T16 carrier tracks

[gjamo]

So the wash up is there are 2 types of loose pin track. English and Ozzie. Are there any other variants? Road wheel width or pin setup.

[rob love]

Apparently, the Swiss may have modified Carrier track to be a quarter inch narrower, as evidenced by the new old stock pins available in the US from a surplus dealer.

[Lynn Eades]

The Australian pattern track has a lead plug that holds a shorter straight pin in situ. There is a smaller hole on the opposite side to allow for the use of a track pin punch. The Vickers light tank MkVIB also used the wide horn track (with a headed pin)and would have been the origin. In practice the both were mixed and out here at least both kinds of track are found. (I have some of both)
The point here is that the Swiss may have gone with the lead plug and hence the shorter pin (without the track being narrower?)

Edit: To be clear, both types were made for the Aust. pattern carriers.

[rob love]

To be honest, I have not seen the actual modified or produced Swiss track. The pins have a cotter pin hole on them that is useless on normal width track. As well, the hardening of the pin does not include the last portion of the pin, yet that portion is in a wearing area within the track links.



The discussion on the Swiss track could well be worthy of a separate discussion, including photos. Perhaps I may start one....I would like to settle this myself. I had always heard in my early collecting years that the t-16 track available in rolls located in the US was narrower.

[Lynn Eades]

I don't know Rob. I've never seen it either, but it makes no sense to make it narrower.

[Andrew Rowe]

The lead plugged pin from memory was something like 325 mm long
Cheers Andrew.

[Lynn Eades]

Maybe drop 100mm Andrew?