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The HEMTT is on the way!

dk8019

dk8019

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Well, after the 7 week or so wait on the EUC to clear, and a few weeks to arrange transport, the M977 is on it's way north from Texas. Scheduled to arrive on Friday morning. They had issues getting it jumped this morning on the load out, and after the 10 weeks or so, two tires were low. The storage lot charged $150 to jump it and deal with the tires. I have fresh batteries and diesel on this end when it arrives, as well as all the tools etc the 1-ton can carry. After going over it, we will be putting it to work on the farm.

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HASSON1911

HASSON1911

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I'm so jealous, well ill be able to post mine tomorrow or Friday and it'll be arriving at my home on the 9th! sure hope mine doesn't need a jump or air but its been 2-2.5 months so i'm sure it will! Congrats!!!
 
Last edited:
dmetalmiki

dmetalmiki

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Congratulations to the both of you for acquiring such awesome vehicles. You know what...I am sor'ta getting a notion to own one of those...
 
dk8019

dk8019

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Well, the HEMTT arrived safe and sound, and after a good bit of tire inflating in the parking lot where we dropped it, and going through it in detail it was ready to head off. The truck driver who made the delivery had driven these and HETS in the sandboxes and had a very good knowledge of the trucks. Took a good bit of time to get the tires up to pressure, and I'm sure I have slow leaks somewhere, either in the big O-ring inside the rim, or pehaps in the little elbows where the tires are filled? Any insight on this?

Anyhow, it was off to the farm, where we modified one of the older barns to allow the HEMTT to back into it, tight fit, but at least it has a somewhat sheltered location for storage! It was off to work, first to move a good bit of steel scrap and other refuse that's had been left all over the farm by the previous owner.

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dk8019

dk8019

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First load of steel heading over to the scrap yard below. Took a good bit of work with a gas powered cut off saw to deal with some of the frame pieces, but the truck did well loading up, the drop sides are wonderful for access, but aren't made of the strong stuff, clearly loads should be strapped down internally, instead of relying on the sides!

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dk8019

dk8019

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When first playing with the crane to get a hang of it, I discovered a bulged line which quickly became a leaking line :-x

We bartered part of the steel to get the hydraulic line made up, funny enough, the scrap yard also makes very nice lines, something to keep in mind in the future. Fortunately the line was one of those that was very easy to get to! In short order the crane was in working order in time to make a nice place to hang the hammock for the night.

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dk8019

dk8019

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Lovettsville, VA
Once the crane was up in working order it was time to start the work for which the M977 was purchased in the first place, the disassembly of some older log buildings on the property, so they can be rebuilt properly and stand for another few hundred years. The first one was an older hay barn which had partially fallen a few trips ago. The crane did the job wonderfully, and to be honest never even struggled. We were very impressed with it's capabilities.


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swbradley1

swbradley1

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Does its take that much in scrap to pay for each trip in?

Looks nice though.
 
dk8019

dk8019

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So, some thoughts:

I am thoroughly impressed with this vehicle. I've owned four military trucks in the past, the two M35 based vehicles, an 800 series 5-ton and a 900 series 5-ton. The HEMTT is unbelievably capable in terms of off road areas. I have videos to come, but the articulation and locking capabilities of the truck are truly astounding. With the truck in low, 1st, and the inter-axle lock on, I'm not sure I could find a place in southern VA that this beast couldn't go, assuming it could fit!

The mechanical features of the truck are impressive as well. It's my first time in front of a Detroit, but I found the engine fully capable of doing what we asked, although I don't think we really pushed it. We did take it multiple times between Cleveland, VA to Lebanon, VA over Cleveland Mountain, which takes you from the Clinch River, at around 1500' to the summit at 2400' or so. No troubles going up or down, but I am thankful for that Jake Brake!

I think the truck will serve us well. I was planning on a full fluid change this trip, but to be honest the evening I went to do it, I couldn't for the life of me find the fill location from the transmission! The engine oil appeared to be brand spanking new, as did the wrong fluid in the transmission, but I'm sure it needs a full dump to be on the safe side.
 
R

RDUKW

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dk8019 said:
Well, the HEMTT arrived safe and sound, and after a good bit of tire inflating in the parking lot where we dropped it, and going through it in detail it was ready to head off. The truck driver who made the delivery had driven these and HETS in the sandboxes and had a very good knowledge of the trucks. Took a good bit of time to get the tires up to pressure, and I'm sure I have slow leaks somewhere, either in the big O-ring inside the rim, or pehaps in the little elbows where the tires are filled? Any insight on this?

Anyhow, it was off to the farm, where we modified one of the older barns to allow the HEMTT to back into it, tight fit, but at least it has a somewhat sheltered location for storage! It was off to work, first to move a good bit of steel scrap and other refuse that's had been left all over the farm by the previous owner.

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Click to expand...
Check your elbows and valve stems. My tires were going flat within a few days and that was the fix for mine.
 
dk8019

dk8019

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Lovettsville, VA
RDUKW,

I think you might have nailed it. I didn't take them apart, but I did tighten them up and set them all to 80 PSI before I left. Any good source for the parts to replace, and how the devil do you get to the front ones?
 
T

turnkey

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Glad it is working out for ya....They look like fun to play in..You seem to have a great place to hang things and go up and down...Best of luck...
 
wreckerman893

wreckerman893

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Work her like a rented mule.

I drove these trucks in Korea when I was in an armored unit.

We regularly hauled four tracks off the M1 tanks.

She would squat but that double breasted Driptroit would get the job done.

If I had the money there would be several of those in my stable along with a couple of HETT's.
 
lindsey97

lindsey97

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wynnewood, oklahoma
I just finished mounting and airing up 6 16.00 r20's on M923, all mounted on HEMTT rims. They have the metal elbows, which a few of them leaked. I thought about tightening them up, but removed them for the sake of simplicity.

So check your elbows for leaks with a spray bottle full of soapy water.
 
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