M-20 Armored Car Recovery: The Movie

[Colin Britton]

Well here is the movie you all have been waiting for...... It went pretty well, had a couple issues on the 1st couple of pulls. Wheels sunk in 8" from sitting and a tree growing behind the left front wheel (which did not want to play nice and rotate) the tree root was working like a chock block. And I found out the linkage on the front axle lever is adjusted so you can have the CCKW in Low range but not have the front engauged unless the shifter lever is way forward. But once the front axle was driving she pulled her right out.


http://www.youtube.com/WWIIvehicles

[dr deuce]

Neat video!

I love this sheet!

[John V Cliche]

Nice video
Looks like those front brakes are still draggin' some ,although not in reverse
I thought at first you were gonna plow a couple of "furrows" all the home
Boy that "ol Jimmy "still got some pull

Thanks
John

PS I found a couple of little bits for that M20

[Colin Britton]

The whole recovery went well and from the time we opened the gate and dragging her out it was an hour and a half recovery. That was including inflating all the tires to 50 psi.

"Lizzy" pulled the M-20 nicely after the inital pull from her resting place. And after that all I needed was the rear drives in low range. I like the way the Norwiegans have the linkage set up and I have access to low without having the front axle engauged. She could be down to an idle and still pull and not stall. She has some grunt.

And yeah I dug up the yard and road up pretty bad. But after I got it out on the road I backed off both adjusters till they stopped and rocked it back and forth so by the time the wrecker arrived whe was rolling free forward and reverse.

And I still need to change the rear out put seal on my transfer case on the CCKW...... I'm bad.......

[Cat Man]

Great Video!

I remember the first time I tried a recovery like that. Had to enlist the help of my dad the combat engineer, He took me by the arm and walked me around to the FRONT of the truck, pointed and said "this thing is a recovery winch". The next hour was a lesson in shoveling, cable laying and snatch block deployment. Duh! Why didn't I think of that?

Recommend you rig a set of shear poles and get to be a CCKW winch expert as you start taking things off the M20.

Wish I could have been there. Getting it home is half the fun.

There could be a 5 ton Wrecker in your future.

Thanks for the Video.

CAT MAN

[Colin Britton]

Well actually I had the snatch block for the winch with me. But I really have not really gone over the winch all that much. It works, but the PTO leaks and the shaft has an awful lot of slop and play in the slipjoint. So I did not want to risk it on such a load while working out the bugs for the 1st time.....

But I'm more than likely the only medic in the Army with a licence for the M-88A1 tank recovery vehicle. I LOVE THE 88!!! Man I would love to have one of those!!!

But a nice Sterling wrecker would be nice..... I could do alot with one of those..... Ooooooh man! I would be in the dog house like Bill!

[dr deuce]

One thing that always helps is if the towed vehicle can pull down on the towing vehicle as it is being pulled to simulate weight on the rear wheels as opposed to a straight pull.

[John V Cliche]

Colin,
I think you will find,as I did that fabricating an overhead " gantry"type of crane will be the only way to "safely" remove/install most of the items for your M20, from engine covers ,to the fuel cell ,and even the radiator as well as that MASSIVE truck battery, not mention the engine and tranny itself
The crane may be an easier sell on the home front than another vehicle.

Cheers
John

[S p r u e o n e]

WOW, thanks for making that video and posting it!

[Canadian Gunner]

HI Doc:

I promised to post the info on the M20 in the Swords and Ploughshares Museum and I've finally had the time to clean up the stampings and record them (as they appear on the front left lower corner of the glacis plate and roughly in the same position relative to each other):

U.S.A. 60111277
34-5271
R23
R-23
S. 654
60111277

Hope this helps with the M20 data base!

Cheers and Ubique! Mike

[Canadian Gunner]

Darn! I made a special effort to space the lines and data out as seen on the M-20 and the electronic gremlins lined everything up purty on me!

Cheers! Mike

[S p r u e o n e]

yeah, you can't just use the space bar, if that is what you did.
You have to type in characters for the spacing,

eg: U.S.A. 60111277
>>>>>>>34-5271
R23 -------
R-23
........S. 654
60111277

or something like that.

[Canadian Gunner]

Thanks Sprueone!

U.S.A. 60111277
................34-5271
R23
..............R-23
S. 654
...............60111277

Cheers! Mike

[LHDman82]

Hey Doc!

Joe R. here from the LHD. Nice recovery there. You are definitely "the man"! I always thought your weapons collection was nice but now I'm REALLY envious. I look forward to seeing your restoration progress on the M-20. Maybe one day I'll have my own vehicle to display at the museum.

Keep us posted, okay?

Best regards,

Joe

[Colin Britton]

Joe,

Good to hear from you, and your expanding weapons collection is no joke... I would love to have a couple of your toys.
And with your two jeeps you have a small parade all by yourself.
Thanks for the complements.

[John V Cliche]

Hey Doc
How are you progressing on the M20 ?

Cheers
John