Ryan's M3 medium

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by tankbarrell

The solid disc wheels are just the later pattern and are correct for late Grant and Sherman.

Thanks Adrian.

[maple_leaf_eh]

There is a small industry in Western Canada servicing spar yarders built on M32 ARV and M4 Sherman chassis'. Spar yarders are mobile winch based on as heavy a tracked chassis as possible, and have a tall telescoping cable stabilized tower up top. Loggers drive these things as high up the mountain as possible, string a skyline cable hundreds or thousands of feet cross country and winch logs up without gouging up the ground with skidders. One place advertises rerubbering roadwheels and tracks. No idea what $$ (Can or OZ?) they want. Something also tells me there are final drive and brake rebuilders too, but that might not be necessary for your beastie.

[Ryan]

Hi Terry, the idea of re-rubbering wheels appeals but I'd hate to think what shipping would cost. My tracks certainly need re-rubbering but what I'm getting soon will hopefully solve that issue.
We've got a couple of shows on our TV that I think come from canada. Axe men and heli loggers. They have shown the cable method you were talking about. Fascinating stuff.
ryan

[Ryan]

Hi guys, need some advice. The vehicle coming soon is another M3 Grant with all steel tracks. The tank has been sitting for some years in the same spot and the tracks have seized. What are the methods used to free them up so to get the tank rolling again?

[anthony urek]

Hey Ryan. Wow another Grant! Congratulations! How complete is she?
As for the tracks, I would flood them with diesel(cos its cheap) and take her on a long pull up a bitumen road.

[Scrivo18]

Hi Ryan

A tow is the best way.. should not take much as long as you have the horsepower to move it..

Did you find any manuals?? Cleaning my libary while working on the Stuart I have found... Handbook on M3 Medium Tank :-)

Tim

[Ryan]

Thanks for the replies guys. Two tractors were used on saturday to move it but to no effect. I don't think there is anything more powerful to pull it where it is. At this stage a crane is coming and the plan is to whack the tracks with a sledgehammer while it is in the air before it is put on a flatbed for the trip to down to me.
Once it gets to my place the plan is to use my tank to pull/drag this one off the truck.
Does this sound ok?
Tim, I haven't been able to track down any manuals for it so far so if you want to part with the M3 handbook or make a copy that would be great.
Tony, it's not that complete, looks a bit like what I've already got.
ryan

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by anthony urek

Hey Ryan. Wow another Grant! Congratulations! How complete is she?
As for the tracks, I would flood them with diesel (cos its cheap) and take her on a long pull up a bitumen road.

Diesel to soak through the surface adhesion. Let it evaporate (or burn it off if there aren't any combustable pads or bearings or roadwheels, and if you feel adventuresome ... . Then flail away with a hot torch and 5lb sledge.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Ryan - an old proven method of freeing rusted parts is to put them in a bath of molasses. It is a slow process but you will know if it is working if you get a lot of penecillin on the surface. Your main problem will be to get the tracks into some sort of container, but trust me, it will work. If you go back to my thread on electrolysis derusting in 2004, you will see several posts on molasses. There is also plenty of advice on Google.

Bob

[tankbarrell]

Unless the tracks have been changed to a non-original type, all of the Grant and Sherman track, whether rubber faced or steel use pins with rubber doughnuts pressed into the links. Therefore, they cannot seize as they do not move beyond the rubber limit to start with and if you soak them in diesel, it will eventyally destroy the rubber.

If it is original style track, it is likely the brakes are stuck.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Well Ryan,

If you need some extra parts here is your chance! http://www.milweb.co.uk/classifieds/...ad=57706&cat=1

Cheers,