RCD Staghound near Ottawa

[maple_leaf_eh]

Unexpectedly found the RCD's Staghound at a local garage near Ottawa today (Len Tech, south of Richmond on McBean St) My wife's motorcycle mechanic had worked on the transmission and engines earlier. The vehicle was running for the RCDs parade, but sat unloved since then. So, the RSM authorized its shipping to get some specialist attention chasing electrical faults by guys who weren't being rushed. A Cpl from the historic vehicle troop was watching as the battery chargers topped up.

The exterior is average, the interior is rough. The turret basket was removed for cleanup when they had the turret off. It needs work on the traverse gears so the turret can be rotated. There are lots of little fittings and straps still in place. BUT, apparently when it was getting revived for the parade, the guys weren't too careful with the wiring and it has problems. But the engines run well. It is running on Canadian 5-ton HLVW truck wheels and tires. No idea how the hubs were modified to fit the new lug configuration.

Now, hold you hats fellas. The major benefactor has been a car dealer in Ottawa who donated time, supplies, shops, workers and materials. Edited << The Cpl who was minding the Staghound quoted a price of $100,000 invested in the project so far. YIKES! That is a lot of money, but how many other Stags are runners? And, how trustworthy is information you get from people who have only been told tales? >> Edited

[Robin Craig]

The gentleman who is a car dealer who funded a large part of the project to get it going is generous but a figure of $100,000 is a little over the top if you ask me, I know him and the lad who at the time worked for him and did the work.

It was a very rushed job with the intent to "make it run" not a restoration.

I just want to make that very clear as it could be misunderstood if you read what was originally posted.

There were a lot of problems with the vehicle, which considering from what state it was resurected, is understandable. Too say that they were not too careful implies you or your source was there and saw such acts taking place. This is how b/s legends are started.

R

[maple_leaf_eh]

The truth will come out regardless of rumours. If you know facts vs heresay, please help.

I will search for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper story that brought the vehicle to public attention.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Saw it yesterday also. Actually, Young_Law caught it out of the corner of his eye as we sped through town.

[4b1t]

http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen...b-8cd2bee85f6c

[Robin Craig]

who is "4b1t"????????

R

[Robin Craig]

So Terry, maybe the dollar figure you quoted might be changed so as to scrub that un-confirmed info you posted?

R

[daninnm]

Hey guys....I have a large collection of NOS and takeoff Staghound parts here in the states.....BTW....your stag, if it's running is the third runner in all North America. Mine will be fourth.......I just finished the engines and transmissions overhaul and will testing/tuning the engines before installation. My vehcile came out of the Australian Armor Museum (Sydney) sell off a few years back......got lots of trans and electrical parts, brake stuff, axles, steering and drive train parts.

DaninNM 505-269-2056

[Robin Craig]

Dan,

we spoke by phone a few weeks ago.

you owe me an email I think

R

[daninnm]

I SPEAK TO SO MANY GUYS AND THEN MY SENIOR BRAIN FORGETS HALF OF WHAT I SAID AND DISCUSSED! Help me out with a reminder....I have a good trove of Stag parts....going to the warehouse in about two weeks to get some odds and ends for mine. Mine now in sunny NM! 1st enigne and both transmission done. (need to have the tranny pans leaded for pin holes caused by water in the fluids.) Next is the second engine.....Going to start and run each with trans on egnine test stand before installation in the Stag.
help!

[Frank L.]

Seeing as I was on the team when we had gotten possession of it, I would say the Cpl is exaggerating and not by a little.

I also helped with the original estimates, along with other members and the amount was manageable.

As for the state of the interior, what do you expect when there was a mad rush to have it road worthy and somewhat presentable for a parade on Parliament Hill for the RCD 125th celebration?

It was hard work in just getting it working to that state and kudos to those who could do the work while the rest of us were doing workup training for tour, on tour or coming home from tour.

As for runners, there were only 7 world wide as of 2007/08 IIRC.

Regards

[Frank L.]

Just to refresh everyone's memories:


http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ight=Staghound




Regards

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hi,

Last saturday I went to the Dutch Cavalry Museum for the first test drive in their Staghound after major repairs. I had rebuild the two Hydramatic transmissions after miss-use a couple of years ago. The transmissions were ruined trying to load the Stag on a trailer using only one engine. When the first transmission failed they started the second engine and then ruined the second transmission as well. Both engines were also rebuild as they were out off the vehicle anyway.
After some inspections we fired up both engines and drove off. Suddenly sparks came from the left engine's flywheel! The starter motor had developed a short somewhere and engaged itself unwantedly. We switched off the left engine and test drove the right powerplant first. After disconnecting some of the wires on the left starter motor and briefly putting power on it we started the left engine again. After a short drive both engines started to overheat and blew coolant from the radiator caps... Well, at least the transmissions worked.


Does anybody have a wiring diagram for the Stag? The museum has some manuals but no wiring diagram. Help much appreciated!

Cheers,

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Marc van Aalderen

After a short drive both engines started to overheat and blew coolant from the radiator caps...

Marc,
Is it possible that a water outlet or inlet on the engine or rad has been plugged up and hose fitted forgetting to remove the plug? I have seen this done before.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Richard,

With some of the volunteers that "help" at the museum anything is possible.
Both radiators had the core replaced and one off the lower tanks has been repaired were it had cracked when trying to install the radiators with the engines in place. I'll tell them and also to check the thermostats. Thank you for the tip.

Cheers,

[marco]

Hello Marc,

I can sent a Staghound wiring diagram to you or directly to the Cavalry Museum in the beginning of next week.

The problem with the self-engaging starter motor sounds familiar.
I had it twice with my Stag and know the same problem occured with another Staghound.
Inside the solenoid on top of the starter motor is a small coil with two contacts.
These will be melted together causing a shortcut thus engaging the starter motor.

With best regards,

Marco

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hello Marco,

Please send the copy off the wiring diagram to me. I'll make sure it gets to the right person. Thank you very much. Will PM you for the address.

Cheers,

[Stew Robertson]

I am just wonder where you arrived at the number of staghounds in North America running an where are they?
I could send a picture of one that was a complete rebuid from scrap in the late seventies /early eighties and the pictures of the rebuild .As far as I know there is only one other one like it and that is in Denmark
Stew

[Stew Robertson]

Sorry I am just getting on to this conversation so iI am a little behind
The reason your engines are getting hot is they are not tuned to run together
both engines have to be running at the same rpm off the throttle control
set up one engine to run about 1000 to 1100 with the hydraulic contol throttle locked /disconnect the throttle lever from the carb andstart the 2nd engine and the adjust the second trottle to run at 1000 or 1100
Both engines must be turning at the same RPM within 50 rpm, the closer the better
Lots of luck!
Stew :

[Stew Robertson]

Just a little push to keep you guys goingon the heavy restoration project This was what I started with

[peter simundson]

....you are a hidden well of useless information. (That's what my wife says about me).

I want you to write all this down and put it in a book.

Talking about books what happened to Bill's fourth book about Crerar"s batman???.


Peter S

[Stew Robertson]

That 's one step better than having no information !
As for writing it down to put it in a book, I wouldn;t know where to start.
I'm a hands on guy.
I heard about the book but I think a greater power had a little influence
Stew

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Stew Robertson

Just a little push to keep you guys goingon the heavy restoration project This was what I started with

Found in Quebec - where? Near Montreal?

[Stew Robertson]

Yes, near Montreal
I can't remember the name of the town we were near. We had a fellow collector find it. The turret did not come with it. it was a little further away
There was also a turret in a front yard upside down being used for a flower pot not to far away.
LikeI said I am a hands on kinda guy not a memory kinda guy ( 30 plus years)
Stew

[peter simundson]

Here's a memory for you.
My friend found it in his house in Erin.

Almost 30 years ago. When we had to work for a living.

Peter S

[Stew Robertson]

here are the stay awake all night memories

[Stew Robertson]

whoops missed one

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Stew..... circa 1975 while looking for Dodge wc61 / 62 6 wheel drive....

There were a number of very interesting junk yards near St Hyacinthe or in the immediate area. One yard... the owner was afflicted with polyo and badly bent..... he would just love to take you around the yard if you knew what to asked for....... the man would speed up ahead of us in a flashy sidecar motorcycle while we ran behind him to keep up..... I am sure he did it on purpose..... his yard had about 12 + US large staff cars...all Packards clippers from the early 40s from a Labrador base he had purchased.... they were dirty but all complete..... in those days they used to sort out the tranny/engine/axle for cast steel.....rads for copper and bodies were driven over by large buldozers...... I have pics of the Packards.... 6 months later they were in three piles....cast...copper and flat sheet metal. He had some aluminum tracked vehicles with huge Cadillac engine....central driving positions and fully enclosed like a huge bread box..... and a number of radar systems mounted on tractor trailers...... trailers had independent coil spring suspensions

East of Montreal....not far but towards Quebec city..... was a field on the right hand side...South side ....the field topography was rising so the vehicles were very visible....... where a number of large armored rubber wheeled vehicles were sitting on the ground or semi abandoned...not a junk yard....open field..... some with and some without turrets..... maybe 6 or 8 of them...... most had no wheels/tires....... I crawled inside them..... after discretely jumping the ditch and fence....

Would that be the general area .....??

Bob

[Stew Robertson]

Hey Bob
I's the guy that fixes em not the guy that finds em
Yes I think it was found around St Hyacinthe if I remeber correctly.
Stew

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hi All,

A couple of months ago I visited the Dutch Cavalry Museum to check the Hydramatic transmissions I had rebuild for their Staghound. On the test drive both engines overheated. They have now found the cause for this. On one engine the thermostat was stuck solid and the other engine had a loose rotor on the water pump. Hopefully everything will now work as it should.

Cheers,