Ferret Fluid Flywheel rebuild

[Robin Craig]

So, I thought I would try to take a few minutes and put something back into this forum for a change instead of being an information vacuum. I hope that others over time will find this interesting and helpful.

Let me say right from the start I am not a mechanic by trade and I am assisted in our mechanical work by a very smart gentleman Gerry Foster with whom I have a great admiration and patience for. He assists me in the maintenance and repair of my own vehicles and also the fleet I look after at work.

I am an enthusiastic amateur with some knowledge. There are many here who have much more experience than myself.

Slowly Gerry is teaching me and I am learning for myself by that experience.

My passion is Ferrets and it is what a number of you associate me with. I am over time becoming fairly well versed in their operation and maintenance.

I thought that I would try to take the mystery and fear out of the fluid flywheel for those embarking down the road of Ferret ownership.

Let it be said clearly that the Ferret is a great vehicle and much misunderstood by many. It is quite simple and quite maintainable by the enthusiast if they have some basic knowledge and can follow along in manuals.

Get the manuals and read them. Especially the field repair manuals as they list the order and tools needed for the tasks. If you can enlist a buddy or friend and work as a team, if not it just takes longer.

I am a big guy and Gerry is the more average sized, so he goes inside and I work outside. Plus he is being paid so he doesn't mind, that always helps.

So, fluid flywheel basics, check it, check it, check it and if in doubt check it.

This tale is what happens when you fail to check the level and other circumstances align and occur.

So, lets start with a dead Ferret and get it into the shop, cue tilting trailer and winch and a nice big shop to work in, yes I am spoiled at work.

So I am not going to dwell on a nut by nut power pack removal, make the lifting jig as per the manual and it makes it easier, or cobble together your own set up as you wish.

Get the assembly out and then we can begin.