How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
Forum rules
If your question is electronics related please post it in one of the relevant boards here: viewforum.php?f=31
If your question is electronics related please post it in one of the relevant boards here: viewforum.php?f=31
How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
Wot the title says. How? I've unscrewed all screws yet the gun barrel seems to be stuck in the mantlet.
-
greengiant
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:15 am
Re: How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
The barrel has a if I remember right, 2 or 3 rings machined into it that the mantle appears to be molded over.
Same careful work with a small hot iron or Dremel tool burr or possibly heating the barrels airsoft end and pushing the barrel toward the airsoft unit side of the mantle may expose the rings ( so the outside of the mantle isn't deformed) enough that you could grind them down to the airsoft size then pull it out the front the mantle.
I ground enough plastic out that I could see the one ring from the rear but the inside of the mantle in front of the 1st ring you see ring also must ground away.
Unless you can grind the ring/rings down to the airsoft part of the barrel size I don't think you can get it out without ruining the mantle.
Mine frustrated me so much, I ended up heating the barrel to much and the HL mantle deformed when I tried to push the barrel back to get at the rings to grind them down.
Lucky I intended to use the HE recoil unit so I just used the HE mantle ( It is a little off detail wise and some trimming needed to be done on its bottom edge) but it did fit right into the HL turret.
This pick may give you an idea what your dealing with.
Same careful work with a small hot iron or Dremel tool burr or possibly heating the barrels airsoft end and pushing the barrel toward the airsoft unit side of the mantle may expose the rings ( so the outside of the mantle isn't deformed) enough that you could grind them down to the airsoft size then pull it out the front the mantle.
I ground enough plastic out that I could see the one ring from the rear but the inside of the mantle in front of the 1st ring you see ring also must ground away.
Unless you can grind the ring/rings down to the airsoft part of the barrel size I don't think you can get it out without ruining the mantle.
Mine frustrated me so much, I ended up heating the barrel to much and the HL mantle deformed when I tried to push the barrel back to get at the rings to grind them down.
Lucky I intended to use the HE recoil unit so I just used the HE mantle ( It is a little off detail wise and some trimming needed to be done on its bottom edge) but it did fit right into the HL turret.
This pick may give you an idea what your dealing with.
- Attachments
-
Re: How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
WAAAAAAAAAAAAH.... I wonder how that Thai guy managed to do a barrel recoil (not Airsoft) on his upgraded M1 builds. Huhuhu....
-
greengiant
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:15 am
Re: How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
Yea HL definitely had no intention of making a recoil version. They may sell the turret as a part to some other company who would do a recoil version under a different brand name. But unlike the HL production turret KT which even has the hit receiver apple mounting spot in the commanders copula the Abrams doesn't even have that.
Re: How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
I don't see an HL M1A2 spare part barrel as of now. (or maybe my google-fu is weak) If they had a spare part M1A2 barrel with mantlet, I'll get one and mod it to enable recoil and install on my tank.
Hell, just looking at the mantlet-barrel assembly, looks like I'll be needing TWO because of the surgery involved.
Hell, just looking at the mantlet-barrel assembly, looks like I'll be needing TWO because of the surgery involved.
-
greengiant
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:15 am
Re: How to remove HL M1A2 main gun from mantlet?
If your willing to risk the one you have try the heating of the barrel by using a soldering iron and pushing the barrel back into the mantle just a bit at a time as the plastic softens, then stop and remove any plastic that moved around the barrel and repeat until you can see enough of the barrel and remaining plastic to be able to grind enough of each off so the barrel can be removed.
If you look at my build thread ( there is a pic of the HL mantle that I ruined alongside the HE mantle I ended up using ) you can see that I tried to heat the barrel hot enough to pull it out all at once, which messed up the mantle front where the hole for the barrel is.
Probably could have repaired it but getting the hole for the main gun in the same place it originally was looked to time consuming.
Haven't seen anyone selling the barrel and mantle as a part. Or the barrel mantle and airsoft unit as a part yet for the Abrams like those they sell for the HL leopard (which I wouldn't be surprised to find has the barrel and mantle molded together style as the Abrams).
If you look at my build thread ( there is a pic of the HL mantle that I ruined alongside the HE mantle I ended up using ) you can see that I tried to heat the barrel hot enough to pull it out all at once, which messed up the mantle front where the hole for the barrel is.
Probably could have repaired it but getting the hole for the main gun in the same place it originally was looked to time consuming.
Haven't seen anyone selling the barrel and mantle as a part. Or the barrel mantle and airsoft unit as a part yet for the Abrams like those they sell for the HL leopard (which I wouldn't be surprised to find has the barrel and mantle molded together style as the Abrams).
