GreenEagleKing Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Hi all, I am currently restoring an M45 Quadmount anti-aircraft gun and having some issues with the motor. The 12v 100amp motor has just been reconditioned and works really well with no load, no smoke or anything. When the motor is under load with the gearboxes and pulleys attached the motor begins to smoke after about 30 seconds pulling around 9.5v during operation. It has just been reconditioned so not expecting it to get so hot so quickly. I will be calling the people who fixed the motor on Monday, but wanted to see if anyone else has had experience with this issue or can help. Here is a link to a video showing the mount in operation and subsequent smoking motor. https://youtu.be/rPkFfrKya6I Thanks, Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Have you found any decent parts suppliers? I found a few in Europe but they don’t have the ammeter box which I’m missing. Mine is on an M20 trailer but it will go in the back of my M16. It’s from an Ex Italian Fiat gun truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenEagleKing Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 I've found one guy in the Netherlands who has a few bits which he sent me, but recently haven't heard back from him so not sure how reliable he is. Jeepest has a few bits too I think. Like you I imagine I'm looking for all the small bits! I think mine might have come from the same batch, mine too has the Italian data plate and looking at the photo looks nearly identical. I'm nearly on the final assembly now. I know mine does not have an ammeter, instead it had had the hole covered by an instructional data plate, not sure whats correct! I have the same yellow markings on the inside bearing covers next to the seat. Have you been able to make out what it says? Mine was barely legible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Ben, Did you ever get your hot motor sorted? I have a problem with the differential that works the elevation, it is so slow and draws 150 amps in operation, traverse is the full 60deg a second. Alistair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenEagleKing Posted December 13, 2021 Author Share Posted December 13, 2021 Hi Alistair, Short answer is no. I've taken it back to the motor repair shop and they are going to replace the last part of the motor which they haven't touched (I can't remember off the top of my head what part is is). Hopefully this will make a difference otherwise I'll be a bit stuck. Mines very similar. Have you checked for any binding on the differential? With the elevation drive disconnected from the motor, you should be able to hand turn the large bearings/differential output shafts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Good idea, will try that 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Disconnected the driven and there has to be drag somewhere, really hard to manually depress the guns, slightly better elevating them. More investigating needed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Keep us updated as I’ve got all this to come yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 😬 will do 👍 where are you based? I’m in Cumbria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I’m from Kendal, my parents are still there and I now live in Lincolnshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltwtbarmy Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 (edited) On 3/14/2021 at 11:07 PM, GreenEagleKing said: I've found one guy in the Netherlands who has a few bits which he sent me, but recently haven't heard back from him so not sure how reliable he is. Jeepest has a few bits too I think. Like you I imagine I'm looking for all the small bits! I think mine might have come from the same batch, mine too has the Italian data plate and looking at the photo looks nearly identical. I'm nearly on the final assembly now. I know mine does not have an ammeter, instead it had had the hole covered by an instructional data plate, not sure whats correct! I have the same yellow markings on the inside bearing covers next to the seat. Have you been able to make out what it says? Mine was barely legible. @GreenEagleKing , regarding the yellow markings, is this what you’re referring to? https://www.facebook.com/All4shooters.it/videos/la-quadrinata-antiaerea-con-il-joystick-la-maxson-m51-era-un-complesso-antiaereo/269069944003788/ Edited December 14, 2021 by ltwtbarmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenEagleKing Posted December 15, 2021 Author Share Posted December 15, 2021 On 12/14/2021 at 5:22 AM, ltwtbarmy said: @GreenEagleKing , regarding the yellow markings, is this what you’re referring to? https://www.facebook.com/All4shooters.it/videos/la-quadrinata-antiaerea-con-il-joystick-la-maxson-m51-era-un-complesso-antiaereo/269069944003788/ Great find! That appears to be the markings on my mount. That confirms it was with the Italians at some point. Just need to translate it now. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Should be easy to translate, all the markings on mine in Italian, have them in English underneath lol. I’ve also a FIAT ID plate on mine so definitely was in Italy before sold to Greece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 On 12/13/2021 at 8:14 PM, Chris Hall said: I’m from Kendal, my parents are still there and I now live in Lincolnshire. So near and yet so far 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 Where are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltwtbarmy Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 (edited) @GreenEagleKing On both sides, it says, “Warning- prior to commencing firing, ensure that arc of fire limiter red pointer is in the correct position”. On the front shield it says “prior to putting in action, (removing wheels and leveling) disengage platform movement blocking hooks”. As an aside, the italian army had hundreds of these units on charge, which remained in use until the removal of light anti aircraft units from active service in about 1996. Each Bofors L/70 Troop had 2 Bofors and 2 “quadrinate dodici e sette” (quadruple 12.7 was what they were known as, officially as complesso quadruplo 12,7,, never as Maxson or 50cal) on charge, with four troops forming a Battery. Four batteries to a regiment, so quite a few in one unit alone. Additionally they were used as close defence, ground or air with Hawk missile units, so quite a few on strength when they where put in storage, mainly at Peschiera del Garda. As another aside, in Hawk missile units, if I’m not mistaken, they were replaced by the SIDAM 25 unit, which was and still is an OTO Breda 25mm quadruple barrel unit mounted on an M113 chassis. https://www.ebay.it/itm/281576591078?hash=item418f45cee6:g:tbcAAOSwa39UxVUj Edited December 17, 2021 by ltwtbarmy Additional info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 12 hours ago, Chris Hall said: Where are you? Penrith, Cumbria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 That’s where I was born, my dad was based at Police HQ and we lived on the green next to the roundabout. All my dads side of the family are still in Culgaith or Appleby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 It’s a small world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Chris, Is there any easy way to remove the motor🤔 Mine is standing on its legs so i am working upside down, 4 top bolts and 2 at the front from underneath, but! Those swivel castings that seems to fit to brackets either side if the motor, does it mean those gearboxes/diffs need to come off first? Would be much easier if i could find a way of turning it over. Alistair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenEagleKing Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 Sadly not, its a bit of a pain to work with upside down. I recommend either removing the whole power unit from the mount, that's everything including the large plate (motor, diffs etc..) - I fabricated some steel sheets and welded on some lifting eyes which then used the same screw holes of the diffs. Using a engine hoist I then slowly dropped it down onto skates. Alternatively as you say, you just need to remove everything (diffs/gears etc..) to get to the motor. The advantage of removing the whole unit is you can get it all tested and setup on the bench before dropping it back into the mount. You can attempt to turn it over, I have done this, but is not the easiest job with a engine crane. If I had a forklift or similar then I can see it being an option. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Thanks for that info, It looks like I will drop the whole set up and mounting plate in a oner, I’ll rig up some sort of jig which I can lift up with a Jack then lower it down to remove it, I presume it’s a heavy piece of kit when off 😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenEagleKing Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 Yes definitely a two man job to get onto a workbench Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 I’ve not even stripped mine down as yet, the M16 needs restoring first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSL272 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Ok, good look with the M16 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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