Project PHOENIX

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #1 25-02-09, 05:18

Hi all - thanks for your comments, these are exciting times. At the moment I am covered in paint dust getting rid of the old paint. I also received the National Archives file today and it is the file for this truck. Big thanks again to Ian Fawbert for locating it. Learnt three things out of the file, firstly, they should have been 42 tooth sprockets and not 43 as we counted, secondly the track tensioning was by way of a cam plate employed at the rear of the adjuster plate and thirdly track steering was incorporated by way of a three way hydraulic valve operated by a lever by the driver. I have images of these but need to scan them in. Too busy at the moment though.

Tony, we knew the problems about the oversize tyres and that the differentials needed to be rebuilt with different ratios. Too much work and where do I get 10.50x20 directional tyres from. It actually drove well with just the rear drive.

Gordon, I have a hybrid body from the truck and will use that. No money or time to muck around with a concrete block.

OK, back to the sanding.

Bob

Snowy · #2 25-02-09, 06:14

This is a terriffic project, kudos to you both. My suggestion for the 'concrete block' is to make a block-sized box from expanded polystyrene foam sheets, spray it with a coat of varnish, then a layer of stucco... voila! ...a "one ton concrete block" that you can amaze your friends with by lifting it off the back one-handed

Additionally, make a secret hinged lid in it and it could double as a super-sized esky

Richard Coutts-Smith · #3 25-02-09, 11:12

MAAAAGNIFICENT Bob.
Whats the steering like as is?
Rich

colin morley · #4 25-02-09, 11:28

Congratulations Bob and Ada. Will be great to catch up at Corowa and have painted the plintle hook ready for Corowa. regards Colin and Joy

Tony Smith · #5 25-02-09, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowy

My suggestion for the 'concrete block' is to make a block-sized box from expanded polystyrene foam sheets, spray it with a coat of varnish, then a layer of stucco... voila! ...a "one ton concrete block" that you can amaze your friends with by lifting it off the back one-handed

Additionally, make a secret hinged lid in it and it could double as a ......

Grand Unveiling celebration cake with a Go-Go Dancer appearing from within!

Keith Orpin · #6 25-02-09, 13:57

Bob,
I've been following this project, since it first appeared here. May I say, I am very impressed with what you and your freind, Colin have created. Restoring any CMP can and does present all sorts of challenges, but to undertake this project, based on a couple of photo's and a few sketches, in a reletively short timescale, is a credit to you both !. I would imagine that she will steel any show you attend.

you derserve it
Keith

Snowy · #7 25-02-09, 14:03

A block that size would have enough room for an esky and a go-go dancer

Having spent many, many hours investigating and calculating Weasel track geometry involving track pitch, sprocket tooth contact PCDs and whatnot, my five cents worth is, a full track-laying vehicle is not quite the same problem as a half-track laying vehicle.

To start with the correct calculations for a halftrack tyre versus halftrack sprocket, the circumference of the tyre must be known (obviously) but the sprocket diameter must be taken not at the PCD of the tooth / grouser contact point but at the outer (road) surface of the track face. That's because that amount of road distance passes around the sprocket every revolution, which of course must be ratioed to the tyre cirumference via diff or other gearing. I don't know what this distance is for carrier track but I would estimate 1/2 to 1 inch increase in radius perhaps, from the contact point to the road surface point. But I'm sure you guys already knew this

Steve.

Paul Singleton · #8 25-02-09, 17:22

WOW! Great job. To get an idea of the ratio problem you could mark the front tire and a rear sprocket with some paint and count how many revolutions the rear sprocket turns in relation to one rotation of the front tire. You may be able to change tire size on the front to improve the gearing. I am looking forward to more pictures.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #9 26-02-09, 05:51

Hi all - we had all these answers when we obtained the design drawing. Refer to my post 16 October 2008. As already stated the problems were 10.50x20 tyres, rebuilding the diffs with different ratios and now discovering we were one sprocket tooth out. She drives and steers well in 2WD so we'll go with what we have at the moment. Oversize esky and a Go Go dancer sounds like a plan. Need to make a telephone call to Jiff's girlfriend, see attached. We'll see what time permits us to do.

Bob

Col Tigwell · #10 26-02-09, 06:49

I bet in the dark would appear all warm and cuddly, her figure kind of reminds me of an ACCO.

Sorry Phonix

Regards

Col

Tony Smith · #11 25-02-09, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Tony, we knew the problems about the oversize tyres and that the differentials needed to be rebuilt with different ratios. Too much work and where do I get 10.50x20 directional tyres from. It actually drove well with just the rear drive.

Bob

Not at all suggesting you were wrong to fit 12.00's, as they are certainly easier to source, but we could have calculated the rear sprocket size to suit and give you traction all round instead of bind up in the T/Case. So you have 43 sprockets, what diff ratios F & R? 7.16:1?