Remanufacturing T16 Rear Box and exhaust shroud

[horsa]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Lynn Eades]

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?