Austin FV16001

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

First time I have ever seen one of these Austin K9(?) here in Australia.
6000 miles on the clock, still on original tires. Appears to be missing mudguards and entry step, tray is not original.
Added battery, oil, water and poured some petrol down the carby, and away we went around the paddock.
Present owner was informed that the truck was constant Four wheel drive, and it was, until we managed to get the lever back to the 2wd position. Judging by the scalloping of the front tires it must have been stuck in 4x4 for some time before retirment.
My information is that they are fitted with a 2 speed transfer case, yet I could not pick any difference in the gearing, is the transfer lever purely for engaging the front diff??
Shown a pic of the front diff as I have never seen one like it before.
Fun drive in the rain and mud, but very rough with out the huge One Ton payload.
Rich

[lynx42]

So Rich, is it going to join the Champ and Humber in that big shed of yours?
Looked a bit wet up there too.
Regards Rick

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Hi Rick,
Nice truck, but no room left. Appreciated the opportunity to get it running and have a play though.
Incidentally, I checked around for your Humber hood bows: you too will be making what you need!
Rich

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

First time I have ever seen one of these Austin K9(?) here in Australia.

My information is that they are fitted with a 2 speed transfer case, yet I could not pick any difference in the gearing, is the transfer lever purely for engaging the front diff??

Hi Richard,

There is another K9 in Australia. Bob Dimer from WA, brought it on the Trackers event where we drove from Adelaide area to Alice Springs via the Old Ghan track, in 2000. He did not have a body and fitted a box body similar size to the British Army radio truck versions.

These are one of my favourites of the postwar era.

Re. the transfer box, it is High in 2wd and Low in 4wd. Selectable with the one lever.
To see the difference, check this;
Road speeds at 1000 rpm
High range
Top 19.33 mph 1st 2.93 mph
Low range
Top 13.13 mph 1st 1.99 mph

[Stuart Kirkham]

This is Bobs K9

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tommy K

This is Bobs K9

Thank Stuart

I did have a photo of it up in the Northern Territory, but not to hand when I posted.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks Richard.
Thats not a huge difference in ratio's, and I will blame the rough paddock/ride for the failure to notice it. I believe that the GS version had a body similar to the Humber FV1601, which may well happen to this one some time in the future.
Thanks for the Pic Stuart,
I think we could safely say that Bob has the best K9 in Australia. I would assume that it came over via Archie Marshall, who knows how many of these may be lurking around.....
Rich.

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Shown a pic of the front diff as I have never seen one like it before.

Rich

Standard austin diff for the time. My Grandfather had a 1938 bedford it had a sloping diff also. A mechanic told me yesterday they were hard to set up.