[1943 T-24 Restoration Thread]

I'm looking forward to hearing how it turns out. One of the first things I'll need to do is pull the engine on the M29C, after I get it home, and check it out. Who knows what shape it is in after sitting 60 years  

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

It quit raining last night so made another trip for the other set of floats today🙂

When I went to load the last float, I found another nice surprise, more parts stashed inside, the best thing was the rudder control assembly and 2 rudders that look like that they were brand new when they were stashed😁. I only need to track down the side skirts, front surf-shield, and lower Caspin assembly to have everything for a complete floater!

The only thing left to get is an engine block, crank and some other misc. parts, besides the main hull. I am hoping to get them all in 1 trip before the snow flies.

here is a few pics of today's adventure.

thanks

Brad   

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

@D.R.H.I sent you a PM

[WTB M29 clutch cable]

@OZM29CThanks for link🙂 Have it ordered and hoping to have the T24 up and running before the snow hits!

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

I'm pretty sure there are 2 complete sets. so I'll sell 1. Ill post some more pics in a day or two when I get a chance to sort some more of it out.

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

I decided to make another trip to gather more parts and hoping there might be a clutch cable there, no luck on a cable but was able to get a set of floats that had lots of jewelry still attached😁

I figure 2 more trips and I should have all the weasel parts and only the hull left to recover. There appears to be a weasel block and head there, I'm wondering if it's worth retrieving, also lots of GM 6cy NOS parts,

Here are a few pics of the goodies collected so far.

Thanks 

Brad

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

yep, unfortunately my T24 needs a clutch cable so until that gets fixed, I am resorting to other means.

While going through stuff, the only things I couldn't find were side skirts and front surf Shield, otherwise there are 2 sets of almost everything else, most in great shape. The plan is to keep the best parts and sell or trade the other set, so if anyone is looking for some good floater gear let me know.

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

After a month of lots of phone calls and record searches, I have finally gotten permission to salvage the parts and working on a price for the hull 😀, unfortunately the weather has turned to mostly rain so I haven't had much of a chance to recover much.  I was able to spend half a day collecting smaller parts with the 4-wheeler. It is too wet to get a truck in to the site without tearing the trail up. logistics in Alaska can be such a pain. 

I hope that it quits raining and dries up before the snow hits. I want to get the Float tanks out yet this year.

I forgot to put new batts in the camara, so I didn't get many.

thanks

Brad   

[WTB M29 clutch cable]

Anyone Know where I can find a new clutch cable? Mine is so stretched out it hardly works anymore.

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

The back story is that it was the location of a small, remote, summer maintenance site for the Fed. road commission that was abandoned at statehood. closed for the winter of 58, Alaska became a state in Jan. of 59 so just got left as it was.

Here are a few other pics of thigs I found. Lots of new parts still in their original shiping crates.

I think these are front axles for early 40's dodge powerwagons. 

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

8 minutes ago, OZM29C said:

@aktrapperbrad I hope that you get the opportunity to rescue all of this.

So do I! I did trace who owns the land and left a massage about getting in touch with me. Will see what happens.

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

Here is an interesting set of tracks, must have been for winter use because there seems to be ice cleats on them

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

5 minutes ago, OZM29C said:

@aktrapperbrad What an Amazing find especially the float gear. In particular small hard to find pieces of weasel jewellery like the track apron braces that are still in place. The heated battery box was part of an Arctic heater kit fitted post war to weasels.

the box I found is not the same, as in your pic. it only has the 1 lid and has a curved portion on the outside

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

When I went out back of the shed, I found more parts, the missing trans, it turns freely so might be restorable. A fuel tank with hardly any rust inside, 5 seat backs with the old covers still on, many more.

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

Shortly after I found the shed and weasel. The mag was in the box on the hood.

The tracks and hull look in great shape, it even still has the front 2 skirt support rods. the tranny, driveline, and clutch assembly are missing. It looks like some was in mid clutch repair and just quit working on it.

the only major damage to the hull was a big dent in the rear.

My camara was acting up so some picks of the drivers compartment and data plates didn't turn out.   

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

I knew I was getting close when I came upon my first weasel parts, 2 sets of float tanks and some other hull pieces. One of the rear sections even still has both rudders.

Does anyone recognize what appears to be a heated battery box?

I didn't see any side skits, but I didn't dig around or under things. who knows what is all in this pile? I did look inside the floats and there seems to be hardly any rust or damage. 

[What I found on a Weasel hunt]

After I bought my Weasel, a friend informed me of one that was sitting in an old, abandoned shed that I should go check out. It has supposably been there for over 50 years up on blocks!

I decided to take a day and go see what I would find. It turned out to be an interesting find so I will break this down int a few posts so I can comment on some of the photos I took. 

[New to the site and new owner of a weasel]

I got the beast running yesterday☺️, it took a few tries to get the distributor gears to line up in the correct spot, but once I did it fired right up and ran smoothly.

After I checked the oil and radiator levels, reinstalled seat and cowling, I took it for a short test drive down my long driveway. It seems to track straight but turns a little hard and slow with this track configuration, it is also very slow moving. I got it up to about 5mph in 2nd gear high. The oil pressure runs between 20-40 psi depending on the rpms, engine temp stayed below 180, so not too bad for the test run,

 The biggest problem I found was the clutch, it is really stiff and needs to be all the way to the floor engage gears. I'm hoping it is only a cable adjustment that needs to be done. I am planning to replace it when I find one,

The next thing on the list is to pull the back seat and floor, so I can check the drive line and final drive.

[New to the site and new owner of a weasel]

After other work requirements, I finally was able to get back to working on the weasel. The engine cowling took a little bit to get off but not as bad as I feared,

After pulling the distributor and adapter, I got some good news😀, nothing was broken or bent, turns out the retaining bolt was way loose, and the shaft kicked back when the screw jammed up, so was not engaging the timing gear. I need to make a gasket for the cover plate and hope to have it back together and running soon. 

Here are some picks of the track conversion also.

Brad

 

[New to the site and new owner of a weasel]

It is an interesting set up for the tracks. It appears to be a M76 otter drive sprocket with M56 Scorpion tracks. It came with 3 spare drivers, 3 NOS track sections and some other parts.

I got the upper cowling off, pulled the distributor and located the cause of the malfunction, someone had dropped a small screw into the bottom of the Distrib and it finally bound up. The upper Distrib seems fine now with no noticeable damage, so now time to look at the lower adaptor.

I'm really hoping I don't have to pull the engine. due to the way the mounted the cab. If I have to pull the engine, it will probably be a next year project. 😢

I'll keep everyone informed on how it goes and post some more picks. I also need to go check on another weasel that has supposably been stored up on blocks, in an old shed, for the last 50+ years.

[New to the site and new owner of a weasel]

I always wanted a weasel after seeing the hulk of one shortly after moving to Alaska, 25 years ago. Since then, the only ones I could afford were to far gone for my capabilities to try to restore. That all changed a few weeks ago when I finally talked a friend in selling me his T-24 which hasn't been run in years.

It was converted into a moose hunting rig sometime in the late 80's with a 30gal nose fuel tank, cabin, tracks and suspension.

After spending some time getting it started(the coil was bad and points needed to be cleaned and adjusted) I went to pick it up. Everything seemed to be going ok for the 1st 30 ft until it just quit, after a little checking it turns out the distributor rotor shaft quit turning☹️.

After struggling to get it pulled out and up on the trailer, it is finally home.

Now the fun part, figuring what is wrong with the distributor, and getting it fixed. I sure would appreciate any help or suggestions.

Thanks, Brad

 

[M29C 10629 Tracks]

hope it works out well for you.

I wonder what it would cost to have it done by a rubber roller shop. When I lived back ln Wi, I had a buddy thar worked at one, they would make or fix the rubber on rollers from inches to 20 ft wide.