VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

Yes jack, i'm in the process of getting it apart now and it only looks bad because it is bad but not the gears. I think that the bearings are also untouched. The electrolysis has not effected the steel from what I can see but I will evaluate them when I get to that stage. The box itself is basically flat sides all around so my thinking is do each piece individually with all machining done prior to assembly, tack it all together with bearings, shafts and gears and then Tig it all together. I would use the original top plates as they came off in good cond and to answer Davids question, I would think that it is a aluminium alloy and I can be assured that it has magnesium in it but its I don't know its exact composition is. I will keep the pics coming as I progress.
It sure is an interesting little project.

[Lynn Eades]

Colin, is it possible there is a case laying around somewhere?
Are they special to this mark of tank or could hey have used the same gearbox in other Vickers Carden Loyd machines?

[colin jones]

Hi Lynn, as far as I know these boxes are only in the Vickers light tank and the odds of finding another exactly the same would be the old needle in a haystack scenario but I guess most things are possible. I think that if the gears were destroyed as well it would be a different story and by the end of today I should have it all apart. Then I can have a good look and make a better decision then. I might find that this one could be repaired which would be great so I'll keep my options open.
Colin

[colin jones]

The pulldown is now complete and I don't think there is much chance of a rebuild. There's too much of it gone. It's mainly the bearing housings that would be of major concern to me. I will measure and draw each individual face for fabrication. One good thing is that I can use the original box to make the fabrication jig.
Colin.

[colin jones]

After going through the bits and pieces, I found a few bits of the jigsaw puzzle. And before anyone says couldn't I weld them back on, the answer is no. The pieces are very thin and laminated but they certainly tell me what shape the bottom of the transmission should be.

[Howard]

Oh.
My.
Lawd.
Mr Jones, I dips me lid.

[Lynn Eades]

And me Howard.