Centurion tracks binding

[Malcolm Towrie]

David, do you agree with Adrian about not using penetrant? I was thinking of using a penetrant like WD 40 which is mostly mineral spirits so it doesn't actually lubricate that much. And it's wonderful stuff for freeing up rusted joints.

Malcolm

[David Herbert]

I would not use WD40 primarily because of cost but also because it is probably not too good for the tyres which are natural rubber. The same would apply to diesel or any mineral oil. Quite a lot will finish up on the road too, which might not make you popular. I think there is a case for just spraying water on the tracks once you have some movement as it will have some effect in flushing rust dust out of the hinges but to be honest the biggest effect will be just from towing it back and forwards on a hard surface. Once you have some movement the tracks will sort themselves out once you can drive it.

Whatever you do, do NOT use heat to free the really stuck ones. The links are manganese steel and will go like glass if heated enough to make a difference to a stuck pin. They may look fine but will crack if you try to use them afterwards. The same applies to Sherman end connectors too. Heat them to anything like red hot and they are scrap !

Anyway it is fun towing tanks around !

David

[Malcolm Towrie]

Ok. Thanks, guys.
Malcolm

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Oh, to have these problems....

[jdmcm]

Malcolm

we have the same issue with our Type 69, all steel dead track, dry pins, can put up quite a fuss in the spring after a long moist winter. If you use a lube then it will just attract all kinds of dust and grit which will help wear the track even faster, eventually you end up having to remove a link, once that fails to give reasonable adjustment you are looking at replacing the track, not a lot of "NOS" centurion track around these days

John

[Malcolm Towrie]

John, we have a guy here who "made" WD40. He said it was a 5 gallon pail of the special sauce added to 100 or so gallons of mineral spirits! So basically it has very poor long term, lubricating properties. It frees stuff up and then evaporates. That's why I think it might help free the tracks up without making a long term grinding paste. But I'll play safe and not use anything. As you say we have to baby the track we have.

Malcolm

[Perry Kitson]

Water will work wonders on stuck dry pin track. Worked on both the carrier and the Sexton. One problen you will find is that the pin will only free up in one link, increasing wear on the pin on only half it's length.