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Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 9:00 pm
by Ian's M100
I am restoring an M100 and theA frame tow bar is part of the principle rebuild due to rotted out C channel and the previous owners in the past has bubbified the towbar tube. The original casting was cut out and lost to time and was replaced with a 3" square tube sticking out 9"beyound convergence of the c hchannels. Its a poor designed 9"drop to the 1 7/8' coupler. Basicaally I am building a new Aframe and tube. No dates or markings on this stuff so it's worth pennies per pound at the scrappers.
My question is what length should the distance be ahead of the a frame or the front panel to the coupler?









I

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:49 am
by Bill H.
Ian, check Jon Rogers' site. The M100 shares the same measurement as the WWII trailers. There is a round cut instead of a "V" cut on the drawbar channel reinforcement.

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:08 am
by Ian's M100
Ok, i have done a search for the Jon Rogers site and have not come up with the answer. Can you provide the url to point me in the right direction. Or best yet, what is that measurement?

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:26 am
by resqrk
Where are you located? I have an M100 for sale cheap.... tub bad but frame is good

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:01 am
by Ian's M100
:!: :D Thanks for the offer but I'm in Eastern Canada and having enough "fun" with one trailer right now.

:!: :idea: Now if someone can send that measurement in the next hour great! Because in 2 hrs. I going to "Bring the Noise!" with fabricating a new A frame. :wink:

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:57 am
by Bill H.
Ian, Jon is a moderator on this site. His site URL is http://jeepdraw.com/Willys_MBT.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Contact Jon and he will be more than happy to help you will all you need. He made his and most of his trailer from scratch.

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:50 pm
by Jon
Sorry I missed this post.....

The M100 A Frame is similar, but as pointed out different in so much as the cut out on the reinforcing insert.
Below are the A frame rails built by Dale, also a pic of the M100 A-frame reinforcing rails.
I built my A-frames too and they fit.
As for the distance out......It's not possible for me to give you that answer at the moment as mine is stripped down, however, if the rails are made to the correct length, they will meet up with the casting at the correct angle and be attached to the casting.
It appears that the casting is the same or similar to the MBT or T3.
Drawings are here...... http://www.jeepdraw.com/trailer.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See....... Willys MBT, Bantam Trailer A-Frame Braces and Reinforcing Inserts (Pics on JeepDraw Home Page) MBT-A-FM.pdf
Pic of the inserts I made.
Image

Hey Bill.......remember the fun we had after I made the handbrake lever, laying it up against originals to see if anyone could pick it was a home made thing ?
Those were the days mate


JR

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 5:44 am
by Marty, SoCal
Ian's M100,
The drawbars on my '53 Dunbar Kapple M100 stick out past the front angle 20-5/8", on the inside surface. The end of the inner reinforcement has a hemispherical cutout, like in the original M100 pic Jon posted, the size is 1-3/4 diameter. There are also a set of eight small holes for #12 machine screws in the top and bottom and inside rail surfaces of each rail for the wiring brackets that are not there on a MBT rail. The two (each) top and bottom holes are in line 4" apart, 1" in from the outer edge of each rail, starting 9" back from the inner front edge of the rail, (same spacing top and bottom as the rails interchange side to side). The four holes inside the frame rails are arranged in a rectangle 8-1/4" by 2", starting 8" back from the inside of the front rail. The rails are 3" tall, so these holes end up being 1/2" from the edges.

Hope this helps!

Jon,
Can you post some pics of the machines and tools you use to make such perfect parts! Maybe start a new post? I'd love to see your shop setup!

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 9:27 am
by Bill H.
Jon, I do remember. I wonder where it is now??? :wink: :lol: Do you remember what the number was that got it? Those were and are good times! There are more to come!

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 12:06 pm
by Jon
No. sorry Bill, can't remember who got it......

Here's a pic of that measurement of what I think you needed.
From the edge of the front L cross member to the center of the pivot....

Hope it helps.....
Cheers
Jon

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 6:44 pm
by Ian's M100
Jon,
That's exactly the measurement I have been asking for!!!! :D Now I can begin the fabrication.

Marty,
That was an answer! Plus more info I hadn't thought of. Glad you provided this as the PO's just electric taped the harness in place.

Thanks to both of you.

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:59 pm
by Ian's M100
Well, I have started the fabrication of the new towbar and having a heck of a time trying to get it even. The fun of building a towbar while the frame lies 40 miles away, and one side rail removed. After musch consternation and thought towards safety my trailer when complete will be riding on a totally new frame as original too risky to haul anything more than a bale of straw. The suspension brackets, hangers have all been sand blasted , primed with a thick epoxy primer, OD green in colour of course and new gusset plates fabbed to tie the side rails to cross beams.
Next job is copying all the holes over to new frame and begin assembly.
Question I have is where are the s/n numbers on the frame ? i have looked but they seemed to have diasppeared with time and I can't find the post with the details as to the exact location.

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:35 am
by Marty, SoCal
I couldn't find any serial number on my frame. No ACM number on the M100 like on a WW2 trailer, either. Pretty sure the only number is on the data plate.

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:22 pm
by Ian's M100
I am in need of a spring shakle mount for the right rear, Anyone have a spare? Or is there any "easy" repair to replace the threaded pipe section as time and water has eaten away the bottom section to paper thin exposing the threaded bushing thats seized in .

Re: Tow bar rebuild, need a measurement

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:51 pm
by Jon
It's possible to remove the threaded part from an ordinary spring shackle and replace it .
Image
After all, you'll need to remove the old one.........

Just a thought.

JR