Intended Carrier recovery, wisdom sought

[Robin Craig]

Dear All,

I have been voluntold to recover this carrier from its current location into temporary storage on behalf of the owners.

As it is a WW2 item, of which I am not greatly familiar I would be grateful if others could comment on the pitfalls of the intended plan.

The vehicle is as pictured.

By the time I get there next week she will likely be frozen to the ground.

My plan is to:-

1. using a recovery asset see if either end will with some judicious persuasion lift from the ground.
2. if not I will split track and have it hauled onto a tilt n load truck and then cross decked to our float.
3. using a tiger torch I will release the track from the now frozen ground by applying pressure as I heat it and draw it from the ground, then load loose to the float
4. unload will be with assistance of and 8 ton excavator.

Comments?


R

[rob love]

If the engine and transmission is seized, as is common on the carriers left open to the elements, then bring the wrench and a hammer to remove the rear axle shafts before trying to remove it.

Those tracks appear well into the ground. That could spell trouble if the ground is well frozen and the track is tight. I have heard of track being broken being pulled in frozen ground. The tiger torch will be a slow process but I guess it's better than waiting until spring.

[Bob Carriere]

If the weather stays mild as forecasted the frost in the ground will not be very deep......

I would suggest..... if you can manoeuvre around the UC to try tugging at 90 degrees to the track...... front corner than rear corner....repeat on the opposite side......maybe pulling/tugging back and forth.....once loose you are home free.

The propane tiger torch will be slow and chances of the rubber wheels burning before thawing is a good possibility.

As suggested you will no doubt have to remove the rear axles to rool free.

If it was my property I would pour old engine oil on the bottom section of the tracks for ...alledgedly lubrication purposes......... but really to soak into the ground if the weather thaws enough and the oil would keep the soil from freezing again too hard..... old junk yard trick.

Bob

[charlie fitton]

if it's near here I'll givwe you a hand.

[Robin Craig]

Blimey,

I have had many private messages and emails and a few wise posts!

I know not nor do I honestly care which variety of the carrier it is, way beyond my interest. It is a burden to me that I have to deal with as part of the give and take of work and what I get afforded to me through work. It is going to screw a whole day by the time I kit up, drive down, wrestle with, load up, chain down and drive back and solo unload at home base.

When you consider I have heated shop space and heavy equipment and covered storage space for my own endeavours it really ain't that bad

We are doing the unit a favour by holding it in safe keeping until they can decide whether to scrap it or restore it.

Honestly I wont let them scrap it kids , a number of you have already expressed an interest. Charlie do you have a domestic approval chitty to be involved?

The gig is happening Wednesday 28th December at 1130 am in Cornwall if anyone wants to drop by and lend a hand. I drink a large Tims double cupped FYI

regards

R

[Bob Carriere]

If the side sloped armor is original you have an early scout model...... certainly worth saving. Hope the weather will be mild and you can move it free easily.

Remember that the back field at the abrn is always available for storage for anyone who is short of space.

Bob

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

SO WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?

Bob

[Robin Craig]

On page one of this thread Bob!

R

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

My thread on this jumped straight to Page 2 completely missing all the images. Now didn't you enjoy that recovery?

Bob