&pid=15
Please be a responsible Military Vehicle Owner and read it. Do the PMCS (thats in the book too).
If you care less about being a responsible owner, remember that if you kill someone when your brakes fail due to lack of BFS in the MC, it's YOUR insurance that will shyrocket or be dropped. And if you think "whats the chances of that happening to me, Give me a break..." Keep reading the old posts... There are SEVERAL guys on here that it has happened to, and they each thought "it wont happen to me" Dont learn the hard way.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=1&fid=file&pid=15
Please be a responsible Military Vehicle Owner and read it. Do the PMCS (thats in the book too).
If you care less about being a responsible owner, remember that if you kill someone when your brakes fail due to lack of BFS in the MC, it's YOUR insurance that will shyrocket or be dropped. And if you think "whats the chances of that happening to me, Give me a break..." Keep reading the old posts... There are SEVERAL guys on here that it has happened to, and they each thought "it wont happen to me" Dont learn the hard way.
alphadeltaromeo
Active member
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- Alto, GA
Graciousness folk, be gracious.
Rubi - welcome to SS! Looks like you got the questions answered alright. The TM's are a great resource of information for you. I'd agree with the folk about reading through the TM to gain a good perspective about the deuce. It'll be well worth your time.
Again, welcome to SS!
Andy
Rubi - welcome to SS! Looks like you got the questions answered alright. The TM's are a great resource of information for you. I'd agree with the folk about reading through the TM to gain a good perspective about the deuce. It'll be well worth your time.
Again, welcome to SS!
Andy
- 26,247
- 1,173
- 113
- Location
- NY
Is it a runner? What else do you need to know right off to get it going? Is it home yet, or do you need to get it home still? Hop into the chat room some evening, great place to talk with others here(live)!
Some day, I would like to visit the FOD movie site!
Some day, I would like to visit the FOD movie site!
drthunder33
New member
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- 0
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- Applegate, MI
I printed out everything I could prior to picking up my deuce (thanks guys for the great tips). I read them at length all the way till pickup day and even brought them along just in case. They came in handy alright, and now they have been seperated into binders (controls, operations and maintainence). They are now part of my vehicle reference collection.
Thanks again guys!
BTW, at 396 pages it sure was nice to borrow the printer at work
Thanks again guys!
BTW, at 396 pages it sure was nice to borrow the printer at work
- 10,350
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- Location
- Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Welcome to the site!
Not everything is in the manuals and sometimes it is hard to find exactly what one is looking for, so no harm in asking, that's what this site is for.
The light switch operation is as shown in this image.
The master cylinder is accessible by opening the cover in the floor by the front seat. You will need a 7/16 wrench to remove the vent line and a 3/4 wrench for the reservoir plug. It is a little difficult to get to, granted, and you will need a flashlight to see what you are doing.
If you accidentally pour DOT 3 into the master cylinder that is already filled with DOT 5, don't panic, your brake system will still work. The fluids will not mix, but no real harm is done. IMHO, it is probably a benefit to have some DOT 3 in the system to keep any water from freezing.
PS. Most of us who had MVs before this site existed collected the TMs one by one and probably made it home with minimal instructions, I know I did.
Not everything is in the manuals and sometimes it is hard to find exactly what one is looking for, so no harm in asking, that's what this site is for.
The light switch operation is as shown in this image.
The master cylinder is accessible by opening the cover in the floor by the front seat. You will need a 7/16 wrench to remove the vent line and a 3/4 wrench for the reservoir plug. It is a little difficult to get to, granted, and you will need a flashlight to see what you are doing.
If you accidentally pour DOT 3 into the master cylinder that is already filled with DOT 5, don't panic, your brake system will still work. The fluids will not mix, but no real harm is done. IMHO, it is probably a benefit to have some DOT 3 in the system to keep any water from freezing.
PS. Most of us who had MVs before this site existed collected the TMs one by one and probably made it home with minimal instructions, I know I did.
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chuck500cc
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Let's see!!!! 
rmgill
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- Decatur, Ga
The PS magazine articles are ALSO VERY good material to read along with the -10 manual.
shadow
Member
- 116
- 1
- 18
- Location
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
I was lucky when I got my m275a1. The guy/company I bought it from said they were putting in a new speed-o cable and would top off the fluids. I didn’t check ANY of them because I went on his word. I noticed the speedometer still didn’t work but I figured maybe the gauge was bad. After I had drove it across town to the next town where I was putting it in storage, I noticed the rear wheel drum area smoking a blue color and it smelled of burned metal. I didn’t have time to check it because the sun was just going down and there would be no light.
Later, after I found the reservoir, it was almost dry. It leaks from a fitting where some monkey made a U bend and you can see the fitting going in at an angle with silicone or something on the threads. It could have been a bad time if I lost the brakes while driving. I admit I am an amateur at driving these things. I had only driven a few hours in some dump trucks my buddy had to practice for a cdl test. (never got the license because we couldn’t find a truck that would pass inspection for a test.
) I’m not sure what I would have done in the case of brake loss. Off roading is my first guess to avoid hitting someone. I recommend getting some TM’s in print. They make good reading material while in the thinking room
I have driven the truck with a loaded 40 footer weaving around the storage area a few times with no brakes at all. (No air to the trailer lines and no fluid in the truck lines). It is fine when you’re in 1st or 2nd gear on gravel but I wouldn’t go any faster then 2nd. I had some big open spots when I got clear of the builds/cars/campers but I wouldn’t go any faster then halfway through the rpms while in 2nd. I even had my sister help walking along with a 6x6 board while I was in 1st gear just incase I needed to stop faster she could through the board in front of the tires to help slow me down. I never need it though because as soon as I lifted from the gas it would only roll about 6 or 7 feet before I was at a stop.
As for the DOT brake fluid, I am a little concerned now. I had called 4 heavy truck shops when I got it and ask what I should use and they all said normal brake fluid. I told them it was a military 1953 reo deuce tractor and they all said it didn’t matter and acted like I was nuts thinking there was a different fluid I should use. I put in the regular DOT 3 fluid.
I was just looking online and I found that if you mix the 2 you could have some seals leak. Is that true or is someone pulling peoples legs? Will I have problems with that mixing? Is there a way to tell which fluid you have in the system? (dot3, dot 5 color difference, smell, etc)
Later, after I found the reservoir, it was almost dry. It leaks from a fitting where some monkey made a U bend and you can see the fitting going in at an angle with silicone or something on the threads. It could have been a bad time if I lost the brakes while driving. I admit I am an amateur at driving these things. I had only driven a few hours in some dump trucks my buddy had to practice for a cdl test. (never got the license because we couldn’t find a truck that would pass inspection for a test.
) I’m not sure what I would have done in the case of brake loss. Off roading is my first guess to avoid hitting someone. I recommend getting some TM’s in print. They make good reading material while in the thinking room I have driven the truck with a loaded 40 footer weaving around the storage area a few times with no brakes at all. (No air to the trailer lines and no fluid in the truck lines). It is fine when you’re in 1st or 2nd gear on gravel but I wouldn’t go any faster then 2nd. I had some big open spots when I got clear of the builds/cars/campers but I wouldn’t go any faster then halfway through the rpms while in 2nd. I even had my sister help walking along with a 6x6 board while I was in 1st gear just incase I needed to stop faster she could through the board in front of the tires to help slow me down. I never need it though because as soon as I lifted from the gas it would only roll about 6 or 7 feet before I was at a stop.
As for the DOT brake fluid, I am a little concerned now. I had called 4 heavy truck shops when I got it and ask what I should use and they all said normal brake fluid. I told them it was a military 1953 reo deuce tractor and they all said it didn’t matter and acted like I was nuts thinking there was a different fluid I should use. I put in the regular DOT 3 fluid.
I was just looking online and I found that if you mix the 2 you could have some seals leak. Is that true or is someone pulling peoples legs? Will I have problems with that mixing? Is there a way to tell which fluid you have in the system? (dot3, dot 5 color difference, smell, etc)