GPO Vehicles

PO ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS
TOOLS AND TRANSPORT
VEHICLES
B 3614
Issue 1, Oct. 1969

MOTOR TRANSPORT
LANDROVER STATION WAGON TYPE 2

1. General
This Instruction describes the Landrover Station Wagon Type 2 and the facilities it provides. It may be used for drawing cable into duct or for mole ploughing. Further vehicle data will be found in N 3004.

2. Description
The vehicle (Fig. 1 above) is a short wheelbase (88 in.) Landrover Station Wagon, fitted with a front mounted 5500 lb. hydraulic capstan. A hand throttle control and a 4 wheel brake locking system are provided. The vehicle controls are illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig 2

Fig 3

3. Cab
The cab provides seating for the driver and a passenger.

4. Body
The body (Fig. 3) is of the standard station wagon type with longitudinal four passengers (but see para. 15). A retractable table is fitted for welfare seats for purposes.

5. Engine
A petrol engine is fitted. When used for winching it is controlled by a quadrant lever which presets the governed speed of the engine. Two red emergency stop buttons on the front of the vehicle cut out the ignition when either is depressed. The button remains in that condition until reset by a rotary movement, which allows it to spring out again.

The 10 gal. fuel tank gives a range of approximately 130 miles but this is reduced when the vehicle is used for winching.

6. Brake locking device
Whenever the vehicle is used for winching all four wheels should be locked. The brake locking device is a non-return valve in the hydraulic brake system which retains the hydraulic pressure applied by the brake pedal. The method of operation is as follows:-

1. Rotate the brake locking system knob on the dashboard anti-clockwise as far as it will travel; the warning lamp will light, showing that the system is operative.
2. Depress the footbrake pedal firmly to lock the wheels. Check that the pressure has been maintained by pressing the pedal a second time. The pedal travel should be greatly reduced and the brake lamps should be glowing.
3. To release the brakes prior to moving the vehicle, turn the knob fully clockwise to the OFF position. The warning light on the dashboard and the brake lights will be extinguished.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON.

7. Stabilizers
The vehicle, as issued for cabling in duct, is equipped with two stabilizers fitted to the front bumper (Fig. 1). These must be used when cabling to prevent excessive downward loads on the front of the chassis. Failure to use the stabilizers when cabling in either manholes or joint boxes will result in bent chassis members.

8. Wheel chocks
Two chocks (Fig. 4) are provided for anchoring the vehicle. These must be used for mole ploughing when the load is mainly horizontal, and the downward load is small. The stabilizers (para. 6) must be removed to allow the chocks to be used.

Fig 4

The chocks are placed in front of the front wheels so that the vehicle may be driven on to them. The chains are placed over the bumper so that the strain is taken by the reinforced cart of the bumper close to the chassis attachment brackets. The vehicle is driven forward until the chains tighten and prevent further movement (Fig.5). The four wheel brake lock is then put on (Fig. 2). Each chock has an adjustable blade which is extendable for soft surfaces. When not in use the chocks may be folded flat for convenient storage in the vehicle.

The stabilizers must be replaced if the vehicle is to be used subsequently for cabling in duct.

Fig 5

Fig 6

9. Ground anchors
Ground anchors (Fig. 6) are provided to anchor the rear of the vehicle, or the end of the rope, when a snatch block is employed to increase the pull of the winch.

10. Transfer gears and front wheel drive control
A transfer gear box is provided to select one of two ratios in the output from the main gear box, giving a high and low range of gears. The transfer gear lever has three positions; HIGH (forward), NEUTRAL (centre) and LOW (rearward), and should be moved only when the vehicle is stationary. In the LOW position four wheel drive is automatically engaged, in the HIGH position the drive is normally to the rear wheels only, but when required for travel over difficult terrain four wheel drive can be obtained by depression of the yellow front wheel drive control knob. Front wheel drive can be disengaged by stopping the vehicle and moving the transfer gear lever first to LOW and then back to HIGH. The vehicle should not be driven on metalled roads with front wheel drive operative.

11. Winch
This is hydraulic vertical capstan mounted in front of the radiator grill (Fig. 7). It is designed for use with a 3.25 in. circumference natural fibre rope, which requires three turns round the capstan. A horizontal roller is mounted in front of the capstan to cater for downward pulls. The hydraulic pump is driven from the gear box power take off and the oil supply to the winch motor is controlled by the hydraulic ON/OFF valve lever (Fig. 8). A safety valve is incorporated in the ON/OFF valve casing, and at a setting of 2000 lb/sq. in., the winch develops a pull of 5500 lb. The rope pull may be obtained from the pressure gauge reading at any instant by multiplying the reading by 2.75. The hydraulic oil cooling tank is situated under the rear near-side wheel arch (Fig. 9).

Fig 7

Fig 8

The maximum speed of the rope is 55 ft./min.

The procedure for using the winch is as follows:-

1. Put the chocks in position, place chains over bumpers, drive on to chocks and apply four wheel brake locking system.
2. Place the transfer gear lever in NEUTRAL, engage the power take off by means of the control knob (Fig. 8), engage third gear, regulate engine speed by placing the quadrant lever in the first notch, and put the hydraulic ON/OFF control valve downwards to the ON position. The capstan will commence to rotate and the winch hydraulic pressure gauge (Fig. 2) will register a small reading.
3. If a higher capstan speed is required the quadrant lever may be moved up as far as the 8th notch. Higher speeds should not be used or the engine will tend to overheat.
4. To stop the winch in an emergency push either of the emergency stop buttons (Fig. 7).

NOTE:- It is not necessary for a member of the cabling party to sit in the driver's seat during winching operations. Speed should be pre-set by means of the quadrant throttle control. The winch must be started and stopped by using the hydraulic valve and the vehicle clutch pedal must not be used for this purpose. Misuse of the clutch in this way causes premature failure of the clutch linings.

Fig 9

Fig 10

12. Cabling bollard
A cabling bollard is provided with the vehicle (see Fig. 10).

It is fitted in place of the towing pin. Cables may be pulled in or out, in suitable circumstances, by attaching a rope to the cable, passing the rope round the bollard with enough turns to secure easy control, and driving the vehicle forwards at a low speed. The man on the rope can release the pull immediately by releasing the rope. The vehicle clutch should not be slipped during this operation. First gear should be used with the low transfer gears engaged. This gives a speed of approximately 100 ft./min. on tick over. The pull is limited by wheel grip from the maximum available 4000 lb. to approximately 1 ton in average surface conditions.

13. Vehicle tools
These consist of a vehicle jack, a starting handle and a wheel brace, which are stored in the near-side cab locker, and a jack handle which is stored behind the passengers seat in the body of the vehicle.

14. Fire extinguisher and first aid box
The fire extinguisher is mounted in the cab underneath the near-side dash compartment, and the first aid box is mounted inside the compartment.

15. Spare wheel
This is carried on the bonnet.

16. Loads
The kerb weight of the vehicle is 33 cwt. The gross moving weight is 39.75 cwts. This allows a driver and three passengers to be carried, or a driver and 5.25 cwt. of stores.

17. Towing capacity
The towing capacity is 45 cwt.

18. Security
The vehicle is equipped with the normal vehicle locks on the driver's door and the rear door. The near-side door is fitted with an interior catch.

19. Signwriting
Standard inscriptions for signwriting are given in C 0015.
 

Last revised: February 03, 2021