WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY: Changing rusty worn out track on our WWII RADIAL Grant Tank!

[@TheMalootrager]

‘Start Ya Bastard’ so Australian 🇦🇺, as an Australian 🇦🇺 I approve that name

[@jamiehill2671]

As a Canadian, I approve. Whenever that stuff is needed, I think it is universal that expletives are being uttered.

[@flymetal323]

As a American, I also approve that message, I want that on our cans now.

[@TheMalootrager]

@@flymetal323 It is the Greatest name for a product

[@krmould]

I know this is something tankers do all the time, but there are not many videos that document the process. Hats off to the guys for their hard work, and Kurt for documenting it and sharing it with us. A special thanks to Daryl for "keeping it real!"

[@MK-vp5md]

"Daryl, put away your Dad's crackers, mate..." classic (to paraphrase Kurt)

[@MJTAUTOMOTIVE]

@@MK-vp5md, Jatz Crackers not Dad's.

[@bricktop2938]

'Start Ya Bastard' 😂 That's made my day.

[@Chris.Davies]

You'll be into it, like a snake up a drainpipe, mate!

[@highlander147]

Didn’t realise Darryl was a Commando! Like Kurt said, imagine being a 21yo tanker in the Western Desert 80-plus years ago, hungry and thirsty and far from home, having to do that with just hand-tools. Hat-tip to those people, and to you for another great instalment

[@paulorchard7960]

Eyes, ears , nose and jocks full of sand and bathed in sweat, what a life!😅

[@troywalker8078]

They don't call them "The Greatest Generation" for no reason.

[@alistairwhite2906]

@@troywalker8078 Had a great uncle who survived a burning tank in North Africa, unfortunately never got to meet him in person but apparently he didn't talk about it much. Definitely a different breed to lots of young people these days!

[@Rusty_Gold85]

With the 40 plus temperatures making the metal hot to touch. I reckon they did that at night .

[@alistairwhite2906]

@@Rusty_Gold85 Only if you had the choice..... The enemy has a good way of messing up well laid plans.

[@scottcrawford7310]

I remember track changing back in my day on the buckets. All done by hand, no power tools no forklift etc back breaking work.

[@contributor7219]

Unless, of course, you're at Zero Alpha doing pad changes and someone breaks the second track without the A-frame connected to the tow tank, then you can let the hill do the work 😂 Naturally we were far too professional to laugh as guys tried to stop the runaway with bits of tree branch.

[@hopper1415]

I was so jealous watching them use the forklift and impact driver.

[@shaneblack4862]

And even lifting a section of 8 onto the top of the vehicle was a hell of a lot fun! But I'd rather break track on a carrier than a Leopard!

[@Bembem69]

Yep… we had crowbars, 10lb sledgehammers, and about 15 of us to do this on our Leopard 1’s back in the day. But changing out all of the track pads was worse. Oh that was miserable work.

[@contributor7219]

@@Bembem69 Yep, track pads were a hard slog. I was at 1AR for Breakout - so many track pads that had to be done before running on the Hume. I have very fond memories of the interest the locals showed in the Leos though. For many it was probably the first time they'd ever been up close and personal with them.

[@schwabrichard9829]

Daryl knows how to spice up a track change! You folks made a a hard job look easy! Great hearing that radial start up! Thank you!!!!

[@Mishn0]

Yeah, those things sound like a whole gang's worth of Harleys starting up.

[@plainnpretty]

I love them radial engines. I’ve changed and worked on lots of tracks and undercarriages on bulldozers. Looks about the same hard heavy work Thanks guys

[@bebo4807]

After watching Daryl I ended up with a hard job…

[@drewschumann1]

Breaking track inside on flat pavement sounds like a wet dream. Former tanker here... 19D, 19E and 19K

[@scottburton509]

Closest I ever got to THAT was doing it in the motor pool on a fairly cool day at Knox. Every other time...mud, water, uneven terrain and everything else!

[@rickwilkins3055]

"Workshop Wednesday after Dark". What a classic.

[@joey243win]

Gotta love real workshop banter

[@robchilders]

I had to break track in the field on both an M60 and an M113. Back breaking work. All tanker bar, sledge, and drift pin work.

[@scottburton509]

The good old days of breaking track on M901 ITV and replacing all the track pads

[@TDOBrandano]

Man, that track skipping on the driving sprocket, the Chieftain would have a fit. I guess the track is so stretched it could not be tensioned any more.

[@mattcarroll3469]

They said at the end of the video they still had to tension it

[@edconway9072]

Memories of track jacks, end connectors and wedge bolts. Many a field track repair on M48 and M60 series MBTs over 35 years as an armor officer in the US Army. And yes, the officers on tank crews were right in there to get the job done. Thanks, Ed Conway, LTC, Armor (ret)

[@AbramsGunner]

You said it brother, right there with you (but on the Abrams, M1 and M1A1).

[@ray.shoesmith]

Ah, the old Start Ya Bastard.

[@stuartbromley5328]

Im an ex mazda mechanic from UK...I would sell my soul to work on vehicles like these ....its truly amazing wot you guys do to get them back in the amazing condition you do .......love watching the films

[@Wolvenworks]

UK? I heard that the Tank Museum in Bovington’s more than happy to get some more hands to help.

[@markwarren7959]

Aus Armor After Dark? Kinda catchy.

[@graemepetersen]

Yes it has been a little steamy in Cairns lately, hope yous got enjoy a cold beer after this.

[@David-cj4oc]

Thanks for a fantastic day at the museum,all four of us had a blast. Thanks also to Archie who looked after us in the shooting gallery,maybe you could feature him some time. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tsmgguy]

Track jacks and tanker bars. Oh, the memories!

[@NSYresearch]

The way you chaps all work as a team is brilliant to watch.

[@tknow76]

I've always changed track one side at a time on a Bradley... Maybe both sides at once is the way to do that. You guys made that look smooth!

[@robertdonnell8114]

We, my Battalion and I, retracked 58 M-1 tanks So that they could be turned in. We were then issued 58 M-1A1 tanks also requiring retracking. That is 116 tanks. Oh and the tracks weighed more than twice as much as the tracks seen in this video. You have my sympathies, not much, but some.

[@cmck472]

"You shouldn't have joined if you can't take a joke" 😂

[@russwoodward8251]

Those ancient old tracks. A testament to how well things can be made and yet rickety as hell. Thanks Aus Armour.

[@jimgray6864]

LOL! I think that this one is the best yet! Sounds like me at work!

[@mr.m2556]

I was expecting the Chieftain to be on scene supervising the track tensioning. Cheers A3 team.

[@Chris.Davies]

Great stuff! Thank you so much for the 50fps! When you can, switch up to 60, for an instant additional 20% quality improvement! Flames out the back, and big explosions are great: they reassure you your engine is running nice and rich. :) My car does it on the downshift, above 3,500 rpm, almost always. :) Shift up: Blow off. Shift down: Flames! Even my wife loves it. :D

[@dougstubbs9637]

I have changed plenty of track, small excavators etc. with a blade and boom to lift itself off ground, and rubber band tracks, a pinch bar and socket are all that’s needed. Worst aspect was cleaning up the grease when releasing the tensioner. Messy, but bulk easier than a tank. Respect. Cheers.

[@michaelguerin56]

I know what you mean, much quicker and easier than changing tank tracks😁.

[@artboy57]

I never had anything special to look forward to on Wednesdays until you lot came along, nice job all!

[@rattussapiens2854]

Man, those tracks were munted … great work

[@JustRedDude]

This work on the museum vehicles and basically all the inside kitchen is so interesting to watch! Maybe even more interesting than visiting the museum itself. But I would still gladly visit it if I ever get a chance

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

Saving this one to watch on the big screen tonight... Love Grant/Lee tanks!! 💚 Thanks as always guys!! 👍🏾

[@MaxTSanches]

Wonderfull to see how it is done. My father was in the Tank Regiment, and did his national service in Hong Kong during the Korean War. They had Comets because the bridges wouldn't handle the weight of a Centurion. He told me that one day they had to change the tracks on all the tanks. The standard procedure was to break ONE track and then drive it onto the new track. Link it up and then do the same with the other track. Well, some bright new officer decided that it could be done twice as fast if the broke both tracks and drove it onto the new tracks. The sergents did not agree as this was done on an almost level parade ground. I say almost level, because the drive wheel on a Comet, and most tanks, is up above the ground that is also where the brakes are. Once the tracks were broken the vehicle rolled forward - off the old track - onto the new track - and then down the slope of the parade ground. The officer then ordered the driver to stop. But, the poor driver had no control of the vehicle at this point. The officer was repremanded. :)

[@petesheppard1709]

And Baby has new shoes!! I feel with Darryl; I'm in the process of getting THREE implants, but human cadaver bone was used in mine.

[@justinguthrie7193]

Love watching you blokes doing your thing, great commentary too mate, you’ve certainly got the voice and good humour for it, keep the great content coming, Justin, Karratha WA.

[@bebo4807]

I recently changed the tracks on my 1/35 scale M36 Jackson. It was exhausting so I know what you guys had to go through.

[@timwerner7771]

HA! at 13:30 he sees the mechanic going inside and says ..."Like a rat up a drainpipe!" LOve this

[@robinlecomte1242]

Kurt, interesting on your comment about changing tracks in War time conditions, there is historical data (including both photos & film footage)- on German Tank crews, especially the Tiger, having to [1] remove road tracks and replace with special tracks to load onto flat -top railway wagons, roll up the road track, secure and then have the 2 sets of tracks placed on the rail wagon deck, behind the tank, [2] - at destination repeat the process to change back to road tracks. Rational - the road track was to wide for the rail flatbed wagon. An interesting look at the past, especially when you look at today - and the loading of the US Abrams onto flat-top railway wagons.

[@farmersboy]

Not just the tracks; the outer set of road wheels and the side skirts (the front and rear mudflaps had a hinged outer section). It's also why Tigers had thinner cables mounted on the sides; they were used to pull the tracks on using the drive sprockets as capstans.

[@stevengriffin7873]

Sometimes there was enough clearance to use the combat tracks,but not often enough I'll bet.

[@farmersboy]

@@stevengriffin7873 Oh for sure they only did it when they had to, but the loading gauge that applied all across the continent had a permitted width of 3150 mm. With the Tiger modified for travel, it 3142 mm wide. What really helped was when they introduced steel rimmed wheels, which meant losing those outer wheels they used to have to take off. They still had to change the tracks, but it cut the workload.

[@stevengriffin7873]

@@farmersboy I've seen pictures of them loaded with combat tracks.The tracks overhung a bit.And yes the steel wheels reduced the work load.

[@robinlecomte1242]

@@farmersboy I must assume " that you have had your nose stuck in the same books, as I have"? I have a photo of the Tiger (several of them), on flat bed rail wagons, destination not mentioned, must assume Russia, and what I found interesting was the " living arrangements" the tank crews had created at front and rear, whilst in transit. It showed that the German Army 'really' looked after their troops!

[@Uchilsson]

I like too see that tensioning of tracks :D

[@maxcleveland3446]

You guys need to check out the start of a R-2800 / R3350 radial powered airplane. Even more noise and smoke. Plus, stack fires and whirling knives of death!

[@danheaton2522]

I’m loving the banter, you guys are hilarious. Keep up the good work!

[@rolandroth4479]

Changing chains or changing chain pads - what backbreaking work! I still remember it exactly: Open only one chain at the back, "shut down" the APC to the front, turn the chain, knock out the old posters and put in new ones, then turn the chain back onto the pads and use the drive sprocket to pull the chain on and close it. And for completely new chains, first put the segments (10 chain links each) together and screw them together, then align them behind the tank. Then drive the MARDER down from the old chain to the front, then drive the tank backwards - first over the old chain - and finally pull the new chain over the drive sprocket, connect it and tension the chain. Twice per tank... one day job for the platoon for the three tanks Good job on this veteran, guys!

[@JDCheng]

4:21 - seeing the left track pop on the sprocket just makes me think about how The Chieftain goes on and on about how to gauge track tension...

[@richardwirt3193]

Thank you for bringing the workshop Wednsday show back very much enjoyed

[@bearcatracing007]

Welcome to OnlyTanks

[@SanDiegoHarry1]

yup - it's summer down there for sure!

[@JasonSkye]

This is hands-down the best channel on KZbin, kudos to you all

[@johnboy384]

Thanks AAAM. =)

[@Ian-mj4pt]

Telling daz to cover up and Jesse about the language 😅😅love watching you lads 😅😅

[@edmondmkasian6173]

Oh men. I love your black label .and thanks for your transparency.

[@bliss661]

Great episode as usual this week. As a side note I have just completed the dental procedure Darryl is undergoing. Took nearly a year in total.

[@Pitoux-x9l]

NICE backfire!! 3:00min

[@raulssilins2037]

Start ya bastard. Now that is awsome brand for a starter fluid

[@chriskortan1530]

I am deeply hopeful you were able to entice the Chieftain to visit summer time Australia for a guest appearance on the track tensioning video.

[@richardraby6266]

Truly beautiful to watch you guys making heavy jobs look light work. Sure it would take most of us many, many times longer and with hair-pulling moments as well.

[@babuzzard6470]

Sounds great.👍🇦🇺

[@dnbeckmann]

Lookin' good!

[@danpatterson8009]

Shout out to the company that poured the floor for your workshop.

[@Ravenlord79]

Must visit place when visit in Australia. From here, from finland first need to flight to Tokyo and then change plane to cairns. Pretty adventure 😂

[@bulldogstrut1]

Swapping out the tracks, cleaning the bore, and loading a combat load of main gun ammo were always the hardest tasks to perform on an tank. I was on M601s in the 1970s.

[@stephenhensley7004]

Oh yes. U.S. Army Armor Officer Basic Course,1987, was my introduction to breaking track on the M60A3 and the M1. As passed along probably since the 60s, we would sing, "Breaking track in the hot sun," aptly borrowed from the Bobby Fuller Four (popularized) hit song "I fought the Law" in 1965.

[@andrewsteele7663]

WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, OMG, that was truly gob smacking. Thanks Team, Cheers

[@rustywrench2119]

I’m an old Cat guy and always interested in track machines. I’ve done many of tracks over the years and I know the feeling that you guys got that morning when you’ve got a set of tracks to change out. Only thing is I’m interested in how you tension up the tracks? Is it through Grease or is it engine or hydraulic pressure?

[@AdamMann3D]

Love this.

[@54mgtf22]

Hey AusArmour. Great watching you manipulate those stegosaurus tails. Love your work 👍

[@cseivard]

I love that “quad .50”, just sitting there in the garage!

[@brockbeckstedt6483]

I see alot of war movies being made with authentic man made war machines absolutely fabulous thanks restoring history of freedom got love this the courage of young teenagers fighting wars just splendid! The leasing of these tanks to movie studios will keep the restoring efforts happening, there are many stories to be made of heros in action for both sides 😊

[@johnbarnes6832]

This reminds me of the opening scene in "Sahara.' w/ Humphrey Bogart.

[@JovianLoop]

Seeing the track laid out on the workshop floor like that reminded me of another FNQ armoured beast - Crocodylus porosus.

[@nathanroberts355]

I can't wait to drive the m4a1 Sherman tank at this year's Australian armoured artillery museum tank fest this year

[@timsmith4548]

I am so jealous that we didn't get the opportunity to use forklifts back when I was on active duty. There would have been a lot fewer long days in the motor pool. Tanker bars, blood, sweat and cussing got the job done!

[@vannygun]

Awesome back and forth banter. It's nice to see the comradery between them. This video had a much more personal vibe to it and it was great. Awesome work as always guys, keep it up!

[@alexmitchellhmtv6850]

You need to do a outside run video with this tank. It looks stunning and the noise is amazing.

[@mikeschillinger4427]

Nice bit of adult humour this week. Good to see it isn't just Mr. Hewes that has fun working on tanks... and adult humour.😊😄

[@robertbelden8040]

Daryl and Jess should have been outfitted in desert army uniform kit, using track tools out in the field next to shop. Then have a bit of tea afterwards lol

[@gagasmancave8859]

Track bashing on 432's and Cvrts was fun enough, big boys toys players have my respect

[@joec7275]

Oh my god I want a can of that starting fluid!!! Even an empty one as that is the funniest and coolest saying to have actually on the label!! Heck would even pay for shipping (probably have to put a hole in the bottom to empty it completely but even sp it would just be a display peice anyway). ❤😂

[@johnnewman366]

Made by an Australian company called ‘Nulon’, they make engine oils, coolants and additives. Google them for details.

[@battlejitney2197]

Man, this brings back memories of breaking track.

[@VFRSTREETFIGHTER]

I would love to see a part of next weeks video that included tensioning the new track on the Grant.

[@davidlawrencebanks4610]

Awesome guys, nice one

[@timhullfilms]

Reminds me of the movie Sahara with Humphrey Bogart, at the very beginning when they are trying to start Lulubelle

[@echohunter4199]

Never ever skip rotating the engine before starting! The book says 50 but we always doubled that, replacing bottom cylinder valve rods is a nightmare.

[@MatSpeedle]

Cracking jobs boyos, that Grant's looking better than new with those new tracks on.

[@the-primered-thumb]

Track bashing, oh the joys 😉👍

[@niallbyrne6853]

Fantastic Work, would love to see you make and fit a set of Sand shields on the Grant to give it the Desert look.

[@TX-biker]

OH MY!!! That process is something else!

[@richardphelan8414]

Reminds me of my Dozer working days of pulling tracks with a track Jack and hammering pins in ,I can well appreciate your hard work on the grant Tank track change ,That radial engine sounds sweet the ground crews always pulled the propellers through two complete revolutions to make sure the cylinders were clear of mostly oil they were leakers and oil burners and Gas guzzlers but sounded great been watching the show for years wouldn't miss Aus ,Wednesday

[@scottburton509]

It just boggles the mind to hear "New Old Stock" and realize how many parts are unused. A friend shown me parts for a DC-3 still in the original wrapping a few years back.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

That Grant sounds fantastic! I enjoy watching seeing this machines still functioning! And thought driving Fire Engines and Ladder Truck was cool.

[@carloscepeda3372]

A fantastic video, tahnk you

[@johnfederkeil9211]

Great video!

[@philmorrow2446]

Daryl, Aus Armour pin up. Mr January on the new calendar!!!🤣🤣😉😉

[@bigredjeepyj3436]

That radial sounds incredible.

[@shamus813]

Ahhhhh. My eyes Darrel....they're burning!!!!

[@gusgone4527]

I bet the tank crews of WWII were masters of improvising and shortcuts.

[@juanmc5731]

Man I wish my country did the same thing for the Army Museum 😢

[@yattaran1484]

Thank you guys for posting !. As one of a big fan of tank track links, It is always my pleasure to watch something related to the track links !.

[@pauljones2031]

Hell of a lot of work, even under good conditions.

[@k5nutt]

I'd like to see how the track is tensioned.

[@erikdekuil4629]

They should ask The Chieftain!

[@kade_kam_dad]

Amazing video.

[@StephaneP-p8h]

Love what you did with the Grant, mate. Look and sound incredible!

[@Welder-y5x]

i enjoy my weekly tank fix, thank you

[@mashirohakase]

damn the footage is so crisp, lovin it!