Page 08. August 2017. Classy chassis.

To give us a break from sanding, we spent August bank holiday weekend 2017 underneath the Viking. The hottest weekend of the summer, and we were in disposable suits, scraping rust off the chassis! We used wire brushes on the chassis, and an angle grinder with a paint removing disc on the corner steadies and A frame.

Smooth white Hammerite was painted on, and the wooden beams were coated in yacht varnish.

Whilst working on the chassis, the coupling hitch assembly was removed, cleaned, inspected and painted. It was all in good order apart from needing a new rubber gaiter on the draw shaft, which will be fitted later. Fresh grease was injected via the grease nipples and the assembly was bolted back on.

Before

After degreasing & light scrub with wire brush

The bolts put up a bit of a fight, but the hitch came off eventually.

 

 

The handbrake lever is a bit agricultural, and the release button is missing. I looked into buying a replacement lever, but would have spent over £70 on something that wouldn’t fit. Ours works ok, so why replace it? The solution was found while rummaging in a tool box, where I discovered a rubber grip from a hammer shaft. I cut off the end, dunked it in hot water to soften it and slid it over the lever. Voilà. One better looking handbrake lever. A corrugated roofing spacer serves as a button until I can find something better.

New jockey wheel

Painted & re-assembled

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