- 4,810
- 742
- 113
- Location
- Liberty Hill, SC
Well, took a day off work and went down to Ft Stewart to pick up Westy's M818. Drove down in my railroad maintenance truck, because I have rigged it up to be towed with a medium towbar.
Got there around 0845, and waited on John for a few minutes. While I was waiting, I hooked up my tow lights. I didn't have enough cable, so I moved my fuel drum to the middle of the bed and strapped them to that.
FIRST THING I DID WAS CHECK THE BRAKES. I have learned my lesson, as Westy's wife knew I was the one who drove through the GL warehouse. I'm too well known for that incedent.
Had to add a little fluid, and they worked well. I'm going to bleed them proper now that I have it at the house.
Checked the tanks with water indicating paste on a stick, no water in the bottoms. One was 1/4 and the other was about 1/2. Changed the fuel filter, and checked the oil. It was still clear, as this was apparently a recent motor install.
The radiator had been patched up more than Joan Rivers, but held coolant. There was quite a bit of oil sludge floating on top in the overflow tank. Hmmm... I drained the tank and flushed the oil out (best I could) and refilled.
The solargizers were both cut, so the batteries had all dipped to less than 8 volts each. I had brought the two good ones out of my deuce, so after swapping, it started right up. Let it build up air, checked everything out. All the lights were good, two tires needed a little air. Aired them up, then pulled it out and hooked up my pickup truck.
John had to take off so I pulled it out of the gated area in neutral and parked to pull the drive shaft. I layed down on the ground and AHAHDHFSRSHFAA!!#!@$!#$!%!@#!!!!! Stupid sand burs EVERYWHERE!!! all over me! OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!
So I jump up, and pull off my shirt, and start removing them with pliers. About this time a bus pulls up, with about 20-30 young female soldiers on it. A couple lean out the window and yell, "Do you need a hand?" and I couldn't help myself, I looked down and blurted out "No, at least two!" Some laughed, others blushed, and some looked confused. Then they pulled away.
Got a sleeping mat that I had thown in the truck for just such an event (but forgot about it when I saw the nice soft 'grass'. Got it off and got on the road.
Truck rattled really bad, not the engine, but the body work. Smoothed out a little when the wheels got round again.
Got to the SC state line when I heard two pops and a whipping sound. Pulled off at the SC welcome center and opened the hood. Dang, the fan belts both popped.
Thanks to Doghead I got all the part numbers, and Westy had another that I tried. But no one had any anywhere close. The closest place was in Columbia, but that was where I was headed!
So I found some soft top rubber cord, and made a belt. First, I doubled them up. But it popped off quickly. The second, I did a single, cut the ends at an angle, and taped the crap out of it with gurilla tape. Well, it worked, it is still on the truck! I also took off the alt belts so there would be less drag.
Made it back safe, took about 7 hrs with the 4hr belt stop.
Got there around 0845, and waited on John for a few minutes. While I was waiting, I hooked up my tow lights. I didn't have enough cable, so I moved my fuel drum to the middle of the bed and strapped them to that.
FIRST THING I DID WAS CHECK THE BRAKES. I have learned my lesson, as Westy's wife knew I was the one who drove through the GL warehouse. I'm too well known for that incedent.
Had to add a little fluid, and they worked well. I'm going to bleed them proper now that I have it at the house.Checked the tanks with water indicating paste on a stick, no water in the bottoms. One was 1/4 and the other was about 1/2. Changed the fuel filter, and checked the oil. It was still clear, as this was apparently a recent motor install.
The radiator had been patched up more than Joan Rivers, but held coolant. There was quite a bit of oil sludge floating on top in the overflow tank. Hmmm... I drained the tank and flushed the oil out (best I could) and refilled.
The solargizers were both cut, so the batteries had all dipped to less than 8 volts each. I had brought the two good ones out of my deuce, so after swapping, it started right up. Let it build up air, checked everything out. All the lights were good, two tires needed a little air. Aired them up, then pulled it out and hooked up my pickup truck.
John had to take off so I pulled it out of the gated area in neutral and parked to pull the drive shaft. I layed down on the ground and AHAHDHFSRSHFAA!!#!@$!#$!%!@#!!!!! Stupid sand burs EVERYWHERE!!! all over me! OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!
So I jump up, and pull off my shirt, and start removing them with pliers. About this time a bus pulls up, with about 20-30 young female soldiers on it. A couple lean out the window and yell, "Do you need a hand?" and I couldn't help myself, I looked down and blurted out "No, at least two!" Some laughed, others blushed, and some looked confused. Then they pulled away.
Got a sleeping mat that I had thown in the truck for just such an event (but forgot about it when I saw the nice soft 'grass'. Got it off and got on the road.
Truck rattled really bad, not the engine, but the body work. Smoothed out a little when the wheels got round again.
Got to the SC state line when I heard two pops and a whipping sound. Pulled off at the SC welcome center and opened the hood. Dang, the fan belts both popped.
Thanks to Doghead I got all the part numbers, and Westy had another that I tried. But no one had any anywhere close. The closest place was in Columbia, but that was where I was headed!So I found some soft top rubber cord, and made a belt. First, I doubled them up. But it popped off quickly. The second, I did a single, cut the ends at an angle, and taped the crap out of it with gurilla tape. Well, it worked, it is still on the truck! I also took off the alt belts so there would be less drag.
Made it back safe, took about 7 hrs with the 4hr belt stop.
