steelsoldiers

My Dad and I drove down to Winslow's today and met my Chad for a work session. We knocked out a couple of seat swaps and a tach install on Bkubu's M109A3 and then promptly waded into the 925A2's dash gremlins.

Chad was a soldering machine! We traced down the last of the gauge and switch wiring. Chad soldered on used ends with the proper wire tags from a parts truck. That will make it easier to make repairs in the future. After all of the fun with the soldering torch, we installed the dash cluster along with the battery switch and the off-run-start switch.

We hooked up some old batteries and ran a slave cable from Winslow's 5.9L Cummins powered M35. Once we had 24v to the cab I flipped the battery switch and NOTHING!! Doh!! Must be a bad protective control box. The sealant had failed around the edge of the box and the whole inside was corroded. The circuit board was fried in a few spots as well. Arghhhh!! Good thing we saved one from the 925 parts truck. We got that swapped in, flipped the switch, and we had power to the dash cluster! Yes!!!

Then, we decided to get the fuel-burning heater fired up. It was a overcast, misty, and generally crappy day so it would be nice to have some cab heat. It took a while for the pump to get a prime, but it finally started pumping fuel. My Dad held a waste jug under the hose for a couple of minutes to make sure all of the nasty old fuel was out of the lines. The line from the pump to the heater started leaking in the process. Looks like the liner has failed. Once it started running clean, we hooked it up to the heater and put power to it. It took about 2 minutes for it to start making smoke, but then it took off roaring and making plenty of heat. Thanks Bjorn!! We pulled the hose off so I could bring it to the local NAPA and get a new one made. It sure was nice to have heat even with the engine still apart. That will be nice this winter for further work sessions and even when the truck is on the road.

I also got the air compressor buttoned up and the power steering pump reinstalled. Once that was back on, I wanted to test the starting circuit. Chad revved the deuce up while Dad watched for sparks. I turned the batter switch on and the other switch to the start position. It cranked right over no problem. Looks like it will start and run great once I have an injection pump on it.

Overall it was a very productive day. The truck looks much better with the dash back together. There is still work to be done with some more loose wires to be tracked down and all of the air lines need hooked back up.

Hopefully Chad will post up some pics after while. He was the official photographer for today. Thanks to Chad and Dad for the help!!

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Chris Stansbury, founder of Chris' CUCV Homepage in 1998 and Steel Soldiers in 1999.

1985 AMG M998 HMMWV w/ Cummins 6BT

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone.