Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

1941 - 1945, Willys MB & Ford GPW jeeps, NO EBAY, Craigslist or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Gary25
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Gary25 » Mon Mar 19, 2018 11:05 am

Yes I had two of those J2 kits. Still have most of the parts from the 2nd kit in cosmolen including the 1 quart can labeled "winch oil". Since the J2 Braden was superceded by improved Link Belt by 1945, the Army likely surpused out all of the remaining J2 Braden units. I Have a complete J2 on my 45 GPW from one of those Kit's.


Gary
Gary
Andover, NJ
45 GPW, 44 Bantam Trailer, 44 M6A1 Mortor Hand Cart, 1944 Converto Dump Trailer


Joe Gopan
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 19, 2018 2:16 pm

In all fairness, the 6 September 1948 and 16 July 1944 LO9-803 do indicate the lubrication of the Winch Guide Roller which is part of the Link Belt manufactured Jeep Capstan Winch. Am not used to the sight of the Link Belt Capstan on the MB but
there is a fellow MVPA member up here whose MB has the Link Belt. It was seen in Army Motors back in the 70's-80's.
If I gotta eat some crow, so be it. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Mar 22, 2018 2:26 pm

Fellow MVPA Member Ted Bromage has had one of the Link Belt Capstans on his restored MB since at least the early 70's.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Gary25
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Gary25 » Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:26 am

The original barn find 1945 GPW that Frank Buck bought at a NJ auction a few years ago with all original paint also had installed a Link Belt capstan winch. That jeep is been profiled here on the Gee in the few times.

I have seen it up close at Frank’s place. It’s definitely original to the Jeep.
Gary
Andover, NJ
45 GPW, 44 Bantam Trailer, 44 M6A1 Mortor Hand Cart, 1944 Converto Dump Trailer

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Jon S
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Jon S » Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:26 am

20180107_160140.jpg
20180107_160140.jpg (75.41 KiB) Viewed 887 times
Here is a J2 Braden winch. Complete, possibly purchased from Sarafan in the 1970s. Everything is there... 10 leaf front Springs, inverted bell crank, special frame bumpers, shaft, pulley, offsets, crank nut...
Wondering how big the contract was for Braden? Figuring 12k+ for the GPA, not sure of Weasel production----- 15k? and kits to fit the jeeps?? Maybe 50,000 units??? Haven't seen too many out there in 50+ years of looking at jeeps. The most famous one on a jeep is most likely the one on Merrill Madsen's MB------ got a lot of people drooling when AAW 1 was first published in the early '80s. By that time probably most of the kits were sold out by the surplus dealers of that era------- This is the only complete unit I have ever seen in person. Not for sale at this time... It's like a big piece of candy!!!!! Think about ------- $10k added value to your jeep!!!!----- :lol:
Jon S.
MB213689 2-22-43 20307087
MB198901 12-29-42 20250940
REO US6 4-17-45 R218261
GPW 1533 2-27-42

Joe Gopan
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:08 am

Many Tree surgeons installed the Surplus Bradens on their CJ-2 Jeeps to help fell trees.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

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Jon S
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Re: Original Capstan Winch for G503,G504, G179 Vehicles THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY

Post by Jon S » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:28 pm

Joel, I can see the practicality in using the winch for the purpose of tree falling assistance. It would be interesting to research the use of this winch. How was the durability? How did it hold up under every day use? It looks very delicate. Dave Aro has a great web site on the capstan winch, but there is next to nothing else in the way of information on these things. DA has fixed the innards of one of his, there is a special gear with a special name, that is a weak point on the winch. Also, the attaching fingers that fasten the linkage to the block are a weak point.

Perhaps most of the J2 winches were broken and discarded over the years-------- too hard of use! Hence the scarcity of them...
Jon S.
MB213689 2-22-43 20307087
MB198901 12-29-42 20250940
REO US6 4-17-45 R218261
GPW 1533 2-27-42


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