Remanufacturing T16 Rear Box and exhaust shroud

andrew honychurch · #1 13-05-12, 09:31

Hi Guys, I have kindly been lent an original rear box for the T16 with the cover that goes on the top over the exhaust tail pipes. I have a fabricator that is as good as I have ever seen and he is preparing to make a copy for me. If anyone is interested in getting one done at the same time let me know and I can try to get a price. I guess the problem is the size and weight of this means it is probably only practical for the UK, maybe Europe. But I can always take anything to War and Peace.

horsa · #2 15-05-12, 02:57

You'll probably have the same experience I did with fabricating lockers. Nobody will respond until you've had what you need produced and by then it will be too late for them. It’s always cheaper for everyone when you can have multiples produced at one time. Unfortunately a lot of people don't understand there isn't a catalog for buying most of the needed parts for a restoration and end up missing the boat.

andrew honychurch · #3 15-05-12, 06:05

hi David, where is everybody? It seems its just you and me left on here!!!

No, seriously, I agree with you but maybe there just are not that many T16s out there being restored at the moment. Anyway, there is no pressure on anyone.

The guy I have borrowed the box off was telling me that he has a loose track on his. Only on one side and he has reached the end of the adjustment. Do you know can he take just one link out?

Lynn Eades · #4 15-05-12, 12:31

Yes he can take more than one out. I cannot recall the detail without going to the book.
I would suggest he takes both tracks off and quarters them, to make up two even tracks with the same number of links each side, by mixing the quarters.
An uneven number of links from one side to the other will make the carrier "track" to one side.

horsa · #5 15-05-12, 15:22

Lynn's suggestion is the best thing if the guy has already removed several links as the track as gotten towards the end of its service life. I'd read somewhere that a track was considered done once a total of six links had been removed from one side.

andrew honychurch · #6 16-05-12, 08:26

thanks Guys. I think I understand what to tell him to do, although I very much doubt he will want to go through all of this work. He has owned the Carrier for about 20 years from memory and bought it restored. He has not had any problems with it other than pulling the track off in reverse in soft mud whilst turning.

Anyway, we are confident that a different number of links both sides will cause the Carrier to track to one side? I recall a post on this subject some time ago.

Secondly, if he does quarter the tracks into equal lenght and mixes them from side to side , he will end up with a more even set of tracks?

then he will have to unrivet a link or two by hitting the end, and then after removing the link or links, he drills a hole in the old riveted pin and uses a washer and split pin.

Is this how you guys see the job? is there a recommended length that he should be aiming for before refitting them?

Lynn Eades · #7 16-05-12, 10:42

The idea is to mix and match so that you end up with two (stretched to take up the wear) tracks the same length, with the same number of links. Usually you would need joining pins that are slightly longer to allow for the split pin and washer. By the way I think the pins should be fitted so that the head is toward the hull.
I think david is correct for the Universal carrier, That a total of six links can be removed from the original 168, before the track is deemed to be "worn out"
I would have guessed the T16 , with the longer track, might be able to have more removed. I don't know.
Maybe (they) revised the allowable wear limit back to a lesser amount?

Marc van Aalderen · #8 16-05-12, 14:22

Going slightly of topic but ok. The Universal starts with 168 links, 8 lenghts of 21 links each. After a run in period of 50 to a 100 miles you would have a proper mesh on the sprocket that was installed new with the new track. You would then remove the first link to compensate for the running in wear leaving 167 links. After this you were allowed to remove a further 10 links and the tracks was considered worn when adjusting was no longer possible with 157 links. Mind you, I have seen and talked to owners who run on less links but breakage is frequent and only low speed and manouvering recommended!

Cheers,

andrew honychurch · #9 17-05-12, 19:53

I knew we were not being ignored, it just seemed very quiet on the board!

Ok, so I am now going to have to count my track links to find out whether they are worn out or not!

Talking about tracks and pins makes me think it would be great if someone starting making new track again! I know there has been talk about it but it still doesnt happen.

Ben · #10 17-05-12, 20:17

There is a danger of a thread hijack, sorry. I have been asked to produce a casting master for new track! I'm not entirely convinced of serious buyers numbers and how many of those would be prepared to pay for a set. I'd hazard a guess at a run of 20 or so links could be produced to test the concept at a cost of a few hundred pounds. That initial high outlay could be re absorbed into a successful production run. The missing link (excuse the pun) is the initial investor!

What value does the forum collective put on a set of NOS track? I'd suggest a new set would be about the same price.....a few thousand £££. Old track if available is always cheaper but the price usually reflects is use.

I'm happy to help with the initial tooling if a serious offer was put forward.

Ben

(please move post if you want to start the great track debate)

RichardT10829 · #11 17-05-12, 21:25

I have an unused un issued NOS link i could post to be scanned still in its cosmolene wrapper.

Lynn Eades · #12 17-05-12, 21:43

The was a thread about manufacturing track (Aust) It was a guy from an engineering company, who was working with a Chinese manufacturer. The problem was the price was going to run out at about $8,000.00.
The engineer chap dropped it due to lack of interest.
Maybe there is still enough track out there?

Ben · #13 17-05-12, 22:29

That was kind of my point. If you said a single track link would cost £15 each as a raw casting plus a couple of pound each for machining, drilling then you needed the pins. The numbers get pretty big quite quick.

I think if you can get NOS track for £25 a link its probably a good but expensive buy!!! plus you'd be sure it worked. New track would be no cheaper IMHO.

Ben

Lynn Eades · #14 17-05-12, 23:06

Search a thread called "reproduction UC track availability)

At post #58 Wayne Henderson of western Australia has the original moulds for Australian track. There are pictures posted at #65.

A lot can be gleaned from this thread.
Could a Moderator move these few posts from Andrews thread, to that thread, and delete all but line 2 of this post