Restoration of Hull 731- Carrier, MG (Aust) Mortar Carrying

[Darrin Wright]

These hulls are usually under 3-4 m of water; however, when the river is low and you know where to go, you get to see them.

I was told that they were bought from Bandiana after the war by either the SEC, Baker Motors or a truck wreckers in Wodonga. When they had been stripped they were taken to the river bank to stabilise the bank from erosion.

The willows have grown up and around them, in some cases the trees have pulled the hulls apart.
water and rust have also eaten them up, at times trees have fallen on them or they have been hit by logs floating down stream.
The mainly complete exposed hull had an air scoop in it, but a tree and rust have removed it.
The 2 pdr AT hull has either sunk into the river bed or been washed/dragged down stream.
Some of the other hulls are now so overgrown that they have disappeared into the river bank.
The armour of the LP1 has cracked and is very rusted.
All the hulls have been stripped, so data plates are gone and the rear of the hulls is down in the water and overgrown. Rust has had a big effect on these.
I have managed to salvage some parts from them over the years, but they are only good to use as patterns.
The hull under the tree (log in front) was dragged out from the river many years ago, how and by whom I do not know. It has been used as a incinerator and rubbish skip in the last few years. But the steel in places is laminating off with rust.

Just an interesting piece of local history that gave me an excuse for a bike ride.

[jack neville]

So the bank needed stabilising and someone thought of using some scrapped carriers as re-enforcing. Amazing how some peoples minds think. Reminds me of a loading ramp I heard of in Victoria somewhere made of No.27 limbers. Someone got a stack of just the boxes and formed them into a U shape. The inside was filled with dirt making the ramp.

Didn't see it, just heard the story.

Good idea for a new thread. 'Interesting things ex military vehicles/equipment have been transferred in to.'

[Darrin Wright]

Well it has been awhile since I have been on MLU, getting side-tracked with a new career.

Last weekend (Fathers Day) we took the Jeep out for a picnic down to some waterfalls. Loaded the trailer with all the necessary items and went driving. Let the boys go gold panning, still poor....
Probably did about 120km for the day, checked out some camp sites and antique shops in some local towns.
Have done some minor jobs on the BGC. More to follow...

[Darrin Wright]

The other weekend I commenced stripping the spare parts (junk) hull of all useable parts with the oxy acetylene torch.
Managed to salvage the steering box and column, steering cam plate, steering cam, conduit, bogie suspension units, some vision cover parts and started to cut the back off the hull for the rear diff.
That is when I ran out of oxy....another weekend with more gas.

Then will load it up with all my scrap steel and get it taken to the scrap dealers. That will tidy up the yard and workshop a bit.

[Darrin Wright]

have installed the front gunners/passengers seat into the hull and fitted the seat adjuster/locking rails.

The parts manual list an earth strap to be fitted in the engine bay, pictures are vague as to where it goes. Reading the workshop manual is not much help, but I did see what appears to be a cable in the LHR of the engine area. So I have fitted a copper braided earth strap from a rear sump bolt to the bolt that secures the oil pressure valve bracket. This should reduce poor earthing problems, also the rear engine stabiliser rods should create an earth as well.

[Lynn Eades]

Back to the rubber boot on the brake control rods:
It makes sense that if Henry Ford supplied all the parts to build the carriers, that he also supplied the boot. This would make the part number 91T-2180.

[The Bedford Boys]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Back to the rubber boot on the brake control rods:
It makes sense that if Henry Ford supplied all the parts to build the carriers, that he also supplied the boot. This would make the part number 91T-2180.

I bought some 91T-2180 boots with that idea in mind. When they arrived I discovered they were too short.