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M60 feature questions
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Kurt_Laughlin
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 1:53 am Post subject: M60 feature questions
Is this the "aluminum top loading" air cleaner shown in the M60 spotter's guide? What is the story behind these obviously different M60 sprockets? Finally, I was looking at M60A3 4125A today and noted that the sprocket hub did not have any holes in it. Is that unusual? KL

C_Sherman
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 2:19 am
Post subject: Re: M60 feature questions

Hi,

Kurt,

Yes, that is the top-loading aluminum air cleaner.

The fancy sprocket is an attempt to save weight I believe. As I recall they tended to wear out faster, so were abandoned for the plain style. Otherwise the sprockets are completely interchangeable. I clearly recall having one of each on several of our tanks in the early 80s.

Chuck

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Pzkpfw-e
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 10:41 am Post subject: Re: M60 feature questions
I wouldn't have thought that there's any significant weight saving. Maybe the second photo's sprocket was designed with a view to improving mud removal? Also, is the top sprocket's tooth ring (Or however it's described - non military type here), made up of welded sections?

Joe_D
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 5:54 pm
Post subject: Re: M60 feature questions

Kurt,

There are three different sprockets out there. All have the same part# and NSN and are completely interchangeable. Reason why they look different is because of the contractor/manufacturer.

Sprockets

Top two are machined from plate, bottom is welded cast. The bottom is not that unusual but rarer to see than the others. You can argue the cast version produces less waste considering one cut from plate would. Weight savings are insignificant and not a reason for their existence, especially since when these cast sprockets started coming out the requirement for M60's to use exclusively the Aluminum road wheels was no longer in effect.

About that Non-vented hub. This was actually a mistake created by using old parts. Anniston rebuilds near the end started having these occasionally installed.

Non-vented Hub

They are early M48 hubs. During production there they salvaged many parts from the old M48's by modifying them for A3 use. Some hubs didn't have the vents machined and slipped through. Tech Bulletin came out in the mid 80's to look for these. Was also in PS magazine. They were supposed to all be MWO'd locally when discovered. Never does. Here are some examples of locally vented hubs.

MWO Vented Hubs

I'm adding this one just for fun.

Hub Carriers

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Doug_Kibbey
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: M60 feature questions
- Joe_D Kurt, I'm adding this one just for fun. Hub Carriers Joe, Never seen such an arrangement. It makes sense, but increases complexity and is something else to go wrong on a track. How'd it work out in practice?

Joe_D
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:16 am
Post subject: Re: M60 feature questions

Doug,

Have no idea how successful it was. Haven't found any documentation of this test anywhere yet. This is the only example I've seen and it's on the M48A5E1 formerly of the Patton Museum (M60A2 hull with M48A5 turret).

A lot of these Test bed vehicles were reused in other tests so you find some interesting mods on them. Reminds you of the M113 sprocket carriers, don't it? This set up is pretty straight forward and unlike the M113, the carriers come in two halves and are bolted onto the hub. Wouldn't even have two break track to change them. With the 113 you had to drop the sprocket. Pretty sure it was someones idea to decrease sprocket and end connector wear. My concern would be with mud build up, no place for it to go and easier for a big rock or piece of wood to lift the track off. I think it might have worked better if it was on a front sprocket drive vehicle like the M113. Who knows, lot smart stuff developed that worked never got implemented on M60's. Some finding it's way to M1's.

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