Track Building 101

[Will Dodge]

So I am starting a NEW post to see if anyone can answer the questions below?  If you have rebuilt tracks or have personal experience, please chime in! 

I have all of the sources to do a build but before I pull the trigger I want to verify info. There will be a cost savings to do all inner and outer belts the same width if that is important. Continuous bands pre cut and drilled. So in theory just bolt on the grousers and other parts and install and play. (Sounds too simple) 

Measurements, photos and drawings are helpful! 

How many grousers on the left and right of M29   Are they all the same number? 

How many grousers on the left and right of T15

What is the proper thickness of the belting? What have others used with success? Too thick and power and steering problems and damage. Too thin and ???? 

Width of belt? Full coverage? 7 inch? 2 inch? (I am unfortunately am a 2 inch guy)

Grade 8 bolts? T Nuts? Rivets? Hot glue gun? What size has been successful? 

Rubber track pad options? Belting? Cast? Old tennis shoes? Anyone have one NOS pad? 

Supplier options? Who have you used? Continuous bands? Conveyer? Hardware? Tooling? 

Photos of the process if you already did some, or in process, or? 

If we start with information, I'm sure Patrick could put some great drawings and directions together in his free time? It's not like he is really doing anything anyways. 🙂

[OZM29C]

@Will DodgeHere is a start  

Translation of nordoc 2-4.doc Translation of nordoc 6-8.doc Translation of nordoc 12-13.doc

[OZM29C]

@Will DodgeAmbiliary track information. Grouser drawing remains the property of Steven Malikoff.

[Will Dodge]

1 hour ago, OZM29C said:

@Will DodgeAmbiliary track information. Grouser drawing remains the property of Steven Malikoff.

Thanks for starting the party!

[Will Dodge]

55 or 56 ?? Does anyone know what the reason was for grouser count? Is there a sproket difference? Is there something in a manual that I missed? 

[Will Dodge]

Anyone that has rebuilt their track with belting, can you tell us the thickness and width you used and how it handled in use? 

[Patrick Tipton]

1 hour ago, Will Dodge said:

55 or 56 ?? Does anyone know what the reason was for grouser count? Is there a sproket difference? Is there something in a manual that I missed? 

There are both 55 and 56 grouser tracks (in both 15" and 20").  The sprockets are different for them too because the "pitch"  (ie spacing between grousers) is different.  The "dog bone" (or bogie wheel carrier (called a bracket in the manual) is also different....presumably has to do with spacing as well. 

There is nothing in the manual, but the ORD 9 does have 4 different sets of tracks listed (1953 ORD 9 G179).  I think someone mentioned having some information on the engineering reports regarding these track changes, but I have never seen them.  The earlier ORD 9 G154/179 (1944) has one set of tracks listed for the T15/M28 and two sets (15" and 20") for the M29 and M29C.  Again, I do know that there are both 55 and 56 grouser 15" tracks, so presumably the same is true of the WW2 era 20" tracks.

Hopefully some other folks can chime in.

 

[Will Dodge]

Were the track changes from refits? Or production changes? 

[Will Dodge]

anyone have input on the belting they have used? Bolt types? 

[Patrick Tipton]

Will - the changes in the number of grousers happened during WW2 so I am assuming production changes.  The change from the outside stabilizing cable to the larger band on the 20" tracks happened post war.

I am wrapping up the repairs on the hull of my T24 and should be done very soon.  I have many track issues so will join you in figuring all of this out in a few weeks and we can try and centralize the data in one spot.

[M29]

Here is a thread on the G503 forum that is worth reading. https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=303806

[Will Dodge]

Very good information. Last post within 6 months!

[M29C3284]

Just wanted to through in some information on which track type was used where according to the three Weasel parts catalogs that I have.

Service Parts Catalog for Carrier, Cargo, Light T 24, 1. Aug. 1943

• 905660 – Track, Drive, Assembly

ORD 7-8-9 SNL G-154, G-179, Carrier, Cargo, M28 (T15), M29 (T24) and M29C, 15. June 1944

• 905660 – Track, Drive, Assembly, 15”, low guides, 56 grousers – used to ord. serial. 2102
• 908172 - Track, Drive, Assembly, 20”, high guides, 56 grousers, auxiliary cables – used from ord. serial. 2103

ORD 9 SNL G-179, Carrier, Cargo, M29 and M29C, 9. Feb. 1953

• 905660 – Track, Drive, Assembly, 15”, low guides, 56 grousers – used to ord. serial. 2102
• 908172 - Track, Drive, Assembly, 20”, high guides, 56 grousers, auxiliary cables – used from ord. serial. 2103 to 14108 except 13584, 13585 and 13660 (superseded by 908657)
• 908646 - Track, Drive, Assembly, 20”, high guides, 56 grousers, auxiliary cables – used from ord. serial. 14108 to 14158 except 13584, 13585 and 13660 (superseded by 908657)
• 908657 - Track, Drive, Assembly, 20”, high guides, 55 grousers, auxiliary bands – used from ord. serial. 14159

As you can see the official documentation lists four different tracks, one 15" and three 20" designs. Whether the last design, 908657, was ever install in production or just during post war rebuilds, I don't know. 

Edited April 2, 2021 by M29C3284
spelling

[Will Dodge]

Anyone find out why the 55 or 56 grousers are used? Does the tensioner work for both? The drive sprockets seem to be the same.

As far as belt thickness? Anyone with experience have comments? 

Would there be an interest in full rubber tracks?