M135 CDN MRT Photographs

[Seatyger]

Thanks Brother !!

The Light Bulb is starting to flicker On! I truely appreciate the illustrations.
Much appreciated. You & yours have a great Christmas.

Jim

[rob love]

I would suggest that the PTO shaft shown on the bottom right corner of the illustrations would show the pump to be mounted away from the PTO.

There is one of these trucks at the local salvage yard in unmolested condition if you need any photos. They may have to wait a few months though as winter has set in.

[Seatyger]

Hi Rob,

You are becoming one of my Heroes! Is it a working truck or are the parts available to acquire? If yes I will pay you and the 'Yard' to make it find its way to me here lol!

Worse case scenario, photographs are always helpful!

[rob love]

The truck has not been run in a few years, but is a complete truck to be sold as such. I actually used it back in 87 to strip down 30 M151A2 jeeps. Made it easy to un-do the drive shaft bolts with the jeep standing straight up.

[Gunner]

Hi Rob Roy: Any chance you might scan the whole manual and post it on the MLU website; or loan the manual to Grant Bowker who is now Mr Manuals for him to scan and put on discs?

Seatyger: I'm going to overhauling one of these beasties next summer too so perhaps we can share info/expertise.

Rob Love: Any inspiring cautions on using the Hiab will be most welcome. I did the course a hundred years ago but haven't used one since I was a sprog!

Cheers! Mike

[rob love]

About the only common sense thing I can say about using the Hiab is never trust your life to hydraulics. In other words don't stand under the crane, especially with a load.

I have another that applies more to the newer crane on the MLVW: If you can't get the pin to go into the hole to stow the outrigger back into the up position, do not run your finger into the hole to find out why it won't go in. We had one of the artilleryman do that in Bosnia. And yes, it cost him a digit or two. Actually, that point is valid for any hydraulic pins, from cranes to buckets to blades. Use a stick.

One other point I guess: Use the outriggers, even if it is a light load or the crane is empty. I don't recall the problem on the old duece, but on the M36 MLVW, they were very prone to cracking the center cross members on that very long frame.

[Gunner]

Thanks Rob:

The L5 cured me of putting my fingers anywhere there was a guillotine effect! Too many of my gunners had short digits or were short digits!!

I hadn't thought about using the outriggers if operating the crane with no load... good advice!

If we don't chat before Sat have a great Christmas... I'm doing the palm tree thing this year so no white Christmas for me!

Ubique! Mike