We restored a 1952 Mk 5/2 Cent at the Ontario Regiment Museum, in Oshawa, Ontario. We bought a Meteor engine from a guy in the States who had bought a bunch of them in the 1990’s that were rebuilt in early 1970’s from Scottish Aviation in Glasgow, Scotland. So it had been in a crate for about 50 years! We had two problems: they had not flushed out the petrol left over from the dyno test and it had turned into jelly in the carbs and fuel pumps, and they had sprayed some kind of preservative inside the mags that had turned into a hard waxy coating on the points. So piss-poor fueling and no spark, except what was coming from the booster coil. Once we got that sorted, the engine runs like a champ. The preservative stuff the military spec’d was pretty damn good.
Sweet content. In Vietnam, the side skirts were removed, due to jungle jamups. I believe the AVRE would have been an incredible success in Vietnam, the 165 canister would have been jungle clearing tool supreme. The mk5 carried a Twenty Pounder, and the APCBC, rather then HE was preferred when engaging bunkers, or tunnel systems. Imagine the power of that awesome 165 on bunkers ? Loving going through the back catalogue 👍recently subbed.
Getting a nice little business there guys !! Won't be long before your gonna need a bigger farm and won't have time to play with your toys !! GREAT VIDEO THERE GUYS KEEP UP THE GREATCWORK !!
@@stuartburton1167 a piece of historic genius . Imagine thinking you and your section are all squared away in a safe place: and this thing starts rotating its bizzy end at you . In terms of tank terror its gotta be up there with the heavy German stuff tigers and the like
"Friends of ours that just happened to have a spare boxed Meteor Engine"........Really????? ...You have very good friends. I suggest you ask them for more boxes of anything.
There were more than 40 when they were in service. The last driver mech course (R.E) for the Cent A.V.R.E was in 1992. As an upgrade, it was in service with the Israeli defence force later than that.
Nice bit of info on the AVRE, not all of us are ex service’s so gives us a bit of background 👍. I still love the fact some of the recon gear is “sat around” hidden away 🤣😁
Dickies tunnellers suit...(not available on line anymore). I bought one just before re-locating to Eastern Poland 14 years ago......I,ve tested this suit down to -35C and it is good, damn good, you could lay down in a puddle and so long as none of the closures are under water it will keep you dry. The one thing I will say about it is that under it ,you only need 'underwear' or you will be too hot. When I bought mine they were only about 75 quid. It even had places to put in knee pads.
I used to drive these until I left the army (32 AER) in 1990. Nice to see some still exist. The reason the AVRE in the Gulf was utterly destroyed is likely because besides the 165mm rounds the AVREs also carried explosives for regular demolitions. Any idea which troop and squadron this one belonged to? Mine was 1Tp 26AES 32AER.
Wayne I was with 77 AES fitter section on the Gulf. We got sent to get some parts from those two blown up cents. There was next to nothing left. If memory serves, all we got was 2 slightly damaged final drives and a front idler. I do remember one of the turrets being blown in half!. There was bits scattered everywhere. I think the yanks flew 2 replacements out from war stock in one of their massive transport aircraft.
Hi Wayne I was with 2Tp 26AES, 1986-88. I remember each troop was a pretty big outfit: 1 x 105 AVRE, 2 x 165 AVREs, 3 x AVLBs, 2 CVR(T) Spartans & a Ferret. Happy days.
my grandad drove a number of different tanks in the army back in the 60s and still has a plate off of a centurion mk5 avre saying that it is one (just in case anyone forgot /s)
So then they have to reconstruct the gun in america? I mean you can still probably fire some shells over there for fun but it's likely for museum anyway
Awesome video. You guys well deserved have come on in a huge way , I would love to see the journey of it being shipped to the States, and the cost of shipping lol and logistically getting it on the ship ,
Not wanting to nitpick, but it might have been a good idea to slacken the tracks prior to liting the engine and gearbox - those tracks look seriously over-tensioned causing excess strain on the idler (TA wheel) and final drive.
Mr Hewes are you military trained on this stuff as you are extremely knowledgeable about everything you seem to touch. Great channel .. keep up with the great work
Salvage Squad had a bunker buster one on the show that had been in Suez as a normal tank gun. I guess 40 AVRE wasn’t enough? Nice to have the engine bay all painted out. Blokey is buying a nice tank there :o)
@@wayneholmes637 Cool 😎 Do you go see it? That is the advantage of a tank, it is still around. 90% of what I’ve driven has probably been recycled twice :D
Hey Joe, Could you disclose the financial side of things a bit? For instance, how much was the NOS engine for that AVRE? And how much did you buy, and sell the AVRE for? I have not a clue, would be interested to know! I only discovered your channel about 4 months ago, and have been binge watching the older episodes ever since. Cheers from Holland!
Awesome video as ever. There is a big call for guys like yourselves to "refurb" ex-mil equipment for use in Ukraine. Make yourselves available, good money in it.
what become ofthe old engine that came out ? I bought a similar engine a few years ago just to make it run but the did steal the front end and the smooth rocker arm cover which has been swapedd for one where the oil filter and dyno has to be mounted . so I could do with some spare parts
@@MrHewes Ah. I noticed the breech wasn't there but wasn't sure if that was just to allow access for the gas axe or if removing the breech was the UK standard.
Instead of going through all the rigmerole of cutting up to decommissioning the gun, why not machine a bung and place it into the gun and weld it into place.
For getting the mud out of the tracks I'd try a air hammer and chisel. Shame we're losing two more tanks to them damn Yanks although it's ironic with all their pro gun/NFA laws and live firing tanks you need to butcher the gun to get it in🙃
You should consider gifting it to Ukraine. It's better than sending the corrupt buggers any of our very limited resource of Challenger 2's in storage. I'm sure with some off the shelf upgraded equipment they can bring it up to at least T64 standard. Not that a demolition gun would be used to engage MBTs.
@@MrHewes Good for you. A wise man once said the following and being an old soldier, I tend to agree with him. “What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” ― Mahatma Gandhi
We restored a 1952 Mk 5/2 Cent at the Ontario Regiment Museum, in Oshawa, Ontario. We bought a Meteor engine from a guy in the States who had bought a bunch of them in the 1990’s that were rebuilt in early 1970’s from Scottish Aviation in Glasgow, Scotland. So it had been in a crate for about 50 years!
We had two problems: they had not flushed out the petrol left over from the dyno test and it had turned into jelly in the carbs and fuel pumps, and they had sprayed some kind of preservative inside the mags that had turned into a hard waxy coating on the points. So piss-poor fueling and no spark, except what was coming from the booster coil.
Once we got that sorted, the engine runs like a champ.
The preservative stuff the military spec’d was pretty damn good.
I’ve never watched any of your videos and then I saw a tank vid about 2 weeks back and have watched them all since - entertaining stuff !
Love the content man, came from Codys channel. These restoration vids of tanks are extremely entertaining glad I found you lot from him!
Sweet content. In Vietnam, the side skirts were removed, due to jungle jamups. I believe the AVRE would have been an incredible success in Vietnam, the 165 canister would have been jungle clearing tool supreme. The mk5 carried a Twenty Pounder, and the APCBC, rather then HE was preferred when engaging bunkers, or tunnel systems. Imagine the power of that awesome 165 on bunkers ? Loving going through the back catalogue 👍recently subbed.
Was in the gulf in 91 when one of these came past definitely a different engine sound to the challengers basically alot louder!
Again brilliant coverage. Learn a lot about what should be done the right way! Thanks keep up the good coverage.
Getting a nice little business there guys !!
Won't be long before your gonna need a bigger farm and won't have time to play with your toys !!
GREAT VIDEO THERE GUYS KEEP UP THE GREATCWORK !!
One absolutely beautiful tank... top content again 😎👍👍👍❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
The de-mil process for the main gun is really depressing.
Tell me about it.
Especially since it’s going to usa where stuff like that is legal
But getting the tank running is elevating.
I will get me coat.
@@stuartburton1167 a piece of historic genius . Imagine thinking you and your section are all squared away in a safe place: and this thing starts rotating its bizzy end at you .
In terms of tank terror its gotta be up there with the heavy German stuff tigers and the like
If I buy a tank I want the gun to work. Fuck the government fuck your laws
Lived in one these for three years with 26 Amoured Engineers SQN
and 31 Amoured Engineers SQN
BFPO 30
"Friends of ours that just happened to have a spare boxed Meteor Engine"........Really????? ...You have very good friends. I suggest you ask them for more boxes of anything.
3 actually
Really appreciate the redundancy failsafe of two magnetos on that engine. Military engineering at it's best.
There were more than 40 when they were in service. The last driver mech course (R.E) for the Cent A.V.R.E was in 1992. As an upgrade, it was in service with the Israeli defence force later than that.
IDF upgraded to detroit diesel engines
Nice bit of info on the AVRE, not all of us are ex service’s so gives us a bit of background 👍. I still love the fact some of the recon gear is “sat around” hidden away 🤣😁
I’m not ex services either 🤣
@@MrHewes don’t speak too soon! The shit show that’s in the world at the moment you might just end up in REME 🤣🤣
Those pictures of the GW1 fuelling mishap were pretty shocking 😱
Nobody was hurt
Apart from a few tanks !! 🤪
Except for a couple with minors flesh wounds
Far better videos than that northern oik!
Love the videos man, keep up the banta!
I’m glad whistlin D showed me your channel , You are awesome 😎
Dickies tunnellers suit...(not available on line anymore). I bought one just before re-locating to Eastern Poland 14 years ago......I,ve tested this suit down to -35C and it is good, damn good, you could lay down in a puddle and so long as none of the closures are under water it will keep you dry. The one thing I will say about it is that under it ,you only need 'underwear' or you will be too hot. When I bought mine they were only about 75 quid. It even had places to put in knee pads.
Did me driver training in one of these in bovvy 92 one of the last courses on it,then got posted to Munster lager
what a monster!
like to see the whole builds on engines and the whole paint process
I used to drive these until I left the army (32 AER) in 1990. Nice to see some still exist.
The reason the AVRE in the Gulf was utterly destroyed is likely because besides the 165mm rounds the AVREs also carried explosives for regular demolitions. Any idea which troop and squadron this one belonged to? Mine was 1Tp 26AES 32AER.
Wayne I was with 77 AES fitter section on the Gulf. We got sent to get some parts from those two blown up cents. There was next to nothing left. If memory serves, all we got was 2 slightly damaged final drives and a front idler. I do remember one of the turrets being blown in half!. There was bits scattered everywhere. I think the yanks flew 2 replacements out from war stock in one of their massive transport aircraft.
Hi Wayne I was with 2Tp 26AES, 1986-88. I remember each troop was a pretty big outfit: 1 x 105 AVRE, 2 x 165 AVREs, 3 x AVLBs, 2 CVR(T) Spartans & a Ferret. Happy days.
I like the format Joe - good stuff 👍 👍
my grandad drove a number of different tanks in the army back in the 60s and still has a plate off of a centurion mk5 avre saying that it is one (just in case anyone forgot /s)
love this tank, I re-sprayed the one at duxford that pulled down statue of saddam 🥰
Got to admit that the fodan sounds bloody lovely
This is so good keep uploading please man. 👊👊
U guys are awesome. I think u need to open farm tank shop in u.s. in Texas Arizona or Arkansas would be good
The first engine change I did on a centurian was on an AVRE! The short hull makes it a bit tight to get the engine in n out! Lol!
Such a pity it has to be deactivated. It's a beautiful piece of kit and it frikkin hurts to see it destroyed
So then they have to reconstruct the gun in america? I mean you can still probably fire some shells over there for fun but it's likely for museum anyway
Keep up the good work lads
One of my favourite tanks.
Awesome video. You guys well deserved have come on in a huge way , I would love to see the journey of it being shipped to the States, and the cost of shipping lol and logistically getting it on the ship ,
Stay tuned
Not wanting to nitpick, but it might have been a good idea to slacken the tracks prior to liting the engine and gearbox - those tracks look seriously over-tensioned causing excess strain on the idler (TA wheel) and final drive.
Your not wrong it’s on the to do list
Great work guys.
Mr Hewes are you military trained on this stuff as you are extremely knowledgeable about everything you seem to touch. Great channel .. keep up with the great work
No all self taught
It says 27 D.W. 30/8 (or 9) 91 on the engine. I might have been involved on the rebuild of this engine.
New drinking game, take a shot every time he says ‘em’ or ‘uh’. You’ll be wrecked within the first 5 minutes…😂
I know 💀 it’s something I will work on! I’m not used to explaining everything I do. But your 100% right 🤣🤣
@@MrHewes it’s all good, i’m just messing with you. I’m exactly the same, I don’t ever realize I’m doing it until someone points it out lol
Nice coveralls!
Salvage Squad had a bunker buster one on the show that had been in Suez as a normal tank gun. I guess 40 AVRE wasn’t enough? Nice to have the engine bay all painted out. Blokey is buying a nice tank there :o)
I think you'll find that the 40 were made from converted guntanks.
That one was the actual tank I served on when in the Royal Engineers. My "company car".
@@wayneholmes637 Cool 😎 Do you go see it? That is the advantage of a tank, it is still around. 90% of what I’ve driven has probably been recycled twice :D
That number 11BA66 is strangely familiar, but can't be certain as it was 40 + years ago
she's a monster !!!!
27 dist wksp, Warminster...... the last time I saw a BARV on MoD property was in Warminster.......
Hey Joe,
Could you disclose the financial side of things a bit? For instance, how much was the NOS engine for that AVRE? And how much did you buy, and sell the AVRE for? I have not a clue, would be interested to know!
I only discovered your channel about 4 months ago, and have been binge watching the older episodes ever since. Cheers from Holland!
For heavy demo like decommissioning the gun, why not use an air-arc gouge instead of oxy cutting it?
Shame she's going state side,very nice though.
We were in the ranges at Hone when one of if these rocked up for its annual firing. Didn't see it fire though as we were firing at the same time.
It's impressive - 2400m max effective range and we used to knock hard targets to bits just using the practice rounds!.
Awesome video as ever. There is a big call for guys like yourselves to "refurb" ex-mil equipment for use in Ukraine. Make yourselves available, good money in it.
I’m not a huge fan of war believe it or not
So these engines have 24 spark plugs? Are they normal like a car/van but a lot bigger or are they completely different???
Il show you in the next video
what become ofthe old engine that came out ? I bought a similar engine a few years ago just to make it run but the did steal the front end and the smooth rocker arm cover which has been swapedd for one where the oil filter and dyno has to be mounted . so I could do with some spare parts
Hi, may I ask what is the colour paint ahd code number used for the engines is on this tank. Regards, Dave Porter London
I've heard the side panels called bazooka pants..
10:01 The "... teeth things ..." are called 'Spuds'! Or at least they were back in thge '60s.
From where did you get the engine? We need one badly in Denmark
Curious what the price difference is with a non s/c Meteor V12 compared to a flight ready Merlin V12?
The flight merlin engines are zero houred, once they reach 2500 hrs they are removed and put in tanks etc.
Can you tell us prices paid .prices for refurb . Prices sold for. Like salvage hunters & Bruce Compton does
I can’t on this vehicle as it’s a customers, however I will do one on the next Tank I buy to fix up!
Why not get a sit powered bristle gun for the mud
Wasn't it whistling diesel who bought the sandy color chieftain
Yes
@@MrHewes thought so don't think he will be destroying that in a hurry
How is the Leyland L60 holding up on Codys tank? I want to know more about it since as far as i know the L60 was dogpoo
The engine in Cody’s is the last of the L60s (mk13a) very strong engine showing no signs of failure
@@MrHewes for real 😧? So then it must be the first versions of it?
Is the thumbnail to this video of the tank on fire real, or fake?
Real
Joes really cute
Why is the barrel so long for an AVRE?
Have you been buying Mr Meads spare engines!
There’s a chance
Why isn't the gun decommissioned before this civilian contractor took possession?
It is deactivated for UK standard. But not for Export
@@MrHewes Ah. I noticed the breech wasn't there but wasn't sure if that was just to allow access for the gas axe or if removing the breech was the UK standard.
Wondering witch you tuber bought this one
Definitely not a RUclipsr 🤣
@@MrHewes ha hoping demolition ranch steeped up
how dare you guys cut the poor boys gun off!
Instead of going through all the rigmerole of cutting up to decommissioning the gun, why not machine a bung and place it into the gun and weld it into place.
The deactivated laws are very strict!
Matt demo ranch
المشاة٠٠٠سيد الصنوف٠٠٠(مونتغومري)٠٠٠!
For getting the mud out of the tracks I'd try a air hammer and chisel.
Shame we're losing two more tanks to them damn Yanks although it's ironic with all their pro gun/NFA laws and live firing tanks you need to butcher the gun to get it in🙃
🇺🇸🇬🇧🇩🇪👎💩🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴
Man not even tanks are safe from drains
Is it just me or does the dude have T-rex arms?
🤣🤣
Centurion with silly tracks
Metal tracks were taken from us in the early 80s as they were causing too much damage to German roads.
The T34 looks like a toy by comparison
You should consider gifting it to Ukraine. It's better than sending the corrupt buggers any of our very limited resource of Challenger 2's in storage. I'm sure with some off the shelf upgraded equipment they can bring it up to at least T64 standard. Not that a demolition gun would be used to engage MBTs.
I have absolutely no interest in War. especially getting involved in any way.
@@MrHewes Good for you. A wise man once said the following and being an old soldier, I tend to agree with him.
“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Disabling the gun makes zero sense... what a waste of time and energy.
American law…
РУССКИЙ ТАНК ЭТО ПОБЕДА.!!!!!!!
Greta says you can't ship tanks anymore. Global Hoaxy Thingy
And her girlfriend Justine Trudeau.
An AVRE is not a tank!
Wrong!.
🤣 right O