Picked up a M501 Hawk Carrier

[98taco3]

Well there's not a forum for them on here so with its tracked brethren it goes! Picked up a fairly complete M501 Hawk Missile Carrier yesterday... for $100 bucks haha.

Engine is free and the drivetrain is complete. The control linkages are all seized up but shouldn't take too long to pull them apart and get them cleaned up. The oils in the gear boxes are clean as well, no water. It ought to fire up without too much trouble and i'll be able to see if the drivetrain has any issues considering the track is off.

Looks like they were tooling around in it and broke a few end connectors. Then just left the thing where it was.

Found the second track sitting in the dirt 30 feet away from it. At least its there but its in somewhat sorry condition. Anyone know of a supplier who may have some track sections?

 

[DanM7890]

Great find! 100 doll hairs, why not!

 

[swiss]

OMG everyone should have one

 

[HAWKMAN]

They are a ton of fun!! I love freaking the neighbors out when I drive mine up/down the road!

 

[73m819]

What about POSTING pictures on site instead of a link, I sorta remember some thing in the RULES about that, if it is NOT important enough to post on site, why bother with a link.

 

[ageregunner]

A great find! Congrats.

 

[bikeman]

photos don't work.

 

[AMGeneral]

I worked on a "basket case" Hawk for a fellow here locally, he had left it in the care of a mechanic friend for 5 years with no success in getting it running.

I had to work out a lot of loose bolts, missing fittings, cut and taped wiring, but it was a blast to drive when it was done, a 1-2 full throttle shift will almost bring the front idlers off the ground!

I wouldn't mind having one myself, no idea what I would do with it though.

 

[DanM7890]

I wouldn't mind having one myself, no idea what I would do with it though.

You don't need a reason, all you say is I would like to add one of those to my collection. I don't know what to do with half my stuff haha.

 

[bigmike]

Awesome deal! That will be fun to work on and even more fun to drive. I'm so jealous.

 

[NEIOWA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k53oDgNJGw

Would make a great offroad "brush" fire truck.

 

[98taco3]

What about POSTING pictures on site instead of a link, I sorta remember some thing in the RULES about that, if it is NOT important enough to post on site, why bother with a link.

I have used Image code, Its not working properly. Image upload would not function at the time I made the post either.

 

[98taco3]

It will be interesting to try to de-hibernate and see what sort of shape its really in. Will have to track down some end connectors for it as it appears it broke a few and threw both tracks. Must have been a wild ride when it happened.

Should have it to the house this weekend and get a better look at it!

 

[Guyfang]

You need to find a member in El Paso and or White Sands. I just got a mail from someone I know who told me HAWK equipment is laying all over White Sands. There is a HAWK museum there. It would be a good place to start asking around. I will see if anyone in my HAWK face book group can give me a lead.

One good thing is that the engine is the same as a M151A2 jeep. Should be easy to get parts.

 

[Guyfang]

It will be interesting to try to de-hibernate and see what sort of shape its really in. Will have to track down some end connectors for it as it appears it broke a few and threw both tracks. Must have been a wild ride when it happened.

Should have it to the house this weekend and get a better look at it!

One night in the early 70's, we built a jump with our bucket loader and were jumping a loader. This was on our missile site. We were temporarily stupid that night. Both rear differentials broke after a real long jump. The motor sergeant was not amused. We spent a few hours of our own time making repairs. We had three loaders in our Battery.

 

[98taco3]

You need to find a member in El Paso and or White Sands. I just got a mail from someone I know who told me HAWK equipment is laying all over White Sands. There is a HAWK museum there. It would be a good place to start asking around. I will see if anyone in my HAWK face book group can give me a lead.

One good thing is that the engine is the same as a M151A2 jeep. Should be easy to get parts.

Thanks! I appreciate you putting the word out there! Mine is actually the earlier M38A1 powered variant and it hasnt been refit with a M151 engine. Must have been surplused out fairly early.

 

[Guyfang]

Hawk was active from the early 60's, up to 2007? So there was lots of toys made, and nothing tossed away. You know, check the Raytheon web site. If there is a "conntact us" place to click on, they might be able to help also.

 

[98taco3]

Shes a runner! Got it home yesterday and had it running in a couple of hours. Drivetrain is solid and seems ready to go. Now to just find track, the track is in far worse shape that I thought. Bunch of broken end connectors and the rubber has separated from a lot of the track blocks. End connectors are easy to have made but the track pads not so much.

Heres a video of the first start up with the transmission in drive.

https://youtu.be/sP7k8XoOwSE

 

[Another Ahab]

Shes a runner! Got it home yesterday and had it running in a couple of hours. Drivetrain is solid and seems ready to go. Now to just find track, the track is in far worse shape that I thought. Bunch of broken end connectors and the rubber has separated from a lot of the track blocks. End connectors are easy to have made but the track pads not so much.

It's running; so great!

Betting it's a lot of work, but could you make the track pads out of old tire rubber; are they riveted on or something?

 

[Guyfang]

Talk to the german HAWK group. I think they had the pads recast someplace.

There is also, (Iremember because I had to change track on all three loaders from rubber to Ice/non rubber track as punishment) a track made for off road and or ice/snow travel. Look in the operator's manual for it under BII.

The track pads are cast.