TRUCK, CARGO, HMLC, 5 TON, 6x6, ALVIS STALWART
I believe in the free exchange of manuals - to help keep old vehicles out of the scrap yards.
You are welcome to download the files offered here. I would hope that you would offer any files that you have or know of in this free exchange.
In 2020 we had Covid, and I was put on Furlough. As a former RE Stolly Op who was now helping to Admin the HMLC group on Facebook - I decided to start researching the Stalwart's history, and gather any army manuals to help keep these wonderful vehicles out of the scrap yards. Below is the result of two years of work.
You've got to feel sorry for all the archivists and the MOD, for the absolute bombardment whilst half the country sat at home during Lockdown researching things. My thanks to MOD for the cooperation shown through FOI.
And my big thanks to all the members of the HMLC group who sent me manuals for scanning and declassifying.
Page Quick Links
This page is in support of the Facebook group Alvis HMLC 6x6 Stalwart Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/alvis.hmlc.6.x.6.stalwart.group
Part of the group's aim is to try and help keep the remaining vehicles out of the scrap yards, as well as to share memories and new stories of this amazing machine.
Lifting and Recovery of the Alvis Stalwart
The Alvis Stalwart has a lot of soft areas. The side and tail boards are all aluminium, and will bend if any pressure is applied to them. With the age of these vehicles now, if strops are attached to the front for lifting, there is a risk of the cab panels and air deflector being damaged.
Military vehicles are designed to be lifted by their hubs, hence the flange on the end of many military vehicles.
A spreader beam is required for lifting Alvis Stalwarts, for loading onto ships, etc.
Whilst there are two lugs on the front and back of the vehicle on the waist line (in the yellow circle), these are only for direct horizontal pull on recovery, rather than vertical lift or strain.
The vehicle has recovery rings on each corner at the bottom of the hull (painted red here), and each of these on their own can be used for full weight pulling/recovery.
Pegging the clutch
Because of an issue with the twin clutch plates sticking together, the material was changed to help reduce sticking. However, the clutch peddle should be pegged down with this pivoting clip when the vehicle is parked up for the day.
Failure to peg the clutch, and it being left for a long time, can result in the need to remove the engine in order to free off the twin clutch plates.
Tyre rotation, Wind up and Adjusting the ride height of the Alvis Stalwart
A PDF on how to rotate the wheels on the vehicle to help with Wind-up, what Wind-up is, and ways to reduce it.
I-Tyres-rotation-Transmission-wind-up-and-adjusting-ride-height-of-the-Alvis-Stalwart.pdfMark 2 Hull and oil Drains and sump plugs
The aim of the webpage is to help keep the remaining Stalwart out of the breakers yards, by share MOD Service and Maintenance files for the Truck, Cargo, HMLC, 5 TON, 6x6, Alvis Stalwart (FV 620, 622, 623. 624). All of which have been declassified by the MOD at Abbey Wood between 2020 and 2022.
The Alvis Stalwart has drains on the outside to let water out of the Winch housing and the hull. It also has Fuel Tank and Engine oil drains undernath the hull
The Stalwart also has drains on the side of the hull for the Radiator, Transfer box and Gear box
Mark 2 label identified and key points
Radiator drain
Transfer box. Drain at the bottom and Filler level at the top. The short one.
Gear box Drain and Oil Filler level. The long one.
Rear plate, showing the trailer air line couplings, the trailer's NATO socket, and the threaded housing for the trailer socket cover. Cover missing
Convoy light. British tracked vehicles have black and white stripped reflector plates. The Stalwart has the same due to its High Mobility
Starting handle cover plug, underneath the Rear tow hook. The key for the plug is on the handle end of the Starting handle
Starting handle with "Pigs tail" and Hexagon key ends
Engine sump oil drain plug cover. Remove the 6 bolts to reveale the hex keyed sump plug
Fuel tank drain plug cover. Remove the 6 bolts to reveal the drain plug. The bright brass hex keyed plug is the forward Hull drain plug. This should be left out when on dry land, to stop the hull from filling up with rain water.
Power take off engagement levers for Propulsion unit and Winch pump.
Wheel alignment (steering) indicator cover.
Winch oil dip stick
Winch hydraulic oil dipstick at top left.
Controls From top to bottom
Vehicle Forward / Reverse lever.
Winch pay in / out lever.
Winch free spool. Pull up to free spool for pulling out by hand.
Winch housing drain. Pull up to drain winch housing after swimming.
Choke fluid pot below dashboard Choke lever
Accelerator, Clutch and Brake hydraulic fluid pots. Windscreen washer bottle is large plastic bottle to the right
Header tank, in rear Louvres.
Engine oil filler cap. On right hand side of Air intake grill.
Hydraulic oil tank filler cap is between the two mesh of the Air intake
Correct Oil and Lubricants to use on the Alvis Stalwart
OM-13 has been discontinued. It has officially been replaced by OM-11
Alvis Stalwart Mk 2 Oils and Lubricants.
Never use GL5 Extreme Pressure Oil as it eats phosphor bronze bushes.
Engine oil OMD 75 was replaced by OMD 80 and then OMD 90. It is 10W-30 mineral oil
OEP-220 O-220 CS3000B
Gear oil. SAE 90. Automotive hypoid gear units, heavy duty industrial enclosed gear units, steering gears, fluid lubricated universal joints automotive eqpt. May not be suitable in systems containing bronze or other copper alloys. (ES= O-226)
OM-13 O-134 DEF STAN 91-44/1
Light mineral oil with 0.05 – 0.10 % stearic acid. Shock absorbers of vehicles with oil resistant synthetic rubber glands, hydraulic couplings, air compressors at low temperatures, clocks, fire-control instruments, aircraft armaments, submarine torpedo tube fittings, cinema projectors, visor pumps Mk 2 Humber Pigs. (AP= O-135)
OMD 75 was replaced by 80 and then OMD 90
OMD-75 O-180 TS 10 033D SAE 10W/30. Heavy duty crankcase oil for diesel and petrol engines at ambient temperatures above -15°C. (AP= O-232, O-238, O-274, O-277, O-1176, O-1236) (ES= O-178, O-182) Also certain gearboxes eg Humber FV1600. OMD-75 and OMD-85 are interchangeable in certain applications. Replaced by OMD-80.
OMD-80 O-1176 TS 10033E SAE 10W/30. Heavy duty crankcase oil for petrol & diesel engines at ambient temps above -15°C. (ES= O-176, O-237, O-238)
OMD-85 O-236 TS 10 033D SAE 15W/40. Heavy duty crankcase oil for diesel and petrol engines at ambient temperatures above -15°C. Also certain gearboxes. OMD-85 and OMD-75 are interchangeable in certain applications.
I-Civilian-Oils-and-Lubricants-and-where-to-use-them-on-the-Alvis-Stalwart.pdfDownloadable A4 chart for you to download and laminate.
List of civilian version of MOD oils and lubricants - and which oil goes where on the Alvis Stalwart.
Lubrication equipment
This is the type of oil dispenser that is used (with a grease nipple connector on the end) to pump oil into the torsion bars and other suspension components of the High Mobility chassis.
The Stalwart has multiple grease type nipples on the suspension, which all require transmission oil inserting into them.
This is another type of Oil gun
HMLC Electrical System
Clive-Elliott-The-Generator-No-10-Including-V642-HMLC-Electrical-Equipment-pages.pdfClive Elliott gives some hints for fault finding in the Generator Number 10, as used on the HMLC.
This version includes the Electrical Equipment pages from V642 Technical Description
Military paint
Clive-Elliott-lifts-the-lid-on-the-thorny-subject-of-paint - Copy.pdfWith thanks to Clive Elliott - Clive's article on MOD paint, the colours chosen, and what the IRR paint is all about.
Tracta joints
I-Tracta-joints-by-Clive-Elliott.pdfClive Elliott discusses joints on the Humber Pig
Other files and articles
We do have a selection of other files, trade reviews, articles, etc on the Facebook group.
We would enjoy seeing you there, especially if you have any photos or articles of the Alvis Stalwart in service.