OZM29C

@Beepbeep Your sprocket teeth look decidedly worn. I have got a drawing somewhere at home that shows the correct tooth profile but as a comparison, attached is a photo of my LAR sprockets and you can see the difference in the teeth when compared to yours. Unfortunately LAR don't make this sprocket any more.

@Patrick Tipton @Kevin Vogel Patrick I would hazard a guess that Studebaker engineers routed the wire from the Starter solenoid (earth) to the Armature terminal on the Voltage regulator to prevent the starter being accidentally engaged when the engine is running. I too would be checking the starter solenoid wiring. Also I would check that the starter solenoid wires are correctly orientated in relation to their respective terminals. I have attached the VWOM instruction booklet that details which wire goes where. Be aware though that there is a mistake in the VWOM wiring schematic in that the solenoid to regulator wire (white r/t) should terminate on the voltage regulator Armature terminal, not the Battery terminal as indicated. Refer page 101 TM9-772 (4 August 1945) VWM Wiring Instruction Booklet.pdf

@Beepbeep Checked my NOS seat bases last night and I can indeed confirm that there is a wedge shape in the seat base. Highest at the front. Drops roughly 30mm from front to back. Cheers

👍👍👍 @F-D ZerniaFred, I will be watching your progress with interest, particularly the sprocket. Cheers

Fred @F-D Zernia they are certainly robust sprockets. Attached is a photo of your sprocket where I have highlighted an area of concern. Can I ask, Is the highlighted edge 'Sharpe'? If so, this may cause metal chaffing/shaving of the track guides as they feed into the sprocket. See attached second photo. That edge should have a radius. I too have fitted LAR tracks and sprockets to my weasel and I did spend a lot of time and effort modifying the LAR sprockets to prevent this very problem. Just a thought. Cheers John

Well Done👍 As a default I just used one thick and one thin bogey arm shim for adjustment. That saw my weasel sitting pretty close to right.

Spent the day with a plan to fit the four seatbelts. Unfortunately only got one belt in. The canvas was treated for mildew (looks like cosmoline) back in 54 and it made the canvas straps very hard to push through the buckles. Some choice words made me feel better 😄. For the purists, the belts are not OEM weasel but they look the parts. @Patrick TiptonPatrick, what is a G125? My new John and Mary Worthing UK seat and seat back covers arrive in country this week.

@Patrick TiptonThanks Patrick, the photos are much easier on the eye now. Good to hear that you are on the mend. We are in lockdown at present with a figure of 70 to 80% vaccination rate being quoted before the easing of some restrictions. I am off to get my second AZ jab today so I have played my part in a minuscule way to beat this virus. Look forward to viewing the weasel videos again.

@Patrick Tipton My damn I phone has done it again. Patrick can you please invert my photos to the correct orientation? Hope you a feeling better. Cheers John

On the weekend I applied the final coat of O D to the passenger side complimented by the stencils. I also fitted 12mm thick high density foam to the seat backs in lieu of the old horse hair/ felt pads. 3 done, one to go. My new irJohn and Mary Worthing canvas seat covers and seat back covers should be in country any day now.

@RAS1Dave, your top photo of the bracket fitted to the floater is the correct bracket for that spec weasel. Can't offer any advice on the others. Cheers

@lore16What type of steel did you use to manufacture your replacement axle? https://atlassteels.com.au/stainless-and-engineering-steel-bar-and-wire/alloy-steel-bar/

@Patrick Tipton Patrick, can I add my two cents worth here? I would suggest that a continuity check be made on the starter solenoid wiring. The wires are; From the starter switch to the starter solenoid (Yellow) and from the solenoid to the Armature terminal on the voltage regulator (white R/T). This rules out one potential area where electrical problems could occur.

Thanks @5280BeltfedThere may have been a chance, all but very slim though, that it was the engine for my GPW. Mine is in the 135xxx range.

@5280BeltfedOut of interest, what are the serial numbers for the GPW engines?

@RAS1Dave, you might be able to encourage 😀 Patrick @Patrick Tiptonto reproduce the compass compensating card. See photos below. Pioneer 1830 Compass compensating card: 55mm x 69mm thin cardboard, folded in middle. Photos and information courtesy of Steve M.

@M29Dan, Good work on the final drive👍 As I said to Patrick, take your time and follow the instructions in the manual. I have been following your restoration thread with interest. It will be good to see it mobile one day but for now one step at a time. Out of interest, was the T15 designed to float?

Did you ever wonder what the insides of a Cordomatic Spotlight retractable reel looks like. I got the opportunity after having the retracting spring snap, the very first time I went to use it. I purchased the reel many years ago and mounted in position a while back. On the weekend just gone I thought that I would try it out. Bad move, the spring snapped. Anyway after a number of attempts to repair the spring I came up with the idea of fitting a brass collar over the spring. Pictures tell the story. Seems to work OK. I think I will leave the Reel now as a show piece.

@RAS1Dave, I haven't been able to find out much information on Task Force Frost other than the exercise was conducted post WW2 so there would be a good chance that the weasel pictured was initially painted in Semi Gloss OD.

@RAS1Dave, the school of thought when I put the question about the Operation Frost Weasel colour scheme was that it was OD and white, not black and white as it appears in the photo l.

@RAS1I'm wondering on overhaul if they didn't just use whatever parts were laying around, and built this from many weasels? Dave, after rebuilding my Letterkenny weasel, I am reasonably confident that the answer to your question above is 'Yes'. I have late production float tanks fitted to a mid production hull, late model dashboard and the accelerator mod kit fitted. The oil can bracket is in the correct position. Don't remove the bracket holding the Bubba bilge pump. It was used to mount a heater kit. Tiller Handgrips are not OEM. I will leave your production date questions to the more learned weasel scholars on this subject. BTW a real nice starting project. I hope that you keep it as a Letterkenny weasel as I did. Cheers JW

@Patrick TiptonThats the way to do it Patrick, adapt, overcome and improvise. Well done 👍👍👍

@RAS1Dave, great story. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I have seen photos of 'Old Rusty' many many years ago. So much so I kept the photos for reference. Good to see it has found a new home. Would Old Rusty be a Letterkenny Rebuilt Weasel? I am not quite sure about the fitment of a machine gun in the back of a floater???? I guess anything goes in the movies. The only wartime photo I have of a Weasel fitted with a Machine gun is of a British Weasel fitted with what I am told is a Vickers MG. Having said that I am sure that user trials were conducted with MG's. The condition of Old Rusty's hull will determine what you do with it.

@RAS1Look forward to following your restoration journey👍