M3A1 White Scout Car Problems

[lynx42]

Not all outings go according to plan. Geoff (son) asked if he could borrow the 1942 M3A1 White Scout Car to attend the Rosedale RSL ANZAC Day Parade.



Rosedale is where he lives. His step daughter, Emily, is the Rosedale Primary School, School Captain and was also taking a major part in todays service. A few years ago the Rosedale RSL looked like folding and through the efforts of a few have now got it back up and going again. I was only too happy to let him take the Scout Car and Geoff decided to attend the Paynesville ANZAC Day service first, to give Bairnsdale a miss, and to take it to the afternoon service at Rosedale.

WELL, about 25km out of Bairnsdale, a fan blade broke off and destroyed the radiator, fan and bracket. I returned home from the Bairnsdale ANZAC Day service and headed off with the 1977 Leyland to recover the Scout Car.








The recovery "A" frame is an Ex.British Army "A" frame with a professionally made clamp which clamps around the roller and the "A" frame and hooked onto the pintal hook made the job much easier.






It could have been worse. It will be a big job to pull it all apart and to get the radiator repaired/replaced along with the fan and bracket etc.

[lynx42]

CHECK YOUR FANS FELLAS. I had no idea that metal fatigue had set in so badly. I had a good look at the White Scout Car fan today and it looks like the problem has been there for a while. Not only with the blade that sheared off but 3 others were on their way as well. The bracket broke as a direct result of the fan being out of balance. There is no sign of a fatigued bracket.

So, now I need a new fan and have the radiator repaired/replaced.



The errant blade.



Metal fatigue for some time.



Another metal fatigued blade.



Yet another Metal fatigued blade.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Rick

Sorry that it happened and the work ahead. But thankfull for your timely reminder to check the fans on the trucks.

Just finished doing the spring (here in the Northern Hemousphere) servicing on the three CMPs. But with your graphic photos I will be out with bright light and mirror to carefully check each fan for any sign of cracking.

Cheers Phil

[Jesse Browning]

I had a couple of scout car radiators built here in Chicago. They used the existing tanks, and new cores. Hopefully something like that is available near you.

[lynx42]

I am bumping this one up a bit as I am still in need of a replacement fan. Surely someone has one out there in MV land. I have the bracket and will remove the radiator for assessment soon.

Thanks, please have a look for a fan for me.

Cheers Rick.

[Big D]

Hi Rick

I have a rough one here but it would need to be have some of the blades replaced. I can’t recall if I sent you photos last time or not.

[Andrew Rowe]

Hi Rick, looks like the same as a 1940 Ford V-8 Truck Fan blade. You can get a couple of different profiles, one with narrow blades and one with wider blades , that throw more air. Have you tried matching one up out of interest? Cheers Andrew.