VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Lynn Eades]

Variometer??? I don't know anything about them. Do they need to be in front of the radio op?

[colin jones]

Lynn, I too am a novice about them even though I have some! I would guess they need to be within arms reach of the radio operator. The two threaded holes throw me a bit, almost like something is clamped down by one side only and why bolted and no provision for any straps. It is also just above the turret basket top. Bowerbird has the bracket and Wombat has the holes where it was which means it was in all of them.

[David Dunlop]

Interesting "Mystery Mount" you have there, Colin.

Seems like there are two possibilities for brackets in vehicles: All needed parts are contained within one assembly to mount/anchor an item, or, more than one mounting assembly are spread out to perform the job.

If there are no visible/logical other locations nearby that may have had another mounting item attached, was this mount then essentially self contained for the purpose it was built to serve? Any signs of a steel, or fabric strap anchored under the mounting bolts for this mount? Something that perhaps came up from between the mount and hull plate at the top and wrapped around the object being restrained?

A close look at the mount raises some interesting points which suggest it is adjustable for taking whatever fits on it, and also suggests whatever was fitted to it may have required a specific orientation.

Take the steel rod bit. Why did they bother with it? Why not simply have drilled two threaded holes in the front lip of the main assembly to run a pair of bolts into? That rod looks to have been designed to be adjustable enough in it's own right to allow a pair of bolts to line up correctly with it before being run home.

The two holes in the front lip are not a perfect match to the pair in the rod. They are elongated somewhat. This suggests the rod was intended to rotate in its mount to allow bolts to line up and the odd little hex head fastner on the lower left lip of the mount is itself set in a slotted hole. A locking mechanism?

The last little odd ball item is the hole in the lower right curved face of the mount. To me it suggests two possibilities, (a) it is there to allow a protrusion like a bolt or screw head on whatever is there to be cleared so the item sits flush against the curved surface, or (b) perhaps it is a guide hole. Whatever sits on this mount has a guide pin that must line up with that hole to ensure the item in question is properly mounted.

On this latter point, could it be possible that whatever sits on this mount, has two bolts built into it which fasten into the two threaded holes on the rod assembly? Rotate the item until a guide pin drops into place, fine tune the process with a slight turn of the rod to get the bolts lined up, run them home and lock the rod in place?

I have probably raised more questions than helped on this, Colin, so I think I will quit now and go make some soup.

Cheers,


David

[colin jones]

David, I was going to take two asprin but I think I better make that 4

[James P]

Good lord the work you are investing in these two tanks/tankettes is right off the charts. If they ever revived the series "Tank Overhaul" I would say they need to show your work.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Well I don't think it is for smoke discharges as it is for about a 6" dia item. It is aluminium and it's fabricated. It is just above the floor level and it is not covered by any bulkhead panelling. It has those two threaded holes and I can't see anywhere for a strap to hold something down. It does not line up with anything on the engine and I cannot see where there is any wear marks

Ah, measuring tapes...the universal language.

I've thought about every piece of equipment a 1936 Vickers tank crewman would need (based on years of looking at stowage diagrams and kit) and am drawing a complete blank. Space was at a premium so everything inside was for immediate use. The rest was stowed outside or carried in lorries behind.

Just maybe what you have is not a stowage bracket at all. Are there matching holes on the other side for a second bracket? If not, one would do. Could it be a centering bracket for the bottom of the turret basket? The pin and adjustment would make sense for some attached channel that would support the rotary junction box supplying current to the turret; the adjustment being required for slight eccentricities of the turret ring gear. The scallop may not be for stowage so much as clearing some protrusion on the bottom of the basket.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Well I don't think it is for smoke discharges as it is for about a 6" dia item. It is aluminium and it's fabricated. It is just above the floor level and it is not covered by any bulkhead panelling. It has those two threaded holes and I can't see anywhere for a strap to hold something down. It does not line up with anything on the engine and I cannot see where there is any wear marks

Hi Colin,
Reading the manual for the MkVI, there is mention of fitting a counterweight to the mantlet if guns are removed and tank is driven. No idea of what this consists of but I would imagine it could be part of the stowage. Only wish I could access the photos I took of the inside of Platypus when we were working on it.

regards Richard

[lynx42]

Colin, out today in England is this magazine. Look at the bottom left story, I hope they have some interior photos for you..

Regards Rick.

[Mike Gurr]

It is an article on the restoration of the Tank Museums MK IV Light Tank by Gavin Barlow of Armoured Engineering www.armoured-engineering.co.uk
There is a picture of the drivers compartment in the article but I can't see the bracket, may be different in the MK VI but I am sure it would be worth making contact. I have no involvement with this company.
Mike

[Niels V]

The firm is fairly active on facebook https://www.facebook.com/armouredengineering/

[simon king]

I found these pictures of the ex Littlefield Collection LT Mk VI

http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/vickers.htm

In a couple of a pictures there appears to be a curved metal hinged cover more or less over where the bracket is situated. I wonder if this gives access to whatever is mounted on the mystery bracket. Might explain why it doesnt show up on stowage diagrams.

Forward of the cover is a semicircular fairing leading into the engine compartment. Could it be that this covers a shaft leading from or to whatever is mounted on the bracket. Could it be something like a starter motor, located there for ease of access??? Problem with that supposition of course is that British vehicles are not generally known to be user friendly.

Alternatively given its proximity to the turret basket ring, could it be for a power traverse gearbox or was the turret hand operated?

sk

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Colin,
It has just dawned on me. The bracket is for the separate dynamo which charges the wireless batteries. I will send a picture shortly.

regards, Richard

[Richard Farrant]

The wireless battery charging circuit is separate from the main vehicle circuit and is fed through the rotary base junction to the batteries under the basket floor. The hole in the bracket is for a dowel in the CAV dynamo casing to locate it in the correct position, same on other vehicles of the period.
Here is part of the circuit diagram;

[jack neville]

It is an Australian Tank Colin. That bracket is about the right size for the old 750ml steel beer can. Don’t be fooled by anything else.

[Lynn Eades]

So I was nearly there with post #504. It looked a bit like a CAV starter mount. That's why I suggested a generator (not knowing there were two.
I was thinking it must be for the flux capacitor for a while.

[colin jones]

I think you're all trying to confuse me. You give me three shovels and tell me to take a pick . Seriously thaks for the input and Richard you have answered it. So that means that there should be another shaft that is belt driven off the engine. Some of the above comments have opened up some info for me. I just picked up my engine yesterday as I got sick and tired of waiting for the Mech to work on it. I am going to restore it myself. It can't be that difficult I'm sure I will get all the answers if I need them. I will start diss-assembling the engine today and post some photos.
Colin.

[George Moore]

Hi, just pm'd an email to Colin, yes the second dynamo is shown on the circuit diagram, and for those who have seen the drawings that Colin is using, the dynamo in question is drawn very faintly on sheet 18, you can just make out the outline of it....

As I said, very much a case of not seeing the wood for the trees....

George.

[colin jones]

Although I was quite angry the mechanic never did what he was supposed to, I am happy to have it home and see first hand what it is like.

[colin jones]

I guess it is a bit like the transmission, it looks worse than what it is and again the bolts are all coming out. That's one benefit of steel bolts in a aluminium casting.

[Lynn Eades]

Colin, for the un initiated, can you give us make and model please?

[colin jones]

Sure Lynn, from the un-educated it is a
1936 6 cyl Meadows 88hp Model is ESTB. 4430cc
Bore 88.5mm
Stroke 120mm
Carburettor is a Solex type 40 Z.V.D.L.
Magneto is a Sims S.R.M.6.
Dynamo is a C.A.V. Bosch Type D.B.L.R.19.
Starter is a C.A.V. Bosch Type S.C.124
Firing order 1,4,2,6,3,5.
Ignition timing 42 deg before TDC.
Shame you don't live close by!!
Colin

[lynx42]

Colin I do not know if this is the same but it is 1936 6 cylinder but has twin carbys.



Regards Rick.

[simon king]

Useful discussion about the Meadows light tank engines,

http://www.lagondaforum.com/showtopic.php?id=1109

[Lynn Eades]

Thank you Colin.
Next question: Do you have engines for both tanks?

It looks like you will be joining a Lagonda forum.

The "Julian" in the forum Simon posted, might be this Julian.

Engine Rebuilding - Historic Competition servicess
http://www.historic-competitionservi...ine-rebuilding.

Check him out. might be a helpful contact.

[colin jones]

That is all great information. I have been in contact with the chap from Armoured Eng and he has given me some very good info already. I have now joined the Lagonda forum
Lynn, I don't have another meadows for the other tank but I do have a Ford 250 engine which is of similar size that I was considering installing as it only needs to run a hydraulic pump. I just thought it would sound similar to the meadows 6. I am glad that the engine is not visible from the outside.
Thankyou everyone for your help.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Hi Colin,

Three photos off the web of the Pucka Vickers and another two from somewhere else.

Regards Rick.

As regards the radio fit, DD276 had a WS19 fitted because you can see the A and B set aerial bases on the top of the turret bustle. (This is possibly a restoration job, since the 'B' set mount is fitted with the protector ring.)

Chris.

[Mike Cecil]

Well spotted Chris: the Mk6A was restored by a staff member and an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers at the Army Tank Museum, so there is no guarantee that a No.19 set was ever actually fitted while the vehicle was in service.

Mike

[colin jones]

I have also continued on making the panels for the engine dividing wall

[colin jones]

As there are only two on each tank I will call them acceptable. They fit and look the part and will also be functional. Some photos I have seen have wire edge and some don't so mine don't. I need to get into the engine asap.

[colin jones]

I am certainly convinced that this engine had not done that many hours as gears, chains, general moving parts appear to have little wear on them but corrosion is the only problem that I can see. the timing chains were seized solid but persistence is paying off. I was able to get the very small wire out, the very small washer and the pin out and 100% confident it will restore like new.
The Magneto, again has little wear and I don't think too much corrosion. I suspect it too will be resurrected. The dynamo is seized solid but it's just another thing on the list