Track jacks

[RichardT10829]

Ratchet strap....... Job done

[Hans Mulder]

I recently located two track jacks locally, allegedly for the Stuart, (screw type, heavy), but work well on carrier track too. I'll post a pic if I remember.

[Jim Burrill]

On ebay now
Military Tank Track Track Jack Track Fixture 12252120

5163_35.JPG

Pic of the more modern Track jack on ebay for buy it now of $59.50.

When I bought one for my first carrier it was $25.oo

Anyway, if you get one of these, You will need to grind the horns to fit in the carrier track. If you don't, you will have the track together and pinned and then not be able to drop the jack away from it.

Speaking from experience!

[rob love]

I'll second Jim's recommendation for a track jack. If you want a carrier jack, then you have to find an original or at the very least one of the T16 jacks. But if you actually want to join track effectively without worrying about breaking your priceless original, then get one of the APC jacks.

There were two sizes of them in Canada, so watch which one you buy. The regular APC ones are best. There are larger ones for the M109 which may be a bit too cumbersome for the carriers.

[B. Harris]

The jack was manufactured by Auto Specialties, Windsor Ontario, Canada.
The design was based on the Ford bumper jack, used from 1937 thru 1942. There are NO military markings on any of the examples I have seen. Any markings are casting and lot numbers.

What is even harder to find is the proper jack handle, part number 78 17801. It is listed but not illustrated. It is suspected this handle was manufactured by the K.R. Wilson Company. See attached pic.

Cheers..
Harris

[rob love]

Originally Posted by B. Harris

The jack was manufactured by Auto Specialties, Windsor Ontario, Canada.
The design was based on the Ford bumper jack, used from 1937 thru 1942. There are NO military markings on any of the examples I have seen. Any markings are casting and lot numbers.

What is even harder to find is the proper jack handle, part number 78 17801. It is listed but not illustrated. It is suspected this handle was manufactured by the K.R. Wilson Company. See attached pic.

Cheers..
Harris

Bruce
Your post about the handle lead me to do a quick google search. Since the part number is just a commercial number, and not a special CMP number, nor even a Canadian part number at that, it lead me to ebay, where there was one for sale. Auction closed a few minutes ago, and I am now the proud owner of an overpriced bar of metal. There will have been a hundred thousand or more of them made, since they covered many years of ford truck production.

The fellow listing it also has a jack which is similar to the carrier track jack, although I do see some variation to the main body. I already have a T-16 jack for my carrier courtesy of Stewart Loy some years back, so I have no interest in this one.

Forgive me for not posting about these auctions sooner, but as they say there are no friends at an auction.

Here is a link to the completed auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321506664953

Here is a link to another completed auction that contained one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1939-1940-19...p2047675.l2557

And another: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1937-49-FORD...p2047675.l2557

I have come up with these examples without even trying very hard. No doubt now that photos are supplied, we will be picking these out of cabs and trunks of old Fords.

I have attached his photos and once it arrives I'll post some clearer photos of it myself.

[B. Harris]

Rob,
Nice score off of Epay. This is the place to go once armed with the knowledge and finances as well. Hopefully this "nugget" does not cause the price of the handles to blow thru the roof now.

Regarding finding them in the cabs of old Ford trucks...I think the only thing to be found now is mouse dung, rusty seat springs and spagetti strainers (FSM).

Perhaps when my tool book is complete, this will make the ident and search for tools easier. Thats the intent any-hoo.

Harris