Cdn Ferret C/S 31 restoration

[Robin Craig]

Richard,

I am not a rocket scientist as many will attest to

I am desperatly short on time and Tommy is a good egg and he is going to be able to teach me some things so it is not money squandered.

There is also the fact we have a Mk 2/3 with some major issues and I really want it done right the first time.

Tommy will be explaining to me the simplicity of how it works when I get back as we are away for Christmas right now.

R

[Robin Craig]

So,

After the carrier recovery on Thursday I managed to fit a brief visit to Tommy and the fluid flywheel on Friday.

He had taken it apart and has found a few things that new replacing, a seal, a bearing, some crush washers, some circlips and some bolts.

Here is what it looks like apart.

This is the heart of a leaking Ferret power pack and is in my humble opinion the one item that owners do not address properly because it is so involved to get at it. They "try" to fix it by adding fluid on a regular basis and dismiss fluid leaks as "Oh its British, they all leak". Mike, take note please.

In reality the fluid flywheel should not leak, period. If it does it should be sorted.

I really would like and intend to have c/s 31 "sorted" and this is typical of the lengths I will go to in that direction.

As an aside, while on holiday before Christmas, in a junk store in southern Ontario I found this plaque that will go on my office wall


regards

Robin

[Gunner]

Hi Robin:

Thanks for posting the "guts" photo... it gives me a sense of what's ahead. Unfortunately the 'top it up on a regular basis' option will have to do until nicer weather as I don't have a heated space to pull the power pack...

Are overhaul kits aval for the flywheel? I was reading about a John Deere seal as an option; which way did you go?

Cheers, Mike

[Rick W]

Steep learning curve for you I suspect Robin! They are fairly basic to work on. In my opinion the flywheels have a tendency to leak when the vehicle has been left standing and the gasket shrinks on one side. They need a regular drive out of the garage to keep running sweet.

[Robin Craig]

Tommy has found all the parts available locally.

Yes the seal is a John Deere number, we just have to resolve an issue with that and how the retaining washer holds it down. It is minor and simple.

Just bear in mind that this bolts up against the flywheel and the whole unit is the fluid flywheel and that the flywheel cavity is part of the volume for the oil contained within.

There is a parting surface between the aluminum and the steel of the flywheel that we want to get really clean and also look at the bearing at the back of the flywheel so I am likely going to take it off today.

Mike, as far as a kit, Tommy has had to buy some things in minimum quantities of 5 or 10 so he has spares that he can put together as a a complete kit for you.

Cleanliness is everything with these things, and attention to detail. They are as Richard pointed out, quite simple, but as I am not an expert and don't have a nice water soluble parts washer using Tommy has been the best way to go.

R

[Robin Craig]

Rick,

I think your observation is correct but also applicable to most machinery.

Tommy and I have been talking about how and why and where they can leak.

I do have to say that this fluid flywheel has been apart as witnessed by a Toyo bearing inside and white silicone (possible bathtub stuff) used on the hub assembly.

We will report back to you later.

R

[Robin Craig]

Nothing like starting the New Year off on the right foot.

Tommy and I got together this morning, coffee of the right mixture works well as a bribe . .

We went through the rebuild of the fluid flywhweel half that Tommy has prepared for me, bead blasting and washing to a forensic standard and painting with his usual proprietary paint.

We had to make a new gasket for the bearing (new) and seal (new) hub component. new bolts were installed. We are using a Permatex sealant that is anaerobic. Tommy has researched it and spoken with their technical rep and it is sanctfied for our application.

Here are a few photos of crafting the gasket and sliding it all together.

I did manage to drop off the gearbox and t case unit this morning but we wont be going at that for about a week yet.


R

[Robin Craig]

And here are the last two pictures, all wrapped for cleanliness until I can get the flywheel part in during the week for a good cleaning.

R