Messages

Hello all,

     Wondering if anyone here knows how much a Hercules WXLC-3 engine weighs? This is the engine for the M2 HST. I am looking to move stuff around a little here and wondering if my lifting/hauling resources have enough umph to handle an engine this size.

  Just for what it's worth, I did find out yesterday that a Cletrac M2 Medium High Speed Tractor track weighs 920 pounds and curled up it will fit on a 38x48 inch pallet.

   Thanks, Jim

  Hello all,
   It has been a while since I've been on here but I thought I would post up some good news!!


Over on the G503 website that is devoted to restoring and collecting antique Military Vehicles, there has been quite a fight in trying to get new WWII military Half -Track tracks manufactured. The original NOS tracks and even the later manufactured Israeli tracks have just about dried up for those machines.
   After a lot of work and lots of discussion, there seems to be two different companies (one American and one in Europe)that are looking into setting up to start manufacturing NEW tracks for the Half-Tracks. Sounds like the American company may be open to the idea of building a run of tracks long enough (just add 16 more pitches to a Half-Track track!) to fit on the Cletrac M2 Medium High Speed Tractor.

  From what I last read (this A.M.) the American company has agreed to start building tracks for the Half-Tracks and has received the additional info for the Cletrac length tracks. It was stated ---"It is a small leap from Half-Track to HST tracks. I suspect M2 tracks might be available soon." 

     The simple way would  be to just make the Half-Track track longer for the Cletrac. This simplifies the manufacturing process( beggars can't be choosers?). They would work for us but would not be "correct" as they would not have the bolt on pads. That's okay- works for me! BUT- there has even been some discussion about building tracks that would take the pads at a later date. This will add to the cost as there is more labor and material cost in building tracks with the pads. Estimated cost at this point for a straight (but long enough for us) Half-Track band looks to be in the $3000.00 range right now PER TRACK!. If more people show an interest (that's us folks!), the cost per unit may very well go down.
       

   Yep! that's an OUCH for sure but, there is NO OTHER realistic alternative out there-- NONE! It has been an unbelievable fight just to get Half-Track tracks built and for us Cletrac owners to be able to "catch a ride on their shirt-tail" looks to be our only chance to a viable source for new tracks for our machines. This will probably be our ONLY chance for new tracks -EVER-. PERIOD! With replacement tracks available, the Cletrac M2's value will go up in popularity and price. No tracks? Well--nice yard art ya got there buddy!

  If you own a Cletrac M2 Medium High Speed Tractor and are interested in new replacement tracks I would encourage you to look into this. We need to get enough Cletrac owners to step up and let them know we want tracks so they will build some for us.SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------!!

Go over to G503, look at the "tracked" vehicle forum. Go into "who needs new tracks". Also look at "Who needs new tracks for their Half Tracks" (the last few pages as there are 74 pages!) Also, " U.S. Distributor- new production Half-Track tracks for sale"

   Or PM me here and well talk, exchange phone numbers etc.

Thanks Jim
 

COOL! That's good news!I know of a runner(belongs to a Museum) that the water pump also leaks and they were wondering how to repair that or where to get a replacement,I haven't needed to get into one yet(thankfully) so I will be interested in your  repair.

Also have noticed in my parts book that the mufflers on the Cletrac were supplied/manufactured by Nelson, which I see that our Deuce and a half trucks mufflers are manufactured by Nelson! Have not pulled any muffler off a Cletrac yet to get measurements or compare so don't know if we have a chance at Nelson( or anyone for that matter) having a ready built, on the shelf replacement, for a muffler.

1JA to 7JA, the compressor was the early(smaller) style, 7JA and up had the large Compressor.

Now---- if it will ever stop snowing here-------------------------------!!!!

I was kind of expecting red oxide like I had read about on WWII trucks but had to chuckle when I saw the yellow zinc  had just bought some high dollar red DP epoxy from PPG and I thought crap now THAT'S not correct!

So what color are you going to go with( Knowing full well what a firestorm that question would start on the "military vehicle" sites LOL!!)??

Looks like the choices are:FS34087 , FS34070 or 319. According the"experts" 319 didn't appear until after the war actually but my machines look like it.Repainted for sure but which repaint do I trust LOL!!.So, I think I'll really take a stab in the dark and use the FS34087 I already have.

 Well I just got a small surprise while working on one of my MG-1's.I was cleaning out the tool box on the right fender.Was full of nuts, bolts and other small parts including a few of those 4" discs that go on the shelf that supports the fuel tank that basically attach the tank to it.
   
While cleaning the hardware up I noticed that there is some primer left on these dics-more than enough to make a pretty positive ID of the stuff.Yellow Zinc Chromate just like you use on aircraft! Given the location of where these parts reside I would give it a O% possibilty these were repainted since leaving the factory.And they don't look to be a repaint at all--first and only coat.

Anyone else ever see Yellow zinc Chromate on these? Anywhere else on these machines? I'm just getting to the point where I may start painting a few pieces and was going to use red oxide primer (PPG's 2 part epoxy primer under Gillispie 34087).Just about sure my choice of color may not be "period correct" so the "wrong" primer is a moot point here anyway--just wondering what others here think is the "correct" primer and color for that matter.

    Jim

Matt, my book says .020 to .25 for plug gap.You probly already changed the oil and filters before the startup,glad I did mine. It was very bad--the filters had rusted/deteriorated to the point I had to dig them out of the canisters.Of course the original filters have been discontinued but NAPA says their 1503 is listed as a replacement.

   The timing marks on the fly wheel are viewed thru the little plate on top the clutch/trans housing under the instrument cluster, a real bear to get an eyeball on. Point gap is.018-.024.

  Also been meaning to tell you to NOT try to shift the trans on the beast without using the clutch. Like perhaps standing on the ground beside it and reaching over the fender to make sure it is in neutral.The trans is set up with slots on the shift rails --you push the clutch and that "other" linkage raises the pawls to allow the rails to move.

Wow, That is some nice work!My hat is off to the craftsman!Paul please contact me in a PM.
     Thanks, Jim

Hello Paul,
   Yes, the mount plate is for the later (larger) compressor.I found a compressor but no plate but I think the plate won't be too hard to fab up if I can't find one.If you could copy down the dimensions I'd be grateful.

  Also did you ever find a bumper--seems like long ago you were looking for one.

And lastly, have you shipped out any top bow kits to the U.S. yet? If you have any left I would still like a set.
    Thanks, Jim

Matt, I looked at three of my engines and the parts manual.

Manual:"Champion#0-comm,includes #1675"  Maybe the 1675 is another plug#??

Cletrac #1:"AC 76com"
Cletrac #2:"AC 75com"
Cletrac #3:"Husky Blue Crown 74com"

As you can see,each plug has "com" at the end. Couldn't tell ya what that means except to guess it has something to do with Communication, like in noise suppression?

Hope any of this helps.BTW You wouldn't happen to have the plate the aircompressor sits on or the dimension so I could fab one? Jim

Put me down for a set as well,thanks.
                                     Jim

Anyone know of a source for a carb kit  for the MG1's  Tillotson? Thanks, Jim

Yep! Sign me up for 2 pair plus 1(have one already) depending on the cost .
Jim

WOW that track is heavy--wonder what got bent by laying it on the seat like that--at least there is some spare guides and pads.Also notice that the right hand track has come off the drive sprocket and is out of "the groove" on the upper return wheels.TIGHT and is set to break!!.OUCH #1!
Also has the "farmer" exhaust mod (verticle stack) that funnels the weather right down the hatch to the soon to be if not already stuck engine! OUCH#2!
 Cool that it is an early one--"1JA"----one of the first.Data plate is different too.

Wow, very nice so far!Looking at the drawing I already see several measurements I "missed".I will try to get more tomorrow and some pics of an "open" machine for you also.I am using David Doyle's book "High Speed Tractor",A visual history of the Army's tracked  artillery Prime Movers, for info for building my models both 1/48 in plastic and 1/1 in iron  . The Cletrac was the smallest of the HST's.The book has a large number of very good pics of the machines.
  Jim

Thanks! He seemed like an ok guy on the phone--he is just a little to far away for me to go see for myself.Sounds like there may be some good stuff there.