How To Wake-up a Mothballed CUCV?

I'm getting the urge to buy an M1009.

Looks like GSA sells a lot of them. However it seems most of the GSA units have been parked for at least a year before being auctioned.

What items are the "pre-flight" checklist for an M1009 which has been parked and dormant for a year or two?


Items I can think of are:

1. New batteries
2. Check engine oil for presence of coolant or fuel
3. Check coolant for presence of engine oil or fuel
4. Check driveshafts for forklift modification

What if anything should be done before firing it up for the first time assuming prior maintenance records are not available?

I've never owned a diesel powered vehicle. The only MV I've owned was an M37B1 so any suggestions you have on how to bring an M1009 out of hibernation will be appreciated.

Regards

Jim

Hoses,belts..if you're gonna attempt drive it at all, M/C, brake fluid. Member, it's gonna be BFS NOT regular off the shelf stuff.

Some might say, best to let sleeping dogs lie....

Bite the bullet and bring a trailer. Resurections should be attempted on home turf.

doghead said:

Some might say, best to let sleeping dogs lie....

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hah...I never saw a hill that wasn't worth dying on. Or maybe in this case, financially ruined.

raiburn said:

Bite the bullet and bring a trailer. Resurections should be attempted on home turf.

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Sound wisdom, but I don't think my 2.7L Tacoma would handle it.

Thats part of the reason I'm interested in a M1009 - being able to tow a couple of tons once in a while.

NMC_EXP said:

Sound wisdom, but I don't think my 2.7L Tacoma would handle it.

Thats part of the reason I'm interested in a M1009 - being able to tow a couple of tons once in a while.

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If you think the 1009 is gonna tow a ton of stuff, you're incorrect. I have towed 3100 pounds of mulch before but that's maxing it out .

Get a M1008 if you want to tow

It depends on how far you have to drive it to get it home. Hoses won't rot in a year, unless they were bad to start with. Belts, maybe. Diesel fuel won't go bad in a year, unless it was already contaminated. The tires may be old, and sitting in the sun they will tend to dry rot. I have some mechanical ability, and some very good friends, so if it was me, I would probably try to drive it home, if it wasn't too far. Having said all that, if you know someone with a truck and a car trailer, that would be the easiest way.

Scott

M-1009s wheel base is short and care must be used when towing with them, When I was stationed in Germany 86-87 we were not allowed to tow anything with the M-1009s.

I have towed a 2000 pound car trailer with a 4000 pound 66 Olds toronado on it with a s10 Blazer with a 2.8. So I would hope you could do the same with a full size. As long as you are carefull and load you trailer right you should be able to do what you want. As far as picking it up. I would take a tool box full of tools, some diesel kleen additive, jumper cable, probably get extra belts and bring them with, also all your basic fluids. I don't think I would do it without a decent chase vehicle. Oh yeah better bring some spare tires.
Brent

Why couldn't you rent a 2 wheeled dolly and pull it with your pickup?

Honestly, id rent a dolly/ tow bar and slug it home. The chances of it firing up on the spot is slim to none. But if you do decide on driving it home, id bring lots and lots of batteries, bleed the injector lines at the injector, pray the glow's work, and if you get any thumps keep the throttle down at high revs for a minute or two after at high rev's. Then pump the brakes and ensure a good pedal feel and slug it home in case that dent in the driveshaft feels like getting bigger!