I bought a Fire Truck

[WM75Guy]

Nice looking engine, looks like a 1000 GPM pump from the ULC plate. You can drain most of the pump and large lines with the marked drains. It is the small lines that will not drain, such as the ones going from the discharges to the back of the gauges. I went to work for a department that left a Ward LaFrance engine outside during a hard freeze. I spent several weeks replumbing the metal lines to the gauges with 300 PSI plastic airbrake tubing after they all froze and burst. Some of the discharge valves had to be rebuilt as well. Fortunately, I had been to the American LaFrance pump mechanics school so I knew how to rebuild everything.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

You joke, but Cedar Point Yacht Club up in Norwalk CT has a drink mixer made out of an old fire pump, for the really big parties!

When I lived in CT, we would go to rentchler field for UCONN football. They had a smaller firetruck, outfitted with a large grill on the "bed" built in kegerator, complete with a 6 way funnel for chugging games. It was cool...

 

[Paystar]

Did they provide you with the annual pump test data? Like RjCorazza says, do not run it dry and if you do run the pump, crack open the "Tank Fill" or "Recirculate" or "Pump Cooler". They may labeled in multiple ways but they all run water from the pump back into the tank to keep the pump cool.
56 years and counting running fire pumps here. Done hundreds of annual pump tests and a lot of acceptance tests.
Feel free to throw questions my way as well as RJ's.

Would the annual pump test data be this, or paperwork?

 

[Paystar]

You do know if you overheat the pump severely you can make her a latte right?

No but I was told to not dead head it and to open the two valves in the pic I posted before I ever engage the PTO.

Thanks to all the replies here I'm starting to learn a little more!

 

[Paystar]

You had me at Detroit Diesel

Me too. Wish I could post the video driving it home, but I only know how to post videos on facebook. What a sound! Really brought back memories.

Top speed is 55/60 MPH depending on if you want to run at 2000 or higher RPM, so it was at full song on the highway, LOL

 

[WM75Guy]

Would the annual pump test data be this, or paperwork?

That plate was from the certification from the factory. When an annual
UL pump test is done the pump has to perform at the same pressures and RPMs. That test would be on paper.

 

[CalG]

This thread is making me want to pull the copper "Siren-lite" off the shop shelf, grab a battery and some jumper wires, and let it sound off and get all the neighbors upset! (With me grinning ear to ear!)

 

[WM75Guy]

I bet if you went to your local FD someone there could show you how to pump the truck. It is usually a fairly easy process, just have to follow the steps in the right order to avoid burning up the pump or screwing up the transmission. We would test our pumps at the beginning of our shift by circulating tank water into the pump and back into the tank. You cannot do that for too long as the pump heats up the water and eventually it will cavitate the pump causing pitting of the impellers.

 

[mark in portugal]

Our local fire station has a 1965 12 ton 4wd Mercedes fire truck in the shed; I asked if it works, and they told me it's still (theoretically) in service!

They have a few (newer) big wheel trucks for bush fires.

 

[Spanner]

Great toy !

 

[garry1p]

I was in the fire department for 5 years. Never wanted to own one.

 

[sandman2234]

This is a toy (my only firetruck). Paystar has a Detroit!!
David from jax

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I refurbished an alarm box from my home town. Looks brandy new, at one point outfitted it as a garage door opener when you pulled lever. Now, it is on the wall next to wood stove. Have a couple of hose nozzles that were used as candlestick holders by my parents.

 

[repete]

Would the annual pump test data be this, or paperwork?

No. This is the label after it first passes its 6 hour acceptance test. The annual test is mush less intensive.
This link will take you to a site that gives a BRIEF rundown of what is required. Annual Fire Pump Pump Test Description
My tests were to the letter of NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)1901.
The department that owned it SHOULD have had an annual in service test and results in apparatus records. I have run across departments that never conduct these tests so if the previous owners did not have them tested, I recommend you see if there are any fire engine collectors groups in your area that can help out. Bear in mind though, these owners may only have them because they are cool and in reality know little about fire engines and pumps, they just like fire engines.

 

[repete]

Your label of 1050 IGPM tells me you have what we in the US refer to as a "1250 GPM Pumper".
You see three entries on the label:
Top one being rated capacity of 1050 IGPM at 150 PSI
Second is pump at 70% of rated capacity at 200 PSI
Third (lowest) is 50% of rated capacity at 250 PSI

 

[Paystar]

Bear in mind though, these owners may only have them because they are cool and in reality know little about fire engines and pumps, they just like fire engines.

Like me, LOL I bought it for the Ford truck and Detroit Diesel, then decided to leave it as is. Now I'm learning about fire engines, LOL

 

[Paystar]

I do know how to operate the PTO to engage pumps. Engage in neutral, once light comes on, shift Allison transmission to drive (but never do until I have valves open)

So lets start with the basics. How to fill.
Here are all my controls and valves.
Talk to me in dummy terms, LOL
How would I fill it?

I see most everything is numbered.

 

[Paystar]

As a bonus, here are some pics sent to me on facebook of it back in 2019 and it's twin that is also in the area. Credit to Greg and Steve for the pics.

 

[riptides]

My old neighbor was a firefighter. He retired after 20 plus years of service. He bought a fire truck (ladder) which looked to me to be over 30 feet long. Circa 1970 i thought. He got it in a few parades...displayed it deployed hanging our flag off it in his front yard. Unfortunate his health declined and the thing sat out back for a long while. When it got towed out...about a year later he passed.
Those things require knowledge and upkeep. They are quite complex machines. Good luck with your new equipment.

 

[repete]

I do know how to operate the PTO to engage pumps. Engage in neutral, once light comes on, shift Allison transmission to drive (but never do until I have valves open)

So lets start with the basics. How to fill.
Here are all my controls and valves.
Talk to me in dummy terms, LOL
How would I fill it?

I see most everything is numbere

The first thing I would do is get a fitting to go into the pump to pressurize it with water off a garden hose. This can be most easily be done removing one of the 1/4" test ports on either side of the RPM gauge.

Watch for leaks. You can also test the gauges for function by opening the valve with a cap on the port. You should see both of the large white gauges rise equally as the pump pressurizes.

Be patient, it may well take a few minutes to fill the pump before you see the pressure gauges rise. There is nothing in the pump that will be damaged by garden hose pressure. You will be charging both the intake as well as the discharge side of the pump as it is a centrifugal pump.