2015 at the Hammond Barn

[RHClarke]

Bob, Glad you made it out of that situation safely. I would not have thought about the CMP steering arm as a problem area, but as you stated, parts get old and need to be inspected thoroughly.

I read a thread on another forum about steering loss on a US based M37, where the ball on the end of the rather robust steering pitman arm separated causing some anxiety for the driver, who like you, was doing a low speed run. Fortunately, no real damage occurred. Others, I am sure, have not been so lucky.

We (the royal we) must ensure that we inspect all of our vehicle's running gear to ensure that we are not a threat to ourselves or others.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Bob:

I know the corner you mention and yes, very good thing you were moving slowly and just dented the snowbank. Those banks eat plastic car body parts, but obviously can't digest WW2 Canadian steel!

The Regiment de Hull had CJ7 Jeeps between the retirement of the M38A1 and M151A2 1/4 tons, and the arrival of the Iltis. One of their folklore stories was how a "CJ" broke its steering linkage on the big bridge over the St Lawrence River enroute to Valcartier. The vehicle damn near pitched over the guardrails with three soldiers inside.

I suspect "the boys" had been 4-wheeling at some point and applied an adundance of gravity to the front end. Those were peppy vehicles that could chirp the tires in all gears.

[RHClarke]

It was so cold out that our customary visits from the mosquito population inside the barn failed to materialize. Even with Lucifer belching out a massive number of BTUs, the barn failed to reach 40oF until well after lunch. The hottest it got was just under 60oF at closing time...

Bob's first task was to rev up the tractor and blast away the snow that had fallen. Fortunately, there was no wind to contend with making the task a little less difficult. While Bob was flailing the snow, I carried on with the usual duties of clearing snow.

Grant joined us after lunch, at which time both he and Bob tackled the removal of the skin of his Cab 11 lower rear cab frame. Bob built a jig to ensure accuracy when he reskins the frame.

While the lads were busy with the jig, I began the weld job on my M37 fender. The lower patch went in quite well and I was pleased with the results. Rather than wait for the patch panels from the US, I decided to tackle the patching of the hole in the front of the fender using whatever was available at the barn. Fortunately, Bob had stocked the barn with lots of metal rod, bar and sheets of steel. Over the past few years, Grant and I have added to the stock, restricting runs to the steel shop for odd pieces of metal.

The afternoon was spent mostly inside with one exception. Bob and Grant took a quick trip to the back 40 to look over steering arms. They didn't stay outside for long. As usual, time flew by way too quickly and we closed up shop and headed home.

Photos:

1 - Bob admiring his handiwork
2 - The jig
3 - Lower end patch completed - M37 Fender
4 - Damage at the upper end - the previous patch is easy to spot
5 - Prep for welding

[RHClarke]

I decided that my son Jesse, needed to be detached from his electronic life support systems (TVs, computer, DS, Xbox) and spend some time in the great out of doors. So, early this fine morning, we thawed out the car and headed to the S&P Museum to give Gunner a hand in moving some frames. It took the car some time to warm up in the -25oC weather, but the roads were clear, making the trip to Kars fairly fast. Seems folks around here tend to stay home when the mercury dips low.

Jesse dug out the front and back door to the museum's main building, and then worked on clearing snow from a few of the trucks. Gunner and I extracted a "quick assembly/disassembly" jeep frame from its icy parking space. It took some time to get the tires out of the frozen ground, but the handy farm jack made short work of it. After hooking the frame to the nearest 2 and half ton, the frame was eventually parked in a warm garage. Gunner will be working on this project over the remainder of the winter, and if and when he comes on to this forum, he can explain what is up.

After frolicking in the wind and snow, we headed into Ottawa to visit the Regimental Museum at the Morrison Gun Park - a new facility set up to accommodate the Bytown Gunners. The park is a temporary solution until someone decides where a permanent structure can be built to house 30th Field Regiment, RCA. After a quick tour, we off-loaded some 6 pounder wheel assemblies and then headed for the comfort of home.

On the way home Jesse remarked that every visit with Gunner was an interesting visit. I think that Jesse actually enjoyed his day away from the electronics. Sadly, he has now reconnected with his Xbox. I guess I shouldn't complain too much. After all, here I sit feeding one of my obsessions...

Photos:

1 - Deuce frolicking in the snow
2 - A frigid Jeep
3 - The restored 17lbr at the Morrison Gun Park
4 - Jesse enjoying the view
5 - Gunner and Jes hamming it up

[Bob Carriere]

We decided to hibernate in the barn. After the usual snow chores and firing up Lucifer we had a coffee break arounf noonish. When we came back it was almost 55 F inside the barn so we set tp desing a jig for bending the bottom angle iron repalcement for my cab 11.

Salvaged an old 1 1/2 x 10 old varnished Oak stair step and traced the angle iron curve and cut with the band saw. Grant refined the radius using a belt sander until we had a perfect fit.

Clamp the Oak jig on the SS work table and went about figuring out how many pie shaped pieces we had to cut out. First try was still too tight so we adjusted/removed a tiny more of the steel until we had a perfect curve resting against the Oak board.

We tacked welded the segments and compared against the original from a cab 12 . The original cab 12 rusted angle iron has already been tested for fit agaunst the floor of the cab 11 so we know it will fit.

Time ran out.... we have to finish the welding on the inside of the angle.... that is the visible side so great care will be taken when welding and grinding to it will look original.

The original angle iron was done in 3 pieces.... each curved corner being stamps than welded ( probably in a jig) .Ours will have just one weld in the centre....carefully done so as to be invisible.

Although we welded while the steel was still clamped to the Oak jig very little wood was charred.

Tomorrow we will finish the welding and grinding on that peice and after flipping the jig over will bend the other side.

Nice team work with Grant as the mathematician me as the welder....

PS....The bending was done cold no added heat necessary.

[RHClarke]

As seen in the above post, Bob and Grant were busy on Saturday designing and fabbing up cab frame rails. I joined the boys on Sunday for some more tin bashing. The weather at the barn continues to be perplexing. Today it was quite cold and the snow was flying sideways with the wind. It would be another day working inside the barn. Fortunately, Lucifer came easily to life and by noon hour, it was quite pleasant in the barn.

Working outside was limited to Bob clearing a neighbour's driveway and the usual snow removal process. Inside the barn the boys continued work on the second lower cab frame rail. Watching Bob and Grant working together made me think that there was nothing that they couldn't fix, repair or make. The combination of Bob's creativity/welding skills, and Grant's analytical mind/patience/attention to detail is something to behold, and the results speak for themselves.

While the boys contented themselves with their project, I continue to learn the ways of the welder and metal work. My process is by trial and error with emphasis on the error part. I expect that I will have committed almost every faux pas with the welder by the time I am finished. In any case my M37 fender is taking shape and I hope that it will be ready for paint next weekend.

"Tempus fugit" when working at the barn, and all too soon production was shut down or another weekend.

Photos:
1 - Teamwork
2 - Almost there - a little more adjustment required

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Bob, etal

Was looking at your work forming the angle for the back of the cab with interest, then was looking at the MetalMeet forum that lead to a YouTube video. That got me to this video take a look https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=01RnS6G6t30

Wouldn't you love to have one of these?

Cheers Phil