Sexton MkII on it's way for restoration

[Ron Cheney]

Hi Folks,

This is my first post and the folks over at CanadianGunNutz referred me over here. I own a Sherman M4A3, Chieftain Mk6, "Abbott" SPG's, FV432 APC and T-55 to name a few.

This is my soon-to-be delivered Sexton MkII self-propelled artillery. I will be restoring it back to it's original glory with the exception of live-firing. I don't want to deal with the liabilities of firing larger calibers like this and will stick with 40mm launchers like my 203's, M-79 and HK 320.

It looks a bit rough but all the small parts are included as well as the tracks, spare bogie wheels and even American sprockets. When the time comes and she's running again, I will need some help with applying the proper unit markings to keep her as original as possible.

V/R
Ron

[charlie fitton]

Nice - you could sleeve the barrel for 40MM..

[rob love]

Originally Posted by charlie fitton

Nice - you could sleeve the barrel for 40MM..

That would still be a destructive device in the USA.

[maple_leaf_eh]

This is the place for information on your project. There are a couple of other Sexton rebuilders who will be able to share their experiences.

Please post regular updates. There will be situations that all of us can learn from.

[charlie fitton]

I imagine so, Rob, but he already has 40mm launchers..

[Ron Cheney]

I will post pics of all the small parts that were included to put it back together when I get back in town as those were included in the sale.

Just curious, what do these sell for in Canada in this condition?

V/R
Ron

[Kirk Armitage]

That's one lucky Sexton, it's humid, damp days are over ! I'm jealous!
That's going to be a great project, keep the pics coming.
Regards K Armitage

[jdmcm]

That was a great buy Ron! If I remember correctly the seller was asking 75k US, you can't go wrong at that price! I wouldn't use the Canadian market as a value guide...it is worth way more in Europe or the USA

[Ron Cheney]

John, he worked in the price for me and I'm really excited to bring her back to life. I'll send you an email about some other items for sale because I need keep two of everything and the wife has been in a good buying mood so far 😊

V/R
Ron

[jdmcm]

Sounds good Ron! got to keep her happy!

[Perry Kitson]

Hello Ron,

Do you have the hull/shop number for your Sexton?

Perry

[Jesse Browning]

Congratulations Ron on the purchase. It will be good to see another one up and running. It looks by the fittings that the serial number is around 1900?

[Ron Cheney]

Here's an update with the Sexton...

All of the spare parts, tracks and wheels have been removed from the hull and she's going to be sandblasted this week.

If you folks can guide me to the location of the serial number I will post it up so hopefully we can find out what unit markings we can stencil on her when she's already for display that would really help.

[Ron Cheney]

[David Herbert]

The hull or shop number should be stamped into the rear plate of the hull just above the cranking handle hole. The builder's data plate was originaly screwed to the top of the sponson plate (the horizontal plate above the track) just to the right of the driver. Rams were census numbered in almost the same order as the shop number so it is easy to get one if you have the other but I don't know how the conversion of one number to the other works for Sextons.

This is a relatively late production Sexton as it has the double rear towing eyes as on ultimate series Shermans. It would have been built with a single piece transmission not the three piece one fitted now but these were swapped round at rebuild randomly. This Sexton would certainly have been built with CDP track not the rubber bushed Sherman track. CDP is actually a good track and does little damage to paved roads unlike steel US tracks but of course rubber pads are much more acceptable to the highway authority!

I see that there is a bolt missing from the left idler bracket clamp. Note that this is 1" x 14 ANF NOT 1" x 12 NF (the post war standard fine thread). Also the centre bolt is used to jack the casting apart to alow the idler shaft to turn. This bolt has a LEFT HAND THREAD so turning it clockwise clamps the shaft.

David

[Perry Kitson]

Thanks for posting the pictures Ron. They look all too familiar. There are some photo's of Jesse's Sexton as well as my machine during rebuild posted on the armour forum. I am not sure how far back you will have to go to find them. The shop number I have is 2115. It will be interesting to see what number your Sexton is. The last 50 Sextons built were kept in Canada. They did not make it overseas until being surplussed to Portugal.

Perry

[jdmcm]

She's a beauty Ron! Great acquisition!

John

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ron,

That looks like a great project!

One thing I would like to ask you is to attach pictures to your posts rather than using links to Photobucket or the like - we have learned the hard way that one day sooner rather than later they will disappear making this thread worthless.

Here is how you learn how to post images - let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Hanno

[Ron Cheney]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Ron,

That looks like a great project!

One thing I would like to ask you is to attach pictures to your posts rather than using links to Photobucket or the like - we have learned the hard way that one day sooner rather than later they will disappear making this thread worthless.

Here is how you learn how to post images - let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Hanno

Phewww.. that will be MUCH easier than trying to upload to hosting site, then grabbing link, bringing it back and then loading.



V/R
Ron

[Jesse Browning]

There was a batch of Sextons around 1900 that probably left the factory with three piece transmissions. Several of these are restored today.

[Ron Cheney]

The Sexton was hydroblasted and brought back down to bare metal. I don't know why but it started flash rusting almost instantly. We've had vehicles that were sandblasted and washed down afterwards and never experienced flash rusting this fast.

We want back over it with an acid mix that removed the flash rusting and got the primer laid quickly.

[Ron Cheney]

After the primer cured for a few day the staff went ahead and sprayed several coats of olive drab.

[jdmcm]

Looking Good Ron!

[Ron Cheney]

Here's the Sexton as she now stands.

[Jesse Browning]

Ron bought the Littlefield Sexton also.