Universal Carrier found

Cletracker · #1 10-08-07, 16:47

Hi
Found an Universal Carrier while hiking in the swedish mountains. Owner bought it after the war and used it to collect timber. It did a good job in summertime but as a winter machine it was terrible due to the weight and narrow tracks.
I will try to collect it but the great problem is that the road ends by a big lake an the UC is on the other side 5km away!! As I can see the only way of getting it from there is to drag it over the ice in wintertime but what will be able to drag 5tons of metal?
Enjoy the photos (if they show up*)
Erik

Cletracker · #2 10-08-07, 16:52

Picture 6, 7, 8 and 9

alleramilitaria · #3 10-08-07, 18:19

nice find!!!!
take the tracks and wheels off and drag it on the ice like a sled.
dave

dougiebarder · #4 10-08-07, 18:37

Let's hope it's a good cold winter

rob love · #5 10-08-07, 19:36

Should be closer to 3 tons of metal.
Pull the axle shafts and do what you gotta do to free up the drums, if they are even stuck. As long as the track still turns, it won't take much to pull the carrier...it's rolling resistance is not that great. A quad would almost do the trick, although likely not on the ice. If need be, you could lighten it by pulling things like the engine, engine covers, fenders, and just about anything else that is unneccesary. They can be brought out by boat.

The alternative is to find a serviceable flathead 8, maybe a tranny, and drag them out there and install them during the summer/fall, and drive it out in the wintertime.

There were methods of floating carriers, using drums and such, but they all look easier on paper than they are in real life. You also have to worry about the approach in and out of the water.

None of this is easy, but if it was, someone else would have done it already.

Pedr · #6 10-08-07, 20:21

Erik

That carrier looks so good. I would think that a little Diesel in each cylinder from the spark plugs and a new battery and petrol. Turn with a crank handle, to see if the engine is free or remove all the plugs and turn on the battery.

I am sure that you could get her running.

From your photos, the track looks good and all intact.

Just get her to run with some fresh petrol and drive it out the 5 kilometres.

It would be alot of fun anyway

Pedr

Hanno Spoelstra · #7 10-08-07, 22:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Cletracker
I will try to collect it but the great problem is that the road ends by a big lake an the UC is on the other side 5km away!!

Great find Erik, and welcome to this forum!

Your find sounds just like John Bizal's, he got a barge and floated the carrier arcross the lake: http://www.midwestmil.com/restoreBren.html

If you chose to wait till winter, I would make up skis to tow it across the snow.

Good luck!
Hanno

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #8 10-08-07, 22:45

It's a good idea on the surface, Pedr, but our northern climes tend to take a toll of exposed parts and components through long and wet winters; I'd be very surprised if the steering gear weren't frozen solid, for example. Lots of linkages in those old girls!

Jif

Quote:

Originally posted by Pedr
Erik

That carrier looks so good. I would think that a little Diesel in each cylinder from the spark plugs and a new battery and petrol. Turn with a crank handle, to see if the engine is free or remove all the plugs and turn on the battery.

I am sure that you could get her running.

From your photos, the track looks good and all intact.

Just get her to run with some fresh petrol and drive it out the 5 kilometres.

It would be alot of fun anyway

Pedr

Hendrik van Oorspronk · #9 10-08-07, 22:58

Hello,

Great find in europe, I have seen a lot of details wich were or are gone on my carrier, collect it, a little sheet metal and some diesel on the cylinders should work, at least the staring cranck is sold on ebay for 85 pounds from GB to Australia.

Green Greetngs Hendrik

alleramilitaria · #10 10-08-07, 23:06

i would say the same about the stearing, and i doubt that the shifter would be able to be moved without taking it out and soaking it in oil.

if you could jack it up and put 2x8s under the tracks and use it like a skid. nice looking carrier.
dave

ron · #11 11-08-07, 04:15

Hello Erik,
Heres an idea just tell me where it is and I will go and get it no problems, Just joking, great find its nice to find them in that sort of condition,good luck with the recovery,
Regards,
ron,

cletrac (RIP) · #12 11-08-07, 05:41

When you take the tracks off a Carrier it's a lively little beast and easy to roll on the road wheels. You could tow it across the ice easily with a 4x4 pickup. Just be sure to use a solid tow bar or it'll be crashing into you.

alleramilitaria · #13 11-08-07, 05:59

i agree with cletrac, just check out the front of my truck and you will see a carrier mark, ouch.

but what i would do is the next time you are up there pump all the grease fittings with grease. you may have to pull the fittings to make sure you get it all around the bearings. this will force out the rust and get the bearings broke free. break the tracks and but them in the carrier, jack the carrier up and then cover it for winter. that way you can get it ready to pull over the ice and it will not be full of snow and ice when you get it moveing.

good luck
dave

colin jones · #14 11-08-07, 08:01

What a fantastic find, and in such a complete form. If it were mine,
I would contact the army or whichever service in your country has helicopters and see if they might do an exercise to recover it for you. You've got nothing to lose and how quick and easy would that be.
Iwould be more than happy to pass on a carton of crownies if they would drop it off at my place.
mmmmmm? maybe 2 cartons as i do live in Adelaide AUST.
best of luck
Colin.

Cletracker · #15 11-08-07, 11:17

Thanks alot for all input!
The motor turns over with no problem. I think it will start but as you all say, the stearing linkage and brakes may be stuck. Our winters tend to be very dry, thats why it´s in that good condition. Problem is the amount of snow. We never get clear icelakes, we get lakes with ice and a lot of snow. Fall temperature and when the snow comes will determine how strong the ice will be. Last winter had very bad ices and many went through with their snowmobiles.
Colin Jones idea is not bad, there are som tracked military Hagglunds BV206 1h drive away. They can pull 2500kg.
Problem still is to ensure the ice will coupe with the total weight of the BV206 (4500kg) and the UC (3000kg?).

If I can get it runnnig there is a possibility to drive it on land but... I have to apply for a special permit for driving offroad and that is not easy to get, it sits in a nature reserve. The terrain is unpleasant and I have to reconnoitre it before I can say it´s possible to drive it or not.

Besides the UC is a Studebaker Weasle with steal tracks and a Fordson N.
Erik

Gunner · #16 13-08-07, 17:40

Guten morgen Herr Cletracker:

The BV 206 idea combined with wide skis and a rigid draw bar is your best option if you cannot drive it out. Removing the tracks will place too much weight on too small an area and you are likely to break through the ice... spread your weight out like the wide tracks on the BV 206.

The Canadian army has tables for how much weight different thicknesses of different types of ice can bear. I imagine the Swiss army has similar tables so you may be able to get some advice from your nearest Festungs truppen.

Good luck and make sure you tie a cable to the carrier deeper than the water... at the end of the cable put a big orange float ball... if you have to scuba dive for your carrier in the spring it will be easier to find!

(I have dove to recover snowmobiles from frozen over lakes and rivers... BRRRRR!

)

Mike

Cletracker · #17 05-09-07, 20:04

Hi again
I have now found a guy that will help me recover the UC. He owns a Bombardier snowmobil or something and dont think it will be any problem driving over the ice.

As the UC is over 4h drive and 0,5h by boat from where I work I´d be thankfull if anyone could help me with the following:
1, How broad are each track?
2, How broad and long is the UC in total?
3, How much do you think it weight in it´s current state? (See pictures in the beginning of this post)
4, Does anyone have any drawings of an UC with measurements?

My plan is to put a U-beam under each track, the U-beam will be bent up in the front like a ski. This will hopefully give the UC a better "glide".

Thankfull for any input.
Sincerely
Erik

cletrac (RIP) · #18 05-09-07, 21:03

Here you go.

Nigel Watson · #19 17-09-07, 15:04

Thought I would add to the information being suggested. If I was towing the carrier over ice I would try and keep tracks on. The ground force is spread more and if the ice was going to crack it would be less likely to do it under tracks than under the road wheels, so I would keep tracks on in that case! Build skiis and put carrier on them and tow her home!

Nigel

Ledsel · #20 28-02-08, 03:25

Hei. Erik. Did you ever get that carrier you showed us?

Just curious, Ty.

Cletracker · #21 28-02-08, 10:03

I´m still waiting for the ice to get thick enough, it´s now around 30cm thick and I would like it to be 40cm. I have also sourced a pair of "skis" for an old loggingtrailer that hopefully will fit under the track after some adjustment. I´ll keep you guys updated when I have more info. The end of march or beginning of april will be perfect for me if it´s still cold enough.
Sincerely
Erik

Cletracker · #22 07-03-08, 16:19

Well I will try to recover the carrier in the end om march if everything falls into place. I have found the perfect skies behind an abandond barn and will do the nessecary adjustment to fit the carrier. See pictures.
Any input from you are appreciated. Scale is metric.
Erik

Ledsel · #23 07-03-08, 18:26

I would first take a trip out to the carrier and pack a road to it with even a snow machine. It would freeze deeper. Also when I went to get it I would tow it with a long cable (15 meters.) to spread the weight out. You don't want the two vehicles too close together.

Ledsel · #24 08-02-09, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cletracker

Well I will try to recover the carrier in the end om march if everything falls into place. I have found the perfect skies behind an abandond barn and will do the nessecary adjustment to fit the carrier. See pictures.
Any input from you are appreciated. Scale is metric.
Erik

Soooo how's it going? Haven't heard anything in a year and was wondering if you are still trying.

Cletracker · #25 09-02-09, 15:14

Ledsel, last year in march/april my friend managed to loose the oilplug and ruined the gearbox in his Haegglund BV 206 that was going to drag the UC. Now it has a new gearbox and we will make a new try when conditions are as best. I did visit it last summer, it´s a great piece of machine in very good condition. Will post more when I have more news. Have a walkaround movie from my cellphone but don´t know how to post it.
Erik

Blackpowder44 (RIP) · #26 09-02-09, 22:34

I see that the carries still has its T number. I suspect that if you contacted Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset, England they may hav some details on it. John

Cletracker · #27 10-02-09, 16:13

Blackpowder44, actually I have not untill yesterday. Sent them an email and lets see what they can come up with. Thanks for the reminder.
Erik

Ledsel · #28 29-10-09, 04:02

Hi Erik. Me again, Just wondering if you are still going to get this carrier?

Cletracker · #29 31-10-09, 01:46

Hi Ledsel
Well, it´s still in the terrain. Hoping to get it this winter season, have been waiting for long now. Been searching for more UC´s since last time and found this. According to the owner there are some armor and engine covers somewhere lying around. A very good project with some pieces missing.
Erik

Ledsel · #30 31-10-09, 02:07

Looks like another good one for sure. Good luck and keep us posted.