How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

WW1 & 2 Hand Carts Any Country NO EBAY OR COMMERCIAL SALES
Av8er
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: New Windsor, NY, USA

How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by Av8er » Tue May 30, 2017 6:22 am

As a frequent visitor to this forum, a recurring theme seems to be searches for replacement truss head bolts and hub caps to complete carts restorations. My question is, how much demand is there for these parts? I have been in touch with a machine shop owner who is also a military vehicle owner and restorer. He says that he can manufacture the correct truss head bolts used on M3A4 handcarts with the correct NF-24 threads, and in all three lengths. They would be in a phosphate finish like the originals. The same goes for production of exact replacement hub caps. We are trying to determine if it will be cost effective. The initial number he came up with was $2.00 per bolt, but costs could drop for a large production run. Also, what would be considered reasonable value for replacement hub caps? Please provide feedback so that we can determine if there is enough demand to proceed with these projects.
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart


rjbeamer
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1406
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:55 pm
Location: Oakdale Ca

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by rjbeamer » Tue May 30, 2017 6:24 pm

$2.00 per bolt is a decent price. I would think that $25.00 per hub cap would sell I just don't think that there is a big market in numbers.
My opinion.
Roger

User avatar
tractor12
banned
Posts: 2097
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:01 pm
Location: Atascadero CA
Contact:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by tractor12 » Tue May 30, 2017 8:04 pm

I have seen original hubcaps go for 100 each on eBay a few years back. There has been several people that have made castings out of plastic and those are around that price. I have one spare hubcap currently and a set of rims I am keeping just in case I find another cart. That being said I would be interested in hubcaps or at least one. If he can make those he may be able to make drawbars. Since none are available and no one is making them anymore as Ed retired
WC12 Wc 27 2 K38s Mz2 ambulance jeep 2 M3a4s M1a1 Chemical Mortar cart T4e1 usmc cart convertible

Av8er
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: New Windsor, NY, USA

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by Av8er » Wed May 31, 2017 6:48 am

I was not aware that Ed Snyder had retired, that is truly disappointing to hear, and a real game changer in cart restorations. It is my understanding that the draw bar center is cast out of aluminum. My machine shop owner contact specializes in CNC machines, I will have to discuss the issue with him. My inital guess would be that he would make a CNC replacement and then possibly tumble it to remove the sharp edges and resemble a casting. Thanks for the inputs.
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart

User avatar
tractor12
banned
Posts: 2097
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:01 pm
Location: Atascadero CA
Contact:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by tractor12 » Wed May 31, 2017 7:25 am

Ed hasn't totally retired he is selling what is on his shelves and not making more.
WC12 Wc 27 2 K38s Mz2 ambulance jeep 2 M3a4s M1a1 Chemical Mortar cart T4e1 usmc cart convertible

frenchman
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 832
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 9:35 pm
Location:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by frenchman » Wed May 31, 2017 9:39 am

hello
just talked to ed Snyder this morning he is not retiring making parts just slowing dawn due to some health problem in the family
he will not be making costum work for while but he still have plenty hand cart parts stock on hand people can contact him at 215 2572422
and leave message if no answer he will get back to you
frenchman

User avatar
tractor12
banned
Posts: 2097
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:01 pm
Location: Atascadero CA
Contact:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by tractor12 » Wed May 31, 2017 9:59 am

That's good news. When I talked and ordered parts about a month ago he said he wasn't making anything else just selling what was on the shelves and once it sold no more would be available
WC12 Wc 27 2 K38s Mz2 ambulance jeep 2 M3a4s M1a1 Chemical Mortar cart T4e1 usmc cart convertible

_RAGNAR_
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 32
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2015 2:15 pm
Location:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by _RAGNAR_ » Mon Jun 05, 2017 8:00 pm

super reasonable prices and people will pay twice that I think. Has to be worth his while.
18C4VW8
1942 Willys MB
M5 Bomb Trailer
Converto Dump Trailer
2 - 1944 M3A4 Handcarts
M2 60mm mortar
Radios and Pigeon gear
LIVE HOMING PIGEONS! :-)

Av8er
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: New Windsor, NY, USA

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by Av8er » Wed Jun 07, 2017 6:13 am

UPDATE ON TRUSS HEAD BOLTS AND HUB CAPS. I have been in further communication with my machine shop owner friend. I will be sending him bolts and a hub cap off my M3A4 hand Cart for him to make a test run. As in any new venture there may be some unexpected problems that could develop. But, right now it looks like he should be able to produce the correct truss head bolts 5/16-24NF in all the lengths used on the M3A4 for a price coming in around $2-3 each. We currently think that we can make replacement hubcaps in the range of $50-60 a set. Standby for more information once he completes the prototypes.
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart

User avatar
matt506
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 836
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 11:00 pm
Location: Fredonia, Wi
Contact:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by matt506 » Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:03 pm

Av8er,
there are two different lengths of truss head bolts used on these from what I took off mine. If they look good I would be up for a complete set just to fill my gap of broken ones and a few sparers just in case. Matt
SFC Matt Miller,
4-42 GPW,
M-6 81mm hand cart,
4-43 MBT,
4-43 WLA,
1961 M151,
M18 paracaisson,
"Find The Bastards and Pile On" 11th ACR

rjbeamer
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1406
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:55 pm
Location: Oakdale Ca

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by rjbeamer » Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:24 pm

Actually There are 3 lengths of truss head screws used on the handcart. See the post listed below.

viewtopic.php?f=130&t=236546#p138977

As an added note. The nuts used on most of the carts that I have seen are the same nuts used on early 289 Ford rod bolts. The cart nuts were taller than a regular SAE nut and had a small step machined onto the bottom. They also had 6 slots cut into the top of the nuts. The Ford nuts are a dead ringer for these cart nuts except for the 6 slots. The slots can easily be made with a hacksaw. See the post below.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Connecti ... 1154763320

Roger
Last edited by rjbeamer on Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Av8er
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: New Windsor, NY, USA

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by Av8er » Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:49 pm

I actually pulled four different lengths of truss head bolts off my M3A4. They are with the machinist now and he says he hopes to have them duplicated within the month. The four sizes are confirmed by the parts list in the M3A4 manual (8-1", 2-1 1/8", 4-1 1/4", 2- 1 3/4"). If can figure out how to post the PDF of the page in the manual I will post it in an update.

In the interim here is a photo of the parts breakdown that I found online:

Image
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart

Av8er
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: New Windsor, NY, USA

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by Av8er » Mon Jun 26, 2017 3:26 pm

Here is the actual parts breakdown from the M3A4 Hand Cart Army Manual regarding the number of truss head bolts and their lengths. It is consistent with the lengths of the bolts that I pulled off my cart and sent to the the machinist.

Image
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart

User avatar
matt506
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 836
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 11:00 pm
Location: Fredonia, Wi
Contact:

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by matt506 » Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:01 pm

Very cool, Mine was missing the two long ones. On another note I have the McMaster Carr numbers for the wheel bushings and the seals that work awesome for the wheel hubs. THe bronze bushings need reaming but fit nicely when pressed in.
SFC Matt Miller,
4-42 GPW,
M-6 81mm hand cart,
4-43 MBT,
4-43 WLA,
1961 M151,
M18 paracaisson,
"Find The Bastards and Pile On" 11th ACR

Av8er
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 210
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: New Windsor, NY, USA

Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?

Post by Av8er » Mon Jun 26, 2017 7:10 pm

Matt,
Can you please post the part numbers to share with everyone. Great information, thanks!
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart


Post Reply

Return to “HAND CARTS - FOR SALE & WANTED - General Discussion & Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests