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

[Darrin Wright]

There were 4 BGC at the airshow, 2 from the GRMG (Robin & Tims) and 2 from the VMVC (Euan & mine).
Tim's was active in the battle re-enactments with a Bren and Boys firing.

All tools were left on the vehicle, I used tie wire to secure them from falling off and theft. They would be reasonably secure utilising the standard hull fixtures as that is how they secured them back then. I guess when they lost them in WW2, they could just go to the Q-store and request another. We don't have that luxury.

Found the grinding noise, the bolt on the end of the bendix vibrated loose and fell out. I have pulled the starter motor and recovered the bolt with a flexable magnet.
Now to Loctite or tie wire it back in. It did have the lock washer, but this is now broken...

[Mike K]

The most unrealistic scene would have to be the Japanese soldier in the surrendering pose

[Darrin Wright]

I had a tilt tray load the BGC and deliver it to Corowa on Wednesday, I had to provide guidance on how best to secure it to the deck of the truck. The operator had never loaded anything like that before, and that was good, as he was open to advice.

Drove the Jeep across with trailer.

Camped at the Ball Park Caravan Pk in our usual spot. Parked the BGC out the front of our camp site.

It was good to catch up with several people on MLU at the park.

Thursday I went to start the BGC and the starter motor just spun. Pulled it out and discovered the bendix spring had shattered. Not good. A friend and I drove around town in his Jeep, looking for an engineering place that we could repair the spring. Instead, we found a place that the owner was into Ford hotrods and just happened to have a spare bendix spring at home. He was kind enough to loan me the spring to get me going. That got the BGC going again, and by lunch time we were driving along the river bank area.
On Thursday I managed to drive approx 35km until later in the day she was hot and vaporised the fuel system. This provided some quality time to talk BGC and reflect on BGC.

Friday morning I took it back down to the river bank area and drove around. Unfortunately, the BGC broke down again, this time it was catastrophic. The generator pulley had spun on the shaft and the fan bladed got wobbly. This was the noise that something was not quite right. Luckily the only damage was the pulley and generator. A friend brought his 6x6 GMC down and another loaned me a chain so we could recover it back to camp. I removed the blades and kept the cooling belts on, this allowed me to run the engine for a short period so that I could manoeuvre into our camp site.

Another friend in Albury had an engine with generator and pulley and was kind enough to loan it to me. So a 4hr round trip to borrow that, go home and clean & lubricate the bearings and return to Corowa, meant we had it operational again by 1700h. Just in time for the VMVC BBQ.

Friday night, attended the presentation by Mike Cecil at the football grounds. Sounds like there will be some good books coming out in the near future.

Saturday morning took the BGC for a quick test drive to ensure all was good. I still had some doubts about reliability and going in the street parade. last thing I wanted was to be broken down in the main street. All was good, so with the children in, drove up to the parking area and looked and all the other vehicles pulling in.

We drove the shorter version of the parade and headed out to the showgrounds. All went well, sat on approx 34-36 mph most of the way with the sound of the engine and the clatter of track on the road. Arrived at the show grounds and was parked in at the back. Not happy, as the other BGC there were all meant to be parked together off to the side. Oh well.
The swap meet was interesting. Didn't buy much at all, managed to talk with a few people.

My wife left early in the Jeep to go back to the park, this left my eldest son and I to take the BGC home. So when we could, we left. The BGC sat on 34-36mph again, all the way back. Went for a quick swim in the afternoon, it is hot work operating a BGC. Then later drove around some more until it got hot again. Then it started to lack a bit of power and not perform very well.

Saturday night, went out for tea with friends to a local restaurant.

Sunday, the day everyone hates, was pack up day. In the morning Keith Webb came by and we did an interview down by the river bank area. Packed up camp and had the tilt tray arrive at 1000h to load.

When we had it home, decided to take it for another drive in the vacant block behind out house. There we discovered what was causing the lack of power. The fuel tap and linkage had vibrated partially closed, staving the engine of fuel. Adjusted this and we were off again driving, until it got hot. Took some good quality pics and then took it home and gave the suspension a quick wash.

It was really good to catch up with people, especially those that are on MLU and meet those that helped me with info & advice. Thanks

[Ian Mastin]

Boy Darrin you've got a lot of good Friends!!!!! I think one of your friends crank started your lovely wife Jeep down in the main street on Friday I think.
You can fill in the rest of the details about the battery.

Ian

[Darrin Wright]

And a BIG thanks to Ian for assisting my wife and the Jeep, as it also had issues.

A bolt on the bendix spring came loose and jammed the starter, while trying to start it, this then drained the battery of life. The starter motor got quite hot.

I got 6 years out of that battery...not too bad.

Had to pull the starter out and put bolt back in. All good now.

[Darrin Wright]

It's taken several months of planning with the Albury RSL; however, paid off today with the BGC being transported by Albury Auto Body Repairs (Andrew 02 6021 4175) tilt tray. Andrew donated his time and truck to assist in getting the BGC there and back again.

Loaded at 0600h and dropped near the Albury Cinema. Got there early so there would be no pedestrians to run over. Rained most of the morning and stopped prior to the start. March commenced at 0900h with a P-40 and another aircraft performing a fly over. I think they were from Temora.

At the end of the march a flock of 4 navy helicopters flew up the main street.
There were lots of people along the sides watching, really awesome the interest shown. At the end of the parade I was directed up the road to park.

Did a tight pivot turn on Dean street, with the road being so wet the track wouldn't grip and then when it did, we spun. Parked the BGC up and talked with people about it.

Had approx 6-8 Jeeps, late model CJ Jeep and Austin Champ- all local.

The tilt tray came back and we loaded and headed for home. At that point, the Hudson from Temora and 3 more aircraft performed a fly over along Dean st and then back over Wodonga.

See the pics attached.

This event seems fitting to conclude this restoration thread that I started. As they say in my previous position, moving from restoration into the sustainment phase.

I set out to document and photograph my progress and I think I have achieved that, hopefully assisted a few people along the way. I always like watching peoples restoration progress and I hope you have enjoyed this.

It has been great to meet MLU people in person and chat, especially at events such as Corowa. There are several people that have really helped me along the way, thank you, you know who you are (you have posted in my thread- thanks!).

I won't be leaving MLU and will still participate when possible, not sure if I will start a restoration thread on the LP1 BGC. There is a bit of time, planning and effort required to make a thread readable and logical. Sometimes not all that easy.
The LP1 restoration has commenced with a strip down and collected several important parts over the last few months, with assistance from a friend. My plan is to have it sandblasted in 6-8 months time, as summer starts.

Regards to all

[Dale Jordan]

Well done Darrin . Thank you for your restoration posts on the MLU your build as been the biggest help for me with my project . I look at it all the time to check up on where things go and how they should look. I 'm sure other owners do the same . Lets hope you weaken and do the same with the LP1 ... Dale