An odd beginning to the week by going off plan to complete the lighting switch-box cover. This was prompted by a need to clear workshop space. I still need to fit a clasp to the hinged cover over the fuses. I then cut the channel to size for the cab window fixed pane, in preparation for welding the angle that retains the anti-rattle/draught excluder fabric, the angle having arrived today. The next day was unexpectedly sunny so I got on with preparing the wheels for primer. I sprayed them with red oxide the following day and and was satisfied with the result, having given them two coats, despite the freezing cold weather. I wasn’t feeling great the next day, so just touched up with a brush any areas I’d missed on the wheels. I next turned my attention to the cab window and assembled the bit of vertical frame required for the fixed pane, this involved welding angle to the channel to hold the strip of material for the draught/anti-rattle seal. This went well except for catching the enf of the channel with the tip of the mig, burning a bit away. Having trimmed the overlapping angle, it was apparent that this would hardly show so I left it. Last job was to spray the assembly with red oxide primer, before the cold (-2C) drove me indoors.
Tag Archives: wheels
31/12/2024 and year summary for 2024
As this is Christmas and new year week, not much got done but I started the week by completing and testing the wiring of the boot light and its switch. After Christmas, the first job was to update the plan for 2025. When I got out to the bus shed, I primed the remaining cab woodwork as a prelude to painting, ready for fitting of the cab window. I then cleaned and polished the fixed pane of the cab window and cut the remaining piece of steel channel for this pane. I’m awaiting the arrival of some steel angle to complete this with the draught excluder. I also primed the aluminium panel below the cab window on the inside of the cab door and some of the woodword on the emrgency door got a second coat.
As this is the last entry of the year, a summary of work completed in the last twelve months is appropriate.
All the offside half-drop windows were assembled and installed.
New window frames were constructed and new glass fitted for the final non-opening offside window and the emergency door window. The cab offside window was glazed.
The emergency door was rebuilt with new exterior panels and the new window, then rehung and externally primed.
Attention was given to cab details, including the grab handles, fire extinguisher and holder, and the interior lights switch box which was repaired and painted. Paint was stripped from under the front canopy. A new panel was fitted to the inside of the cab door and the cab window frame and slam lock repaired.
The seats were removed, and retrimmed in the correct moquette (sourced from Facebook appeals) and brown vinyl by Ifor Evans. The driver’s seat was also retrimmed by Ifor.
On the electrical side, the indicator switch in the cab was partially cabled, the destination box had the bulb holders installed and wiring through to the cab completed. The boot lamp was installed and wired up to a the switch and successfully tested.
The wheels had their tyres removed and the rims sandblasted and partially primed.
22/12/2024
Still unable to do much at the start of the week, but towards the middle of the week I was able to start preparing to spray the wheels with primer. I mixed the paint then laid out five wheels and wire-brushed the deeply pitted remaining rust. I then sprayed the inside face with zinc phosphate red oxide, applying two coats. I gave the five a second coat after 24 hours and then started on the remaining two, wire-brushing then a single coat of red oxide, applying a second coat on the following day, laying on as much paint as I could.
I was able to work out what I had once they all had been painted. Two skinny ones for the front, two more of the same pattern but fatter, for the outer rears, two of a identical but different from the others for the rear inners and an odd one for the spare.
Four of the wheels after blasting and rears primed.