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I just wrote a draft of a basic operator maintenance article for our DTHT newsletter, that do you guys think??

MM

Basic Military Vehicle Care and Maintainence Tips

Steering and Brakes.
These are the 2 most important safety components on a vehicle, if you lose any other function on a vehicle you can pull over and look at it, if you lose steering or brakes it can cause the vehicle to go out of control and the results could be catastrophic!!
Always check your brakes before going anywhere, this can simply be a matter of applying the pedal and hand brake a few times before moving off to make sure all is working, a closer look may reveal new shoes, pads, hoses or fluids required, this can all be checked at the service interval.
Like the brakes,you will know if the steering “feels” right simply by turning the steering wheel while moving, if it feels too tight or too loose though, give it a thorough checkover before going anywhere, have you lubed it? Has anything come loose or become excessively worn? Do you get the dreaded death wobble at speed? This may indicate worn or loose steering components or that your tyres need balancing, all things that need to be checked sooner than later.

Check your Electrical System

Check your batteries water levels if this applies to your battery type, clean your terminals and treat them with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion, make sure all cabling connections are well seated and not frayed or loose. If there will be an extended storage period disconnect the battery after charging to prevent discharge from accessories or older, leaky electrical systems, you cal also put a float charger/conditioner on the battery to keep it in good condition.
Every once in a while check for an unsecured harness (and as a result chafed wiring), make sure all your lights, horn etc. all work and are adjusted correctly.

Check your Fuel and Intake System
Always check your air and fuel filters at the specified period, change them as necessary and carry spare filters, in the case of an oil bath air filter it can be washed out and new oil added in the field and paper air cleaners can be blown clear in a pinch but replacement is always the best bet and once fuel filters are clogged you will be going nowhere so you will need one on hand or you will be stranded without it.

Check those Lubricants.
Grease those zerks, change or top off the driveline oils as required, change your engine oil and filter. These days some of the oils and greases are not cheap, but they are still a lot cheaper than the cost of replacing a mechanical component or worse, and engine, gearbox, transfer case or differential.

Check those round things.
Yes, one of the most visible yet neglected parts on a vehicle, we walk past them, the danged dog pees on them but when was the last time you really looked at your tyres, always check your wheels for cracks (these vehicles are mostly 50+ years old now so wheel damage and cracking is a real possibility) and that the split ring is seated correctly, check for tread damage, sidewall damage or cracking and most of all, check your tyre pressure, over or under inflation is a number 1 killer of our somewhat rare and expensive rubber.

As with all components in your vehicle, if you have been on an off-road trip, clean the muck off, visually inspect things to make sure you have not damaged anything and if you have been in a lot of dust, mud or been wading the vehicle, check and lubricate as needed and check your air filter. If unsure about anything on your machine then consult a trained professional and get advice to make sure the job get’s done right.

The most important tip is to take your machine out for a regular drive.
Yes, your vehicle needs to get out for a run to move the lubricants about the place, top off the charge on the battery, help you locate any rattles, squeaks or problems that may have developed over time (best to find them on a short run and not on a long and arduous trip) and you never know, you may even meet someone else interested in Military Vehicles while you’re enjoying your drive.

Hi MM,

Great article. Here's a few things I caught;

Ya spelled "Tyres" wrong.......it's "Tires". Ok.....I know..........just kidding.......have it your way down there......Tyres it is!

In the Electrical Section you mention to check your batteries water levels.......it's plural and possessive, so it should read "check your batteries' water levels".

Typo......you say "You cal also put a float charger....." I think you mean you CAN also put a float charger.........."

In the Check those round things section........you might want to mention checking the spare too......as well as making sure you HAVE a spare tire.....ooops......tyre!

I guess it wouldn't hurt to mention having tools and the right jack......otherwise the spare won't be of much use if you can't raise the vehicle or get the lug nuts off.

Your last point is a good one......drive the darned thing once in a while. But it needs to be a good long drive to get everything up to temp and burn off the condensation in the oil.....otherwise a short drive does more harm than good.

regards,
bob

I like the article Tony,

I learned from a old time car collector, that while your on a test drive or regular drive you should use all of your senses to monitor what is going on in the vehicle. Sometimes you will not see what is happening but will catch a sniff of something going haywire. I've gotten into the habit of driving for a few miles, then stop and touch all of the hubs to see if anything has gotten abnormally warm.

Bert

w30bob wrote:Hi MM,

Great article. Here's a few things I caught;

Ya spelled "Tyres" wrong.......it's "Tires". Ok.....I know..........just kidding.......have it your way down there......Tyres it is!

In the Electrical Section you mention to check your batteries water levels.......it's plural and possessive, so it should read "check your batteries' water levels".

Typo......you say "You cal also put a float charger....." I think you mean you CAN also put a float charger.........."

In the Check those round things section........you might want to mention checking the spare too......as well as making sure you HAVE a spare tire.....ooops......tyre!

I guess it wouldn't hurt to mention having tools and the right jack......otherwise the spare won't be of much use if you can't raise the vehicle or get the lug nuts off.

Your last point is a good one......drive the darned thing once in a while. But it needs to be a good long drive to get everything up to temp and burn off the condensation in the oil.....otherwise a short drive does more harm than good.

regards,
bob

All taken on board and will be corrected in the final print, Thanks

And Bert, after my axle debacle I too check the hubs on a regular basis :/

MM

Nice article! They always told us in the Army that "you gotta know your equipment"!
Gary

I also forgot cooling and ignition system.....a work in progress I think....

MM

OK, Final Draft.....

MM

Basic Military Vehicle Care and Maintainence Tips

Steering and Brakes
These are the 2 most important safety components on a vehicle, if you lose any other function on a vehicle you can pull over and look at it, if you lose steering or brakes it can cause the vehicle to go out of control and the results could be catastrophic!!
Always check your brakes before going anywhere, this can simply be a matter of applying the pedal and hand brake a few times before moving off to make sure all is working, a closer look may reveal new shoes, pads, hoses or fluids required, this can all be checked at the service interval.
Like the brakes,you will know if the steering “feels” right simply by turning the steering wheel while moving, if it feels too tight or too loose though, give it a thorough checkover before going anywhere, have you lubed it? Has anything come loose or become excessively worn? Do you get the dreaded death wobble at speed? This may indicate worn or loose steering components or that your tyres need balancing, all things that need to be checked sooner than later.

Check your Electrical System
Check your battery's water levels if this applies to your battery type, clean your terminals and treat them with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion, make sure all cabling connections are well seated, not frayed or loose and set or replace plugs and points as required (unless you have a diesel of course!!). If there will be an extended storage period disconnect the battery after charging to prevent discharge from accessories or older, leaky electrical systems, you can also put a float charger/conditioner on the battery to keep it in good condition.
Every once in a while check for an unsecured harness (and as a result chafed wiring), make sure all your lights, horn etc. all work and are adjusted correctly.

Check your Fuel and Intake System
Always check your air and fuel filters at the specified period, change them as necessary and carry spare filters, in the case of an oil bath air filter it can be washed out and new oil added in the field and paper air cleaners can be blown clear in a pinch but replacement is always the best bet and once fuel filters are clogged you will be going nowhere so you will need one on hand or you will be stranded without it.

Check those Lubricants and Fluids
Grease those zerks, change or top off the driveline oils as required, change your engine oil and filter. These days some of the oils and greases are not cheap, but they are still a lot cheaper than the cost of replacing a mechanical component or worse, and engine, gearbox, transfer case or differential. Don’t neglect your radiator, check for water level, loose clamps, weeping or cracked hoses, top off the brake fluid (and clutch if hydraulic), fill up that washer bottle and check the wiper blades while you’re at it.

Check those round things.
Yes, one of the most visible yet neglected parts on a vehicle, we walk past them, the danged dog pees on them but when was the last time you really looked at your tyres, always check your wheels for cracks (these vehicles are mostly 50+ years old now so wheel damage and cracking is a real possibility) and that the split ring is seated correctly, check for tread damage, sidewall damage or cracking and most of all, check your tyre pressure, over or under inflation is the number one killer of our somewhat rare and expensive rubber. On a side note, make sure your tools and jack are in the car, no point in sitting on the side of the road in the rain wishing you had remembered to put them back in the car...

As with all components in your vehicle, if you have been on an off-road trip, clean the muck off, visually inspect things to make sure you have not damaged anything and if you have been in a lot of dust, mud or been wading the vehicle, check and lubricate as needed and check your air filter. If unsure about anything on your machine then consult a trained professional and get advice to make sure the job get’s done right.

The most important tip is to take your machine out for a regular drive….
Yes, your vehicle needs to get out for a decent run to move the lubricants about the place, top off the charge on the battery, get everything up to temperature, burn the condensation off the oil and help you locate any rattles, squeaks or problems that may have developed over time (best to find them on a short run and not on a long and arduous trip) and you never know, you may even meet someone else interested in Military Vehicles while you’re enjoying your drive.

Very nice work MM

wow I am impressed

Tony, you have done a very professional writing job and have produced a well thought-out article that should help MV collectors develop an all inclusive maintenance plan as well as guide the non MV owner into the hobby. Good work!