Fresh-rubbered Stuart track!
   (Ver 2)

Jon Shoop in the USA is marketing a development of US Machine Corporation, of Louisville Kentucky, USA. A Mr Mike Brown and Tim Garrett have a way of re-rubbering the track frames and is now offering the finished product for sale.

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These are rebuilt pads....new formula rubber..modern compound, much more durable than WWII compounds.
The new rubber is the same compound as the original with slightly different percentages of content to increase durabiity. Durometer testing and abrasion testing indicates this stuff will probably never wear out from collector usage. The original rubber is damaged by exposure to the elements (sun, heat, rain and the like). Most collector vehicles don't sit outside so this further invreases the life of the track. The only catch in all this glory is that the track we rubber has to be in useable condition. If the track wedges are crushed or damaged they are enormously difficult to acquire. We are currently re-threading wedges but that adds to the cost of the rebuild. It also became necessary to construct a hydraulic assembly to remove end connectors that were frozen on the links from time and rust. This tool allows us to remove the links without damaging them, even with 50 years of corrosion on the assemblies.

Update: After taking some more blocks apart and removing what was left of the original rubber it seems as though the inner layers of rubber have maintained their elastic properties to a greater degree than the outer layers. This is interesting because you would think that wear would decrease as the track pad shrinks but that certainly isn't the case.

Download the big pics by clicking on the small pics...

 

Download the big pics by clicking on the small pics...

 

To email Jon Shoop, click on his name below:
"Jon Shoop"
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LEGAL STUFF: I have no connection with Jon, either business or private, I express no warranty or guarantee in any dealings you may have with him. This article is provided purely as information on a subject that may be of interest to those visiting this site.

 

 

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