carrier wheels and tracks

[eddy8men]

hi fella's
i've just picked up some carrier track and wheels from a guy in lincolnshire and i thought i'd post some pics here to let all the guys who are looking for track know that it's still out there to be had if you look hard enough.
this track will go on my loyd if i ever get round to starting the restoration

eddy

[RichardT10829]

cool wonder what he had used it for ?

[eddy8men]

it came from a 2 bogie log sled, it was a shame to cut it up as it was really well built but i consoled myself with the fact that they'll look even better on a carrier.

eddy

[shaun]

Hey GOOD FIND ! treasure is out there.

[RichardT10829]

the loyd wheels are they wider like the windsor wheels or are they the same as the universals ?


i know of two mint ones on a trolley at a local wood firm...may have to pay them a visit again

[Lynn Eades]

The Loyd wheels are the same as U.C wheels. I thought Windsor wheels were the same. Are they wider?

[eddy8men]

windsor wheels and track horns are wider, if anyone is struggling for wheels i might be able to help as i've got 25 now and 4 more possibles at my local firestation (plant pot). it makes me laugh to think of all the times i've driven passed those wheels at the firestation and not noticed them before.

eddy

[RichardT10829]

eddy i could do with a couple hahahaha. until the results of the re tread experiment in February

[RichardT10829]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

The Loyd wheels are the same as U.C wheels. I thought Windsor wheels were the same. Are they wider?

no buddy they are wider usually you find the rubber lasts alot better on them too. if you find them you can turn them down to fit in universal tracks...but it seems a shame to those who may have windsors and might need wheels.

[carrierbarry]

Eddy

I've seen those carrier track bogies being used. I can't remember what there for. I know i have a picture somewhere, I'll try and dig it out.

They are war time and quite rare.

Barry

[shaun]

if i recall right the REME had a recovery dolly with a similar arrangment.

[RichardT10829]

Originally Posted by carrierbarry

Eddy

I've seen those carrier track bogies being used. I can't remember what there for. I know i have a picture somewhere, I'll try and dig it out.

They are war time and quite rare.

Barry

Uh Oh........ Quick Eddy weld it back up.......

was not from one of these was it ?


or the french derivative


on a finding theme I think I have located a bren gun carrier recovery trailer here in Northumberland in good state of repair trying to get the farmer to part with it ! its deffo war time and military, but it has been painted up and bits welded on etc etc. it has CMP type wheels on.

[RichardT10829]

if it is you can sooth your guilt by giving them to me for free....

[eddy8men]

sorry to say that i'm guilt free, although they look similar they aren't the same. my father thought they might have been used to clear wrecked aircraft from raf airfields but that doesn't seem likely, the good news is that the rest of it is still sitting in nelson green's yard so if it does turn out to be something special then at least it hasn't been scrapped.

eddy

[eddy8men]

here's a link to the bogies before i cut them up

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...53353449qWxmOz

[Lynn Eades]

They have sat a while. They are tight as. What note comes off them when you hit them?

[eddy8men]

you guessed right, they are solid with rust and i was a little unsure whether they were worth the £1250 the guy was asking for them but i went for it as the tracks seem to be the hardest thing to get hold of and when an opportunity arises you have to take it. once i got them home and had a better look at them it was apparent that they had seen little use and are pretty much like new, the wheels still had the mould line that runs down the centre of the rubber but the tracks do need freeing off but i'll just leave them as they are until i need them.

eddy

[ajmac]

That trailer setup was much larger than I had imagined when I saw the bogies, I'll confirm what Eddy said about the road wheels, the rubber is as new, I think the sleds are locally made or at least unissued wartime as those wheels were as good as NOS... appart from lightly rusted rims. It would be interesting the check the dates on all the wheels and see what comes up.

[eddy8men]

alastair
i'll have a look tomorrow in the daylight and let you know, by the way how many wheels do you need for the loyd ?

eddy

[Lynn Eades]

These things go in circles. This has been discussed before. I would break them up now into manageable sections, ans soak them in oil for a few weeks. Then I would try to get each link moving, using a couple of suitable pry bars. I would then leave them to drain, and dry out before fitting. I used waste hydraulic oil, but imagine used auto trans oil would be good.
This has probably kicked off another round of "track abuse" including beating, burning, blasting, dragging etc. You could have just towed those dollies about 20 miles, with a load of power poles on it. if they went around without breaking the pins, they would have eventually come right.
I can, from experience, tell you that when they are really bad, you can use a lot of gas, and time, trying to salvage every second link. Have fun.

[RichardT10829]

i can recomend the electrolysis bath method its cheap and labour un intensive

[eddy8men]

the last set of tracks i had i freed off with a block and sledge hammer and they rotate nice and easy, the trouble was it was a bit labour intensive although to be honest i had one of my labourers do most of it but this time round i might try my roadbreaker with a bit of a mod to one of the steels, i know there's better ways to do it but i prefer to just hit stuff until it bends to my will.

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

eddy

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - I'm with Lynn on this one. When we built the Blitz half-track we fitted the tracks even though there were some frozen sections. Slow driving freed the tracks to the extent that they now need tensioning. Therefore if the tracks are in a driveable situation, drive. You can always repair broken pins.

Bob

[shaun]

its also a good way to loose those christmas pounds from all the turkey. 14lb sledge hammer and just keep swinging at the track. it works wonders for the track and the waist line ! remember the REME moto "when in doubt - give it a clout, the bigger the doubt - the bigger the clout ! "

[eddy8men]

Arte et marte

[shaun]

as ever - "twist to open" - REME joke ! are we going to form a REME carry section ?

[Lynn Eades]

Are all you people with this disease, ex EME, REME, RAEME, etc? If this is the case, then this disease is work related.

[shaun]

born with a spanner in one hand and a brew in the other ! its not a disease but the way you are made. My grandfather was REME, father was REME, I was REME - even my old cat knew how to adjust carrier tracks.

[The Bedford Boys]

Originally Posted by eddy8men

the last set of tracks i had i freed off with a block and sledge hammer and they rotate nice and easy, the trouble was it was a bit labour intensive although to be honest i had one of my labourers do most of it but this time round i might try my roadbreaker with a bit of a mod to one of the steels, i know there's better ways to do it but i prefer to just hit stuff until it bends to my will.

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

eddy

My dad has a different take on that saying eddy:

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't drown the b*stard!!"

[RichardT10829]

HAHAHAHAHAHA Classic