Border Raiding

[ron]

Morning Rob,
Thanks for your reply regarding the narrow wheels,I agree with what you have said, I was down in Victoria a couple of months ago to pick up my Met gas carrier,and called to see John, I checked out Colins Vickers tank at the time,I think the track on it is original, the wheels are narrow I picked up a spare narrow wheel next to the remains of a carrier and ran the tape measure over it for width. the rubber was complete in fact it was as good as new but the rubber was hard as you would expect it measured (One Inch less ) than the standard Aust wheels although it was the standard H pattern,The Marmon Herrington carrier that I recoved last year had these wheels but the rubber was gone,someone had suggested this was done by the saw mill owner when the conversion was done after the war ,My question is why would you bother tirning down australian wheels to fit British track when Aust track and wheels were all over the place on top of this there were no Laths or mills on the property to do this type of work, which also requires a fair amount of skil I also picked up a couple of spare British type narrow wheels that were lying on the ground I think what Rob has said is true it seems that Aust either cast some narrow wheels the question is why? or as he said turned some down ? By the way those Marmon parts are looking for a good home if any one needs them,
Regards Ron

[ron]

Hi All
Almost forgot to tell you that the track on the Marmon Herrington carrier conversion was the double ended British type track not that unusual for the time its been over 50 years since the conversion was done,and just think if you can source Marmon Herrington complete drive lines,a small thing like British double ended pin track would have been not a problem, the track was useless and is long gone now, if you check my carrier country pics you can see it,its very important to keep an open mind on these things Colin and a few other guys have proved this,its all out there you just have to look out side the square,,
Best Regards,
Ron

[Lynn Eades]

with all due respect I think your headed in the wrong direction.
That Tank Colin has, has the wrong track fitted to it.
It appears easy to do.Jeff Plowman here in N.Z. owned an LP2A with English track fitted on its original wheels. It chews things up a bit, but it works after a fashion.
You must have seen enough "boch ups" in the bush in the past to know that our fathers did stuff that we wouldn't put up with now.
I'm hope Richard can square this away ,by telling us about the difference in width between the Vickers Light Tank track,and English Carrier track.

Colin. I see the oil filler cap on your engine is very much the same style as the English fuel tank caps in carriers.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I'm hope Richard can square this away ,by telling us about the difference in width between the Vickers Light Tank track,and English Carrier track.

Lynn and Colin,

This what I can tell you, not having anything to do with the track on the one restored over here, I am going from the official manual;

Mark VI tank ( this is the earlier model, Australian ones were MkVIa )

"Track width 9.5 ins., No.6, consisting of 155 links, 147 hinge pins and 8 joint pins."

"The hinge pin is of steel, formed with a head at one end being riveted over after links have been connected.
The joint pin is of steel formed with a head at one end, the opposite end being provided with a washer and keep pin."

"Amendment 1, Sept. 1938
Mark VIa and VIb tanks

The track is generally similar to that for the Mark VI tank, except that the link lugs are wider apart to accomodate the wider pattern bogie wheel and guide roller fitted to the Mk VIa and VIb tanks."

Not sure if this is of any use to you, but all I can come up with at present.

[Lynn Eades]

Just what the doctor ordered. Thankyou.
So apart from the lead plugging verses full length pins, it's identical, and interchangeable with the Aust carrier track.

[Jared Archibald]

G'day Everyone,

interesting thread all round.

This is a quote from Section D, Page 1 of the "Carriers MG, 2 pdr, and 3"Mortar Workshop Manual" - Australian Issue.

"Carriers M.G., 2 Pdr., and 3 inch Mortar are fitted with 9 1/2 in. tracks, which are interchangeable with those used on the light tank Mark VIa (but not with the British Carrier), excepting that the number of links per track differs for each vehicle".

This statment correlates with the info quoted by Richard from the manual for these tanks.

Just another piece of information to add to the mix.

Jared

[Richard Farrant]

A few years ago, gathering information like this in a few days and from all corners of the world, would have been unthought of. Colin, you are not on your own, there will always be someone with the answer out there.

I have been looking at some of your photos and notice that the radiator has been moved to the pulley end of the engine. It should in fact, be over the gearbox, laying not quite flat, following slope of front decking. It hinged up to access a fan assembly, the latter does not appear to be there. I am searching for some of my photos that might help you here. The oil guage attached to the radiator looks like the original, now the black box fitted just below, looks like it might be the cut out for the dynamo as the wiring dissappears in that direction. Different to the one that I worked on, probably the sort of thing that failed in service, and was substituted with a suitable replacement.

[colin jones]

morning everyone, Thanks Richard, I'ts good to know that there's help out there and by crickey I'll need it. I can see a trip to the pucka museum coming up with my trusty camera, laptop, tape measure and steel rule and about 2 days of going over every nut ,bolt and rivett. One good thing is that at least there is one here for me to see in the flesh. I took some pics this morning and they show english track one side and aust track the other. If it does take the aust track then it will be easier for me to fit out.
Thanks everyone for you input to date.
regards
Colin.