Leyland Daf 4x4

[Appleboy]

I am the new owner of a Leyland Daf 45/150 4x4 which I'm in the process of converting. I've not made a great start by losing the key! As its ex-army I cant get a key number and replacement blocks aren't easily available, so I've decided to fit a replacement ignition.

It has been a few months since I started it so I thought I'd hot wire it, to check the wiring and turn it over. And it wont start. The alarm for the airbrakes I've left sqealing for an hour and the pressure dials aren't moving. The batteries are fine. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[mylesdw]

Maybe I'm missing something here but surely you won't get air pressure without the engine running.

[Appleboy]

No you're right. I only drove it a couple of times and its my first encounter with air brakes...

The buzzer keeps going till the pressure is up. Brown is positive, white is the obvious first turn of the key, battery light etc., green and white powers the wipers, so that has to be staying in the circuit after ignition. Red and white draws enough voltage to effect the buzzer and dash lights but its a high speed ratcheting sound, or a switch opening and closing rapidly, not the sound of a 24v starter motor. There's no starter switch on the dash, I'm not being stupid in that way...

[mylesdw]

White with a red stripe is probably the starter solenoid wire (if Bedford were following BS wiring loom colours ) Maybe a faulty solenoid giving the buzzing sound?

[Appleboy]

Thanks for your help. In the end I took the shear bolts out and took the whole thing into a locksmith who made keys up for it. Got a replacement starter which I'm going to work on today.