WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY: Reassembling a restored 1943 StuG III ZF Gearbox

[@noahmuller2066]

I work for ZF in germany and came across this project, because someone asked for drawings of the transmission in an internal forum and its really cool to be part of the same company and see that after 80 years the transmission is still in good condition

[@forgivemenot1]

Just the realisation that someone had to sit down and design this with a pencil and ruler, they had to work out the tolerances that were needed for it all to work, without a computer, without CAD, without a calculator, it just leaves me in awe.

[@Sam-ob4of]

More likely a whole team of designers/engineers

[@himaro101]

Madness really. Not to mention that it would have been manufactured (or at least finished to tolerance) by hand, not machines.

[@georgedistel1203]

This episode was absofrigginglutly great, I enjoyed every minute of it. One question I have just out of curiosity: Did you happen to get the weight of the assembled main shaft assembly. I'm kind of a nerd on little bits of information like that . These videos really make my day waiting on surgery in my neck . Have a great rest of the year and many more to come.

[@dDoOyYoOuUtTuUbBeE]

Slide rules! And a lot of notes on paper.

[@paoloviti6156]

Do not forget the whole team was directed by the senior staff that is calculating with a pensil and the ubiquitous slide rules. All this is truly impressive when you think about this but it was the same since the industrial period until the arrival of the PC 🖥 computers. Again a great job you did guys 👍👍👍👍👍

[@billydog1954]

You wouldn't think you'd describe a gearbox as beautiful but it really is a thing of beauty made with the precision of a swiss watch

[@NSYresearch]

I was just going to comment the same thing. I have no idea how it would work but it really is a piece of engineering beauty.

[@dbaider9467]

Very precious metal

[@krmould]

I know nothing about transmissions, but that was a transfixing 22 minutes. Hats off to Beau and Steve for their amazing knowledge and skill. Reassembling such a piece of history is truly mind-blowing. And, a special thanks to Kurt. I don't think he gets enough credit for documenting this so well.

[@andrewsteele7663]

Thanks Steve & Beau, that was a truly absorbing video, Cheers

[@delzworld2007]

This StuG III series is fantastic. I am already looking forward to the next episode. Well done to all of you.

[@FairladyS130]

That transmission, what a work of mechanical art. And all the new bearings being still available. Magic!

[@stubstoo6331]

And that's why they lost the war over engineering.

[@tridbant]

Bearings are made to an international standard according to required tolerances and working requirements. So a bearing made then is still made today. Though some were designed for a very specific need which could be no longer produced.

[@joeeocs3259]

The professionalism, skill and humor of your team of restoration experts is amazing. You are all truly masters at what you do!

[@mangoman9290]

Its amazing to think about how much work goes into putting 1 tank onto 1 battlefield for it to possibly just hit a mine and its all over.

[@dukenukem8381]

price of people believing in populism and grandiose reality.

[@RuggeroRenzi]

Il cambio dello Stug III è un vero gioiello di meccanica e pensare che è stato progettato quasi un secolo fa!!!. Bravissimi Steve e Beau nel rimontaggio. Episodio bellissimo.

[@brendanspurr1437]

The best day of the week Weeennnsday

[@darryl3392]

I rebuild classic mini gearbox as side income this is on the next level Well done boys😊

[@entropyachieved750]

Absolutely magic watching you both work together. Talk about a well oiled machine

[@roberthocking9138]

Well done lads, what beautiful engineering, it still stuns me that they could make equipment like that so robust and to such fine tolerances in the middle of a dam war !! PS wonderful explanation of the parts and assembly 👍 PPS well filmed too Kurt

[@himaro101]

You say that, but a lot of the later stuff had some real issues with gearboxes & final drives. Towards the end, the available quality of metal drastically decreased.

[@darreng745]

One of the reasons that Germany suffered so much with AFV production was the insistence on quality engineering, that made replacement parts hard to source as the production line took priority and made repair in the field more harder. You could argue that the Soviet approach of a tank just good enough for the day made sense as the T-34 was turned out in numbers that made the production of the STuG look small.

[@terryhubbard1141]

After spending 37 plus years in machine shops, I have to admire the work they put into a vehicle that could possibly have a very short life span. All the hammer work involved reminds me of a saying we had....." Don't force it....use a bigger hammer".

[@troymolitor7766]

The last few seconds of the video and the smiles on both faces really sum up this video. Another fantastic Wednesday addition. As always, thanks for sharing this with us.

[@ricksmith4736]

Gearheads who enjoy doing this type of work and take pride in doing the job correctly......

[@gregc8567]

Top work! - just amazing - anyone who has done even a little bit of mech work can really appreciate this.

[@l4st_s4mur4i]

I love the way you explain everything to us like we are kids. "This goes here and it does this,while this goes there and that does something else"....finaly someone that actualy describes stuff a way that everyone understands it. Sending love from slovakia

[@stewartspain8367]

Being in a similar trade for many years, I’ve found that a countertop convection oven does the trick of heating up and expanding the bearings/gears enough to allow them to slide down with ease. Sometimes even saves the bearings and gears from minor damage as a results of trying to drive them on by hand. Still great work and I enjoy your channel!

[@b3nz0r12]

maybe even double down with those wine bottle ice packs over the main shaft

[@stewartspain8367]

When it comes to rebuilding jet engines, usually you have a large chest freezer you can chill the main shaft down in along with heating the bearings up before you assemble the whole stack.

[@gerhard6105]

My father just used the gas oven in the kitchen to do such things. To unhappiness of my mother. We had no other option. Works great. English: gas oven. Dutch: gasoven. This Etna oven is still on its spot since 1967 and in use.

[@schwabrichard9829]

To say Beau and Steve are members of a a very exclusive club is an understatement! How many people have completely rebuilt one of those transmissions 80 years? Give the Bard his credit for capturing the event, Kurt!

[@tridbant]

We’ll not really. Remember they knew nothing about these until they dismantled it and along with drawings and specifications it was an on the job learning process. Any competent fitter, anywhere in the world, could have done the same job.

[@4FingerFrag]

I'm sure these boys have hard days, but what a dream it would be to work there.

[@MatSpeedle]

Taking this apart was a mindblowing experience to watch, but putting it back together is so bloody impressive! Incredible work chaps!

[@charlesemerson6763]

Mechanically that's a thing of beauty.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Impressive German engineering and skills of the crew putting that back together!

[@pauldonnelly7949]

I'm constantly amazed at the incredible skill of the designers, machinist and engineers who put in so much effort and resources to make such engineering masterpiece, all the while with bombs dropping day+night. All to carry some big gun around that at the late stage if the war, when this was made, probably lasted a few minutes in combat before being blown away. Seems an utter pointless waste of endeavour and resources, let alone lives. Beautiful work guys!

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Looks like that gearbox comes from the future rather than 80 years ago. Engineering and technical masterpiece.👍🏼

[@tridbant]

No, not really.

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

@@tridbant Like you're the expert Grandad. Better stick to fixing your moped.😂

[@geoffblake2748]

Absolute work of art. Both the design and reconditioning.

[@Arcaev]

This was so satisfying to watch! Can't wait for next week

[@mikef.1000]

3:40 ... how wonderful to see a man using a SPEED DRIVER... one of the most underrated and underused tools that everyone should have in their arsenal!

[@wrxs1781]

The engineering tolerances that went into this transmission manufacture is truly impressive, along with the lads who are re-assembling it.

[@luvtruckin]

Working on machines can be at times a frustrating thing to do but taking apart a 70 year old machine with jello lubricant and then cleaning and ramanning some of the parts then reassembling it is just flat out amazing as said before hats to Steve and Bo and as always thanks to Kurt for documanting these thing it's a full time job I'm sure.

[@scottcrawford7310]

Love workshop WEDNESDAY great job guys

[@theharbinger2573]

Beau and Steve working together on this gear box is pure joy. I could watch this all day long. Thank you, and please videos on all the steps in getting this box back together would be wonderful.

[@mikemilburn7823]

A work of art. I don't think surgeons could work with such precision, awesome job

[@stubstoo6331]

That's one reason they lost the war.

[@GergoSzaszko-zl1uj]

I hate you guys! I'm waiting the whole week for the new part of workshop wednesday, and you guys are, just gouging my eyes out with only 22 minutes of pure pleasure!!!! 😍 I love it!!!!!

[@himaro101]

This must be the most rewarding part of any restoration work. Reassembling.

[@JohnPine13]

Great job Steve and Beau! Thx Kurt for letting us look over their shoulder!

[@busterdee8228]

When I was a young mech, I prided myself in knowing more about manual gearboxes than my peers. Thanks to Steve and Beau, I now know it was a good thing I didn't brag!!! Great stuff.

[@johnbradshaw354]

Great job Steve and Beau! Quite daunting ensuring the fit is perfect and fully functioning I'm sure. Thanks Kurt for Sharing.

[@vinnypopadop]

You know the sound of your workshop is surprisingly soothing. I know it's hitting things with hammer and grinders. I almost fell asleep.

[@earlatkins9559]

Amazing job, guys! What a difference cleaning all the parts makes. They look like they just came off the assembly line. 22 minutes goes by so fast. More please.

[@ricktrenaman6838]

The engineering employed & detail for assembly is amazing ! Keep these videos coming 👍

[@coreyrich2567]

It is such good work that you all do with these vehicles you can really see how much you enjoy working on them

[@goooooller9353]

I could watch Steve and Beau work together all day.

[@stuartbromley5328]

As an ex mechanic from the uk .....its really satisfying qatch you guys bring some really heavy duty ....mechanics into bring these vehicles back to.life ......makes fitting clutches into fords look bloody easy ......loving the films ......

[@aserta]

16:43 guys, you insert it with the round part of the shaft to the spring, then use a slightly crooked pocket screw driver to rotate it to the latched position where the spring falls inside the pin's groove. This might be an early version or defect in the batch, but normally, these have a screw driver slot in the end of the pin, so you can rotate them once inserted into position. So compress the spring, you usually use a piece of flat stock, bent in a U shape. The two ends of the U shaped tool press on the flat of the spring.

[@truracer20]

The final few seconds were the icing on the cake, Steve and Beau beaming with pride.

[@markscheffers5841]

I don’t know what was more satisfying. Seeing it taken apart or seeing it being put back together. Great video as always!

[@richardphelan8414]

I've done a few 4speeds in my life but nothing beats this what a monster of a gear box well done mates

[@lukefriesenhahn8186]

This episode was truly amazing. It's wonderful that you guys are able to restore this transmission.

[@joefrasson8997]

Very nice work, I cannot imagine trying to do that in the field back in the day....

[@glengrant3884]

You guys are just BRILLIANT!!💥🫡💯

[@clivehibburt]

Just incredible it was so interesting WOW the engineering involved what a great video thanks guys 👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌👌😊

[@nevillegoddard4966]

Marvellous precision, perpetuated by these clever fellas!

[@gregedmand9939]

A great bit of fun for all the gear-geek fans of Oz Armour!

[@jeremysaunders9916]

No CAD, calculations for design done with pencil ,paper and enless use of a slide rule. True craftmanship in mechanical engineering at its best, such a curse it was for war !

[@tridbant]

It was also used in peacetime.

[@wommyrudolph]

Mechanical masterpiece

[@provjaro]

Wow, fabulous video. Mind blowing technology for 1 fighting vehicle. Well done to you all!

[@yattaran1484]

Awesome restoration work as always !. I have no idea how those gears and bearings actually works.But one thing's for sure it's an work of an Art !

[@scottburton509]

Loved this. Idea: Have a "StuG Box" with all the tools Beau made for the StuGs.

[@luvr381]

Magnificent!

[@simonmcowan6874]

That was a joy to watch,, amazing how a gearbox developed over time to this, great engineering who ever made it, for whatever need, it stands as it is, clever and well made.

[@gunnarbaumer492]

Thank you for such an incredible video! What else can you ask for, but watching you guys put together a six-gear ZF Stug transmission. Thats like christmas to me. Thanks!!

[@Absaalookemensch]

For an 80 years old gearbox it looks in great condition. It shows how oil is the fountain of youth for machinery. Well done. Thank you

[@gasgaslex_photos]

Such a pleasant experience watching and listening to a bunch of Queenslanders doing great work on classic vehicles......Unlike the new Jaguar car and its mind numbing advert.

[@udondave]

gearbox rocket surgery a- joy to watch !

[@brushnut1909]

So impressive

[@ferrellsl]

Awesome work!

[@ericcorse]

Any episode with a speed wrench and brass drift is top drawer in my book.

[@timn6864]

This channel is in my head now. I can't just say Wednesday anymore. It's always workshop wednnnnnsday

[@robertdriscoll9673]

Your crew is the best. They don't rush anything. True professionals, they take the time to make sure that what is being done is properly done. I look forward to seeing your next segment.

[@3storiesUp]

That shaft with the gears installed is a thing of beauty. Well done lads.

[@bearbait2221]

Truly good mechanics>>>just great to watch>>>Mech tip for tight fitting parts/ bearings heat them in oil lil over 120f and they will slip in ezer. Heat is the key to less hammer work :) A little heat goes along ways.

[@richardwirt3193]

Brilliant work

[@Vincentschneider007]

Another great presentation. Thanks gentleman.

[@borchen0]

06:53 that's groovy stuff man!

[@michaeltrotman6960]

That was absolutely brilliant you guys really know what you're doing and you make it interesting to watch can't wait for the next bit to be done thank you very much

[@joey243win]

She is a bit bigger than a Hewland! Seriously though guys full respect to you, love this stuff!!!

[@davidlawrencebanks4610]

That was awesome guys nerve racking or what! Well done 👍😁

[@paulday-lh5mx]

Amazing video guys. Nothing short of witchcraft how those engineers draft up these gears and machines. How do they have time to test the reliability under wartime pressures, and pump out equipment to the soldiers who operate them and fix them in the field. Incredible.......

[@Slartibartfaster]

Excellent... can't wait for the next episode

[@chrismerkel9604]

A Mechanical Engineer Masterpiece! Way to go guys!

[@CanOfRabbitHoles]

that knowing smile they gave each other at the end! says it all really. It doesn't get much better than this boys, great work EVERYONE at aus armour. I'm sure there is a lot that goes on we don't see and people don't call out, but good god this is amazing stuff.

[@raystarr4388]

Amazing job putting this beautiful beast back together

[@jollygreen98]

That was mind blowing with the tolerances the Germans built to....

[@vf19blue]

My jaw muscles are aching from all the teeth clenching! Excellent work lads, very enjoyable to watch. 👍

[@Splattle101]

You folks hit it out of the park when you hired Steve.

[@ivorglenn5309]

German engineering at its best, amazing to think that in 1943 with the massive demands of the eastern front, north Africa and Italy they were still creating these masterpieces with such precision and attention to detail.

[@davidmorris56]

The complex engineering is mind blowing!..well done all!

[@SteveMichaels]

Just a incredible job Steve ! Was on the edge my chair watching the refit ! Enjoyed it .. God Bless

[@alexrandall3685]

An extraordinary piece of work. A 3D precision heavyweight jigsaw puzzle.

[@DeadmanWalking722]

Just a beautiful piece of machine. Satisfying is such an understatement. great work guys and Thanks for making my day cheers Wish I could send a beer and lunch.

[@alecfraser1928]

Not many of us get to see the inside of any gearbox let alone this monster. Great. Glad to see you liberally applying the hammer during the fit up. I was always concerned I might be doing damage!

[@benjaminniven4210]

Fantastic work lads! such an incredible piece, the early synchros really blew my mind when I worked on it. Well done, looking forward to it driving!

[@rionijam727]

Great stuff, A tour of the spare parts room and boneyard would be awesome 👌

[@keithgarland3404]

Amazing work, amazing piece of German engineering, as a now retired vehicle technician and mechanical engineer, I really enjoyed seeing that go together. Good teamwork, including that complicated piece Glenn machined, top work 👍

[@sandervanelslander9964]

I've gotten use to you guys wacking away with hammers. But as an aircraft mechanic, it's the quality of the lockwire that made me cringe the most 😆 All jokes aside, you guy's are doing a fine job on this one.

[@austenmoore9782]

The engineering is incredible!

[@nv1493]

Admit it Steve, you couldn't sleep the night before 😀 Beautiful engineering.

[@ReaperRestorations]

as a military aircraft mechanic, I can tell you safety wire is truly an art. and those pliers are a real pain😄