different inside diameter wheels

[Robert Bergeron]

Michael , you are an ace : T-16 ! I have a T-16 track adjusting wheel mixed in with the other Carrier wheel barn finds .... Now that’s too bad because the tyre is excellent on it and i can’t use it . That was the reason i had chosen it out of a big lot of them. What does GAU stand for ?

[Lynn Eades]

Robert you might find a T16 owner who will trade?

[Robert Bergeron]

Lynn , good idea . the word is out !

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

What does GAU stand for ?

GAU is the Ford model designation for the T16 Universal Carrier. The Ford list of designations for government models goes attached. GPA, GPW, G8T and GTB may be better known, and GAU is on that list as well. Did you know GAE was their designation for the conversion of the 90 hp V8 enigne for use in British Universal Carrier?

Ford Government Models.jpg

[Perry Kitson]

It is interesting that our southern cousins used the industry standard bearing sizes in the idler wheel as opposed to the heavier raced bearings in the Canadian carriers. I wonder if the road wheels are the same. The common industry standard for a 40mm bore is either 80mm or 90mm OD, a 6208 or 6308 bearing. The Canadian carriers, and maybe the Australian and British built ones, used the heavier raced 6408 bearings.

[Lynn Eades]

Perry, The 40 x 110 x 27mm bearings are employed across the range of carriers British, Australian and N.Z.built) I have no knowledge of the T16 but am interested to know why Ford decided to down size the hub / bearings etc.
I think you might find that the 40 x 110 was considered standard back then? Another factor that some might not know was that the early carriers were fitted with a semi thrust ball bearing (back to back) these were able to be dis assembled for cleaning. The inner idler bearing with the 50mm bore is still a very common bearing. (I'm sure you already know most of this)

[ajmac]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

GAU is the Ford model designation for the T16 Universal Carrier. The Ford list of designations for government models goes attached. GPA, GPW, G8T and GTB may be better known, and GAU is on that list as well. Did you know GAE was their designation for the conversion of the 90 hp V8 enigne for use in British Universal Carrier?

Attachment 112442

That is a really interesting document Hanno, I will have to cross check it with my Loyd engine part number table.

[Lynn Eades]

Alistair, go to Nigel Watsons vol 1. pages 210 (pre U.C. and U.C.) and page 211 for Loyd engines.
The No.3 engines were the 90 H.P. engines.(see below)
The EGAE and EGAEA appear to be 85 H.P. (American origin)
The Canadian Engines ( COIUC) were the 90 H.P.
British origin engines were: Variously prefixed:SE51,79E,79F, along with suffixes.
Some British engines wore American ancillaries and generally had 18mm spark plugs while the North American engines used 14mm plugs.
There looks to be about 15 variations across the northern hemisphere war time carriers.
Thanks again to Nigel.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thank you all my friends. Very informative. I have found thanks to you another T-16 wheel in the lot i had retrieved. In the barn where i found them there were over 100 . I picked 10 including the two useless ( to me ) T-16 wheels. Oh well , we all have to pay to learn i guess.

[Robert Bergeron]

BUT WAIT A MINUTE ! All is not lost : The inside diameter of the bearing on the T-16 wheel is still 40 mm !

[rob love]

With a bit of mix and matching of bearings and the spacers, I have used t-16 wheels on UCs, and UC wheels on T-16s.