Identification of F15 2WD?

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Tony,

I like the 12-1/2" difference but not so sure about the 33" conduit length.

I just put a tape measure on my F15-A parts truck. 33" is almost the direct line distance from the backing plates to the conduit bracket at the crossmember.

A 33" conduit may just fit when the vehicle is static, however if the spring extends downward as in traveling over uneven ground the distance from the backing plate to the conduit bracket will lengthen considerably. This could put an excessive strain on the conduit bracket to the point it bends or breaks or even rips the cable.

Unless I have missed something different between the F15 and F15-A handbrake cables I would still be looking for conduits closer to 40" long for the above reason.

Cheers,

[David Herbert]

An F15 does sit lower than a F15A but that wouldn't account for 7" difference.

David

[Jacques Reed]

Hi David and Tony,

I looked at the rear suspension of both models and the F15 and F15-A both use the same rear springs according to the maintenance manual. That is 45" long, 2.5" wide, and 10 leaves each. Would have thought the vertical distance from the chassis to the rear axle would be much the same. Are the spring perches at different heights? If they are, it solves a 20 year old mystery for me too. My dodgied up F15-A from a F15 had the rear spring perches bolted on and not riveted. As a newbie 20 years ago I didn't give it much thought and figured it was a wartime expediency. They could have, however, been replacements for the F15 spring perches to make it look like a F15-A. It would also account why they dropped the equalized down 6" on a bracket if they tried to use the shorter (33"?) handbrake cables originally on the F15 chassis.

I have one idea that perhaps the F15 being 2WD was never intended to see much off-road service so a shorter cable would be enough for highway use where there is less suspension travel.

I also realize the cab chassis I am taking my measurements from would sit lower to the ground with a heavy rear body on it so that would reduce the length required. Even without a body, however, there is plenty of slack in F15-A cables as shown in my earlier photos.

Maybe 33" is the correct length after all?

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Hi David and Tony,

Are the spring perches at different heights? If they are, it solves a 20 year old mystery for me too. My dodgied up F15-A from a F15 had the rear spring perches bolted on and not riveted. As a newbie 20 years ago I didn't give it much thought and figured it was a wartime expediency. They could have, however, been replacements for the F15 spring perches to make it look like a F15-A. It would also account why they dropped the equalized down 6" on a bracket if they tried to use the shorter (33"?) handbrake cables originally on the F15 chassis.

Maybe 33" is the correct length after all?

Good day All,

Solved my own 20 year old mystery! I found a photo of a F15 that I saved from a classified ad a long time ago. Zooming in, it is quite apparent the F15 spring perch is different to the F15-A spring perch and sits higher on the chassis. So, as David said, the F15 sits lower than the F15-A. Never knew that. Now I know why I had a bolted together F15-A suspension and why the equalizer was lowered 6".

I was so teed off with that truck that I threw a lot of it away including the short cables, otherwise they would have been yours Tony.

I am a bit wiser now and keep almost anything of potential value.

Cheers,

[Ganmain Tony]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Good day All,

I was so teed off with that truck that I threw a lot of it away including the short cables, otherwise they would have been yours Tony.

I am a bit wiser now and keep almost anything of potential value.

Cheers,

Oh dear Jacques, don't mention the war...

Great information again on the chassis difference, I am certainly learning a lot.
Wonderful thing this forum. Where would we be without it.

Based on the info above I wonder if the ones in my possession may be F8 cables??

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Ganmain Tony

Oh dear Jacques, don't mention the war...

Great information again on the chassis difference, I am certainly learning a lot.
Wonderful thing this forum. Where would we be without it.

Based on the info above I wonder if the ones in my possession may be F8 cables??

Hi Tony,

Hear, hear! A fortnight ago I didn't even know there were emergency brake conduit clips on the F15/F15-A trucks. A bit of help, a few questions asked, and a bit of detective work and here is a finished product. I knocked it out Saturday afternoon.

Took more time to get the 3/4" wide steel strip then to bend it up as I don't have a guillotine. I ripped a wider piece of 16 gauge steel with a sabre saw between two steel angle guides then draw filed the edge to remove the irregularities. Next one won't take nearly as long to fabricate.

Many thanks again for your info and pointing me in the right direction.

Hope you are getting some success with obtaining your cables.

Cheers,

[Ganmain Tony]

Outstanding work Jacques, they look like NOS.

Sorry I havent replied earlier but my computer at home expired.
Have got to set it up again after getting something in the big box thingy that sits next to the monitor replaced.

Anyhoo I havent been idle. I have been going to generator school out at Hillston. My teacher is someone a lot of people know on here.

Been very productive... just to simply identify all the components and know what is good and what needs attending to.