1963 Bedford TK Restoration

Hi Team,
Firstly thank you for letting me join your forum and in time the HCVCA. By way of introduction I have just purchased a 63 Bedford TK Tipper. It has a 7 tonne (payload) a 5m tray with detatchable sides and tailgate and what appear to be large "hungry boards" with internal bracing that turns it into a grain bin. She is powered by a 6354 Perkins with a Turner T5 (overdrive 5th) box and 2 speed diff. There is a bit of rust in both doors and one of the engine covers and the passenger side guard needs a bit of panel work to get straight again.

She came registered so I drove her home to Murrumbateman from down near Echuca yeaterday (around 7 hours). The two speed diff was not working, but apart from a minor diesel leak that was fixed with a shifter on the side of the road, she ran well.

Today I inspected the vacuum assist system and found that the diff actuator had vacuum to both sides. When I applied a vacuum to one side or the other the actuator worked so that was a good sign. Diaphragm checked out OK, but showing signs of age. Checked the actuator valve and found the piston were gunked up - cleaned and applied some WD40 and the diff was pack in action. Replaced the vacuum hoses with new ones so that system should be good for another 60 years.  The rear tank was not being used - so drained, cleaned and inpected it - and found no issues except that it was connected with 18mm garden hose that was badly UV damaged.  So that was replaced a fuel grade hose. Need to replace at least one bush in the gear selector but apart from that - a few rust repairs and bit of paint and she will be OK.

I have located a set of doors, engine covers and guards from a 68 TK. So I guess that gets me to my first question, are the TK doors, guards etc interchangable throught the years or do I need to be looking elsewhere?

Second question relates to finding out the history of the ruck. I know at some stage, from the doco I found in the truck, that is was still being used an a farm to carry oats and hay in 03/04 and the last two years it has been on a farm in Mathoura, NSW. The detail on the engine cover indicates that the truck at one stage belonged to R. Hausler of Hawkesdale (SW Vic). If you know anything of this truck it would be great to know.

As for me - Ex Army Ginger Beer. Not new to restoring cars or bikes - but first truck. Got a few classic bikes, an FC ute in the shed that's about ot go on a rotisserie for a full resto and an old KB ute cab we plan to throw on a Rodeo chassis and power with a LS3 to take to Summernats some time down the track.

Cheers n Beers
Jolls

You will be welcomed on here Jells, and asked for photos of course.
Try contacting Old School Trucking on South West Victoria, FB website. Peter Shiells, admin, and John Mahoney, moderator may be able to help with the previous owner you mentioned.
They both operate trucks in the area.
Best wishes with the project.

Sounds like a good start for a project
From what I know about Bedfords (which isn't much at) the brakes were never much chop by todays standard
However, they did stop okay for many decades
Good deal with the Perkins and overdrive, you wont be sorry with that combination

Paul

Local operator gets around here with a green tipper, V8 petrol. Sounds good, looks original.

Nice start. They did have a nice easy access, good visibility driver friendly cab with a plus if you are built like a jockey the standard cab comes with a "sleeper" - or at least somewhere to put your lunch box.

Thanks Paul, I will reach out and see what I can come up with.

Mrsmackpaul, you are on the money regarding the brakes, they aren't brilliant but for vacuum assisted hydraulics they did OK getting me home. They definitely require you to think through cornering and the maintenance of an appropriate stopping distance.

Thanks Lang, I'm probably short enough to sleep in the cab but pI'm a little wider than a jockey so I will probably store my lunch and esky up there along with the laser level and staff for the excavator.

Hi Team,

Can anyone point me in the right direction on where to locate a wiring diagram for a 63 TK?

Cheers

Craig

Still looking. Here is a free download to keep you reading.


www.scribd.com/document/569118044/1976-B...rd-TK-570-to-TK-1000