The restoration of Kettenkrad 116714
- Thread starter XRCD011
- Start date
Breaking track on 116714.
Rolling the old kettenkrad off its pallet, amazingly it rolled like a dream and most all of the bearings in the road wheels where in great condition.
Once the kettenkrad was off the pallet and tracks I learned it still had a little life in it. Working with my back to it it silently started rolling down the driveway and was half ways to the road when I turned around and chased it back. Hence the strap to the MB.
I had to vacuum the driveway as I have made a previous one turn orange with rust and not allowed to do that again here. Yes there was rust galore and I must have had a couple hundred pounds of kettenkrad (and a couple thousand European Hazel and acorn nuts also) go through the shop vac.
Breaking down track, first thing is to depad the track, no easy job as most of the bolt heads had been well rounded into dome shapes by rust and wear. It came down to hammering on undersized sockets (thank gawd for that replacemnt/exchange thing) or welding on a nut to the "bolt" head.
All the "high tech" tools used to work on track.
Track all broken down, next thing is to knock apart each section of its races, bushings, seals and bearings, degrease, sandblast and reassemble.
A nice big gooey pile of races and needle bearings. In all a kettenkrad track holds 4,800 needle bearings. Trust me by the time your finished rebuilding kett track you will never want to do another in your whole life. I am in contact with three other owners restoring kettenkrads and they are all saying the same thing about track being a miserable, soul crushing, unending job. I took that on first and glad I did as the actual vehicle restoration was kind of fun while being challenging to step outside your skill level.
All the little bits and pieces that make up one section of track.
Of note in this picture is the track section in the Part Book on the left side, that is the special "Gleiskett" for winter and snow with a flat extension welded on, The Germans also had a chain set that would be affixed to every second section of track, Seems they learned a thing or two after the first winter in Russia.
Track sections after sandblasting, vetted into three piles Good, Marginal and Crap (rust perforated and holed). Sandblasting lays bare all the evilness, if it survives blasting its pretty much good to go.
While this earlier picture does not show all my finished track, I have it all done and then some now.
Rolling the old kettenkrad off its pallet, amazingly it rolled like a dream and most all of the bearings in the road wheels where in great condition.
Once the kettenkrad was off the pallet and tracks I learned it still had a little life in it. Working with my back to it it silently started rolling down the driveway and was half ways to the road when I turned around and chased it back. Hence the strap to the MB.
I had to vacuum the driveway as I have made a previous one turn orange with rust and not allowed to do that again here. Yes there was rust galore and I must have had a couple hundred pounds of kettenkrad (and a couple thousand European Hazel and acorn nuts also) go through the shop vac.
Breaking down track, first thing is to depad the track, no easy job as most of the bolt heads had been well rounded into dome shapes by rust and wear. It came down to hammering on undersized sockets (thank gawd for that replacemnt/exchange thing) or welding on a nut to the "bolt" head.
All the "high tech" tools used to work on track.
Track all broken down, next thing is to knock apart each section of its races, bushings, seals and bearings, degrease, sandblast and reassemble.
A nice big gooey pile of races and needle bearings. In all a kettenkrad track holds 4,800 needle bearings. Trust me by the time your finished rebuilding kett track you will never want to do another in your whole life. I am in contact with three other owners restoring kettenkrads and they are all saying the same thing about track being a miserable, soul crushing, unending job. I took that on first and glad I did as the actual vehicle restoration was kind of fun while being challenging to step outside your skill level.
All the little bits and pieces that make up one section of track.
Of note in this picture is the track section in the Part Book on the left side, that is the special "Gleiskett" for winter and snow with a flat extension welded on, The Germans also had a chain set that would be affixed to every second section of track, Seems they learned a thing or two after the first winter in Russia.
Track sections after sandblasting, vetted into three piles Good, Marginal and Crap (rust perforated and holed). Sandblasting lays bare all the evilness, if it survives blasting its pretty much good to go.
While this earlier picture does not show all my finished track, I have it all done and then some now.
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...same old story! 
5point9straight6
Regular
- Location
- Deep River
Absolutely fantastic!! I wish I would find something like it some day. Can't wait to see your project completed.
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
A mighty task ahead, mate, but think of what you'll learn and the fun you'll have!
Keep us posted. This will be epic.
Keep us posted. This will be epic.
The major "heavy lifting" on this restoration is well behind me. Watch and see.A mighty task ahead, mate, but think of what you'll learn and the fun you'll have!
Keep us posted. This will be epic.
Klunk, pads ? "Ve Haff Vays" to find pads, actually I have a pretty solid netwerk of buds in Europe who source "stuff" like the pads (16 Euros a piece X 80= Ouch) new road wheel rubbers (18 Euros X 14= ouch lite). As you are aware anything German Wartime is 1. uber rare and hence uber costly in all regards, research, time, money, effort, difficulty in finding something hard to source. Jeeps/Dodges or anything N.American is a walk in the park to restore, plentifull parts, lots of venders, knowledge galore, web sites everywhere explaining every question asked.
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Mr. Dynamite
CGN Regular
- Location
- Northern Alberta
Wow, looks great! Love these things! Also looks like you need a bigger shop, I bet your neighbours love you! Lol
Where in S. Alberta are you?
I wouldn't mind seeing this in person.
I wouldn't mind seeing this in person.
Its not really much to see....although a pile of rusted German half track motorcycle parts is pretty cool. Im lookin to build one from scratch.....Im in the Magrath area.
I have a good supply of tools, sheetmetal gear, CNC plasma cutting table, lathe, milling machine 100ton press.....25 years as a welder fabricator....blah blahblah.....
I have a good supply of tools, sheetmetal gear, CNC plasma cutting table, lathe, milling machine 100ton press.....25 years as a welder fabricator....blah blahblah.....
Good luck on the restoration, I love seeing those machines put back together. Yours seemed to be quite rusted, and needed some extensive body work. And I'm curious as to the motor and transmission, do you have it up and running yet? If you were closer I'd be willing to help you with it. Keep us posted.
