M2A1 rear floor hand rail

[SDEREN]

Hi Kids!
I am looking for drawings or sources for the hand rails in the rear. Ours were completely ripped out. I have found some photos online. Seems to be some slight differences. Any measurements would be helpful. Diameter  of rail. Bracket specs and placement, etc.

Thanks

Sean

[spec4don]

Check with outsider on the brackets. He makes them for the M3 floor he sells but the brackets should be the same for M2 floor also.

Don G.

[SDEREN]

Well I now have the brackets. Does any one have any detailed pictures w/ measurements of placement? I can guesstimate from where the previous ones were ripped out but it would be nice to get them spot on.
Also detailed pics of the front bar the crosses from side to side.

Thanks

SD
 

[SDEREN]

Well I got the hand rail in. I placed the brackets close to where I believed the previous ones were located.

Does anyone have a pic of the front rail that crosses over in the middle? I just want an idea where to place it. Can't find any original pix that are of enough help to guess'timate.

Thanks

Sean

[steve1973]

I remember reading this article a while back and just found it again. It looks like I'm late in getting it posted but here it is.





Steve A.

[yd328]

I can take a look this weekend  at mine.

Gary

[SDEREN]

Thanks Steve. There is some good info there. I'll look and compare tomorrow to see how close I was! 

Gary, if you could have a look and post a pic or two that would be great. It's hard to tell from Steve's article how far back the center cross rail is set. I haven't attached this one yet so I have time.

Also, I would guess, since some HTs had these rail kits installed in the field, measurements were not always correct. I placed the brackets best I could according to where they were ripped out and the remains of the original welds. I noticed that there were different distances between brackets between the different sides. I guessed the best I could, but I also made them match on both sides.

Thanks for your input.

SD

[yd328]

Let me know if you need any more info.




Gary

[SDEREN]

Thanks Gary!
That helps a lot!
I'll have that final piece set in this week. Hopefully, I'll have the floor sand blasted too!!
Cheers!

SD

[steve1973]

It's interesting that the cross piece is bolted in. Mine is welded in. I'm not sure if my original floor hand rails was a kit or factory but Rosie didn't do a very good job for my brackets being true or square.



Also, make sure you have your floor plates in place before installing the lower rear armor section like I did. This piece doesn't fit through the hand rails. I had to remove the rear steps and lower armor piece and slide this floor plate all the way forward.

Steve A.

[RocnTJ]

I had the same thought.   When researching for the reconstruction of my floor all of the pictures I found had the crossbar welded in.   It seems to be 50/50 on the side brackets some are welded some are bolted.   I bolted mine to the seat benches so the handrail assembly could be removed to get the floor plates out.

Tom

[col.halftrack]

 Just to add a bit more. I measured three half-tracs here and found no two the same. One Autocar and two White M2s and the measurement back from the small chain bunker bulkhead was 1-3/4, 2-3/4, and 3-3/4 inches.