M561 M792 Condec Gama Goat

    Having more fun with the Goat

    Richard Lehr  17 April 2020 13:44:00
    There was a noise, a loud noise. While driving a Goat it is really hard to investigate for the cause. We started in front, with the oil pump of the transfer case which is known for some fails and noise. But this was working as desired. Next the drive shafts and differentials of the tractor. Also nothing found. Next the carrier. And yes, we got it. But really hard to see and find, because it is hidden in the housing for the carrier's propeller shaft.

    The bearing in the housing was disassembled. Only the inner and outer part of the bearing was there.

    Next problem was the yoke. The thread was nearly gone because the retainer of the slip joint was released and so it worked on the shaft and yoke.

    Image:Having more fun with the Goat

    Image:Having more fun with the Goat

    Image:Having more fun with the Goat

    Image:Having more fun with the Goat

    Image:Having more fun with the Goat
    Comments Disabled

      Back to Power

      Richard Lehr  13 March 2020 11:00:00
      This date is unforgettable: March, 13th, 2020. Friday. The weekend before the first shutdown in Germany because of the Corona pandemic.

      We picked up the engine at
      Viertel Motoren in Nuremberg in the morning of this magic Friday.

      Back home the engine went back into the engine compartment.

      All leaks gone, new gaskets everywhere, Blower changed from my replacement engine into the running engine. And finally painted in green. Looks like new but still the old buddy.


      And while the radiator was leaking, a NOS one came in, too.

      Image:Back to Power

      Image:Back to Power


      Comments Disabled

        How to become an Oil Baron

        Richard Lehr  31 October 2019 10:04:00
        Wondering why the engine was consuming so much oil, the Detroit Diesel was lifted out of the engine compartment for a better inspection from all sides.

        We found a leak on the crankshaft seal, clutch side. There was also oil coming out of the blower housing on the engine's front side. And yes, the oil filter housing was leaking a little bit. But that much? I filled up quarts after driving and the result is shown in the picture. I would say a gallon of oil was down there, in the engine compartment.

        Decision made, phone call made - driving south for delivery to Viertel Motoren in Nuremberg. Viertel Motoren is an authorized service partner for Detroit Diesel engines since 1970. While the engine is still in use, there is no problem in getting parts. As long as the US Army did not make some modifications.

        Image:How to become a Oil Baron
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          A new NATO Intervehicular Connector

          Richard Lehr  15 May 2016 19:20:00
          I got new parts to re-install the intervehicular connector. And the lights at the rear are working as before.

          Image:A new NATO Intervehicular Connector
          Comments Disabled

            Light Problems

            Richard Lehr  24 April 2016 19:51:00
            In 2015 I drove home and a friend of mine, driving behind me, told me, that my brake light and turn signal on the driver side isn't working.

            So I checked nearly everything on the tractor and carrier. I did not found the cause. Finally I unplugged the connector. Well, two pins broken, but these are not for the rear lights, they are for the connectors in the carrier. While you cannot open the connector for inspection, I had to destroy it. After weeks of searching the solution was near and invisible. The cable from the rear was broken and no longer connected to the pin.


            Image:Light Problems
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              Axle Shaft

              Richard Lehr  19 December 2015 17:28:00
              A new axle shaft and deflector together with my new self-made seal and a self-made tool to install the seal on the axle shaft.

              Image:Axle Shaft
              Comments Disabled

                Plain encased seal at the axle shaft

                Richard Lehr  4 December 2015 20:06:00
                Since everything was done, the first year ended up in more maintenance work. Or better: investigation. It was not possible to find the seal (NSN 5330-00-410-2329 | P/N 11640306) which seals the axle shaft and the brake housing against dust and water. A friend of mine made me one which I installed together with a new axle shaft and deflector.

                First it started with the seal. We used a material which might help to survive the next century
                .Image:Plain encased seal at the axle shaft

                And this was the final result:
                Image:Plain encased seal at the axle shaft

                Image:Plain encased seal at the axle shaft



                Comments Disabled

                  Happiness and Sadness

                  Richard Lehr  6 June 2015 19:20:00
                  Since everything was working well on the brakes. I made my first offroad test drive.

                  I do not know why I checked the inside of the drums. But it was a good idea. From where is this mud and dirt coming?

                  Image:Happiness and Sadness

                  Image:Happiness and Sadness

                  Image:Happiness and Sadness

                  Image:Happiness and Sadness

                  Image:Happiness and Sadness
                  Comments Disabled

                    Brake Lines

                    Richard Lehr  22 August 2014 18:35:00
                    Because of the trouble with the rust and dirt, I was happy to find some NOS brake line which are located in the brake drum and fitted to the wheel brake cylinder.

                    Image:Brake Lines
                    Comments Disabled

                      Wheel stud modified

                      Richard Lehr  14 August 2014 15:10:00
                      In a turning shop the wheel bolt was modified so that it can no longer rotate when the nut is tightened.

                      Image:Wheel stud modified
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                        Brake Shoes

                        Richard Lehr  5 August 2014 14:48:00
                        Received "like new" brake shows today. The new brake pad on the original shoes are glued not riveted. Does not matter, the main thing is the Goat brakes.

                        Image:Brake Shoes

                        Image:Brake Shoes
                        Comments Disabled

                          Bolt Feaver

                          Richard Lehr  30 July 2014 20:27:00
                          Trying to fasten the wheel nut ended in a rotating bolt.

                          Image:Bolt Feaver
                          Comments Disabled

                            The Brakes - Harm Balance

                            Richard Lehr  15 May 2014 17:55:22
                            Parts needed to repair the Brakes

                            4 left and right helical spring (brake shoe return)
                            4 show pin guide
                            2 extension spring
                            1 tube assembly
                            6 hydraulic brake cylinders (for all six wheels)
                            6 key washer
                            2 adjustment screw

                            and new brake linings for all six wheels.
                            Comments Disabled

                              The Brakes - Front Right - 2nd Continuation

                              Richard Lehr  14 May 2014 22:18:00
                              The problem with the brakes - Act Eight

                              Last but not least the inside of the brake on the front right side. Without words.

                              Image:The Brakes - Front Right - 2nd Continuation

                              Image:The Brakes - Front Right - 2nd Continuation
                              Comments Disabled

                                The Brakes - Front Left - Continuation

                                Richard Lehr  14 May 2014 20:39:00
                                The problem with the brakes - Act Seven

                                The inside of the drum is like a dry lake.

                                Image:The Brakes - Front Left - Continuation

                                 A return spring is broken.

                                Image:The Brakes - Front Left - Continuation

                                Image:The Brakes - Front Left - Continuation

                                Comments Disabled

                                  The Brakes - Left Middle - Continuation

                                  Richard Lehr  14 May 2014 19:22:00
                                  The problem with the brakes - Act Six

                                  The inside of the "oil pan" is like new ...

                                  Image:The Brakes - Left Middle - Continuation

                                  Image:The Brakes - Left Middle - Continuation

                                  Image:The Brakes - Left Middle - Continuation

                                  Image:The Brakes - Left Middle - Continuation

                                  Comments Disabled

                                    The Brakes - Front Right - Continuation

                                    Richard Lehr  3 May 2014 19:26:00
                                    The problem with the brakes - Act Five

                                    After having no luck in getting off the brake drum from the wheel hub, we decided to cut the six rivets. And we had luck, the brake drum went off. But no chance to get off the brake drum assembly hub from the shaft ...

                                    Image:The Brakes - Front Right - Continuation

                                    Image:The Brakes - Front Right - Continuation

                                    Until using the strongest tool in the shop ...

                                    Image:The Brakes - Front Right - Continuation
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                                      The Brakes - Front Right

                                      Richard Lehr  23 April 2014 18:58:00
                                      The problem with the brakes - Act Four

                                      It was not possible to get off the drum on the front axle's right side. Got a nice endoscope from a M151 driver in Hanover and had a first look.

                                      What you see is the housing at the bottom right and the bracke backing plate at the upper left. And there is something in between which shouldn't be there ...

                                      Image:The Brakes - Front Right
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                                        The Brakes - Front Left

                                        Richard Lehr  19 April 2014 16:16:00
                                        The problem with the brakes - Act Three

                                        Drum on the first axle on the right side:

                                        A nightmare. Looked like somebody has forgotten to close the holes in the drum - RTFM.

                                        What I found inside was brickearth and a broken return spring.

                                        Image:The Brakes - Front Left

                                        Image:The Brakes - Front Left

                                        Comments Disabled

                                          The Brakes - Rear Left

                                          Richard Lehr  19 April 2014 15:55:00
                                          The problem with the brakes - Act Two

                                          Drum on the third axle on the left side:

                                          Just a little bit of oil.

                                          Image:The Brakes - Rear Left
                                          Comments Disabled

                                            The Brakes - Left Middle

                                            Richard Lehr  19 April 2014 15:03:00
                                            The problem with the brakes - Act One

                                            Half way on my way home from the freight forwarder's yard I lost brake pressure. Wow, what a nice situation having no brakes on a 3.5 ton truck. As I wrote before the Goat's brake drums are filled with overpressure and the air is coming from ... the engine. The engineers have forgotten to put an oil separator in the vent line coming from the engine and going to the wheels. Known issue ...

                                            First I opened the drum of the second axle on the left side:

                                            It looked like an oil pan after draining.the oil. Excellent rust-proofing.

                                            Image:The Brakes - Left Middle

                                            Image:The Brakes - Left Middle

                                            Looked like new ...

                                            Image:The Brakes - Left Middle
                                            Comments Disabled