G'day everyone,...
Post Mission report.
Got up today and went out to go collect my Deuce from the brake place.
Arived around 11am and there is my Deuce just where I left it.
The brake line has been replace along the front axle, they reused the armour that was on the original line as the armour that was sent to them for the replacement line was just slightly smaller in diameter.
I have it as I can use it elsewhere.
The brake peddle now feels a lot better, firmer and all the way.
The truck stops much better.
Still not as good as disc brakes but for a 6.5 ton truck with drum brakes all around, not bad at all.
I will just have to change my driving to allow for slightly longer stopping distance.
Also, until I got it onto the highway she blew blueish grey smoke under load, I put that down to all the time it has been sitting idle and some unburnt full in the exhaust sytem from turning it over to get it started 2 days ago,....
Anyway, $300.00 later from not only the brake line fix but getting the rear wheel put on CORRECTLY I thanked the guy for his work and we left to go fill the fuel tank for the run home.
I put 160ltrs in the tank and just short of brimmed the tank as I had just on 100klms/60miles to go and when I got there the tank had the correct fuel level in it for a full tank!
The fuel gauge shows just over 3/4 of a tank when it is at this level.
Something to keep in mind for future reference.
While I was filling up some old guys in a ute stopped on the other side of the pump to look the truck over and I had a couple of truck drivers walk around having a good look-see!
I think the Deuce is a people pleaser!
I have to admit the steering is heavy and I will need to get used to that big steering wheel and how many turns it takes to go around corners!
It is better at road speed of course.
Once on the highway I stayed in the left lanes all the way back as I kept to 45miles an hour or in our terms 75 kilometres an hour and that was fun when the speed limit is 100klm.
I kept the tachometer at 2k-21kRPM and she runs smooth there.
I got off the main highway and went home a back way on the old highway with less traffic until I needed to get onto the country roads.
Funny thing is I was passed by a Police booze buss and a 'dog-box' (Divy-van) when on the highway both vehicles as they passed had the people inside cheaking the truck out.
Later on the country road I was again passed by a country cop in his 4x4 who slowed a little to cheak out the truck but kept going,...
I will need to spend at least a day putting everything back where it belongs that was NOT refitted by those who 'cleaned it'.
And then I will need to clean it correctly and detail it!
Now it is safely home and in storage I have drained the air tanks, not as much moisture in them as I was expecting.
But a solid stream initially, clear fluid then vapour until just air.
I will also have to tighten the mirrors as they moved a couple of times and I had to push them back a little.
Oh and I must not forget the front left indicator globe that's not working.
As I did a final walk around I did notice some small wet droplet patches that look like it might be brake fluid from the rear brakes on the rear wheels/tyres.
Will have to track that down, also while under the Deuce I did notice some fresh oil leaks around drive line components and down side of engine,...
Will have to clean all that and make sure its not a major issue or just part of Deuce ownership!
Pictures/ video to follow.
End Report.