Poor Reproduction Halftrack Hinges

[JamieM5halftrack]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some new halftrack hinges.

I have bought 8 reproduction hinges off a guy called Philippe Monseur and was very disappointed with the hinges and his service.

On receiving the hinges I found that the countersink angle is wrong and that the armoured bolts don’t sit correctly in the hinge.

I contacted Philippe about the problem and I was told he had sold over 200 of these hinges and I was the first person to make a complaint. He said he would look into the problem and let me know.

A few weeks have passed now so I messaged him again today asking about the problem and I was told to go elsewhere.

Not sure if anyone on here has bought these hinges or has had dealings with this guy before.

If anyone can point me in the right direction for some new hinges then please get in touch.

[8683jb]

Contact Paul Jacobs. He goes by "superjeep" here. He makes perfect reproduction parts, including hinges, at very reasonable prices. You won't be disappointed.


Edit: I just noticed you have an International half-track. I'd still check with Paul. The hinges and some of the other parts may be common to the White-design half-track.

Jon

[brit plumber]

Can you post a photo of an example of these disapointing hinges?

[robbert]

Hello Jamie

There is a guy in holland Martijn Derks he makes really nice hinges

Best regards

[brit plumber]

I’ve just bought a load from Stephan de Beule, they’re ok but I think the washer has been put in to take up the slack in a badly case hinge half.

[JamieM5halftrack]

Thanks for your feedback guys.

Don’t get me wrong, the hinges themselves are brilliant, it’s just the countersink is wrong.

I am an engineer and I’ve been doing my homework and the countersink should be 82 degrees.

I’m not concerned to much about the countersink angle as there is material to come out.

What did annoy me is that I was basically told I’m wrong and that to go elsewhere and that I am the only person to have a problem.

Please see attached pictures. As you can see the bolts do not sit in the taper. I have bought a 82 degree cutter to modify the hinges so I can use them.

[brit plumber]

What angle do you think they are? They don’t appear to be to far out. Is your screw an original?

[JamieM5halftrack]

The bolts are riding in the countersink and rock side to side.

The angle should be 82 degrees which is the standard American countersink.

The bolts are originals.

I don’t know what the angle is in the reproduction hinges but I will try and find out.

[JamieM5halftrack]

I think they have been machined to 90 degrees which is the standard metric countersink.

I will have to find a cutter and check it out to be 100% sure.

[JamieM5halftrack]

They have been machined to 90 degrees.

The gold coloured cutter is a 90 degree cutter.

The silver coloured cutter is a 82 degree cutter.

[brit plumber]

I’m with you on that evidence. Perhaps a ‘review’ on the usual forums and Facebook may yield results. I would just say something like..... Positives, looks good, appears strong with a nicely formed hinge pin. Negatives, countersink has been measured at 90’ and requires machining to 82’ for perfect fit.

On a tangent, I’m making a new back panel for my M16, ive got a 82’ countersink but I’ll have to get a magnetic drill as the pillar drill I’ve used to make the holes doesn’t have the torque to cut the countersink without stalling. I’ve also been thinking of using flat head screws on the hinges instead of round head, firstly they’re 50p each as apposed to £2 for the round head and secondly I’ve noticed the round heads touch each other in the open position and will probably peen the heads/slots. The 50p flat heads don’t list a countersink angle but I’m assuming that all NC/NF/UNC/UNF countersinks are 82’.

This is my improvised drilling platform. I can see some engineers recoiling in disgust lol ? but it’s all I have available at this time.

[JamieM5halftrack]

I love the ingenuity, 10 out of 10 for that.

I have the rear armour to fabricate on my halftrack. I gave it a lot of thought but in the end I bought myself a mag drill.

Got to get the doors bolted on properly before I can start working on it.

[brit plumber]

What brand did you go for and would you recommend it? I’ve also got to cut the holes for the spare .50 barrel brackets and the bucket holder etc. So I’ll definitely need one. I could free hand it with a power drill but I want to make it look as professional as I can. Having saved a ton of cash by buying pre cut blanks over the BAIV produced stuff then it’s worth it. This back panel only cost me £56 but I do need to verify the location of about 5 holes which if I’d bought from BAIV I wouldn’t have needed to worry about.

[superjeep]

You have to also make sure the holes are in the exact correct position otherwise your doors will not line up and may have problems closing.