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Scorpion/Scimitar Restoration in New Zealand


philm1

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On ‎29‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 12:21 AM, robin craig said:

Lovely work on the vehicle. What is your rust preventer product and does it brush or spray on and what is your undercoat and how is that applied please

 

 

The product is Dinitron and is in a spray can so easy to apply.  "Convert Rust Expoxy RC900 - Coverter & Primer".  Appears to be good stuff but a little expensive @ NZ$50 a can. We will still apply another undercoat - 2 pack, but at least you can have parts sandblasted and then put back on the shelf ready for final assembly and painting when you are mxing up a batch for a decent paint run.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Slowly been working my way around the hull drilling out any snapped bolts and re tapping all the threads.  Job made easier if you get the initial centre punch dead centre, use sharp drill bits, and slowly increase the drill sizes.  

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Edited by philm1
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Sometimes what we think will be a simple task takes a little longer.  Mr rust (just like weld) again.  Trying to remove the driver's hatch cover but all seized up.  Over the last week heated and oiled it plus the trusty hammer but no joy.   A client of mine leant me his hydraulic puller which worked a treat.  Still took more heat, oil, and hammering but finally let go - with a BANG.  

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A wonderful bit of kit.

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Slowly coming off.

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I am now starting on the turret whilst the weather is still good so then over winter I can work on the dis assembled components.  The elevation gear is seized so I wanted to get the barrel out so I can then remove the cradle etc.  Again with the right tools everything went to plan.  I had been squirting a rust break free product between the barrel and the manlet for a few weeks.  I then applied some heat around the cradle and set up a 10 tonne porta power.  With a little pressure and a few whacks with the sledge hammer, a bit more pressure applied, a twist with a massive pipe wrench, more pressure, more whacking, the barrel was out.

Tools for the job.

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Porta Power set up 

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Barrel starting to come out.

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Barrel out

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Edited by philm1
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Now started on the gun mounting as whilst I would just like to give it a clean up and a new coat of paint I really need to get the Recuperator out as in the deactivation the Bobbin had been cut off on the gunners side.  By re attaching the Bobbin I can then refit the Breech.

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Buffer and expansion tank came out easily. But Cradle won't budge and I don't want to damage it with excessive force.  It needs to come out as the recuperator sits below it and won't come out with the cradle in place.  I think the insert into the Manlet has frozen so more oil and little heat probably needed.

I then removed the Elevating Gear which was full of water and all bearing seized.  A rainy day job to strip and rebuild.

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nice rusty water came out of  elevating gear.

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Seized bearings

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Unfortunately I can't seem to get the gun cradle to come out.  There appears to be an insert that goes into the manlet and I'm sure over time the insert has frozen to the manlet.  I have left this for the time being and continued to strip out the turret to have lots of little cleaning projects over winter.  Mean while I'll ponder a plan to get the cradle out - no where to really push or pull on it.

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Very satisfying to get something that hasn't moved for a long time, freed up.

I spent a good month slowly getting a Scorpion breech open that had been out in the elements for years. Little squirt of diesel and a tap with a mallet every so often... and eventually it popped open.

Anything steel screwed into aluminium is a total nightmare of course.

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6 hours ago, BRDM Driver said:

Very satisfying to get something that hasn't moved for a long time, freed up.

I spent a good month slowly getting a Scorpion breech open that had been out in the elements for years. Little squirt of diesel and a tap with a mallet every so often... and eventually it popped open.

Anything steel screwed into aluminium is a total nightmare of course.

Yes it is but it can do your head in at the time. 

I've given up on the gun cradle as I'm worried I'll cause damage to the mantlet when all I was trying to achieve was a tidy up and repaint. The recuperator I'll weld the bobbin back on in place.

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Purchased some new bearings for the elevation gear and hope to get this all back together over Easter. 

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The old bearings were reluctant to come off so my mechanic friend cut the outer race off then put a ring of mig welding around which apparently assists removal. 

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There is no real room to get a puller on but I managed to use a hammer and punch to get one bearing off.  The other end where the geared cog was I couldn't get a punch on to it so I put 2 cuts in the bearing case with a dremil and use a cold chisel to separate. 

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Nice new bearing pressed on.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Also been working on the turret hatch latches which were nicely seized.  3 of the 4 came apart with heat and oil quenching.  The 4th was a right dog and even in the press wouldn't let go.  Finally did after a further week soaking is diesel, more heat and a good whack with a hammer. SAM_2968.thumb.JPG.3b2d56194f6f3e6ff4e2df801a9c8145.JPG

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Rust preventer undercoat

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1 hour ago, robin craig said:

On your stowage  parts where there was felt that needs replacing what are you using as a source of new material please?

 

Robin - please let me know if you find out, I have the same problem. Regards Doug

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On 4/17/2018 at 9:40 PM, robin craig said:

On your stowage  parts where there was felt that needs replacing what are you using as a source of new material please?

 

Hi Robin & Doug.  Luckily some of the items I was working on I could use a sharp blade to slice it off. Then left it soaking in hot soapy water for some time.  Rinsed, dried and re glued in place.  I did however source felt here in New Zealand from http://feltsupplies.co.nz/.  It is about 10mm thick and I have used it in the hull under where the likes of the driver's periscope sits.  Unfortunately it wasn't cheap and they sell per metre.  Owner found an off cut for me so I was very lucky.  If you do see what you need there I am happy to help getting it to you.  Regards Phil

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Phil.

Thanks for the info. Doing a bit of a web search onwards from the address you supplied reveals that felt isn't just felt

apparently.

There is wool/blend or polyester to decide as well a grade (density).

I would assume the original was wool, but polyester may have its advantages as it

would be less likely to retain moisture than wool.

Always learning.

Thanks

Doug

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