Otter LRC CM4647296 comes home

[Jordan Baker]

All four of the hood hinges were sandblasted last night. The hinge pins were all nicely worked back and forth while soaked in brake cleaner. Now all the hinges move back and forth effortlessly.

[David Dunlop]

Hello Jordan.

This item has me wondering since it strikes me as a very odd item.

Is it an original factory designed item or a simple blanking plate item retrofitted later in the life of the Otter?

If the former, I could see it being 'hinged' on one end and slotted at the other to be secured with a wing nut to help keep dirt from plugging access for the crank. If the latter, it would suggest a hand crank became redundant at some point in the Otter production, but then why go to all that trouble?

Interesting what one can find on an 80 year old vehicle sometimes.


David

[Jordan Baker]

Hi David

The blanking plate for the hand crank hole is a factory item. It shows up in a lot of period pictures. The C15TA also used the same plate. I’ve included a few pictures. Some are factory shots and others are from the field.

It is a cumbersome item to remove as one of those boss head bolts need to be totally removed and the other loosened. Then the plate can pivot. I suspect that is why there is also a number of pictures of these plates missing. The Otters in Sicily with 4th PLDG all seem to have the plates removed.

As for hand cranks being redundant, sure the technology had come a ways in terms of reliability, however, I can’t think of any Canadian WW2 vehicles that didn’t come with one?

[Jordan Baker]

Bit more progress was made tonight. The armoured nose was finally removed after hours of work. The boss head bolts proved to be a chore but they all finally let go and came out. Not knowing if the nose would stay put once the last bolt came out, I secured it with a sling on the gantry crane. A few, thankfully old, paper wasp nest were found inside the nose. The nose will now be put aside for sandblasting in the spring. The inner shroud was fully intact and will clean up quite nicely.

[Jordan Baker]

A few more pictures.

Once the shroud was removed the radiator is easily accessible. I’ve also included a few pictures of how the armoured body was attached to the frame and the engine crank bracket. I’m also quite pleased that most of the bonding straps are all still in place. Lastly the plate welded to the left side hull body plate. This was where the voltage regulator mounted. The remains of the shielded wiring ground are still attached.

[Bob Carriere]

..... the radiator support has a complete top section similar to civialian GM of that period...... in contrast the CMP has that same part with the top section cut off and referred to as the horse collar..... also your rad filler neck is similar to the cab 11 but cab11/12 had them on the pass. side yours is driver's side....

did your truck have a fan shroud???

Sure is built solid!!!!!!

[Jordan Baker]

Yes there was a fan side shroud. I’ve included a drawing from one of the Service Information Bulletins. Thankfully these drawings provide a lot of detail.

Interestingly the radiator has what I believe to be a Dutch rebuild tag on the top of if. I’ll try and get a picture in the next day or so. It was only ever half visible due to the way the armoured nose fits on.