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and i guess i am not understanding how the aluminum wheels would or would not correspond to the M142 tracks?

- SHAWN

okay, someone clue me in, how can you tell they are aluminum wheels?

The aluminum wheels have tri-angular reinforments around the inside rim, while the steel wheels do not. The steel wheels also have a lip around the inside rim, which has challenged model makers to depict correctly over the last few years.

Properly depicted, both types would have a shiny area on the inside surfaces of the roadwheel set, where the track center guides would rub them.

To answer another question, there was no relationship between the type of track and the type of roadwheels on a particular tank or model of tank. The newer type track was often fitted to older M60 and M60A1s, even those with aluminum roadwheels.

C

Hi Shawn! Hi Folks!

- SHAWN

and i guess i am not understanding how the aluminum wheels would or would not correspond to the M142 tracks?

That was an "Alertness Test" to see if anyone was paying attention to my flub up.

I don't why, but I was thinking that by the time the hex pad track came into service, the switch back to steel road wheels was done.

I still think it is a bit odd that by the time a M-60A3 retired, one would still have a full set of aluminum wheels.
There is a M-60 here at Ft. Bliss that has a mix of aluminum and steel road wheels. I remember seeing photos of retired M-60A2s with all steel wheels. If a M-60 and some M-60A2s had been upgraded with steel wheels, now is it that a vehicle which retired much later ended up with a fill set of aluminum?

My misguided 2 cents.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

I still think it is a bit odd that by the time a M-60A3 retired, one would still have a full set of aluminum wheels.

Not odd at all. Remember, a large number of M60A3 tanks were in the National Guard as well as the Reserves (when they still had tanks). These tanks sat virtually unused at MATES (ARNG) and ECS (USAR) sites at various locations throughout the country. (Virtually unused compared to an active duty tank). They were issued with aluminum road wheels and the wheels never got a chance to be worn out and replaced.

I'm sorry. I should have pointed out that my photo is an 18 year old Polaroid that has started to deteriorate. The compensating idler wheel is aluminum as well as the #3 road wheels (directly below my boots).

So I take it the glass-fibre roadwheels never made it into service?

So I take it the glass-fibre roadwheels never made it into service?

Only for the M41 of course :lol



Jens O.

Hi, Shawn:

The aluminum wheels are identifiable by the rib-like ridges around the inner circumference of the roadwheels.

Apart from other drawbacks noted above, they messed up the nice swirly pattern of the waterhose at the washrack, where the smooth, non-ribbed M48 wheels cleaned up in a flash. Make that a splash.

Russ

hello russ and everyone,
i had not known that the wheels for the 60 series were made of aluminum, never considered it, i just knew they were different from the 48 series of wheels, and associated them to either the 48's or 60's. have seen both types on all types of 48's/60's...
roy your question of the track type threw me... (no pun intended)

The Wind sensor on an M60A3 was on the left rear turret corner. Grenade launchers were fitted on M60A1s in the late 70s, mine had them. The tank in question has the late thermal shroud like the slick M1s, I've even seen M1 gun tubes with the machined cut for the MRS. The M60A3 never had MRS not in the computer. Here is a picture of my last one with steel road wheels at Fort Drum NY.

Tom Willoughby

It figures when I'm out of the loop an M60 discussion comes up,

Great picture Tom. Looks like an early 70's A1 rebuilt to A3. The two heavy lifting eyes on the hull between the 2 and 3 support rollers give it away.
A lot of interesting discussions, especially on the road wheels. Yes, a MATES tank would explain all aluminum road wheels. Some of those tanks never got used. Same problem with the M1's. If there's a problem during AT they get another and it just sits. The comments about the Aluminum wheels not holding up are true. Biggest problem was with the two piece wear plate. They came off real easy which let the center guides eat the wheel up. Then it eventually came off like Rob described. Seen it with 113's too when the wear plate wore out and the crew didn't catch it. Aluminum was not the problem. M1's have aluminum wheels too. But use a one piece wear plate with heavier bolts. Look at the Korean K1. It uses the same aluminum wheel as the 60, but now has a one piece plate. Late in the M60's life the steel hub of the 88 was used when the aluminum was unavailable. Notice how the aluminum hubs to the left and right protrude compared to the steel hub in the center. Aluminum wheels were thicker and would be too wide for the steel hub to mount safely. That's why 48's couldn't use them either.



Steel hubs along with the old friction snubbers from straight 60's, M1 front thermal shrouds, and the 105 tubes that were ground to accept MRS's and whatever else the MATES could use would keep the fleet up. The ground tubes is what led to some web sites saying the A3 had an MRS.
Jeff, Interesting serial number. I believe it should be 4039A. What's different is that someone sloppy welded plates over the stamped numbers. Not normal. Makes it hard to trust the number. especially since the serial number is on the deck. I only trust the rear hull or left front tow eye. Probably done during a local rebuild at DS/GS. Had an M60A1 local rebuild come in at Riley to replace a burned up tank in our platoon, what a pile of junk. Actually had bondo on it to make the sponson boxes look new.
If anyone needs pictures of stuff at the McCoy museum let me know, they have a T95 here that I believe Dontos posted before. Sorry for the long post, but hey, I've missed a lot.

Joe D

McCoy isn't too bad when its not arctic cold. The Commemorative Park is pretty cool. Check out the M-1. Its a real low SN.

USO brought in Ted Nugent while I was there, that was cool.

Did you find the Sheridan with the ITV's & the 114's?

Say Hello to FOB Anderson for me...HAHAHA

At least there is High Speed in the Billits now.

Don

Hey Dontos,
I'd rather be here this summer than Camp Justice, or even Camp Shelby. Nope haven't been out to the M551 yet. Been building on range 6. It's not bad, at least we have a real commisary here. Only thing I don't like is the the attitude the locals have towards military once you get away from Post. You drive a vehicle with GSA plates and they'll call you in for fraud any chance they get. One of our guys had his car spit on while he was eating at Pizza Hut. Not very fond of the Military from what I've experienced. Mississippi was a whole lot more friendly.

Joe D

Yeah, I forgot about that.

Fishing is good up there.

A good time to build models,.....Keeps you out of trouble.

Don

I should be busy anyway. It's the days off that drive you nuts. Don't build models anymore, haven't for years. Might take it up again.

Joe D