Universal Carrier aka Bren Gun Carrier

[Ralph1Malph]

I know it's not LR, but it is British and has the same mojo:p:angel:.
My Unit has borrowed a drivable but tired Mk2 Bren gun Carrier from a re-enactment troop in Rockhampton.

Whilst we are not restoring it, we are going to spruce it up and give it a jolly good service and going over.

This is a shout out to anyone who may know where we can get replacement rubber road wheels?

At the least, I want to get a few re-rubbered, but have no idea who or what type of companies (around Brisbane) might do this.

Here's what they look like:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/1336.jpg
As you can see, they get perished and the rubber falls off in chunks.

We want to replace the rubber, similar to this:
Vintage Wheels - Big Tyre (http://bigtyre.com.au/wheels/vintage)

I have yet to contact companies such as these, but I thought I'd throw it out to all you enthusiasts if anyone has any contacts.

In fact, any one that has a Bren Gun Carrier lying around should let me know!:D:D

Cheers
Ralph

[V8Ian]

Ask the question here Ralph.

HCVC Vintage Truck Forum - Index (http://www.hcvc.com.au/forum/YaBB.pl)

[Aaron IIA]

You need a proper mould to re-rubber the wheels. One of the members in my club has this mould, and will rebuild your wheels for you.
Aaron

[101 Ron]

forklift tyres are done commonly in every capital city.
The companies who do it, turn off the old rubber in a lathe down to the bare steel.
A simple round mould is placed around the steel wheel and hot polyurethane is poured in.
The wheel is again placed in a lathe and the size of the tyre machined down to suit.
Much longer lasting than rubber and much cheaper.
You need to ensure the urethane used is black so it looks like rubber.

[101 Ron]

Polyurethane Forklift Wheels and Castor Rebonding - Engineering Plastics Laverton North Melbourne (http://www.engplastics.com.au/Forklift-Wheel-Castor-Rebonding-Product-Gallery-Engineering-Plastics.php)
REBONDED Wheels & Castors | Bearcat Tyres (http://www.bearcat.com.au/product/rebonding-service-forklift-wheels-and-castors/)

[Ralph1Malph]

You need a proper mould to re-rubber the wheels. One of the members in my club has this mould, and will rebuild your wheels for you.
Aaron

Thanks for the heads up!
Where are you again?

Cheers
Ralph

[Ralph1Malph]

Thanks everyone!
I am slowly joining all those enthusiast fora and asking the question there as well.

As usual though, this forum and its members has / have given me a great start.
Until now, who knew such things were possible as remoulding a solid wheel!

Ps, anyone got any bren carrier bits lying around?:p:p

Cheers
Ralph

[Lotz-A-Landies]

You may want to join this forum: MLU FORUM - Powered by vBulletin (http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/index.php) they have a whole area dedicated to carriers, the Brit, Canadian and Aussie built ones.

[303gunner]

And what photo you have posted shows that your carrier is NOT a British Mk2, but actually an Australian LP2 or 2A. Any chance of a full pic of the vehicle?

[Pickles2]

A friend of mine used to own a Bren gun carrier. He lived in the Injune /Roma area, also owned a Saracen APC at one stage. He told me that the Bren Gun Carrier used to go through gum trees like match sticks?
His family were graziers in the area for generations, & my friend went on to become Australia's foremost expert in Aboriginal Rock Art.
Pickles.

[Bigbjorn]

Carriers were converted in large numbers after the war into farm crane bases, agricultural vehicles, cane haulers. The wheels were used by Brisbane City Council on their truck drawn wooden site sheds. Not much use for scrub pulling unless it was light scrub. The carriers simply did not have the mass and power of a crawler dozer. Fuel usage was frightening and the Ford V8 tea kettle made summer use in Qld. distinctly uncomfortable. Nev. Morris at Dalby may still have parts.

[Aaron IIA]

Thanks for the heads up!
Where are you again?

Cheers
Ralph

Ps, anyone got any bren carrier bits lying around?

Cheers
Ralph

Adelaide. What parts are you looking for?
Aaron

[Pickles2]

Carriers were converted in large numbers after the war into farm crane bases, agricultural vehicles, cane haulers. The wheels were used by Brisbane City Council on their truck drawn wooden site sheds. Not much use for scrub pulling unless it was light scrub. The carriers simply did not have the mass and power of a crawler dozer. Fuel usage was frightening and the Ford V8 tea kettle made summer use in Qld. distinctly uncomfortable. Nev. Morris at Dalby may still have parts.
Ah yes, the good old Ford S.V,......I've owned a few of them.
When my friend was rebuilding his Bren Gun Carrier, he installed a Ford 272 "Y Block",...not sensational, but much better than the original.
Pickles.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

... and the Ford V8 tea kettle made summer use in Qld. distinctly uncomfortable. Nev. Morris at Dalby may still have parts.Can you imagine sitting in the rear (or anywhere for that matter) of a carrier in the North African desert durng WWII?

There was a carrier at Corowa a few years ago with a 351W and auto trans. That was a wild thing. :o

[Davehoos]

10year ago I talked to a Newcastle [CARDIFF] based company about engine trans mounts made up using old steel brackets and having them chromed.


the cost was making the jig to hold it in place that they wanted me to do myself.


then was KG's of rubber stuff[cheep] and hours in auto clave --thrown in on top of a load--worked out at $8 a mounting


good utube stuff on how to make poly suspension bushes.

[Bigbjorn]

Can you imaging sitting in the rear (or anywhere for that matter) of a carrier in the North African desert durng WWII?

There was a carrier at Corowa a few years ago with a 351W and auto trans. That was a wild thing. :o

Probably beat the hell out of walking and carrying the Bren. A mates father told us when we were young men about being in a mortar crew in New Guinea. They back packed a 4" mortar and ammunition broken down into man loads on jungle tracks.

[JDNSW]

My brother-in-law (died 2005) talked about carrying a mortar base plate on his back across the Owen Stanleys. (both ways)

John

[Sprint]

I'll talk to a mate of mine and find out who he's getting to re-rubber the wheels on the one we're resurrecting at the moment, he mentioned seeing a photo in the display at a mining show, and asked the rep if he'd had much call to do carrier wheels, apparently the rep wasnt at all suprised, and had actually done quite a few

[Ralph1Malph]

And what photo you have posted shows that your carrier is NOT a British Mk2, but actually an Australian LP2 or 2A. Any chance of a full pic of the vehicle?

I'll try to post a pic of the actual carrier at some stage. Sorry for the confusion, the pic I posted was just a google stock pic, only to illustrate the wheels in question. It's not of the actual one.


Cheers
Ralph

[Sprint]

Asked who my mate was getting to do the road wheels, he reckons the "big tyre" mob in the first post is going to get the nod.... his is a british one fwiw

[GREG EGRETZ]

Hi Ralph, as member of the 1st CQ light horse just want to know are the gauges from a Mog also we are missing a visor apart from that good job

[GREG EGRETZ]

just looked over the carrier again looks like where also missing the track tool

[Lotz-A-Landies]

We lost a track tool off the side when the Army took a member's LP2a to Kapooka for an open day event.