A few questions for the T16 experts out there.

[Jon Bradshaw]

I have my reproduction Vickers tank running on a reversed T16 hull and when it was out today the seal where the diff meets the drive shaft leaked fluid. It was only about 1 cup of oil but it made me put it back on it's trailer and head home. Once home I opened up the engine bay (remember Tank hull, armoured engine covers, lots of lifting)looking for where the oil had come from. It was puddled under the seal but there has not been any more leaks since I took it into the garage. The fluid level in the differential is fine so it was a very small amount that leaked.
I was driving it a bit hard and was doing a fair bit of steering so wonder if it just got too hot.
Was this an overheating issue?
Was this a pressure blow out, which once it blew made it happy again?
If so how often will it do this?
Is the seal gone but will only leak sometimes when driving more than a few miles?

Second problem is that I seem to be drifting to the left constantly when driving straight. This is causing me to correct about every 50m or so. I have backed off the "braking" drum brake until it barely engages and it still pulls left. I was told it may be a difference in the number of links in the track but they are the same. I wonder if the axle needs to be aligned since I see in the manual that this is done with a spacer. Has anyone needed to do this? How do you determine if it is aligned?

[Lynn Eades]

No idea about the first bit, but the going left is probably because your tracks need balancing. you need to lay your tracks out on a flat floor and compare. one probably has more links in it than the other. 1/4 your tracks and swap 2 1/4s from one side to the other. this should balance them. put em back on ant test drive.
I hope that solves your problem.

[charlie fitton]

I cant see how it has anything to do with the tracks...track speed is proportional to sprocket RPM

and check your diff vent..

f

[Lynn Eades]

Charlie, have a read of a carrier manual.

[Jordan Baker]

Yes differing track speeds will cause a turn to the slower side. However track length also plays an important role. As Lynn says take the tracks off and lay them out flat. Count them and then count again to be sure. It could be simple as some track is more worn causing one to be slightly longer even with the same number of track links.

[charlie fitton]

Mk1* and MkII* manuals at hand - Carrier parked in my garage...tell me where this info is....

The number of links per side has no bearing on the Carriers' ability to drive straight.

Road camber might, but he's in canada so it would be opposite to his problem, and an adjustment in steering every 50 meters or so aint bad.

Your car wont even do that.