Aligning Centurion engine to gearbox

[Malcolm Towrie]

Update: the Centurion is running, neutral steering, and moving. Still a long way to go, but it's a big step for us!


https://youtu.be/j-oCNXBoAH8

Malcolm

[Peter Duggan]

Malcolm,

Congratulations !!! That is a major milestone, I hope that your celebration is just as memorable.

Peter

[Mike Cecil]

Excellent Malcolm: it has come a long way since I first saw it.

Mike

[Malcolm Towrie]

Thanks, guys. It was very special getting this old girl running and mobile again after decades of neglect.

It got me wondering how many running Centurions there are out there.
John has one out in BC; I know of at least one in the US, but probably more; Australians love their Cents so there's must be a few running there; Bovington has at least one, maybe more.

So maybe ten running Centurions in the world?

Malcolm

[45jim]

Malcolm,

When I was with the Strathcona's (when they were still posted to Calgary) we restored one of our monument Centurions to running and driving condition for our Regimental 100th anniversary in 2000. It was the last running Centurion with the Regiment and spent its last days in the indoor miniature range for training before finally becoming a monument. We actually had the Centurion running and driving for our Regimental Reunion parade in 1995. It is still running strong up in Edmonton with the other vehicles from the Strathcona historical vehicle troop. We were very lucky in that we had some outside sponsorship and two excellent retired RCEME mechanics who guided us through the work (and to be honest did the majority of the work). I was trying to remember exactly how we did the clutch change but it was so long ago and I have no photos to refer to and I have lost contact with our RCEME colleagues. Here's a photo of the 1995 Reunion line up with yours truly in front of the Centurion as I was driving it for the roll past.
.

[Mike Cecil]

Nice pic!

Malcolm, I can think of eight runners in Oz without any effort, so there are probably more in Oz I'm not aware of.

Four with Tim Wood in Qld (MBT Dozer, DTV, Bridgelayer, ARV): https://tankride.com.au/
One at Mt Oberon NSW.
Two in Victoria (Mk2, upgraded to Mk3, then Mk5, now fitted with a fuel trailer;and a Mk5/1 with a fantastic operational service history)
One at Parramatta (1/15 RNSW Lancers Museum).
One owned by the 1st Armd Regt Assoc and housed at the Army Tank Museum (169005).

All of which are regularly run.

There are two in the AWM collection that are capable of running, but not sure when they were last run. One, 169110, was driven from ANZAC Hall onto the low loader in 2005(or about that time), and the other (169108) was driven onto the low loader at Bowna, NSW, when purchased circa 2002.

Mike

[jdmcm]

Malcolm

Congratulations! I have followed this tank since it first was featured on "Tank Overhaul", can't even remember the year but at least 2005-09? So awesome that you have it up and running!

As for running Centurions in BC, there is mine (Mk5-ish??) and my pal Mark who has an ex-Australian Mk5/1 (might have recently sold that?)

45Jim...is that Centurion in Edmonton still a runner? I wish they would bring that down to Spruce Meadows rather than all the damn leopards!

As for Australia Cam Stone has a runner at South Gypsland Tank Adventures, and Rob Lowden has one at his incredible museum at Cairns. Did Tim Vibert sell that awesome ARV? Any idea where that ended up?

John