New Years day run highlights the Kaiser is not happy with the new fuels.
Through the winter we carried on fettling a few things to keep us occupied. The rear hoops were not equal heights so they were adjusted. The hoops too were supposed to have cross pieces fitted to stop the canvas sagging, so support bars were made and fitted.
Repairs were carried out to the cab canvas and the cab roof bars were altered so they were the correct height. This made the fitting of the canvas somewhat easier but it still would not fitted perfectly due to shrinkage. Not to worry we have a spare if needed.
The bonnet (hood) had a dent in the leading edge so this was also looked at. There was no way of pushing the dent from behind, nor did we feel it was possible to pull it out. We decided that a tiny amount of filler would suitably do the job. Once hardened it was it was smoothed off by shaving off the excess using a razor blade and very fine sand paper. A couple of coats of primer and top coat and the dent was almost gone, when the truck is given a complete repaint in the future it should blend in well and disappear.
The windscreen is supposed to have two rests so that the windscreen can be folded down on to the bonnet (hood). Looking at some older photographs of the truck it would seem it hasn’t had any fitted for a good number of years. We found a pare in the States but the seller wasn’t prepared to post to the UK.
So, after some research we found out the rests were off the M38A1, so having a good friend who owns an A1 we borrowed one, though they are handed so a couple of brackets one right and one left handed were fabricated with the help of another friend. We sourced some welting and fitted it with the rivets supplied. Raiding another ‘bits’ box we found the right length and thread of bolt to fit the newly made brackets. Who would know?
All the lights were checked and new bulbs fitted replacing a mismatch of some. One fault has alluded us and that is when you brake, the front right indicator light comes on, strange to say the least. So, it is either an earth fault or a crossed wire somewhere. I’ll look at that another day.
December saw a lull in activity for obvious reasons and the weather wasn’t conducive. However, we decided to organise a run out on New Years’ Day and invited some other military vehicle owners, who are local to us. Normally we would have ventured over the border to Yorkshire to take part in a run over the tops of the Yorkshire Moors from Howarth to Pecket Well just outside Hebden Bridge. Due to an increase in the number of cases of Covid it was felt unwise to travel that sort of distance and from one area to another.
The plan was to meet up on the A59 at Samlesbury and head out to a local beauty spot to the north called Beacon Fell. We met up around 10.30 and there were six vehicles to start with. Besides the Kaiser there were two M38A1 and two Willys MB Jeeps, a Forward Control 101 Land Rover and a Pontiac staff car was going to join us on route. We travelled along the A59 before turning off for Ribchester to the north. As you approach the bridge that takes the road over the river Ribble there is a small lane off to the right, that was where the Pontiac was waiting and it duly joined the small convoy. In to Ribchester we headed and then on to Longridge before striking out along the very narrow country lanes to take us up to Beacon Fell, and the car park nearby to park up and have a brew and make some bacon butties in the back of the truck. After lunch we then had a pleasant drive through the Ribble Valley eastwards through the village of Chipping, then on the Chaigley and ending up at Stoneyhurst College at Hurst Green for a photo opportunity.
The run out to the lunch stop was fabulous and un-eventful with everyone making it ok, though the Kaiser decided to stall on entering the car park. After lunch we set off again but the Kaiser wasn’t running quite right and not wanting to tick over and there were a couple of pronounced flat spots, but we all made it to Stoneyhurst. From there we dispersed and made our way homes, in the case of the Kaiser I decided to take it back to the unit so that once it was there, we would be in a position of taking a look at it another day. We didn’t want to risk it breaking down outside the house.
