One of the first things I noticed when I started checking fluid levels in The Truck was small amounts of brake fluid around the cap and on top of the reservoir. Mechanic George tried several things and we wound up ordering a new cap. Turns out the problem was the rim surface under the cap/seal (red line).
George files and sanded that rim smooth which allowed the cap to screw in tighter for a better seal. No leaks so far.
After listening to me talk about the mythical Land Rover for 15 months, some of boys at the coffee shop were wondering if it was real so I’ve been eager to get a parking spot out front.
That sweet Jeep belongs to one of the regulars. Did the restoration himself. Not a military model as it turns out. A civilian CJ (1947) that was made for the Corps of Engineers.
This Saturday I will have had the truck for three weeks and I still get a tingle when I see it. I’m sure there are some Series Land Rovers in the KC area and assume there are some around St. Louis but I’ve yet to see any in mid-Missouri. Would love to connect with some owners nearby.
In 50+ years of driving I’ve never kept a fire extinguisher in my vehicle. Passed a few cars that had been on fire but never needed one. In my limited experience, views on fire extinguishers for vehicles fall into two camps. The “Why Bother” guys argue that you don’t know if the thing works without trying it and even if it does it won’t be strong enough to put out a ‘real fire.’ The “Why Not” camp (me) use the NRA logic of “Better to have a fire extinguisher and not need it…”
I purchased one for my truck because I’d hate to be standing there watching my truck burn up with my pecker (Pecker is a cheap brand of Chinese extinguisher) in my hand when I might have saved it.
I went for the H3R Performance HG100C HalGuard Chrome Clean Agent Fire Extinguisher. This little rascal (1.4 pounds) fits nicely in the small cab of the truck.
From the day I started thinking about an old Land Rover, people have been advising (warning?) me about fluids. “You gotta watch your fluids” and “These things leak like crazy so keep an eye on your fluids.”
In the 50+ years I’ve been driving I’ve the water level in a radiator; pulled the dip stick a few times; and unscrewed those little caps on top of the battery. But checking fluids has been something I left to the dealer’s service department. For the Land Rover there is no dealer within a hundred miles. So I’ve committed to check fluids weekly.
Oil: check; coolant: check; clutch fluid: check; wiper fluid: check; brake fluid: a little low. So Mr. Wolf, Charlie, and George Tergin gave me a little lesson in brake fluid. (It eats paint) All are on the weekly-check list but I’ll probably the brake fluid a little more often until we know what it’s low. The tire pressure was a bit low as well. Okay for off-roading but I’m mostly on paved or gravel roads so I used my little portable air compressor gizmo to take them up to 38 psi.
In his bon voyage video Mr. Wolf identified each of the major components in the engine compartment. I’m posting the photos below for future reference.
I’m creating spreadsheet to track service and maintenance.
Tomorrow will be two weeks with The Truck and I finally got around to playing with four-wheel drive. According to the owners manual (and lots of YouTube videos) you just push the lever with the yellow knob down and your in 4WD. I never could get 4WD engaged so I asked my pal George Tergin to take look. After several hours of investigation he thinks the problem is worn linkage.
We found this illustration on the Rovers North website and George thinks he’s ID’d the OEM part numbers. Trying to find and order these. I don’t expect to do any serious off-roading but I’d hate to have the only Land Rover in North America that doesn’t have four-wheel drive. Hoping to have this resolved before first snow.
215808 clevis complete 4WD lever – #27 on schematic
268847 gearbox high range operating lever – the part below #24 and #25 on the schematic
232464 selector transfer, locating pin 4WD lever – #24 on schematic
Short video clip of George ‘splaining the worn linkage.
My buddy George spent a couple of hours in the hot sun trying to figure out why the 4WD (yellow lever) on my truck will not engage. Tried all sorts of combinations but could not get the drive to lock in.
Under the truck he went on his little creeper and after much fiddling, thinks the problem is improper adjustment of the linkage. To test this theory, he brought out the bailing wire (“Time to get MacGyver”) to temporarily hold the linkage while we drove around his shop. We did manage to get it in 4WD for a bit but it didn’t hold. To be continued…