With the pump being mounted at chest height, it was either a climb to get into the top of the pump through the top cover or a crawl underneath... Awkward either way! The main pump was drained easily enough - the drain plug was easy to find. The primer was a pain - there was a lot of water in there to start with and it took ages to drain, a torrent then a dribble, then another torrent. In the end, a cloth underneath on the floor and leaving it over lunch did the trick although flushing some new oil through did help!
Water pouring out of the primer drain tap:
The 'draining cloth over lunch method' - saves sitting underneath holding a bottle and funnel....:
Once drained, both parts were filled with new oil up to half way up each level glass. Then the pump gland lubricator was removed and the old grease scooped out before being replaced. Once done, the priming handle mechanism was well-greased and now works much more smoothly.
Primer assmbly cleaned and greased:
Level glasses filled half way up:
Then, one of the outlet taps was re-packed and for the finishing touch, I repainted the drain cock taps front and back light blue as they were originally:
Then, with all the three prop shafts re-greased yesterday (half a tub of grease gone!!) I checked the front swivels (fine) and the front and rear diff; the rear needed about 200ml and the front 250ml. The front looked a bit dirty so that can be changed at a later date although the lack of drain plug did confuse me but apparently undoing the diff cover at the bottom will drain it. Strange but simple I suppose!
A few other odd jobs done such as putting on the
height warning above the windscreen and the first aid hose 'on / off'
labels (as I always forget) and it was time for home.
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