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Chris

No, CK had its BOG escape hatch.



I had to remove it on 10 Sept, to be able to begin removeing all the debris / artifacts beneath the transmission differential.

Regards
Don

Don:

You guys might want to contact Yale about that key. Given the historical nature they might be able/willing to tell you the type of lock it goes to, when it was made, if any were provided as Gov't material, etc.

KL

Kurt

Thats an excellent point!! Thanks for the idea.

Regards
Don

A few interesting notes from some time spent in the Motor Pool today.

CK has been pulled outside and we were able to traverse the turret. It is currently oriented over the left side.



In the brief time I had to observe the sub-floor area now exposed with the rotation of the turret / basket, I noticed a new aspect to the field fabrication done with the 76mm ammo rack installation in Feb 1945.

The right side rear sub-floor ammo rack is secured to the rear fire wall with a 'Duckbill' end connector. It is crudely welded into place to prevent the rack from sliding around.



Note: Both M4A3E2's were pulled out of the Maint Bay, due to a need for the bays to be vacant for a day or two. They will be moved back in tomorrow or Friday. It provided for a unique photo op, which I took advantage of.

Regards
Don

I was able to spend a few hours digging around in Cobra King today.

More artifact laden debris was extracted from the rear of the hull, in the ammo rack area. I was able to dig out the area around the fabricated ammo rack support.



Here are a few shots showing the cramped conditions encountered to remove the debris in this area. (Starring 'Your Truely')



Note: Both M4A3E2s are currently back indoors.

Regards
Don

Seems like a lot of trouble . . . Can't you just get a crane, turn CK upside down, and shake all the crap out?



KL

Kurt

I'm shocked you would suggest such a means of historic investigation & artifact discovery/recovery !?

Although that would be pretty cool.... Perhaps we should call it the 'Shake, Rattle, & Roll' process??

Besides, I have no social life, so it keeps me busy.

Regards
Don

He's panning for gold.

About the turning up-side down thing


Is that not what they did during production of the hull in some factory's ??

If I remember correctly they bolted something like an rocking chair device to the lower hull so the could "rock" the hull side way's

So the top of the hull could be turned completly to the side for welding of the top hull

Michel

Today, I took the time to finish cleaning out both the BOG & Drivers positions. At least the floor area, and beneath the transmission, between both positions.




I happen to notice a part extending off of the rear of the transmission housing. At first I thought it was just sitting wedged behind the ammo storage bin, but it seems to be some sort of filter. Anyone have an idea what this is?

It is the small cyclinder, mounted behind the BOG MG ammo box, in the bottom photo.



Regards
Don

I think its a vent for the final drive. If I remember correctly, you can remove the top cap to clean the inner filter. The filter element looks like coarse copper wool like you would use to scrub dishes. How far are you guys planning to strip this down? DAVE

Dave

Thanks for the info.

As for 'the plan', it is initially an exterior cosmetic restoration, with the focus of returning it to Dec 44 configuration.

As for the interior, with all the interior artifact discovery and the fact it is the sole surviving Jumbo that was upgunned to 76mm in Feb/Mar 45, it will not be returned to the 75mm interior configuraton.

Our focus currently is to stabalize or preserve the interior, so that no further corrosion will degrade the unique interior.

With that said, we are still working in the historical discovery effort which will dictate additional disassembly of the track & suspension as well as the removal of the turret.

My own personal goal is to get Cobra King to the Dec 44 configuration and hopefully being placed on public exhibit here at the Patton Museum, where 'she' should be exhibited. Unfortunately with the BRAC revisionism, 'she' won't be here for very long, before heading south to Ft Benning.

In the meantime, I am trying to get as much done as possible, hopefully for the public to be able to see first hand, as it should be.

Just my humble opinion
Regards
Don

Dave has it - BREATHER, oil, differential housing, assembly, B200254.

Immediately to the left of that, on the back plate of the differential (called the carrier) should be the differential housing ID plate.

Question: it seems most restorations begin with removing the turret and the differential housing so as to maximize the access to the interior. Why did you guys choose to leave it all together?

KL

Kurt

That ID plate is there, but I was looking for debris, at the time, and didn't realize it as a data plate.

As for the process, its been limited mainly by Time/personnel availability/resource management.

CK is not the only project ongoing, so there is only a small volunteer team dedicated to it for now.

We are mindful to limiting any 'non-reversable' disassembly efforts, so every step is being carefully planned. The turret will be pulled soon (hopefully) but the means of pulling it is still in question.

The differential housing was abit different decision. It was decided to not pull it for reasons of time management & mobility. It sounds weird but there are a number of factors involved which I can't really discuss (mainly cause its none of my business ).

Regards
Don

Today was an unexpected eventful day.

A last minute arrangement with the KY MAITS and we were given the use of an M88. Sooooo.



We successfully removed Cobra Kings Turret !!



The turret was placed on a turret stand, which is the same stand that was last used on the Tiger II, when it was restored back in the 90's.



Regards
Don