[Lynn Eades]

Hi Guys, This thread is Lew's thread about making a track pin punch.
It is a little complicated as he has made a punch for British or Canadian track pins.
As has already been explained, his carrier in an LP2 (LP2A?, sorry Lew, I forget) and the construction of the track is different from those above mentioned.
Lews track pins are (or should be) held in with a lead plug (already mentioned) on one side, and they do not fall out the other side because the exit from the link has too small a hole. The main purpose of that hole is to allow the removal of the pin, with a punch that fits through that hole.
The manufacturers specs for British track pins are between 0.432" and 0.437" in dia. (nom.7/16") (near enough to 11mm) I believe that all "normal" (Brit, Can. Aust.)carrier track pins are this dia.
A track pin punch for British and Canadian carriers only needs to be a little less in diameter.
As different, the Australian and New Zealand carrier track pin punch (333/2) can only be quite small in diameter to fit through the hole, and my one happens to be about 0.310" (about 7.8mm) My "starter" punch (333/1)(short one) is the same dia. These punches are soft, and mine is somewhat bent out of shape.
What needs to be taken into consideration is that when the carriers were in regular use, the track links and pins never wore or rusted like they have in post military service, and the pins were much easier to remove than we may experience
I haven't read the detail, but I believe the starter punch, Aust. Carrier part number 333/1, is the punch that did the hard work of "upsetting" the track pin from its place of work, in the links (including breaking out the lead plug) The first 1/4 to 1/2 inch of travel causing the most resistance, in "normal" conditions.
The long punch, part number 333/2 has to be long to chase out the pin, but did not have to be very strong.
My 333/1 starter punch is about 15/16" (24mm) long from the end to the start of the radius. It is made from octagonal stock that is 19mm (3/4") across the flats.
Just to cause confusion, I have a large diameter (and seemingly stronger punch of the same style) that would be for use with Brit/Can. style pinned and headed type track pins. It bears no part number.
Maybe it is local production or was for use with the Vickers MkVIa track which fits Australian carrier wheels, but was of the track pin type located with formed heads.
Lew, I can bring them with me,when I visit.