Once the short ladder was up the side of the cab, the tool kit came out. Firstly, the two tone horns needed relocating. When the bells were removed and these were fitted by the Home Office, they were mounted inside of the bell hanger on the cab roof so needed moving to the outside to make room for the new lump of brass.
Before - horns inside the bell hanger:
After - now on the outside:
Then it was off with the neat aluminium cover for the bell hanger and leather strap. These were obviously blocked off when the bells were removed to keep the rain out!
Once done and after a bit of faffing, the bell was on - no easy task given the weight of it and carefully operating at the top of a ladder!
Looks much more the part (even if they never had bells on Op Fresco!)... Probably the first time in 25 years that it has been fitted with a bell?
The view from the inside:
Once that was done and the work was admired, it was time to remove the bell again for the winter (given the value!) and to tidy up the tubing. The outside cable ties will be changed to black in due course:
Once that pleasing task was done, I then spent a few minutes placing orange cables ties on much of the fire kit to identify it when it's out. At big shows such as Derby when a lot of kit comes out of many vehicles, it will hopefully make it easier to find my stuff!
The last thing to do was to get the starting handle out to give the engine a few turns to keep it lubricated and to change which valves stay open:
I also brought the hearth kit home to keep it dry over the winter, however, the addition of three large silica bags to absorb any moisture appear to be doing the trick!
After that, it was time for home. A short and simple but pleasing few hours!
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