Thread: Isuzu C240 powered Series 3

The young Tawny Frogmouths are taking short flights between the branches of the trees, have to hunt them down each morning because they have moved.

Last night one flew over the house and I heard the scraping of claws on tin, it'd managed to land on the ridge of the roof. A bit later it was back in the trees.

One was separated from the others today.



Colin

Got home late tonight but decided to take Wallit for a short drive down to the local Woodwork Club. It hasn't had a run for a few weeks and I have plenty of 'days' left on the Club Permit.

Got to the Club and found the reverse gate not working so it was difficult to find first gear. Drove home just now, cautiously searching for 1st & 2nd gear without the reverse gate, got onto the driveway and found I can't select reverse at all now (gate working but jammed ?).
I was originally thinking it was a spring broken but not so sure now so looks like I'll be investigating tomorrow night !

There's always something to fix !


Colin

Managed to detour past 4-Wheel Drives on the way home and got some reverse gate springs.

Lifted the sound deadening, floors the and found that the reverse gate had broken ! A bit narrow to weld, maybe make a new plate and then I thought I'd look at a couple of spare gearboxes I have.....sorted.

Well nearly but not quite ! I looked at a Series I, Series IIa & Series III box and the two bolts that mount the reverse gate were vertical (one above the other) whereas mine are horizontal (side by side) !! There must have been a change to late Series III gearboxes.

The broken one from Wallit.



One down in the back shed (Series III).



Looks like I'll be making one unless someone has one on a gearbox that they don't need or a spare. I guess I could change the whole selector rod assembly but then I end up with a gearbox that's incomplete.

Just found the part in the UK, genuine LR so might be worth trying here if I can't find a secondhand unit FRC3947 | Hinge Gate Assembly - Paddock Spares

Happy days.....


Colin

Decided this morning to weld it back together rather than wait till I can find/buy one.




A bit fiddly to re-assemble onto the gear selector rod because of the springs but got there after a few attempts.
I'll keep looking for another one as a spare.



Colin

Thanks to Photobucket all the photos are now held to ransom.
Not sure how to re-insert plus have to spend a lot of time uploading and adding links if possible.....


20160207_194853 by Colin Radley, on Flickr



Colin

Still haven't replaced all the photos of Wallit yet, started but not finished, my wife will tell you this is the norm for any of my 'projects'.......

Noticed a dark stain on the gravel under Wallit and decided to investigate.
The fuel lines are as purchased. I found a tube within a tube to join from the diesel sedimenter to the Isuzu fuel pump but no leaks then I noticed the return line to the tank was weeping. One end had no hose clamp but of course that wasn't the end that was leaking, got some hose & clamps ready, laid underneath and pulled the hose, which of course snapped and then fuel was siphoned from the tank out of the hose and up my arms as I laid underneath. Eventually got it sorted and spent the rest of the day smelling of diesel !
I need to check through some of the other parts that haven't been touched since I've owned it and look for potential problems.

Other than that it starts easily and drives well so time to organise a few bigger trips. The bonnet will hopefully get painted later this year and I need to lift the roof and replace the seals under the side panels, while I'm doing that I should paint the side panels and fit new window rubbers.

The Tawny Frogmouths are back, I'll get some photos over the coming weeks.

The Father-in-Law gave me his old welding bench (I'm normally welding things on the floor), he purchased a nice new bench from Hare & Forbes some time ago.
His old one uses a car jack to lower a set of lawnmower wheels (Ogden Industries ?) to move it around. The handle drops down out of the way once you've transported it to where it's to be used. There is a frame underneath which held his old stick welder and various brackets for goodness knows what.
Made from whatever was available and modified as the usage changed.....

DSCN4532 by Colin Radley, on Flickr

DSCN4533 by Colin Radley, on Flickr


Colin

Took my boys for a drive in the Series I at the weekend and one of them remarked "the Series I is more refined than Wallit' ???
Full synchro box, keeps up with the traffic flow, brakes work well (for an old Land Rover) ???

Turned out it was more about the noise level. Partly the Isuzu motor but also some transmission whine. Took Wallit out for a drive last night and there is a distinct whine under acceleration or deceleration so I might have to change the diff at some point.
All I did was drain & refill it, never stripped it out to check.

Another item on the ever growing list.


Colin

Picked up a replacement bonnet for Wallit last week, another enthusiast, restoring a military IIa, going to Cooma etc. etc.
The existing bonnet showers you with rust as you open & close it because the ribs have rusted through. OK as a temporary measure, in fact I'm working on another.......so why did I need this one ? Well it was only $20.

Forgot to post pictures of the Frogmouth's a while back.

About a month ago, you can just make out two balls of fluff in front of mum.

DSCF6743 by Colin Radley, on Flickr

Here they are now.

DSCF6779 by Colin Radley, on Flickr

Interestingly, mum is back on the nest.....another brood already ???
Mum top left, kids bottom right.

DSCF6776 by Colin Radley, on Flickr



Colin