Cent. spares vs Aussie ingenuity

[Mike Cecil]

It is a roadwheel from any of the M113A1 FOV.

There were three types:
(1) Thin Al. with wear plate riveted to inner face
(2) Thick Al.with wear plate riveted to inner face
(3) all steel, (wear plate not required so no rivets.)

(1) and (2) could be mixed on the same axle (there are two per axle, mounted one inwards, one outwards), but not (3) with either (1) or (2).

Roadwheels had to be gauged for thickness to ascertain if they were within tolerance. Too thin = replace.

This is likely (1). The ski tow using these wheels is most likely to have been built after 1965.

(The latest book on the Aust M113A1 FOV states there were two types of roadwheel: steel and Al. As can be seen from the above, this is not correct.)

Mike

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Yep, should have considered size, weight and thought a bit more before I made an off the hip ID. but 113 does surprise me.
I guess Bandiana Army Base (they have a lot of 113 work done there) is 90 minutes away, may have been the source of supply and machining. Unless there was a cross border raid and they were borrowed off the Wagga display FOV. One side is Deep Bronze Green, the other over painted with Olive Drab ?, that ultra flat stuff anyway.
Late 70's on I would say, the original tow (about 1952) was a truck on blocks with the diff locked and a rope over the bare wheel. It ran continuously, which apparently took some skill to hook on to,the latter incarnation could be controlled from out on the slope, and was much more forgiving.
Rich.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Of course, hardly worth being a member now....