T16 restoration starts in earnest - Page 2

horsa · #1 15-07-11, 02:06

Looks like they did a great job. You'll suddenly be measuring progress in leaps now that the welding and stripping tasks are finished.

Noticed your hull was drilled for both the 4-inch smoke discharger on the gunner side and a 2-inch mortar mount for throwing smoke in the forward gunner area. Both were used throughout the war but I'd always thought vehicles were drilled for one or the other. Sure there is some history there with it having been in service and then reworked later on.

One thing I've seen on a lot of T-16s are the grouping of four bolts in the center of the side armor just over the tracks. I've never known what would have been there as nothing is documented in the manuals. Had to have been a British modification/addition of something. Anyone know?

andrew honychurch · #2 15-07-11, 08:34

thanks guys. I am sure I can push on now, however, one of the things that is worrying me the most is finding supplies of all the correct fixings. Most of the nuts and bolts that came off were really bad and getting UNFand UNC over here now is hard work. Thats without looking for countersunk domed top etc etc.

It did have both the small mortar bracket and the large one fitted, so maybe it has had one or other retro fitted at some stage.

No idea sorry what the four holes on the side are for but will try to find out.

More pictures as things progress.

Andrew

ajmac · #3 15-07-11, 11:40

Andrew,
BSF / BSW is still available, I was surprised how easy it was, a number of industrial suppliers in the West Midlands who will sell you boxes full, 100's per box. BSF is a little more hit and miss but for the T16, UNC and UNF will be a synch! For odd one offs try Spalding Fasteners nr me (ebay), for boxes full try: Willenhall Fasteners Ltd, they only deal company to company not to the public so I purchased them through a family company. You will want to order HEX heads and if you want then A2 stainless will be available through specialist stainless fastener suppliers, try Apex Stainless nr Wolverhampton, again company only transactions.

andrew honychurch · #4 26-07-11, 19:09

Well I have to say working on the T16 just got a whole lot better and more enjoyable. Not only have I now turned onto the back nine but I dont have any more, as yet, dirty oilly jobs to do. Reassembly is a joy. So far I have dropped in both rear bogie supports and today it was the turn of the rear axle. I had been fearing this job just because the axle weighs a tonne and is a pig to balance as it wants to nose over all the time. However, I seem to have mastered it with great care, a mixture of jacks and axle stands it is now 90% back in the vehicle. All that remains is to apply sealant to the rear flange and fit the shims and the bolts. I think that will be fairly straight forward. Looking at the gap between the axle fixing flange on the hubs and the hull the gap looks rather bigger than the shims, but I assume the hull plates pull in slightly as tightened. At least I dont think the axle has shrunk in the last 12 months. The aim is to get the T16 on its road wheels as soon as possible and then on its tracks thereafter. At least then I can manouvre it around . Still having real trouble getting Nordian Services to respond to my e mails regarding the main bearings. If anyone has some NOS standard mains for a T16 mercury engine then please let me know. Photo of my little helper included!

this is a link to my photo album detailing the restoration so far http://s714.photobucket.com/albums/w...sal%20Carrier/

Lynn Eades · #5 27-07-11, 08:29

Looking good . Your on the down hill run now. (btw.I think your little helper could do with an upgrade on her safety boots) I take it that you have that front guard thing sorted out.
Lynn

andrew honychurch · #6 27-07-11, 09:35

thanks Lynn. I wondered whether anyone would comment on the boots and safety gear. To be fair, she only brought me the cup of tea and I said I would put her on my blog! Naturally I wouldnt have the kids around that sort of work, it would hurt big style if it fell on you! By the way Lynn have sent you a pm

RichardT10829 · #7 27-07-11, 11:46

do it..... slave labour ! my boys foolishly showed an interest one day... they were scrubbing rust from metal for the rest of the day

andrew honychurch · #8 28-07-11, 08:30

Indeed Richard, any help is good help as far as I cam concerned. I have a stepladder to get in and out of the T16 but inevitably I have always left something in or out of the blessed thing and have to get in or out to get it. My knees are taking some hammer so little helpers are very useful.

Axle now bolted in, took a little more lining up than I thought but the old advice from my father of getting all the fixings in before tightening any up worked a treat.

andrew honychurch · #9 27-07-14, 11:54

hi Guys, its been a while since I was on here, thanks to losing my password, but back now. Just dug out the T16 in order to get it to my local MV show at Headcorn ( well worth attending if you are in the UK) . It seems that since I put it away its decided not to charge. I have eliminated the fault being with the generator by powering directly to the Field terminal of the regulator which shows the generator is charging perfectly. Problem is therefore within the regulator. Now I am the first to admit that the insides of a autolite regulator frighten the living daylights out of me, but nevertheless I have cleaned the contacts and it still will not work. Are there any other tests or checks I can do to isolate the problem? The regulator on a T16 looks like a Jeep but for the fact that on my Carrier the regulator is a push fit into the housing with a strap clip over the top. Its tricky to run the vehicle with the regulator cover off as its the top cover that holds it in place against its push fit contacts on the bottom but not impossible if reguired. I can rig up some sort of temporary fixings. What I don't want to do if I can help it is damage it any more or damage the generator. It was always a bit slow to "kick in", and sometime would not start charging for a few minutes after start up, now not at all.
Anyway any help and advice will be much appreciated. thanks Andrew

ps everyone likes a photo so here are a few taken this week in the fabulous Kent sunshine

Lynn Eades · #10 27-07-14, 13:47

Anrew, does the carrier have an ignition warning light? and does the bulb glow when it is turned on?

RichardT10829 · #11 27-07-14, 16:20

Well done on the restoration, it has come a long way ! If you rev the engine does the charging light on the dash extinguish ? Mine sometimes sticks and a good blip of the throttle seems to cure it. When you cleaned the brushes did you clean the commutator and clear the channels between the pickups ?

andrew honychurch · #12 27-07-14, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

Well done on the restoration, it has come a long way ! If you rev the engine does the charging light on the dash extinguish ? Mine sometimes sticks and a good blip of the throttle seems to cure it. When you cleaned the brushes did you clean the commutator and clear the channels between the pickups ?

No charging light Richard and it is charging fine as I established that by effectively isolating the regulator by applying 12 v to the field terminal. This has the effect of doing the job of the regulator and providing field power to the dynamo to stimulate output..which it did ok.

andrew honychurch · #13 27-07-14, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Anrew, does the carrier have an ignition warning light? and does the bulb glow when it is turned on?

Hi Lynn. No it does not have a red light. I feel sure it's one of the units within the regulator but not sure where to go first!