Track pins

Jon Bradshaw · #1 15-05-09, 04:29

I have another T16 but the pins were wornout so the guy I got it off of removed them all! I have some for a pattern but I need over three hundred pins

for this vehicle. My other carriers have alot of worn pins as well.
Anybody have advice on how to make my own. I was thinking of buying steel rod and cutting it to length but other than welding a washer on the end how would I finish it?
Has anyone made them before?
Is there a jig I could see pictures of to make them?
I was told case hardened steel would work is that too hard or too soft?
Any help would be appreciated.

Aidan · #2 15-05-09, 04:43

Don't you need to harden those pins after you cut them in sections? this is what I read. Aidan

kevin powles · #3 15-05-09, 07:39

hi, i had an idea of using stainless steel to make track pins, harder than steel and no heat treatment required when you have finished making them?.

this a good idea or not?.

Maurice Donckers · #4 15-05-09, 08:13

Stainless steel is not harder ,it is tougher, it will wear very rapid.
In Holland It is possible to get the right diameter of steel rod with the same outside hardening as orriginal , just cut them with a grinder cutting bench , and weld an end cap on both sides .

RichardT10829 · #5 15-05-09, 10:25

would heating normal steel rod up and quenching in oil not harden it ? works on swords

Maurice Donckers · #6 15-05-09, 10:56

It is all not that simpel , you want the inside to be Tough , and the outside hardenned for Wear. But if you heat them just up , and then quench them , they wil deform .
same with track links don`t heat them up cherry hot to get pins out , the links will also change their charackteristics , and wear quicker.
I pressed them one by one out . Had a lot of NOS pins and several failed after some miles , because of the aging of the material . same problem with brake shoe springs they just snap because they get to brittle from aging.

RichardT10829 · #7 15-05-09, 11:21

so it needs to be case hardened bar ? wonder how much that would cost.... i agree with using heat on the tracks too its never a good thing. i have been trying to find out what the meterial % is made up from i know it has manganese in there with the steel (track links).
perhaps this is something that we could all get together and try to sort once and for all, after all worn track and pins will effect us all. I know that staman military are producing brand new sherman chevron tracks so surely we could all get together and produce something. i am going to chase up Vickers Armstrongs for any patterns they may have again.

Jon keep us posted on any results you get for material to use as pins.

Rich

tankbarrell · #8 15-05-09, 11:40

Normal, i.e. mild steel does not have enough carbon to be heat treated, that is why case hardening powders are used as these are carbon based.

You can buy a carbon case hardening steel such as EN32 or a nickel chrome moly such as EN24. Both can be heat treated with the EN24 giving a uniform toughness throughout.

As Maurice said, Stainless steel is not very hard but it does have the advantage of work hardening.

Hendrik van Oorspronk · #9 02-12-10, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice Donckers

Stainless steel is not harder ,it is tougher, it will wear very rapid.
In Holland It is possible to get the right diameter of steel rod with the same outside hardening as orriginal , just cut them with a grinder cutting bench , and weld an end cap on both sides .

Hello Maurice, what kind of steel do you use for the trachkpins?
And were do you order it? MCB?

Groeten

Hendrik van Oorspronk