Just a few pics of the recoil spring and assemblies and the gun mount from the M256 cannon in an Abrams.

Way cool!
Thanks, mbinky.

One of the famous Colorado Springs

DSC_2206.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr
(support spring from Cheyenne Mountain complex)

flashguy

Dam..I think my spring lost... I am gonna take my shortbread cookies and go home..

Hey it has been a long week, so besides this post I want to say Semper Fi. For Ritchie and all the boys.

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
Dam..I think my spring lost... I am gonna take my shortbread cookies and go home..

Don't despair--the one I posted isn't mobile.

flashguy

That is a big sucker,it would be hard to loose.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
That is a big sucker,it would be hard to loose.

Pfft. You haven't seen my carpet. We'are talking serious 70's/Three's Company shag...

Does Wolffe make a replacement for that spring?

What the usable lifespan of one of those barrels?

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
What the usable lifespan of one of those barrels?

You can tell by the smileys. (smilies?) What's the plural of "smiley?"

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
What the usable lifespan of one of those barrels?

RMD

About 1500 EFC (effective full charge). Since everything today pretty much counts as 1 EFC, 1500 rounds.

ETA: That is the tube. The spring, it does not wear out. I have seen one broken spring in 25 years. I told the boys that did this job that if they spend 20 years in the Corps, they will be among a handful that have ever actually replaced a gun mount. Good training.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mbinky,

I'll bet WOLFF does not make springs for that.

So cool! Thanks for showing that.

we replaced the barrel of our 76mm guns at 1500 rounds too....

and after doing a few gun barrel inspections, the checking and alligatoring is already eating the leade and wearing the gun barrel into nothing...

I always wanted to see how that made the barrels..my Pop-Pop told me he saw it during WWII in the center of the USA...

cool disassembly

I have not seen an Abrams tube made but I have seen the chain gun tubes made at ATK. It's an etching process to make the rifling. Reminds me of how S&W started to make some revolver barrels. Of course since the M256 uses a smooth bore it is obviously different. Watervielt Arsenal in NY is the only place they are made (well besides Germany).

As long as they are taken care of they easily make their lifespan. Of course, there is always that one TC who likes to hit it with the .50....

^^^^^ I'm assuming that damage is to some sort of fabric covering. I wouldn't think even a .50 could damage a big gun barrel like that.

flashguy

The visible damage is the thermal shroud (light outer metal). But yes the tube had to be replaced. Although it did not get pierced, it does not take well to getting hit by caliber .50 rounds from a few yards away...

Here is a horrible video of the gun firing. The TC took it to try and diagnose a failure to lock open/eject issue (lol the magazine springs were good). It actually helped quite a bit and we were able to repair the issue.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mbinky,

quote:

Originally posted by az4783054:
I'll bet WOLFF does not make springs for that.

They do, but you must buy them in a pack.

Well, you don't see that every day. Is there a special permit for the short barrel?

Question for the Army tankers. Do you always connect the tow bars directly to the attachment point? I ask because the USMC hooks that leg with a clevis so it does not sit up so high. The bars are at or below the slope. I notice this tiger has a brand new green bore evac also...