Gunners seat
 

Guys,

Finally saw the light and turned the seat base and raising/lowering mechanism over to Andy to dismantle and rebuild. Here's what it now looks like. I did get a NOS spring from LWD, the pile of rust is all that remains of the original spring. Decided to rebuild a conventional CMP seat since the correct seat seems to be "unobtanium". Should I ever find the real thing it would be an easy swap.

Peter


Attachment 118260 Attachment 118261

Getting crowded
 

Guys,

Andy performed to his usual high standard and fabricated the lower portion of the Gunners seat which allows the seat to raise/lower and rotate. Unable to find the correct seat I have substituted a conventional CMP seat which is the same as the Driver's seat. Now for sandblasting, paint and some new seat cushions.

Definitely makes the crew compartment feel tight. Peter


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Soldiering on
 

Guys,

A good friend sent me this picture of a Lynx 11, along with a C15TA, serving in South Vietnam.

I would hazard a guess that this would be in the mid 60's. I also suspect that these rigs would have quite the tales to share at this stage of their lives.

Enjoy, Peter


Attachment 119959

Peter,

There used to be a thread on the Lynx in Vietnam. That has disappeared for some reason. This is the next best one: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13686

Cozy
 

Guys,

Started mocking up some of the kit that equips the Lynx, in this case the Bren gun. Certainly makes the crew compartment quite cozy. The Lynx is an open topped vehicle, I can only imagine how claustrophobic it must be in an enclosed armoured vehicle.

Peter

Attachment 120026 Attachment 120027

Spring has sprung
 

Guys,

Our youngest grandaughter, Grace missed school today due to a dentist's appointment, and of course I was on the hook to provide some entertainment. Her first request was to go for a spin in the Lynx. After that it was the Mustang's turn. Enjoy, we did. Peter


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At least she got her priorities right, Lynx first and some other old car next. Hahaha!

At least she got her priorities right, Ford and Ford! :note:

Yes, recognizing you need two if you have a fair shot at one of them running...

You are a good Dad......
 

........ she will treasure those memories forever!!!!!

Grandfather
 

Bob,

So will her grandfather....

New Driver
 

Guys,

Spent some great time this afternoon with my daughter, Christine and her two daughters. The goal was to get her comfortable with the Lynx. Started off with the old Dodge Power Wagon and two critics, in my neighbour farmer's fields, and then graduated to some nice cross country travel with the Lynx. I suspect that there have not been many women at the helm of a 1944 Lynx.

Peter

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https://youtu.be/7mRu9feYQb8

That’s fantastic. You are creating wonderful memories for all involved and hopefully carrying on the interest in the next generation

Stir Crazy
 

Guys,

My way of dealing with all the restrictions imposed by this pandemic. Go play in my neighbor's fields.

Peter

https://youtu.be/7cRIeVVANWQ

Seat covers
 

Guys,

Thanks to Jordan Baker, I now have two new sets of seat covers for the Lynx. Well made and durable, they certainly look the parts.

Peter


Attachment 123123 Attachment 123124

Hi Pete,
Your gunners seat is probably a bit more comfortable than the one in mine.

Attachment 123128

Keep up the good work,
Rick.

They look great in place on the seat frames Peter.

Nice work!

Gunners seat
 

Rick/David,

My understanding of the Observers/Gunners seat is that it went through several evolutions during the development of the the Lynx. The seat that you have Rick is the first version and the second drawing is of the later version. I was able to replicate the raising/lower mechanism, but the seat base pan and back was too much of a challenge. I elected to use the Driver's seat which uses a conventional CMP seat mounted on a unique raising/lowering mechanism as a model for my Observers/Gunners seat.

Peter


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Canada Day
 

Guys,

Another quiet day in the county. I hope the 'light at the end of the tunnel' is not an express freight train, and that life will return to normal.

Peter

Attachment 123299

Latest
 

Guys,

Our oldest grandson, Chase, is visiting and of course we had to take the Lynx for a spin. He is now the third generation of our family to take the Lynx for a drive.

Peter

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Close call
 

Guys,

Had a great weekend at the Aquino show at the Ontario Tank Museum, networking with the folks from the OMVA and participating in some of the field events.
Found that I still have an issue with a front end shimmy at speed over rough ground.
This took a back seat when I heard a disturbing sound when parking the Lynx at home. Poking around I found that the double drive pulley that is bolted to the end of the crankshaft had come loose and allowed the fan blades to brush up against the radiator. Fortunately no damage to the radiator other than removing some paint.

Now to find a better way to secure the ratchet bolt.

Peter

Attachment 124878

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Attachment 124880

They didn't have it back then, but we have it now: Loctite.

Dear Peter,

Despite being at the same event you and I have not talked since.

Watching you in the arena while we were waiting to come in, the death wobble in the front end was only too visible to myself both times you came around. I can only imagine what it was like to handle. I wondered if tire pressures and or the tire size itself or construction had any part to play.

I ask this as the Supacat ATMP tends to be driven too fast off road by users. There is no suspension, so the tires give a bounce which can be violent if the right speed is achieved, operators have to be mindful of that.

I agree with Rob Love, Loctite, I use that $%^& on everything (appropriate strengths of course)

Tire wobble
 

I use the same 1050x16 tires and every now and then I get that wobble. Then it goes away. Haven’t really found out why but the only thing that was different is that it was soon after I used a tire shine to clean up the tires. Maybe sun on one side. Still a mystery to me as it comes and goes.

Glad no real damage was done to the radiator. I echo what Rob says about Loctite. That should keep the bolts from backing off. I think your other alternative will be constant pretrip inspection of them to make sure everything is tight before hand.

As for the wobble. Do your steering knuckles use the New Departure pivot bearing with shims? Going by some of your pictures the basic steering knuckles look very similar to the CMP ones. Is there any side to side play on the wheels if you jack up the front of Lynx? When I rebuilt my truck I was sure to follow the step by step instructions in he manual for getting these setup with the shims.

Ratchet bolt
 

Guys,
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I can definitely use them.
Dry fitted the ratchet bolt and didn't like how tight the bolt sides were to the dished end of the double pulley. Not enough room to use a socket without shaving it paper thin. The bolt head was 1 3/8".
I rooted around my meager but growing parts bin and found a ratchet bolt which was 1 1/8" across, the threaded portion was identical to the first one.
After a good cleanup it will be installed with some medium locktight.

Once the back end is buttoned up the focus will shift to the front end and the shimmy problem. I suspect this will be more challenging.
Peter

Attachment 124897

Attachment 124898

I know they fit, and are original parts, but Gawd! Those ratchet bolts look shocking. When so much else of the work you have done is to a high standard, have you considered new replacements?

Third Gen Automotive sell a lot of NOS original parts and complement that with a range of quality repro parts.

Often, either to clear the shelves or to stimulate interest, they list Ebay auctions starting at $0.01.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39360307813...8AAOSwr8BeO6FJ

You might need to ask a question first to confirm the hex size to ensure it will suit your situation.

Tony, I'd suggest that your ratchet bolt is more for show than use. It is far more likely to have the crankhandle start spinning with the engine after it has started, than one of the originals.
I have seen this. I was in the Army on exercise in the J in Malaysia. I started a 150 Cu Ft. fridge (Onan 2 cylinder diesel as I recall) In this case the handle had a sprung loaded wedge. These handles are short but heavy cast steel with a wooden handle. "Anyhoo" it spun with the engine (straight up to high idle) and then flew off. It hit a man in the side of the head quite hard, knocking him to the ground. I honestly expected it to kill him, but after a few minutes he seemed o.k. The guy was a Singaporean bus driver, working for the N.Z. Army. I never saw him again, but always think of this incident, whenever a crankhandle is involved. I think the slot cut of your bolt leaves a bit to be desired. Just sayin. Btw, I have one of them, small hex, better ratchet?

Having been whacked in the funnybone more than once by the Ford handcrank, and now nearing the age where I don't heal as well, I can guarantee I will never use a handcrank again. If the starter doesn't work, then it will be a towrope.