Buried Mk 1 Bren carrier restoration

[Lynn Eades]

I think the stowed plate was to help facilitate the waterproofing when wading ashore.

[super dave]

Thanks Dirk, I was wondering on those valves as my block does not have them, Did all Carrier blocks have the drains there as I am assuming my block is a carrier block as it came with the tubes out of the back for the oil cooler and was overhauled in 1952 by the military by the data plate on the bell housing.

[derk derin]

Dave,
As you can see from the photos of the carriers,I was lucky enough to get the most complete carrier of the bunch with the engine still there.That gave me alot of items still on the carrier that the others did not as the engines were removed.The valves were on the original block in my carrier and the tube with the funnels are mounted by two straps bolted on with the oil pan bolts so it would be easy to mount this system to any engine,carrier or not.I don't know if there are tapped holes in all blocks to thread the drain valves into.I could try and look in the spring but here is a picture of where my carrier is right now.Picture taken Monday!


Derk.

[rob love]

Derk
That is quite the sandstorm you have going there. We get sandstorms over here in KAF as well, but they do not usually form drifts as high as that.

[super dave]

Thanks Dirk, I had a closer look at my block today and only the left side of the block has the hole and taped for the pipe thread but I think I can drill the right side and tap it for another valve. So do both the right and left valves tie into one line and would then drain through a hole in the bottom of the carrier?? I was also looking at my radiator as I seen a picture of a tool to drain the radiator but my rad does not seem to have a drain on it, do all the rads have a drain valve that you know of ?

[derk derin]

Dave,
I was looking in the carrier manual and it does not show drain valves on the rad,probably because there is no room at the bottom of the rad which is why they have the valves on the block to drain the coolant.The drain tubes are Y shaped that tie in both of the drain valves.I have heard of the tool to open and close the valves but it is to reach the valves on the block.I believe you come up from the access hole in the carrier with the tool to reach the tap.
Derk.

[Lynn Eades]

I think the tool is used from the side via the lower side covers. It is a "T" handled tool, with a slot cut in the other end to engage the tap (cock) levers. There is a picture on the carrier tools thread>
I have some drain tubes. They are separate and are a small funnel,(at a guess 40mm dia.) the spout of which, is a bit of copper tube. There is no "Y" that I am aware of. I believe they drain separately from the hull.