Preface: I don't know how many machines I have. Stop asking.
So, I picked up a Camel. Shane K. did some purchasing out in Illinois and ended up with a couple machines that he wanted for the T-20s (can't blame him...). One of the machines was an old 'glass-bodied Hustler, and there was a Camel Centipede. Like a few other members, a Camel has been on the list of want-need-must have someday machines, and I immediately began the bartering process. We worked some things out, and I made the journey out to Taylorville last Friday for a 1500 mile round trip journey to add yet another project to the stables.
Aside from several decent cracks and some substantial damage to the left rear corner, this is a surpsingly original, unmolested example of one of the odder-looking AATVs from the early 70s. We don't have a LOT of information regarding Centipedes here on the Site, so I hope to add a bit of knowledge to the database as I begin to look things over and make some repairs. I don't plan on ripping this apart right away, or jumping head-long into another project until I finish the Swamp Fox and hopefully work on other (ahem...Max 8) projects that have been neglected for quite a long time. In order to mock things up, I put the Little B*stard (yes, it's cursed) 16hp Vanguard in it and borrowed the transmission from the Fox to see how things lined up.
Here a a few initial findings on this particular machine.
*Holy crap this thing has 1 1/4" axles! (62mm inner/outer bearings)
*Classic 6-chain setup like and Attex, with #50 primaries coming off the T-20 to the center axle, which drives the front and rear axles via #40 chain.
*4-lug wheel hubs, which *appear* to be stock
*The ABS upper and lower are somewhere between and Attex ST-model and a Chaparral in thickness. Not great, but workable.
*The upper body is actually green ABS, not grey with a green film like the textured early green Attex bodies (ST/295-400 and Tank Trainers)
* Seating position is on the right of the machine. Quite awkward feeling, and not a lot of room for the driver/passenger.
*Unistrut-style chain adjusters with poly (probably nylon, actually) rollers for ALL of the chains (4 of which are almost impossible to reach with the upper body on. Joy.
* A small Vanguard WILL fit underneath the upper body with an easily-modified engine mount.
Here are a few pictures. Several more appear in my gallery...
So, I picked up a Camel. Shane K. did some purchasing out in Illinois and ended up with a couple machines that he wanted for the T-20s (can't blame him...). One of the machines was an old 'glass-bodied Hustler, and there was a Camel Centipede. Like a few other members, a Camel has been on the list of want-need-must have someday machines, and I immediately began the bartering process. We worked some things out, and I made the journey out to Taylorville last Friday for a 1500 mile round trip journey to add yet another project to the stables.
Aside from several decent cracks and some substantial damage to the left rear corner, this is a surpsingly original, unmolested example of one of the odder-looking AATVs from the early 70s. We don't have a LOT of information regarding Centipedes here on the Site, so I hope to add a bit of knowledge to the database as I begin to look things over and make some repairs. I don't plan on ripping this apart right away, or jumping head-long into another project until I finish the Swamp Fox and hopefully work on other (ahem...Max 8) projects that have been neglected for quite a long time. In order to mock things up, I put the Little B*stard (yes, it's cursed) 16hp Vanguard in it and borrowed the transmission from the Fox to see how things lined up.
Here a a few initial findings on this particular machine.
*Holy crap this thing has 1 1/4" axles! (62mm inner/outer bearings)
*Classic 6-chain setup like and Attex, with #50 primaries coming off the T-20 to the center axle, which drives the front and rear axles via #40 chain.
*4-lug wheel hubs, which *appear* to be stock
*The ABS upper and lower are somewhere between and Attex ST-model and a Chaparral in thickness. Not great, but workable.
*The upper body is actually green ABS, not grey with a green film like the textured early green Attex bodies (ST/295-400 and Tank Trainers)
* Seating position is on the right of the machine. Quite awkward feeling, and not a lot of room for the driver/passenger.
*Unistrut-style chain adjusters with poly (probably nylon, actually) rollers for ALL of the chains (4 of which are almost impossible to reach with the upper body on. Joy.
* A small Vanguard WILL fit underneath the upper body with an easily-modified engine mount.
Here are a few pictures. Several more appear in my gallery...



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