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Author Topic: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!  (Read 2103 times)

Offline Clever Hans

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ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« on: July 12, 2016, 08:06:33 pm »
 :D :D :D :D
We did it! We imported, HGV tested and registered a Unimog!
Clever Hans the German Fire Engine now has a UK logbook, a UK registration number and proper Ministry plates  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Once the faff with the headlights got sorted (the eventual answer was: stickers LOL), he sailed through, and the "permission to get numberplates made" letter arrived while we were away on holiday. Nice surprise when we got home!

DVSA HGV plate and plating certificate arrived too, so we're good to go. :D

He's had his maiden voyage already - we got the numberplates made up on Saturday, and drove him 145 miles to drop off the youngest at her boyfriend's place. Wheels stayed between cool and lukewarm all the way, and despite a certain gutlessness up long hills (courtesy of the fast axles/diffs), Hans took it all in stride very nicely.

The only annoying thing was - we developed a squeak on the back springs... there is a smaller diameter spring inside the big one at the back, and one of them seems to have moved a bit at the bottom end and be rubbing against the outer spring. Nothing appears to be missing. Anybody got an idea how to put it back, or is this replacement territory?

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Offline ziggy131

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2016, 09:56:59 am »
I am glad you got it sorted and the road, as it can get abit stressful at time's if like me you have never done it before.

I never got a permission to make number plate letter. I just waited for the log book to arrive which took 2 weeks (which I've had to send back as the vin number had a digit missing form it) ???

So how did it perform overall, what kind of speed is it comfortable at? Mine is ok at 40/45 mph but as soon as I hit any inclines the speed drops of fairly quickly.

Offline Clever Hans

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2016, 07:19:36 pm »
Yeah, it's a steep learning curve, isn't it?

It drives pretty well, has a better turning circle than our old American pickup, though due to the fast axles it is pretty gutless when faced with hills. Sue is getting familiarised with the right moment to change down... and down... and down. LOL
Moose informs us that this can be rectified by turboing the engine... next year's adaptation, I think!

It'll do 60 no problem, but it is definitely happier between and 50 and 55.

Added bonus is the exhaust brake for long downhill stretches - combining the two different sorts of braking is a real Godsend!

:D

Offline moose

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2016, 08:32:36 pm »
Glad she's up and running enjoy 😀 Pm me and I'll discuss turbos at a later stage does she have a pto ?
Moose

Offline Rabbit Recovery

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2016, 07:15:16 pm »
That's great news. I will follow the turbo bit with interest as I know of a kit but still cannot decide if I really want to do that with my engine.
New challenges every month, but driving one cannot be beaten.

Offline Rabbit Recovery

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2016, 07:43:04 pm »
I just wandered away and thought I better come back and share something that has been said on here before but I feel is worth repeating.  Replace all your axle and hub oils with Syntrans or similar synthetic gear oil. (As is usual Moose is the best source of advice) but basically I did this to my U1000 and it has transformed it. The reduction in rolling resistance from the axles is very noticeable. I can pull a higher gear up most of the hills around me and my fuel consumption appears to have dropped (not that I really track it, but out on rallies it hasn't been a case of adding a jerry can to make sure I get home which I seem to remember doing last year). The reason that it is better on fuel is that it seems to carry its speed better (weighing in at 6ton it should do down hill anyway) but I mean on the flat.  :) :)
New challenges every month, but driving one cannot be beaten.

Offline Clever Hans

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2016, 08:49:38 am »
Hi Moose,
we'll definitely want to pick your brains when we get to the turboing stage! Yes, it has a front PTO (the very fast one as currently it has a large water pump on it).
Rob

Offline Clever Hans

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2016, 08:54:23 am »
Re replacing all hub and axle oils with Syntrans or similar - Moose, what grades of synthetic would we be best getting for axles, gearbox and hubs respectively? Don't want to damage the seals.
It's a 1981 U1300L 37. Can give you the VIN number if that would be useful.
Cheers,
Rob

Offline moose

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2016, 03:58:38 pm »
Any synthetic gear oil 75/90 in the hubs diff but the gearbox get millers or Morris oils the gearbox needs to be gl 5 spec if you want to be absolutely correct buy from a Mercedes Unimog dealer but you'll pay for it.
Because your not going to overload your machine you could use standard oil and change regularly I like this because you see the condttion and levels at regular intervals always check the levels before you drain to see if you have any seals gone.
Moose

Offline Clever Hans

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2016, 10:51:12 pm »
Drained and refilled the front hubs and front diff today with Hypoid Gear Oil, 75/90. The driver's side front hub had about 100ml left in the hub, passenger side maybe 200ml... now they both have 250ml in as per the operator's handbook. The diff dropped a bit over 2 litres, and was refilled with 2.5 litres. Going to take it out for a drive tomorrow. :)
Back axle next!

Offline Villager

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2016, 08:19:11 pm »
Hi Clever hans,

Any updates on this?

Cheers, Brian
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Offline Clever Hans

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2016, 08:24:49 pm »
Update! It's made it quieter... comparatively speaking, this is a Unimog after all! That seems to be about it, but it's good to know it's done.
We've checked every so often and the hubs have required a wee top-up, especially the driver's side hub. If you have a look at this link, it's a handy and pretty simple fix for what is apparently a recurring problem for the 6-bolt fast axles: oil migration via capillary action, with the hub oil ending up in the axle. It's usually worse on the driver's side, but ours does it a bit on both sides, just to be different.
Link here: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/unimog/1528450-drivers-side-portal-box-vent-tube.html
I'm sure some of you will have seen this kind of thing before, but for us and those who haven't, it's a neat solution. :)

 ;) Rob & Sue  :)

Offline moose

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2016, 07:28:22 am »
Seen this before it is a good solution my 1450 does just this, you can't beat getting out of your Unimog after a long drive walking round it putting your hand on each hub if it's hot you have a Pottential problem anything Over 70c is a real problem and needs looking at, I'm not just talking about low oil level there's contamination over full hubs from input seals and overloaded axles.
All I'm saying is don't become complacent as there only 200ml of oil in em and there easy enough to change 😊
Moose

Offline Clever Hans

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2016, 09:59:39 pm »
Definitely not planning to become complacent about it! LOL already in the habit of strolling round whenever we stop to check the hub temperatures by hand... can't see that changing. And good point re contamination.

Offline Rabbit Recovery

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Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2016, 04:42:33 pm »
Rob & Sue,

That is a great little link you have put up from benzworld that I had not seen. It looks like I have some fabrication to do as my drivers side hub definitely suffers from this! It is something that I have always worried about and had assumed that capillary action was to blame but had never seen a solution to before.

Thank you,

Paul
New challenges every month, but driving one cannot be beaten.