Another relatively slow start to the week. Painted another coat of silver on the underside of the new O/S wing and around the aperture for the new battery trays. I also plugged all the screw holes for mounting the trays and covers. I should have done the rear two as well but forgot about them! Made a start on the control box, blowing as much dust off as possible then removed the top panel for cleaning and painting or polishing. I took out all of the screws,and with a bit of gentle persuasion it came off, having corroded slightly to the steel switch plate. I also primed then painted the side panel for the box with engine black, two coats, and put it to one side to cure properly. I next thoroughly cleaned the top panel and removed the blanking plates and plug, and the surround for the starter switch, (theses being pressed in) and painted it with hammerite. I have ordered an ammeter, as there appears to be provision for one and space on the large cover for it. I have also ordered a voltmeter for the top panel. I stripped the paint and rust from the large cover for the control box and spent some time adjusting it so it will fit properly. A coat of “number one rust beater” primer was next, followed by a coat of green Hammerite on the inside surface. I then had to make two sliders to replace the missing ones for the control box switches, the originals were 0.8mm nickel silver, so after a failed attempt in aluminium I used 0.75mm brass which worked well. Not a bad week’s progress, considering I lost two days work for other things.
Tag Archives: control box
26/11/2023
I completed the replacement hinge assembly by adding a 3/16″ shim between the hinge and the base to position it correctly so that the control box will sit square on its base. After that, work has contentrated on wiring the lighting and 24v supply to the multicore cable terminal mounted on the cab rear bulkhead below the floor. Connections that need to be made in the cab-mounted control box havebeen sheathyed and routed into their correct positions ready for reinstallation of the control box. The control box itself has had attention: all the terminals and nuts have been cleaned, the 2BA terminals having new brass nuts. The main battery switch has had its shaft painted black.
All the wiring has now been tested, including the brake light switch, horn and button, and the panel light switch both at the cab end and in the boot where appropriate so I am happy now that its all correct. Also tested now are the starter motor cables, dynamo cables and the starter sloenoid cable.
4/3/2022
The long gap in recording progress has been due to other commitments and some some minor illness. However work has been going on, concentrated around the cab. The following items have been removed to allow access and restoration of these items: the headlight assembly, the driver’s seat, the wiring cubicle and combined control box and main switch unit, the interior light switch bank, bell and flasher unit panel (above the driver), and the horn and cab light/step light switch. A lot of the aged wiring and redundant wiring has been stripped out of the cab, the indicator switch remains. Some replacement high-current cabling to feed the lighting switch panel has been ordered. Two new sidelight units were obtained (very expensive!) which means I have a spare now. The access panel to the destination box will need to be removed as the hing is sagging and it doesn’t close properly. The windscreen wiper motor remains to be removed too.
The plan forward now is to get the fuel tank dispatched for refurbishment, the cab floor repaired, the cab painted and the chassis painted in the area behind the fuel tank.