MET Gas

[ron]

Hi Lyn,
Thanks for your help regarding the longer shaft, I managed to get one of these today, also the driven arm to fit the tapered shaft of the diff, I am heading off in the morning to look at some more carriers on a station out west there are 7 or 8 of them in various state of disrepare, should be good for some parts,
Thanks again for your help,
Regards, Ron

[ron]

Hi Guys,
In case any one in Qld wants to get their Australian carrier wheels re rubbered, here is the place where I have had a few sets done, they do an excellent job,it takes about five days to get a full set of eight re done, I have no conection with this company,I just got them to make the mould so that we can all take advantage of the chance to get our wheels redone,
I was talking to them a couple of weeks back and they are interested in making rubber for items like half tracks and Stuart tanks, give them a call with your problem,lets keep them interested for now and the future, my next project is to get someone interested in making new track
Regards,
Ron,

[ron]

Hi Guys just a quick update on Met Gas here the diff has been fitted, I will start to rebuild the rear end next,
Ron

[Steve]

Hi Ron, it's certainly coming along!! Quick question from a complete novas… What is the paint you used for the under coat once you had the hull sand blasted to provide long term rust protection, what type of paint do you plan to use for top coat and how will you apply it.. Sorry for sounding simple but l’ve found in restorations there is a big gap between what they used in the 1940’s and what is available now.. Some restorations l have know use acrylics and some use 2 pac.. then there is the debate on gloss and matt… what is a restoration and what is long lasting..

So could you tell me from your experience what you have found as the best to use?

[ron]

Hi Steve.
Thanks for your interest, We painted the freshly sand blasted parts with Kill rust red oxcide paint, the moment the sand blaster had done his job,I have quite a bit of army surplus olive drab paint that I managed to pick up sometime ago and will use that,
But at the end of the day its your machine and as you have done all of the work dont be too fussed about what some people might say I have been involved with carriers and various other vehicles EG, Matilda tanks I once owned six of them, also Studebaker trucks quite a few carriers and a few other interesting items including a Diamond T 980, that I completly rebuilt ,
I have found over the years our hobby as well of a lot of other hobbies have more than our fair share of armchair experts, who get most of their knowedge from what they read which in a lot of cases is often flawed, So what I am saying is do what you want to do and what you like its its your money and your time, if you need any help any time just ask,
Regards, Ron




UOTE=Steve;99271]Hi Ron, it's certainly coming along!! Quick question from a complete novas… What is the paint you used for the under coat once you had the hull sand blasted to provide long term rust protection, what type of paint do you plan to use for top coat and how will you apply it.. Sorry for sounding simple but l’ve found in restorations there is a big gap between what they used in the 1940’s and what is available now.. Some restorations l have know use acrylics and some use 2 pac.. then there is the debate on gloss and matt… what is a restoration and what is long lasting..

So could you tell me from your experience what you have found as the best to use?[/QUOTE]

[Steve]

Hi Ron, thats great feedback. I thought from the color that you had painted in red oxide kill rust.. It is great stuff and l use heaps of it around the farm spraying on roofs and sheds.. I think l will continue with an acrylic on parts as they are restored as l have found that 2 pac chips and does not patch well.

Thanks again mate..

[ron]

well its been a couple of hectic weeks with visitors here , just spent a couple of hours in the shed and fitted the backing plates and brake shoes, fitted with new brake pads, if I get time in the morning I will fit the drums and sprockets and ajust the brakes, Regards Ron

[Snowy]

Originally Posted by ron

In case any one in Qld wants to get their Australian carrier wheels re rubbered, here is the place where I have had a few sets done, they do an excellent job I was talking to them a couple of weeks back and they are interested in making rubber for items like half tracks and Stuart tanks, give them a call with your problem,lets keep them interested for now and the future, my next project is to get someone interested in making new track

Just echoing Ron's comments - their re-rubbering of carrier tyres is fantastic. We had heard about these so my friend and I went up to Toowoomba to see them last year about the possibility of producing OEM-style Weasel track bands. Although we arrived unannounced, we were given a few hours of their time to discuss what we were after, and also treated to a tour of the factory (in which I got to see the Carrier tyre mold, and the very impressive results).

What is really exciting is that the boss of the company is an engineer himself, interested in all sorts of esoteric applications for rubber. He showed us a prototype go-cart tyre he had been working on. Normally their bread-and-butter is doing those giant mining truck tyres, but he's interested in the 'little guy' too. As Ron said, things like halftrack tracks, Stuart tank pads etc are just what they are looking for. He was very interested in the Weasel and the complexity of its track and offered a heap of good advice in how they might be able to reproduce them.

BTW I don't have any connection to them, just an impressed visitor. The company's name is 'Big Tyre' and the fellow's name is Bruce.

Steve.