Fire Trucks

I wouldn't crank any motor for 30 seconds, unless I had shares in a starter motor company.

I'll have a look in my Merc handbook. I think I've still got it, unless I left it in the truck when I sold it. I never had problems starting, but then our ambient temperature in WINTER is about 28 degrees!!

Looks like I gave my handbook away with the truck. I don't remember there being a 'cold start' trick though. Two good sized 12V batteries cabled in parallel gives plenty of oomph for starting. Cheers - Bugly

Many thanks for checking for your book Bugly. I do (now) agree that there is no cold start procedure. I also agree that 2 well charged parallel wired big batteries certainly improves the starting - as I have proved over the past couple of days.

Thanks again, iank

We've got a Merc and a couple of Iveco with Deutz donks. The need a lot of cranking over to get started if left too long. Just seems like the fuel is draining back into the tank from the lines. Thinking about putting a NR valve into the line.

Hi Beaver, You may be right there with the fuel bleed back. This truck of mine has a 4 cyl Hatz diesel on the back driving the fire water pump. At first I had to crank for "too" long to start it and found myself hand-priming it before it would kick for exactly the same reason. I have cured that beautifully by fitting a little electric in-line fuel pump right at the engine, which runs when I turn the "ignition" on, then cuts out when the engine starts (ie alternator starts to provide output voltage).
iank

See also this modern one in a different part of the forum:
www.hcvc.com.au/forum/modtruck/15445-epp...vic-fire-truck-named

Roderick

Vintage fire engines on display for MFB’s 125th anniversary.
May 3, 2016 Hobsons Bay Leader.
Fire Services Museum president Mike McCumisky preparing the vintage fire trucks for display. Picture: Mark Wilson.
THE days of the horse-drawn fire cart are long gone, but with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade celebrating 125 years of serving Melbourne, it’s time to dust off the vintage trucks for a special display.
The Fire Services Museum of Victoria will open the doors of its Newport workshops from 10am to 4pm this Saturday, May 7, to exhibit dozens of lovingly-preserved fire appliances from the past 100 years.
Maintained by volunteers and retired firefighters, the workshops, opposite Williamstown Cemetery in Champion Rd, provide a unique insight into the evolving technology used by Victorian firefighters to keep the community safe.
In its first year, MFB had 59 permanent firefighters, 229 auxiliary firefighters, four steam fire engines, 25 horse drawn hose carts and 58 hose reels. There were only 33 horses and 48 stations in 1891, and the brigade attended 816 calls and 485 fires, of which 188 fires were classified as serious.
Since then it has grown to a workforce with more than 2200 employees, 47 fire stations and 147 fire and specialist appliances. In 2014-15 MFB attended 36,923 calls.
As part of MFB’s 125th Anniversary Celebrations, the public can get up close to the old fire trucks and talk to retired firefighters about their time in the service.
The event will include a barbecue and photo opportunities.
Entry is by gold coin donation.
< www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/west/vintage...1e410ea8fe9aa868f394 >

Operational today for the first time in over 30 years, our 1938 Dennis-Magirus turntable

ladders.

Will get along for that.

Spotted this old Firie at Wolvi Machinery Show today