Changing tank tracks

[Asid]

Changing tracks



Changing the tracks of an M4A1 Sherman, old ones were totally worn out.

[Asid]

How to change tank tracks in Russia



ANS1:
Its not easy. The tracks weigh several thousand pounds, being made of heavy steel. If you're in the maintenance shop, you lay the track out flat on the floor and get the tank positioned over it, usually with a very large crane. Only the back wheels on the side of the tank are drive wheels, connected to and turned by the engine. Two very strong men lift one end of the track and get it draped over this back wheel. Then the tank's engine is used to turn the drive wheels and move the track along the top of the bogey wheels. The strong men then have to pull the end back below the bogey wheels, until the two ends of the track can meet. The links of the track are held together by large, long round steel pins. The links of the track are positioned together and the steel pin is driven in with a sledge hammer.

If the tank has thrown a track in the field, sometimes its possible to get it back on, but as hard as it is in the shop its even more laborious in the mud of the field and possibly under fire.

ANS2:
(A) You drive the tank onto the laid-out track, (yes you can drive a tank on one track. By pulling on the steering lever on the side which is having the new track fitted it stops the drive on that side, thus making the other side drive the track already fitted). (B) You stop the tank when the rear is close to the end of the laid - out track. (C) You attach a strong rope to the end of the track at the front Insurance,Loans,Mortgage,Attorney,Credit­,Lawyer,Donate,Degree,Hosting,Claim of the tank, pass the rope along the top return rollers and wrap it round the drive sprocket. (D) The driver now engages low reverse and pulling the steering lever on the side of the tank which already has a track fitted,slowly reverses. The tank stays where it is but pulls the track over the return rollers untill the teeth on the drive sprocket engage the track. (E) The rope is removed and the same procedure followed untill the track is tight on the return rollers. (F) The two ends are connected as per the previous answer, i.e by someone with a crowbar lifting the track till the ends meet, when the track pin is driven in. (G) The track is then tightened to the correct amount by two men wielding the biggest spanner you have ever seen onto the track adjuster on the front idler wheel. - Job done!

[Gunslinger668]

Thrown track can rarely be backed on from my experience. The only time it is a quick fix is when the track is popped and then you can use a ballard (Tow) hook to slide the track back onto the sprocket. Usually however, if the track is completely thrown and your not on good ground, you have to break track, then use an ARV to somehow pull it out. The track is then rolled and placed on the ARV. At that point either the ARV or another tank will tow it back to a FOB or good ground so that the track can be replaced.

Also, changing track isn't usually that hard if you have a full and experienced crew. The driver for the Russian SPG was clearly new because you want the least amount of time with the track being lifted to help save the energy of the crew. If the tank just slowly rolls forward the crew can usually keep it above the support rollers for ease.

Great video though, surprised to see not much has changed since the old days of tanking.

[Gunslinger668]

Also, you never drop two tracks at once, it's much easier and faster to just back off one side at a time and drive on to new track. The part they don't show that is the hardest part isn't getting it on, it's building the damn tracks.

[Lumituisku]

Heh... Even I know some of these things. Heavy machines often are equipped with tracks. Though... Work machines often have crane to use and in many tracks are bit more light or smaller. Yet all the same as described above. Good thing in TANKS is probably that you're having other's to help, even other vehicles. Not so with forest machines where driver is alone all the crew. And nearest to help may be far far away.

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