Author Topic: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project  (Read 121464 times)

67tank

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #270 on: October 16, 2018, 11:01:07 PM »
BII Layout
Anyone who has done time in the service knows the quarterly BII (Basic Issue Items) Layout.  Tanks, Bradleys, M88's, Mechanics chests, with all the issued equipment, tools, weapons, etc, etc laid out on tarps in dress right fashion for the chain of command to walk the line asking for the crew to hold up "Item #25, wrench, 1/2 in".  Check, next item. 

I'm not a purist (NOR AM I AN EXPERT) but I am trying to get a good representation of the original tools and equipment issued to the halftrack.  Tonight, I did a layout of what I have picked up to date, and have made up a list of what I really would like to get, what I can replace with modern tools, and what would be nice to have if I find it and a reasonable price.  The 9-710 Manual has a good "representative stowage list' which I will use as a baseline

Gun tools: got most of this from Hayes Otoupalik
45 caliber: nothing yet - working on a what I want to find.
30 Caliber: extractor, ruptured cartridge and Browning M6 Combination Tool    NEED cleaning kit and associated rolls
50 Caliber: case cleaning M15, extractor, ruptured cartridge, wrench combination M2, head-space and timing gauge (not shown),US M10 Tool and parts Roll.

Vehicle Equipment:
NEED:  The 2.5 lb fire extinguisher with trigger, trouble light, front wheel bearing nut wrench, 18 in adj wrench,cross cut saw, 4 lug spindle nut wrench, track chains, front tire chains, towing chain, towing cable
Nice to have:  original 5 ton jack, grease gun, tire pump, M3 Binos with M17 case.....

Have:
rim nut wrench handle, rim nut socket wrench, adj wrench 12 in (not original), winch drive shaft shear pin (2 spares), spark plug wrench, rear axle sprocket hub bearing nut wrench, cross cut saw canvass cover, pioneer tools on vehicle, 32 oz ball peen hammer (new), snatch block, Track Spring Adjusting Wrench (since this is an early spring type halftrack I don't think I need this tool), Bogie Wheel "C" Clamp Tool, Volute Spring Compressor, track center guides (2 spares), original 24 unit medical kit complete (needs to have the cover stripped repainted and new stencil applied), fuel nozzle (aka 'Donkey Dick') with cover
Wrench double end:
Bryan Austin over at redarrowarmyparts.org sent me two double end wrench's 5/8 x 25/32 and 3/4 x 15/16 that are perfect.  I'm still looking for 3/8 x 7/16 in, 7/16 x 1/2 in, 1/2 x 19/32 in, 9/16 x 5/8 in, 9/16 x 11/16 in, 3/4 x 7/8 in and 1 1/16 x 1 5/16 in 

Now I have something to look for at Tower Park and Petaluma military events.....
« Last Edit: October 16, 2018, 11:03:15 PM by 67tank »
Pat
1941 M2A1 (under restoration)

67tank

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #271 on: November 13, 2018, 09:53:24 PM »
Drone footage from Veteran's Day weekend.  Ran over 30 miles taking Vets and their kids for rides around the farm fields.  No more shine to the paint.  Layers of dust and dirt on everything.  Halftrack ran great.  Some minor repairs to be done and a little track maintenance. 

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« Last Edit: November 13, 2018, 09:58:46 PM by 67tank »
Pat
1941 M2A1 (under restoration)

67tank

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #272 on: November 13, 2018, 09:56:21 PM »
View from the turret and the cab. 
Pat
1941 M2A1 (under restoration)

8683jb

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #273 on: November 13, 2018, 10:02:26 PM »
Pretty cool video Pat! Half track looks great.
'42 Autocar M2A1

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steve1973

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #274 on: November 14, 2018, 02:52:15 AM »
Pat,
Great video!!!!!! Absolutely loved it. Your track looks better than ever. ;D

Steve A.

Smadge

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #275 on: November 14, 2018, 05:14:03 AM »
Daaaang!  Great to see that baby on the road! 
1941 M2-232 Autocar (restoring)
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colkking

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #276 on: November 14, 2018, 08:26:32 AM »
Great stuff!
You are giving me motivation to get this thing rolling over here.  :-)

Tapper02

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #277 on: November 14, 2018, 12:31:50 PM »
Cool video Pat....interesting choice of music!  Not sure if you can compare your halftrack to the Firebird but.... ;D

Looks like a great day out.  Who was your passenger in the pulpit?

-Tom
1944 Autocar M15A1 (M16A1) Halftrack
  (Being restored to an M3A1 configuration)
  Serial Number M-15 A 1, 1356
  Model M-16 A 1, Ord Serial Number 1106
1944 Schelm Bros. M10 Ammunition Trailer
  Serial Number 16959
MVPA # 30507

Smadge

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #278 on: November 14, 2018, 06:28:35 PM »
Pat,

I have 2 each 1 5/16. X. 1 1/16 wrenches. Top one, closer to the paper, is larger and has “Fairmount.  USA” on it.

Send me a pm with your address so I can mail it if you are still in need of one.

Paul



[attachment deleted by admin. sorry all images over 3000  kb where deleted automatically
1941 M2-232 Autocar (restoring)
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67tank

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #279 on: November 14, 2018, 08:48:37 PM »
Cool video Pat....interesting choice of music!  Not sure if you can compare your halftrack to the Firebird but.... ;D

Looks like a great day out.  Who was your passenger in the pulpit?

-Tom

Tom.  Thanks.  Buddy made the video and chose the musical tribute to the bandit.....I laughed when I heard it too.   The man in the pulpit is my Australian ex-pat neighbor Frank.  He served in Vietnam with the Aussie military. Great dude. 
Pat
1941 M2A1 (under restoration)

yd328

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #280 on: November 16, 2018, 06:47:53 AM »
Pat, Great video! The halftrack looks great loaded and running down the dirt roads.  Big question is, how many cases of Coors can it hold ;D

Gary

67tank

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #281 on: February 02, 2019, 12:24:44 PM »
Fixing Issues identified during test runs:

I have had two issues bothering me since having the halftrack up and running.  Transmission and Track.   

First was the intermediate issue of struggling with second to third shifting - sometimes it shifts smoothly, other times it wouldn't go into third at all.  First gear was pretty much non-existent.....No big deal, I was starting in 2nd gear anyways.  But I knew I needed to fix this.  The trans was rebuilt, so I had confidence in it.  Steve and I discussed the symptoms, and he had similar issues with one of his tracks.  Steve had simply replaced the trans top cover and problem solved.  I had not rebuilt the actual top cover, so I decided to pick up an inexpensive rebuild kit from COL Halftrack and tear mine apart.  Pretty easy - just followed the power trans manual step by step.  And of course, it wasn't until the last part that I removed ( the small spring under the ball bearing on the reverse shift rod) that I found the problem..... One busted spring with several small broken pieces of metal was the root cause of the issues.  Top cover reinstalled.  Issues resolved. 

My buddies helped - and of course one of them accidentally let something slip and break the speedo glass in the process......something else to now fix. 

Next track maintenance.  Have broken a few center guides during our runs.  COL Halftrack advised to check "toe out' on the rear idler.  Should be 1/8 to 1/16 in toe out front to back.  It was not - made some adjustments to the rear buckles.  Going to run the truck for a couple of miles and re-check.  Should fix this minor issue. 

Pat
1941 M2A1 (under restoration)

Smadge

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #282 on: February 02, 2019, 03:48:16 PM »
Pat,

Just put my shift cover back together last week and had one broken spring too. 

Where did you get new track guides?  Do you have the new tracks?

Thanks,

Paul
1941 M2-232 Autocar (restoring)
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67tank

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #283 on: February 02, 2019, 05:51:59 PM »
Paul

I picked up three old track guides from David Yamulla couple of months ago.  I sand blasted off the rust, put on a fresh coat of paint and put them in the storage area as spares.  So far, I have used 2 of them.  If anyone has some old track out there that they are going to scrap - I'd be interested in grabbing a dozen or so of the old center guides.  I like keeping spares on board.  If there is one thing being on tanks for five plus years taught me, is track maintenance, track maintenance, track maintenance....

I have the new track and the old center guides matched right up - no issues. 

PK
Pat
1941 M2A1 (under restoration)

yd328

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Re: M2A1 "Hell Hound" project
« Reply #284 on: February 03, 2019, 07:51:09 AM »
Nice work, good find on the broken spring. Now that you're driving it you'll be working out all the little bugs.

Gary