T16 restoration starts in earnest

[andrew honychurch]

After seeing Seans posts I was driven to get on with taking my T16 to be welded. Winched it onto the trailer today and took it down to the welder. Her are some photos, I suppose I will think I am half way once its back from him. Not sure thats right, but it seems a good mind trick nevertheless.

[andrew honychurch]

and one more!

[horsa]

In my opinion you'll be well past half way once you have it stripped and painted. Plus reassembly is coasting downhill compared to tearing it all down and then having to clean up or rebuild parts and assemblies.

[andrew honychurch]

I hope you are right, but I still have to attempt the rear axle, complete the engine build and set about the bogie assemblies! I am sure now that the hull is going to be away for a few weeks it will allow me to get along with those tasks. I am wondering whether not to go quite as far with the rear axle as you did. I intend on taking off the inspection covers on the brakebands and have a good look in. I will flush out the diff and see what comes out! Then rebuild both brakes either end. I hope it will save me a little bit of time not breaking the diff out. Any thoughts David?

[horsa]

Since yours was running with no issues from the differential, I'd say flush it out on the inside and repaint it on the outside. I had to tear mine down because it was a complete unknown. It was supposed to be NOS but having been stored by other people outside in the rain and mud for untold years, it was completely rusted over. I had no way to know if it was usable or not. And even if it were NOS, it could have still been rusted on the inside as well due to poor storage.

We're stuck with cold and damp conditions here at the moment as well. I have parts from two other smaller projects that are stripped and waiting to be painted. I'm priming some items when I can, one at a time on pieces of wire but its been slow. Spray outside under a covered porch and then carry them throught the house so I can hand them to very slowly dry in the garage which has really high humidity. Really my only option if I don't want them to start rusting again.

[Jordan Baker]

Andrew,

Your making good prgress. When I got into mine I first throught "oh geez, what I have done now" But then I just started doing one piece at a time. Sure it looks like nothing was being accomplished, but after a couple of months I'd have a pile of small stuff done. Then after 6 months or so I'd put the stuff all on and I'd amaze myself at what I had done. 7yrs later I think Im down to having enough fingers (thumbs included) on both hands to account for whats left to do or get(minus the tools).

And youve found one of the best communities for these vehicles anywhere in the world.

[andrew honychurch]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Having restored a few MVs over the years when I was younger and had fewer other things going on in my life I am keen to get this done and finished rather than let it hang around in bits. The worst job in my view is the welding and fabrication of the missing or damaged tin work, largely because it falls outside of my area of capability and therefore I need to rely upon others, which is not only very frustrating if they drag their feet but also expensive. Pretty much everything else I can do for myself. I am also rather frustrated by the difficulty in getting parts for this. I realise we are now nearly 70 years after these carriers were produced but I have never had the problems getting parts for other vehicles as I am for this one! Back in the 90's there was a superb chap in the Uk called Chris Wilikinson who I am sad to say, as a very good friend of mine, has now departed this world. I used to get NOS items from him for my Stuart, Daimler Armoured Car, Half Track that we can only dream about today. Frustratingly he had a load of T16 parts most of which went into the smelting pot when he moved from his long time storage yard. Where have all the T16 parts gone?

[andrew honychurch]

Whilst the hull is away being repaired I have now started on the suspension units and wheels. With the help of David Gordon, who has provided me with much insight I have now stripped all the wheels of theire internal bearings and races in order to have them sandblasted and am just attempting to remove the suspension springs. The TM refers to a special spring compressor. Effectively it looks like a 6 inch tube with a bolt that fixes to the end of the spring centre shaft. Then I assume one turn a nut on the end of the tube and this draws the rod upwards compressing the spring in the process. Does anyone have one of these? Can anyone tell me or even better draw me a diagram of how it is constructed so that i can make one? The thread on the end of the spring centre shaft is 3/4 UNF for what its worth. Not sure whether this is the same on Universals as it is on my T16. As always any help much appreciated.

EDIT the coil spring compressors I have in place in the photo wont work as they dont compress the spring enough to get the bottom of the rod out of its housing, hence the need for the special tool, although the other TM refers to be able to use the track jack doing the same job, it occurs to me that the spring would be compressed only on one side with the track jack unless one could use two, and I dont think there will be enough clearance for that. As I dont, as yet have a track jack its slighly academic!

[andrew honychurch]

progressof sorts! visited my welder today and he has made some real progress with the welding. Hoping to be able to sandblast the hull within a couple of weeks now

[horsa]

Ah the fun of heavy grinding. Once you've had a spark go into your ear and gotten the little hairs smoldering, you'll forever afterwards keep them trimmed

Your progress is looking good though.

[andrew honychurch]

indeed! I have to admit that it is not me in the photo! His whole workshop is covered in a find grit courtesy of my T16! He doesnt seem to mind too much, hes used to it. This is the guy that "made" the Vickers light tank in the Jaques Liitlefield collection if anyone has seen that. He mainly makes things for councils, like fire escapes, but he has all the equipment and can pretty much do anything if you can motivate him! Like all these clever guys he needs nurturing!! Anyway, really pleased with progress so far.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by andrew honychurch

he has all the equipment and can pretty much do anything if you can motivate him! Like all these clever guys he needs nurturing!! Anyway, really pleased with progress so far.

Andrew,
Looks like you must have said the right words to Bud . Should not be long before you get it back, by looks of it.

[andrew honychurch]

Started on the axle today and found it to be like new inside which is great news. Seems a family of bees got tinto the one brake drum and could nto get out so they were lying inside dead. Other than that, I need to replace a brake shoe as it seems to have broken a few bits off the lining itself but fortunately I have a NOS set of linings. Other than that, it appears to be a matter of cleaning and painting. Surprised how much lighter the axle is without the drums fixed and am thinking of keeping them off until the axle is mounted back in the hull, will certainly be easier to handle.