Walter the Dormobile

I was going to take the Series I for a drive this morning, instead I decided to remove the steering relay from Walter......should have gone for a drive.......

I'd been soaking it in penetrating oil for some weeks.

The top bolts came out easily, they were facing forward so easy to remove. The bottom bolts came out easy and the support ring removed without too much of a struggle.

Then it came to removing the relay.....

I had a jack underneath pushing on a block of wood, raised the corner of the vehicle off the ground without any sign of movement.
Large screwdriver under one edge (while still on the jack), slight movement. Went and found a pinch bar, under the other side, slight movement.

After about 2 hours with a selection of steel offcuts, pinch bars, jumping up & down, more penetrating oil it was about 1/3 out of the crossmember.
Persevered with some more steel offcuts more jacking and it finally cried enough and slowly emerged from the crossmember.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...15/07/1424.jpgDSCN3557 by Colin Radley, on Flickr

I can't believe how much rubbish gets down the hole in the crossmember over time.

Bolts out, endcaps off, covered in rag and used a hide mallet to drift the shaft & bushes out. Turned out it had been filled with grease in the past so at least it wasn't rusty inside.

A couple of new gaskets & seals and a wipe over with an oily rag and it will be ready to go back. Mind you I have to clean out the hole in the crossmember and throw some paint around.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...15/07/1425.jpgDSCN3561 by Colin Radley, on Flickr



Colin

Yes, it is amazing how it all finds its way in! I have taken 3 days of work to get 1 out! Grease may stop it leaking but does nothing to allow the fibre bushes to do any dampining. The oil works with the fibre. The oil seal surfaces on the shaft need to be perfect, I have used speedie rings on them in the past.
Cheers Scott

The Aeroparts winch I purchased has a few parts missing (that's why it was cheap......).

If anyone has a driveshaft, the driving plate that fits to the crankshaft or an operating lever it would help get the winch working. There is a company in Germany that make the parts but that is a last resort (due to the cost).
Even if someone has the parts I could borrow & measure, that way I could make the parts.

Advert here http://www.aulro.com/afvb/wanted-adv...nch-parts.html

The steering relay is now ready to re-install, just need to find some better front swivels because the chrome is badly pitted then I can overhaul the front axle.


Colin

Hmm,
I have same problem with my Aeroparts winch! Maybe when people took them off they had a mass burial at sea for the drive bits! Would account for the scarcity of the bits:(
The german parts are a little exy....... There are a mob in Brissy that does industrial chroming of stuff, Radchrome I think they are. Been meaning to see if they will do swivels... I will reinforce my chair before I ring though, maybe :D
Cheers Scott

Scott,

I think people removed the winch leaving the drive plate on the engine, the driveshaft not being physically 'attached' to anything gets lost in storage.

4 Wheel drives in Melbourne used to get swivels re-chromed but as demand has dropped off it's not economically viable to do pairs here and there. Apparently they used to get them done in batches of 10 or more at a time.

If I had access to a driveshaft I could probably make one, I know someone who would be able to machine the splines.


Colin

I got a re-chromed set of swivels through All 4x4 in Newcastle last year. I think it was about $180 exchange. I think that must be for each though can't quite remember. Long since given up trying to keep track of what I am spending!
I think Roverparts in Ballarat also list an exchange option.
Cheers, Martin

DLS on eBay sell swivel kits, I found them to be good value, no secondhand dodgy stuff.

I've ordered some parts from the UK which are on their way, some for Walter and some for other projects.

I'm still looking for a replacement front axle with good swivel chrome but no joy.
I did get a lead from a recent show I attended with the Series I so I guess it's follow that up then make a decision to either get mine rechromed or get some **itpart ones.

I'm going to put the steering relay & steering arms back on hopefully this weekend so at least the Dormobile is moving again.

Once the above ground pool is repaired & a new liner fitted I'll have some more spare time.....



Colin

Pool is nearly sorted, we had a water leak in the house (a pipe inside a wall split !) just the septic to sort out, spouting to paint and rear diff bushes to fit to the wife's Territory.

But......I've found an axle with decent swivels !!
It was incomplete and had been stored outside, water ingress meant that both the swivel taper rollers were rusted. The Railco was OK so ended up running a bead of weld round the taper roller outer race and it almost fell out.

Looks like our camper may be sold so I can see some garage space becoming available after Christmas.


Colin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gromit

Looks like our camper may be sold so I can see some garage space becoming available after Christmas. Colin

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Hello Gromit,

Does tbe "camper" refer to a camper trailer and your not saying goodbye to Walter?

Domestic repairs - things that interfere with valuable Land Rover time. How is the Isuzu 240 project going?

Kind Regards
Lionel