Rust never sleep.....
 

Hi Phil

Doing well I hope.

Grant and I are staunch supporters of POR 15..... Grant would not think of installing raw metal..... not without snadblasting to roughen up the surface.... degreasing.... followed by phosphate coating and final lifelong coating of POR 15..... and even for just testing the cooling system for leak before using new antifreeze..... we alwasy use left over weak solutions of coolant as it does offer some rust protection for the block and some lubrication for the water pump.

Changed the water pump on the old Massey last week.... really messy to get to....alwasy a build up of old very black deisel/dirt/whatever residue....had to remove the radiator, etc.

Rebuilding was a lot easier as the parts were clean...... new hoses new everything...... still testing the system with left over coolant.... she seems to be running fine with no leaks. We really miss the old girl when she is laid up as she serves as two truck, crane, push and drag vehicle, road maintenance log skidder....heck I even use it to till the garden once a year and cut the tall grass in the back field.

Off to a cottage for two weeks with Joyce.....practicing doing "nuttin" in preparation to retirement...... I get to drive the pontoon boat and suck beer and Joyce happily clicks away taking pictures.

...if only I could ever find that nudist camp I hear rumors about.... I might take up photography....

Bob

Weekend Away
 

I am not sure what Grant and Bob were up to last weekend. I opted to stay home on Saturday to enjoy the rain. Sunday had a hit of sun, so I decided to give Mike Calnan (AKA Gunner) a hand at the Swords and Ploughshares Museum in Kars, Ontario. Interestingly, Kars is in the southwest corner of the great city of Ottawa, but it takes 35-40 minutes to get from my home to Kars via the high speed route, highway 417/416. Taking the country roads adds about 10 minutes to the trek.

The order of the day - weed whacking! As the attached photo amply illustrates, the weeds have enjoyed Mike's absence. Four hours later, the main row of display trucks, the entrance and exit to the barn, the side field row of display trucks, and a few of the main field displays were wrestled from their green captors. There is probably another four hours of weeding required, but that can wait for the next opportunity.

Once in a while, it is good to give back to those who have helped others in the hobby - even if it is just clearing away displays.

Canada Day Weekend
 

The family decided to spend Canada's 144th birthday in small town Ontario. We visited Kemptville to watch the Calnan Canada Day Convoy finish its parade. A quick stop in Kars to visit the S&P Museum was followed by a pizza dinner in North Gower. We watched an incredible fireworks display and then headed for home.

I spent Saturday at home relaxing while Grant decided to do some grounds maintenance. He cleaned out some of the overgrowth in the vehicle park. Grant also moved his rolling frame into the barn to start the assembly process.

I got to spend Sunday morning at the barn. Both Grant and I decided to finish clearing away the foilage that had overgrown most of the vehicle parks and around the shelters. Armed with gas powered whipper-snippers, we cleared away the mutant growth caused by our incredibly wet spring. As the temperature hit 29oC and the humidex pegged, we called it a day around 1PM.

Bob was busy with domestic chores so we didn't see much of him this weekend. If the temperature drops on the weekend, we may get some work done on the trucks. If not, I'll bring some beer to keep us from dehydrating.

Photos.
1 - Vehicle park - post haircut
2 - More of the same
3 - Jesse armed with a drawn feather on guard at the S&P Museum

Calnan Canada Day Parade
 

Rob,
If you have some pictures of the Calnan Canada Day Parade, how about posting some of the photos. Because we are in the parade, I never get to see how all the vehicles look. In the Kemptville portion of the parade, there were 6 Iltis. Gilles had 4 of his fleet, plus a mule. Mike's portion was about 5 vehicles and the guns........ Not sure, but that may have been the largest number of vehicles in a while. Greg W. had his Iltis out for the Merrickville section.

I look forward to the day when some of the trucks from the Hammond Barn join in the parade. The other CMP and MIL vehicles from the Ottawa region are more than welcome to come out for the Canada Day events.

Cheers!
Stuart

Canada Day Snaps
 

Stuart, Alas, I did not take any photos of the trucks. There were two reasons for this - one, I kind of take these things for granted these days, and two, when I said end of the parade, I meant the very end - at the paintball property.

I do have it firmly in my mind that the Metal Mistress will join a future Calnan Canada Day Convoy. I just have to get to work on the old girl, but since this project is a labour of rusty metal love, I am taking my time, so it may not be next year or the year after, but eventually, the 45 HUP will be road worthy, insured and plated. See you then!

Lip Service
 

Sunday morning was hot and humid. The perfect time to complete some welding on the HUP roof. But before the welding started, the roof had to be raised somewhat. After placing a level across the back of the roof, I noted a 1/2 inch gap between the bottom of the level and the center of the roof. A jack was placed under the center inside portion of the roof and the gap in the center closed up. However, a significant gap remained on the passenger side under the level. By this time, Bob had joined me at the barn. After getting the low down on his great vacation, he provided some well appreciated advice on how to fix the gap.

The solution to the pax side gap was to relieve the support bracket on the inside of the truck. Three slots were cut into the metal using a grinder with a thin blade. The pax side roof was jacked up and the gap closed up nicely. I took the metal slightly higher with the jack so that when it settled, the gap should dissappear. The slots were then welded over and the jack released. Not surprisingly, a very small gap remained, which was deemed acceptable and good enough for gummit work, etc...

Next, the lip flanges were tack welded to the hatch opening. Then the hatch was thrown onto the roof to test for fit. And fit it did. By this time Grant had joined us at the barn. He had dug up some interesting service bulletins with regard to the gusset plate reinforcements for the rear frame rails of the late model HUP.

Lunch time caught up with us, and I headed back to the city. Normally I would have joined Bob and Grant for some growlies and to eyeball the waitresses at the newest Rotter restaurant, but I had a friend laid up in the hospital in Ottawa to visit.

The next step for the HUP is to refurbish the sliding hatch cover. It needs new rollers, a new gasket, two new support arms and some metal work for the hatch proper.

Once that is nailed down, the HUP will get a light sanding and will magically turn green by summer's end. At least that is the plan this week.

Photos:
1. Mind the gap.
2. Another view of the gap.
3. Inside support relieved.
4. Bob's version of tubular bells.
5. Hatch with cover installed.

Hot Times at the Barn
 

The weather has been way too hot and humid for outdoor work. Grant has been busy assembling/fabricating components for his wireless truck. Bob had been away on vacation, and I kept busy at work in air conditioned bliss.

Grant had the barn to himself on Saturday and formed the welcoming committee for Bob's return to reality. Sunday was a short day given the heat. I fiddled around with the Prototype's sliding roof mechanisms inside the barn. After a quick and gentle sandblasting, some cleaning, and a good measure of patience and WD40 the brass blocks on the actuating shaft rotated again for the first time in decades. The locking devices on the handles remain rust welded in place, so they were left to soak until next weekend.

Bob and I discussed the need for more permanant shelters for the trucks. The latest wind storm damaged three of our shelters. The Ted's truck shelter got displaced three feet east and two feet south. Its door panel got shredded and will need replacement. Bob's shelter displaced to the south, and my Prototype shelter's door zipper ripped.

The discussion centered on buying sea containers and how they would be arranged. If another container makes its way to Bob's place (I am looking for one in the local Ottawa area), we plan to park them parallel to each other and span the gap with enough steel to support a lean-to roof. That way we can park some trucks between the containers.

If you happen to know anyone who has containers for sale in the Ottawa area (at a reasonable price...), PM Bob or myself.

Photos:

1 - Hatch holding and opening devices
2 - Brass block showing set screw

CMP Sea Container Condo
 

I think Coehn & Coehn have some containers for sale. I have seen some signs on Highway 15 near Perth as well...... What you need is a plan for a good gravel base and installation of a few sea containers all at once. My own preference would be a 20 or 40 foot unit. For a 40 foot unit I would put in a door part way to get better access to the rear. As has been mentioned before, the key is to get a good gravel base and get the bottom hinges out of the water/ice. Wire the unit for lights (hook up a generator when needed). Space them out and bridge over the open area for additional workshop/storage space. Good gravel between the units to drain out any water (install drainage weeping).

I picked up a gas driven compressor a few years ago. Good portable unit that drives all the main air tool that I use. Ideal for this sort of use, and in my yard. With a good gas electrical generator/gas compressor you can use air tools; plasma cutter; do welding and sand blasting........

I think there would be interest in the Ottawa area for a CMP condo. Depending on the number, get a business plan and get some commitment ($$$) for installation. I think some sort of a 5 or ten year lease arrangement would be appropriate.

Cheers!
Stuart

Look at the floor before you buy. There are some with solid steel floors, others have 2x6 hardwood boards. The wood ones are not really weatherproof because of humidity. The other thing to look at is the roof. The shipping companies condemn them when the salt air and chafing in the ship, rub pin holes in the steel skin. If the container spent too many cross ocean trips on the bottom of a stack of 10 loaded containers, the frame and corners are probably stress cracked.

(and if some MLU'er can make a good joke combining salt, chafing and steel skin, I'll tip my internet hat)

Sea containers
 

I have been using sea containers for many years and the best place to find them is to purchase the heavy truck Trader. There is always someone selling them. I bought mine from a Toronto company but pick the containers up in Montreal. the average price for a 20ft container will go from $2200 to $2700, the 40 ft containers are cheaper. Also try and purchase a Hi-cube it is 11/2 ft higher.
The biggest thing is the shipping, to bring a container from Montreal was $800 for one 40 footer or 2 x 20 ft. If you have a 20 ft flat decker trailer get the container yourself, they 20 ft weight about 4500 lbs empty, it is well worth you while to rent a trailer and getting it yourself.
Also one critical thing you should check or when ordering is that the container not have any strong odors, over the years things spill and the container has a terrible smell inside. Once the smell gets inside it is very hard to remove.
I have 2 x footers and when I build my new garage they will be incorporated into the exterior walls and they will hold my spare parts.
Gilles

Gouberment Stand down
 

Bob,
Please let the Ottawa Rotters know when you will be having your stand down from the Gouberment consulting gig. I am sure all the Ottawa Rotters will be eager to toast this significant occasion with one of our own....... truly a CMP legend of the Ottawa River Valley........

Cheers!
Stuart

For the record....
 

As of September 7th this year I will have been working for 51 years....... not a bad record......

I have worked for the Feds, municipal and provincial goverment, manufacturing in TO and in Ottawa. Officially retired in 1995 but it lasted only 2 weeks......

I have now been working temporarily as a 6 month term for 12 and a half years this August...... I now have 4 weeks holidays and have accumulated more sick leave credits than most of my young staff.....

I am probably good 'til the end of Sept 2011 and being threatened with another extension until end of March 2012........

I do find myself slowing down and am considering staying home next Summer....but then..... I have said that before.

When I retire I will buy myself a CMP as a retirement gift..... and certainly not golf clubs..!!!!

Bob
.... the energizer bunny!!!!!

Another Hot Week
 

Most of the activity at the barn has been limited to inside the barn. However, on Sunday Bob and Grant decided to take advantage of the hot weather to cut some fire wood for the coming winter.

Off to the big field they did go. They cut the seasoned logs into smaller lengths and loaded a 3/4 ton trailer with cut wood. While they attended to this important task, I spent the morning with the whipper-snipper cutting back the vegetation that threatened to engulf our south side shelters. After running out of cutting cord, I spent the rest of my time refitting tarps to various vehicles in both fields. The weird weather sure took its toll on the tarps this year. Two of the shelter doors had to be re-stitched, and one was deemed to be beyond repair. Replacement tarps will be needed, so it looks like another trip to Wright's Surplus in Kars. Hopefully Greg has a supply of mod tentage for sale.

Once Bob and Grant got back to the barn, Joyce treated us to a feed of BBQ back bacon sandwiches and beer. These folk know how to live! The conversation over lunch included talk about sea containers. My HUP measures 7 foot 10 from dirt to hatch cover on top and won't fit into a regular 20 ft sea can.

Some investigation revealed that there are 20 ft high cube for sale but they are more expensive than the 40 ft high cubes. Economics dictate that the 40 ft can is the way to go, but the issue is how to get a 40 ft sea can down the road to the barn. It won't go in by truck or tractor trailer. Bob mentioned that we could possibly jury rig a small truck to attach underneath at the half way point. Then we could use the tractor and the three point hitch to wiggle the can down the twisty trail. We are open to suggestions (and no, airlift is not an option).

After lunch I headed back to Ottawa to pick up the family and head north to Blue Sea in Quebec for a couple of days at a friend's cottage. These folks also know how to live... More later.

Photos
1- Bob the Dentist - filing teeth on the chain saw
2- Grant working on his project truck

Rob

For the shipping container, why not make up some brackets and put a pair of axles under it with some wheels? That way the tractor could tow it in

Pardon the intrusion to the learned circle, but I feel I must chime in.

Container prices, especially 20ft units have been climbing in price over the last year.

Pick a good one.

Before it arrives put down 6" minus stone where the corner will go, in liberal piles about 4 ft in diam and about 2 ft high. This should be tamped as it is put down to achieve this height

Make up some forms and cast yourself a cube of concrete about 2ft square and about 18" tall.

Once on site have the container placed on top of the stone piles.

Then using a jack, raise the container and "slide" the concrete cubes under the corners. Use wood or preferably steel plate to shim the unit level. now you have a generous air gap underneath and somewhat level

Next clean the roof of any loose paint and apply roofing tar sealer.

Take a couple of moulded roof vents from the local hardware store and either in the sides or the door, where ever you have a large flat space, cut an opening to surface mount it. Put metal screen material over the opening and then using self tapping screws and a generous spooge of a propietary sealant screw the roof vent on.

Now you have a breathable rodent free storage unit with no building permission required as it is a "temporary" structure under most municipality building codes.

Keep container mounted on the corners is how they were designed to be used. If you keep air flow underneath the floor support beams last a whole lot longer.

Keep vegetation down removes moisture as well.

We have 4 on site and they are all mounted like this.

The two that were shot with a matte green paint blend in against the trees behind quite nicely from 500 metres.

Will try to post some pictures between making hay and building a dry stone wall this week.

R

Containers
 

The best way I found to move a container is to drag it. Yesterday I moved a 20 ft by dragging it, it was 3/4 full and quite heavy. just back up to the container, put a chain through the bottom holes and as you go forward the front will lift, the tractor should be able to tow it. Your problem is getting around the corner going over the ditch, this will require a second vehicle, rope and a pulley to hoist the rear end over to the right. It will work, just make sure you have the door in the right direction so you don't have to flp it around. When you are ready call me and we will see if we can't come down with Brutus (M816 wrecker) to give you a hand.
Gilles

Jordan got it right....
 

On the last and first 20 ft container I fabricated and axle that can slip in the pockets for the fork lift. It essentailly locates the axles at 1/3 of the container.

Welded some 4 inch square tubing with removable spindles from PA and used car tires. We jacked up one end of the container..... inserted the axle..... and dropped it down on the tires....lifted the other end off the ground using the 3 point hitch and manoeuvred the box inplace......

We had already made 4 piles of gravel for the corners..... fabricated 4 wooden pads using pressure treated 2x6...... across the pads we used 6x6 to support the back and front section fully.... and 3/4 inch shims to get it level and slightly pitch forward for possible drainage.

Once in place we reversed the axle process and "Voila" .... container in place.

Now doing that with a 40 foot container would exceed the capacity of the existing axle or capacity of my tractor. Not impossible but....

Robin is correct in advocating additional ventilation....... lots of frozen condensation on the steel wall in Winter..... good air circulation is highly desirable....... same can be said for crawl space underneath

Note...crawl space makes ideal place for "critters" that have just been shot to hide and raise a stink....... or maybe the smell should be considered a theft deterrant....... sure keeps us away !!!!

Bob

Barn Notes
 

The hot weather we experienced in July has extended into August. We do get some good downpours, but for the most part it is hot and humid in and around the nation's capital. Today at the barn was no exception.

However, we did spot the elusive Guy Vapeur on one of his rare visits to the barn. Bob, Grant and I spent some time chatting politics and then actually doing things CMP. Grant fixed the front crossmember of his truck (previous owner had cut away a small portion of the part) and reinstalled it on his truck. Bob pulled his rad off his truck in order to set it up at the correct height. I played around with the HUP doing small tasks. While this was going on, we chatted about sea containers and the layout if and when we buy a few more. I found a source for 20ft High Cubes, but they are somewhat pricy. However, the 20 footers are easier to move so when the conditions are right, I'll have one or two delivered to the barn.

Noon rolled around and I headed back to the city while the boys sweated out at the barn. Hopefully they will provide some photos as I left my camera at home.

Barn Update
 

It has been a spell since our last update, so here is what has being going on in Hammond's one and only CMP haven. Not a hell of a lot. At least it looks that way to the regular viewers of this thread.

I spent most of the past two weeks away in the Maritimes re-connecting with family and friends. Not much to report on MV sightings, other than the usual 3/4 ton SMP that gains value (to the owner) each passing year. He wants $2K for the truck which year after year weighs less and less due to excessive rusting. I suspect that I will go through the same routine next summer...

Being unencumbered by employment, I get to spend additional time at the barn. This week's project was the HUP roof. The bushings for the roller arms were rusted beyond use. Removal was quite easy. After carefully grinding the ends (which were brazed to the outside edge of the hatch cover), some chisel work was required to remove the spot welds from the inside of the lip and from the support brackets. Once the weld was separated, the support brackets were bent off the tube and the tube was hammered out through the edge of the hatch cover. One of the support brackets had to be removed and was replaced with a fabbed up one which was rather easy to make now that the pan brake and metal shear are available for use at the barn.

Some of the interior metal had to be cut out due to excessive rusting. Replacement pieces were bent up and are now ready for welding. The bushings were replaced by cutting up a section of 3/4" OD -1/2" ID tube. The bushings were then drilled and are now ready for welding.

Saturday was a busy day at the barn. We had the full compliment - Bob, Grant, Guy and me had a good ole gab session. Guy showed off a load of recently acquired treasure, a part of which I now have (and is for sale-see http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=17124). Guy departed for home and we headed out for lunch. After lunch it was back to the barn for a frenzied fabrication blitz. Bob and Grant were busy making items to help them with their project trucks. I will post photos of their handiwork later today.

Sunday was quite overcast - we are on the very edge of hurricane Irene so the weather was a bit unsettled. The eastern seaboard is taking the brunt of Irene's wrath. My morning was spent trying to get my driver side door to open and close without resorting to mechanical assistance or a swift kick. Following Phil Waterman's advice, I shimmed up the bottom hinge and elongated the holes for the top hinge. This was a very long process - the door was on and off the truck more times than I wish to remember, but the minor adjustments paid off. The door now opens and closes like it should with a resounding metallic clang.

Bob and Grant played around with their inventions (see the follow on posts later). As noon approached, I had to get back home to take over domestic duties. It was great to be back to the barn.

Photos:
1 - Bushing and support bracket configuration for the HUP roof hatch cover
2 - More of the same
3 - Edge of the hatch cover and the end of the bushing
4 - Replacement support bracket

Late this afternoon I dropped by the Hammond barn, my first time.

I was there to drop off 5 lengths of a version of Marsden matting that I had scooped for Bob after seeing his post on wanting some.

I was able to pass them along to him at cost as my fuel was paid for from another avenue today. I know he would have paid for it if I had needed expenses covering.

Grant and Bob were finishing up their day after having doing something to the king pins of Grants truck from what I could make of it.

Bob had also crafted with Grant some kind of CMP bracket thingy, Bob is alleged by Grant to have reversed the end plate containing two holes but as I'm not an afficianado of such vehicles it means nothing too me. There does seem to have been some truth to the allegation as Bob was heard to utter some kind of expletive when he realised his lack of attention to detail.

Likely as not the evidence will evaporate but Grant and I did see it Bob!!

Cheers guys

Robin

From the Minds at the Hammond Barn
 

Alright, Robin provided some clues so this should be an easy test of your deductive capabilities. First one is a Carriere creation. Any guesses as to the part it is used to form?

More Mind Games
 

Grant has been a very busy Rotter these days as well. What are these used for?

Another Skill Testing Question
 

More of Grant's handiwork. Their purpose?

1 dont know
2 king pin bearing pullers?
3 king pin bearing pushers for reinstalling?

So far, so good on the ID
 

Yes, the first group of 3 similar parts are pullers for the steering pivot pins. The design came from the maintenace manual for the C60X, except that modern bolts seem to mainly be made with a 2 inch threaded sector unless by special order so I made several so that I could increase the length of the puller in stages rather than hunting for a fully threaded 1/2-20 bolt over 3 inches long. Used yesterday afternoon, they worked nicely. On this truck I only needed the 2 shorter cylinders. I don't know if it was an oficially sanctioned modification or not, but someone had ground a short taper onto the pivot pins to make thm easier to start into the bearings. I don't remember seeing this before, but it seems to work.

The second pair of tools are indeed pushers for the pivot pins. The design came from the GM Service Bulletins. They are one each for the 5 inch joints and 6 inch joints, intended to be used after one cap is on (with standard 30 thou shim (or more if extra depth was stamped on the pivot housing) to push the second pin (already started) fully into the housing to take out all slack before measuring the shims needed at the second cap. The original design had a second layer of steel welded to the main plate rather than a nut but my reasoning was that the nut was easier to tap (manufacturted with threads) and that it is designed to take the full load of the bolt so there shouldn't be a need to tap the plate as well. The only other note is that it really needs to have all 4 corner bolts in place to ensure that the plate is parallel to the face of the housing if you want to use it to drive the pivot in to ensure good line-up. Once the pin is almost fully in the housing you might get away with only 2 bolts to hold it onto the housing but 4 adds strength and stability.

For guessing the purpose of Bob's jig, it may help to think of the vehicles he, Rob and I specialize in.

I notice no pictures of the botched piece that Bob made that I saw . . . .

R

I will have pictures of before and after....
 

.... need to drag my ass and the camera bag to the barn.

...but if I show the pictures now it will be to easy to figure out what that jig was for.....

Later dude.

Bob

All Will Be Revealed
 

If we were to show the world all of our botched up fabrication jobs, we would run out of bandwidth.

If no one guesses/identifies the piece, we will provide photos of the item and give a few more clues.

I think Bob prefers the phrase "manufacturing test, made to find the ways the workers can screw up a great plan before quantity production starts and the mistakes get very expensive".

I have a BSc ...MS.....PhD
 

No offense intended to those who have such professional titles.....

Mine stands for Bull Shit... More of the Same....Pilled higher and Deeper....

...but I am most proud of the title granted by Aussie officiados.....

I now sign my name and show B.T.B.

Pictures are coming...... stay tuned tonite.

Bob