Aligning Centurion engine to gearbox

[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

[Lynn Eades]

Speaking of running Centurions,there is a privately owned one in the South Island of New Zealand. It belongs to a gold miner on the west coast. He also has a Crusader. I believe both are runners.

[Malcolm Towrie]

So that works out to be 13 (maybe going on 20?).

2 in BC, Canada
1 in the US ( there's gotta be more)
6 (at least) in Australia
1 in England (again, likely more)
1 in Ontario Canada
1 in Alberta Canada
1 in NZ

So the club isn't as exclusive as I thought it was.

I have another question: I backed off the large track tensioning nuts on both sides since the tracks had been severely overtightened for some reason. Neither idler moved back to loosen the track. They were stuck. After reversing and neutral steering, the left hand one snapped back, simultaneously extruding a ton of grease (I think it was hydrolocked with grease), so I can see sag in that track now. But the right hand one is stuck despite some subsequent reversing and steering in the display bay.
The manual says reversing the tank should pull it back.
We may have to wait for the mud hole outside to freeze so we can take it outside and drive it for a bit to see if this frees it up.

Any suggestions on getting the track tensioner to release?

I'm going to try some heat.

Malcolm

[jdmcm]

In the USA there are 2 or maybe even 3 in Minnesota at Drive-A-Tank, and also one more runner in New Zealand at Christchurch, used to be a tank driving adventure, ex-Vietnam vet.

Malcolm, have you counted the links in the track? I know there is an acceptable wear guide which allows for the removal of a link, maybe 2-3, can't remember the exact number. I remember a fellow in Australia who had removed too many links and the track was tight as a piano wire, eventually he ended up tearing off the idler or the final drive.

When we got ours it was new track but loose and it wanted to jump the sprockets...no fun tightening Centurion track without the proper ratchet tool!

Christchurch
314859011.jpg

[Mike Cecil]

John,

Can't quite make out the ARN in your image - is it 169039?

Regards

Mike