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.
@@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
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 !!
Me too - I'm actually in the third photo - I'm on the right of the group of four, along with 2lt Jackson and a couple of 5 Troop guys that we'd rounded up. Photo was taken by Sapper Sandy Sanderson of 7 Troop (from the top of an AVLB with a No 9 bridge).
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.
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)
"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.
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 ,
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.
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
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
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
Centurion looks crazy advanced for its time, no wonder it stay in service for so long. Great looking piece of equipement!
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.
Love the content man, came from Codys channel. These restoration vids of tanks are extremely entertaining glad I found you lot from him!
Was in the gulf in 91 when one of these came past definitely a different engine sound to the challengers basically alot louder!
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
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 !
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 !!
Lived in one these for three years with 26 Amoured Engineers SQN
and 31 Amoured Engineers SQN
BFPO 30
Got to admit that the fodan sounds bloody lovely
Again brilliant coverage. Learn a lot about what should be done the right way! Thanks keep up the good coverage.
I like the format Joe - good stuff 👍 👍
Love the videos man, keep up the banta!
Great work guys.
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
Keep up the good work lads
Far better videos than that northern oik!
I was there when the Cents went bang in the Gulf. I even have video of the aftermath!
I’d love to see it
Me too - I'm actually in the third photo - I'm on the right of the group of four, along with 2lt Jackson and a couple of 5 Troop guys that we'd rounded up. Photo was taken by Sapper Sandy Sanderson of 7 Troop (from the top of an AVLB with a No 9 bridge).
@@siras2 ill try and post it on my youtube channel. Old Dog New Tricks Andy The Hatter
This is so good keep uploading please man. 👊👊
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
Really appreciate the redundancy failsafe of two magnetos on that engine. Military engineering at it's best.
Did me driver training in one of these in bovvy 92 one of the last courses on it,then got posted to Munster lager
I’m glad whistlin D showed me your channel , You are awesome 😎
One of my favourite tanks.
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 🤣🤣
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.
like to see the whole builds on engines and the whole paint process
Nice coveralls!
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 🥰
"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
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
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.
what a monster!
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
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
she's a monster !!!!
It says 27 D.W. 30/8 (or 9) 91 on the engine. I might have been involved on the rebuild of this engine.
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
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
Shame she's going state side,very nice though.
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!
27 dist wksp, Warminster...... the last time I saw a BARV on MoD property was in Warminster.......
From where did you get the engine? We need one badly in Denmark
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
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!
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
Hey, thats a nice tank! Are those strange squared effect tracks original only to the Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers Centurion?
No one is Hushpuppi tracks
Original tracks are metal. Track bashing is hard work. I trained on one in Catterick January 1959 18 years old driving a centurion was OK.
I think the tracks came from the dutch who changed from cent to leopard
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..
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.
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!.
Joes really cute
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?
Why is the barrel so long for an AVRE?
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
Is the thumbnail to this video of the tank on fire real, or fake?
Real
Why not get a sit powered bristle gun for the mud
Have you been buying Mr Meads spare engines!
There’s a chance
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
Wondering witch you tuber bought this one
Definitely not a CZcamsr 🤣
@@MrHewes ha hoping demolition ranch steeped up
Matt demo ranch
how dare you guys cut the poor boys gun off!
المشاة٠٠٠سيد الصنوف٠٠٠(مونتغومري)٠٠٠!
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!
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.
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
🇺🇸🇬🇧🇩🇪👎💩🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴
Centurion with silly tracks
Metal tracks were taken from us in the early 80s as they were causing too much damage to German roads.
Is it just me or does the dude have T-rex arms?
🤣🤣
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…
An AVRE is not a tank!
Wrong!.
🤣 right O
Greta says you can't ship tanks anymore. Global Hoaxy Thingy
And her girlfriend Justine Trudeau.
РУССКИЙ ТАНК ЭТО ПОБЕДА.!!!!!!!
That number 11BA66 is strangely familiar, but can't be certain as it was 40 + years ago