Carrier wheel re rubbering got a group deal !

[ron]

Originally Posted by ozm29c

Phillip,
A bit off topic for me as a weasel man but I do know that Bigtyre in Toowoomba QLD;
http://www.bigtyre.com.au/index2.html
has a mold for Bren Gun Carrier wheels. I think it may be for Australian wheels though???? Could that tyre mold be altered for English carrier wheels?. The rerubbered tyres do look very impressive.
Cheers
John W.

Hi Guys, the mould in question at toowoomba is the one that they made to do my first lot of carrier wheels,I had 10 done in the first batch, and I have had quite a few sets done since then, they do an excellent job, the mould is for australian wheels, if you can get enough starters they will make a mould for the British type wheels, by the way the wheels that I removed from the Marmon Herrington carrier conversion that I found a few years ago,was fitted with narrow Aust wheels, and I still have them,
Regards Ron

[RichardT10829]

Right Guys, thanks to kevins Persistence i have got the price down to £59.75 per wheel this price only if we can collate 15 wheels. does this interest anyone any further ? i can produce some, i know kevin can produce possibly six

(Kevin i cant get any lower than that matey i will show you the email so you know i am making zilche on this for myself...not that i intended to make anything for myself in the first instance )

My contact says with 15 wheels he can justify his workers doing a "Bulk Session" to get them produced and ready to go back to owners.

this price is based on the fact we have:-

1) the bearings removed and the grease cleaned out

2) The damaged remains of the rubber being removed


at the minute the wheels we will be running are the road wheels ie the 20" diameter (CTL / TL 94 type)

pending on how everyone (if anyone) feels we can make a run of idlers in the future.


let me know what you think guys, remember the road wheels are the same as T16's so those with T16's needing new wheels might want to jump in on the act too.


EDIT: Martyn if you get your front idlers done ala road wheel then turn them down on a lathe would this get you sortid quicker ? if not i am willing to remove my idlers off my hull if yours are ready to let go it will keep you going until we can sort you out some more ?



cheers

Richie

[kevin powles]

Hi Rich, I have a minimum of six to give you maybe more, Is it worth getting a trial wheel done to see how it looks and performs on a carrier?, It needs to last another 70 years also whats the best way in getting the old rubber off, I know it is probably burning it off but wont this effect the wheel casting?, also what finish do you need on the wheel surface to be rubbered, all remains of rubber removed then shot blasted to provide a key?.

just floating a few questions out there.

kevin.

[RichardT10829]

he did not specify just that all remnants of the rubber be removed. if you wanted a single wheel done first it would cost £70 i hear you loud and clear about its longevity so it may be an idea..... problem is my carrier is not mobile as yet As for blasting..... as you have access to a machine i would do them so when they come back they will be ready to go. I would do mine if i had access to a blaster hahaha. The rims have a beaded surface where the rubber meets them, or the wheels i have seen do..

my thoughts for removal were to the remains into section and knock off the rubber, whats left could either be grit blasted clean, wired brushed (using a mandrell on a grinder) or burnt off. as long as you dont heat the metal glowing hot you should be ok a gas torch would do the trick (this way is the least enviromentally friendly way to do it, and i will avoid this method if i can) i reckon if they were to be acid dipped the rubber would just fall off, ie costic cleaners down the road


EDIT: ps Kevin floating questions out there is exactly what we need to be doing buddy ! Your sand guards are now ready btw.


Richie

[cantankrs]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

...whats left could either be grit blasted clean... ...i reckon if they were to be acid dipped the rubber would just fall off

Hi Richie,

Good thread going here.

Just my 2c worth. My observation with rubber (and grease) and abrasive blasting is that the impact of the grit gets absorbed and tends to bounce off. So the item needs to be fairly well degreased and any rubber practically all removed. Also possibly the blaster may not want to uneccesarily contaminate the grit as they may reuse it a few times.

Also I'm not sure that acid reacts much to rubber.

Checkout Bob Moseley's earlier thread on this carrier wheel rubber removal subject.

The interesting thing about Bob's pics is that the rubber appears not to be burnt up and consumed, but appears to be heated to the point where it releases and thus stays relatively intact. Dousing the hot rubber afterwards with water might reduce the environmental impact.

Good Luck!!

Regards

Alex

[cantankrs]

Also, again referring to Bob Moseley's thread, sufficient heat is probably key. Being able to get the rubber hot quickly such that it releases before it starts to cook, and before the wheel absorbs too much heat.

Alex.

[Philliphastings]

An excellent post... Getting the rubber off the roadwheels I have might not be too difficult as it has hardened to the consistency of coal and shatters on impact !

I have a few spare narrowed Australian wheels with brittle rubber but then again what I really will need in the fullness of time is a set of genuine british narrow wheels with good or new rubber - then there are the british pattern idlers which are different again. I have a pair of originals fitted but they too are fragile.

Getting more narrowed Australian Pattern wheels (as generous as the offer is) probably wo'nt solve the problem of originality for me.

I'm looking at ways to raise the money, bite the bullet and have a set of authentic English rims re-rubbered and shipped to West Australia.

Cheers

Phill