VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

I could have shortened those cross rods to make it easier but as those rods, brackets, clevis's and the tillers are original from the tank and made in the 30s,I wanted to keep as much of the original parts as I could. A bit of return linkage was no big deal and it certainly operates great. Looking forward to driving this little beast. Hopefully not to far away. The engine and pump is next on the agenda.

[Wayne Hingley]

Great work Colin… you continue to amaze!

[colin jones]

Thank you Wayne, I appreciate your comment
thought I better prepare my track for installation as it is not far away. As a point of interest and I know this has been discussed before but for those who don't know, The track for the Australian carriers and the Ten Vickers light tanks ran wider horned tracks as we have wider wheels than the universal and T16 carriers @ 2.5". The track here is the English track it will suit one of my Vickers and I will be running Aust track for the other as those wheels are the original English design but the Aust width 3" As you can see in the photos the difference in horn spacing.

[colin jones]

Just showing a photo of a track link with a bent horn. It goes to show just how malleable they are before they actually break.
I am also machining up connection plates to attach the soft start to the hyd pump. I had some 4140 so I thought it should go to some good use. I just need to cut the key into the shaft.

[colin jones]

So one end will be bolted to the existing 4 bolt conn on the hyd pump shaft and the other I am machining up the bolt straight to the engine flywheel. I have a flex plate in the photo only for hole spacing. I still need to make a plate that will bolt to the bell housing/Hyd pump and floor then that will take care of the engine area, apart from the radiator and fan.

[Mike K]

Some nice lathe machining there Must be satisfying for you nearing the end of a long project.

Do you prefer carbide tooling or HSS ? I mostly use HSS for my lathe doesn't have the mass/rigidity required for coping with industrial grade carbide inserts.

Sharp positive rake carbide inserts are available these days but the cheaper Asian brands are not that good.

The chap down the road from me rebuilds Steam traction engines .. along the lines of your work, he has a a horizontal boring machine, radial arm drill and a massive FORD brand lathe. made during WW2.

[colin jones]

Hi Mike, I do like the carbide inserts mainly for the simplicity of changing them. I get most of mine on line but occasionally I need to grind my own for specific jobs. I still have plenty to do on these tanks but looking back at all the different jobs I have done to date, it doesn't seem so bad now