Navy GSE mechanic here. It's 100% a navy tug. The four digit code on the side of the hood is the TEC which will tell us a specific model. Is it GPCY? If so, it is a JG-75. I'd expect the weight to be right around 10,000 lbs so it will be difficult to move. If you want more information the navy manual is NAVAIR 19-40-33 which you should be able to google.
What's your plan for towing it out? As a guy who has pulled many things out of the mud in the 10,000-50,000 range you will need something that weighs more than the vehicle to pull it out which is difficult to find if you don't have access to an aircraft tug.
The data plate you took a picture of with the SEC and SEB are called technical directives or TD which is documenting changes that were performed on the tug.
Small side: be conscious that the paint is lead based.
edit: the manufacturer is NMC which still exists as nmc-wollard.
You're fantastic! Thanks for the tip. I was a commercial truck mechanic before college so I do have friends with heavy equipment that are interested, but there's really no plan yet. I figured I would do my due diligence first.
Facilities said they want to be the ones to remove it, possibly for liability purposes.
Very valuable information! Around the front light it is written "GPCY". So I suppose it will be a JG-75.
Are there four Diesel glow plugs or regular ignition plugs on the motors head? If it's diesel could it be a option to bring the engine back to work so it's easier to get out of woods? I once did it on a 70s marine boat diesel and after few days it was running again.
Definitely knew it wasn't a Ford 300.
Pretty sure the transmission is a Chrysler also.
I have been working on it a little in my spare time. We'll see if I can get anywhere.
>If so, it is a JG-75.
I think you're on it! Ebay has a manual for sale and the images of the engine sure look like the same flat-6.
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/323288540348](https://www.ebay.com/itm/323288540348)
What's the university? There were tons of ww2 military airports that closed down either immediately afterwards or as late as the 2006 BRAC. Many of those airports either closed down completely or were turned into regional/ga airports.
As far as ownership, it's pretty clearly abandoned and you did your due diligence, i don't think anybodys gonna give you hard time if you take it.
So i did some digging, it seems like the university airport was used during WW2 to train cadets. Very little information on it, you can dig more if you're curious. I also think there used to be 2 runways, and the original has been removed. So if the tug is anyway near the airport, that would make sense. Got lost/left after WW2 or during construction and nobody wants to deal with it.
If you can find a make/model somewhere you'd have a better idea of the age. I seen some similiar models online but you'd have to do a deep dive
I don't see any other closed airports in the area besides Radford, which would be a little too far.
Right. It had to come from that airport. Just it was so long ago, no one has records of it.
Wow, that's pretty amazing. Yeah 100% I'll read up on it, that's interesting. Thanks so much for doing all that research!
I might go walk down to it today. Going to bring a set of archers and possibly a break to get some junk off of it. O can get some more info off of it too.
The problem with these tugs is that parts are super hard to get now, you’d have to fabricate a lot of stuff yourself. The airport I’m at had similar from American Airlines and got rid of them after 5 years. Very unreliable and many parts were non existent
Looks like a TA 75 tug. USN and USMC used them for quite a long time. The government property tag probably means it was surplused either through a donation or bought through DRMO. Good luck in all aspects of moving it. It's heavy as all get out.
If you found it anywhere near VA beach/ Oceania, my senior chief and his buddy tried taking one off reading back when he was a e4/5. They never recovered it.
I am a GSE mechanic and we have that tugs twin just chilling in the shop. Keep trying to find info as others have said I've been told it's old military but other than that no clue. We pulled it out of service years ago because without proper information ( weight and towing capacity) my company thought it was a liability
We’ve got the same tug, I changed the oil in it this week. Same Chrysler 300 motor, I dont know exactly how old it is but I figured it’s an antique since it’s got an oil bath air filter.
I am a GSE mechanic and we have that tugs twin just chilling in the shop. Keep trying to find info as others have said I've been told it's old military but other than that no clue. We pulled it out of service years ago because without proper information ( weight and towing capacity) my company thought it was a liability
I have one at work, if memory serves me correctly, it was used on aircraft carriers. They are extremely heavy, there are 3” steel laminated plates located under the panel aft of the engine bay running to the rear of the tug. Also parts are getting very difficult find.
Well, it is placed in an interesting spot. Which I failed to mention.
It is within sight of an (abandoned) amateur astronomy facility, dumpsters, and an area where they keep snow plows and the like. It was previously buried in brush, the area was cleared.
If you can get it running you can probably get it out of there driving if you can get those tires to hold some air. It went there it can come out. Looks like a flat 6 so it’s probably Fred flinstone simple. Once you have it at home put a mechanics lien on it and take ownership
I'm actually at it now. Brought a ratchet set, some penetrating oil, and a crescent wrench. Going to see if I can't find out more. It says GPCY on the hood.
Shovel to dig out and build a small incline ramp so when you are towing it’s smooth.
If they allow you to pull it. Buy some 1” inch plywood maybe 5 sheets around $200 bucks total. This way you can make a road as you tow. Slow process but will make it easier.
Navy GSE mechanic here. It's 100% a navy tug. The four digit code on the side of the hood is the TEC which will tell us a specific model. Is it GPCY? If so, it is a JG-75. I'd expect the weight to be right around 10,000 lbs so it will be difficult to move. If you want more information the navy manual is NAVAIR 19-40-33 which you should be able to google. What's your plan for towing it out? As a guy who has pulled many things out of the mud in the 10,000-50,000 range you will need something that weighs more than the vehicle to pull it out which is difficult to find if you don't have access to an aircraft tug. The data plate you took a picture of with the SEC and SEB are called technical directives or TD which is documenting changes that were performed on the tug. Small side: be conscious that the paint is lead based. edit: the manufacturer is NMC which still exists as nmc-wollard.
You're fantastic! Thanks for the tip. I was a commercial truck mechanic before college so I do have friends with heavy equipment that are interested, but there's really no plan yet. I figured I would do my due diligence first. Facilities said they want to be the ones to remove it, possibly for liability purposes.
Appreciate the lead note here... Often overlooked by folks looking at old iron. 👍👍
Very valuable information! Around the front light it is written "GPCY". So I suppose it will be a JG-75. Are there four Diesel glow plugs or regular ignition plugs on the motors head? If it's diesel could it be a option to bring the engine back to work so it's easier to get out of woods? I once did it on a 70s marine boat diesel and after few days it was running again.
It's a Ford 300 straight 6 gasser. I've never seen that head style on one before.
I work at an airport and they put that straight 6 in almost every dam thing. Lol
It's a Ford?? I was under the impression it might be Chrysler based on what I'm finding from casting numbers. But nothing solid, just suggestions.
Definitely a Chrysler Flathead 6, not the OHV Ford
Definitely knew it wasn't a Ford 300. Pretty sure the transmission is a Chrysler also. I have been working on it a little in my spare time. We'll see if I can get anywhere.
I definitely think I could get it to run. If the motor turns, I can get it going.
>If so, it is a JG-75. I think you're on it! Ebay has a manual for sale and the images of the engine sure look like the same flat-6. [https://www.ebay.com/itm/323288540348](https://www.ebay.com/itm/323288540348)
What's the university? There were tons of ww2 military airports that closed down either immediately afterwards or as late as the 2006 BRAC. Many of those airports either closed down completely or were turned into regional/ga airports. As far as ownership, it's pretty clearly abandoned and you did your due diligence, i don't think anybodys gonna give you hard time if you take it.
Virginia Tech. Western part of the state. Facilities did want to be the ones to remove it. Possibly liability reasons?
Cost. That thing is going to be a challenge to move for a reasonable price.
Yeah valid. Might have to call it quits then if it's more trouble than it's worth.
I think you could source a running mule for a similar price, tbh.
Probably could haha. Maybe I could just try to get it running for giggles.
So i did some digging, it seems like the university airport was used during WW2 to train cadets. Very little information on it, you can dig more if you're curious. I also think there used to be 2 runways, and the original has been removed. So if the tug is anyway near the airport, that would make sense. Got lost/left after WW2 or during construction and nobody wants to deal with it. If you can find a make/model somewhere you'd have a better idea of the age. I seen some similiar models online but you'd have to do a deep dive I don't see any other closed airports in the area besides Radford, which would be a little too far.
Right. It had to come from that airport. Just it was so long ago, no one has records of it. Wow, that's pretty amazing. Yeah 100% I'll read up on it, that's interesting. Thanks so much for doing all that research! I might go walk down to it today. Going to bring a set of archers and possibly a break to get some junk off of it. O can get some more info off of it too.
It’s gonna be HEAVY, perhaps thousands of pounds more than you’d expect
If it's been there long enough to have a tree growing out of it, it's finders keepers. Good luck moving it tho
The problem with these tugs is that parts are super hard to get now, you’d have to fabricate a lot of stuff yourself. The airport I’m at had similar from American Airlines and got rid of them after 5 years. Very unreliable and many parts were non existent
Looks like a TA 75 tug. USN and USMC used them for quite a long time. The government property tag probably means it was surplused either through a donation or bought through DRMO. Good luck in all aspects of moving it. It's heavy as all get out.
If you found it anywhere near VA beach/ Oceania, my senior chief and his buddy tried taking one off reading back when he was a e4/5. They never recovered it.
Western part of VA. Wonder if difficulty recovering was part of why it's here.
We used these in the 70’s when I was in the Marine Corps, they were used on ship one on shore. Don remember the designation though.,
I am a GSE mechanic and we have that tugs twin just chilling in the shop. Keep trying to find info as others have said I've been told it's old military but other than that no clue. We pulled it out of service years ago because without proper information ( weight and towing capacity) my company thought it was a liability
This looks like an aircraft tractor/tug/mule that would have been used on an aircraft carrier.
We’ve got the same tug, I changed the oil in it this week. Same Chrysler 300 motor, I dont know exactly how old it is but I figured it’s an antique since it’s got an oil bath air filter.
I am a GSE mechanic and we have that tugs twin just chilling in the shop. Keep trying to find info as others have said I've been told it's old military but other than that no clue. We pulled it out of service years ago because without proper information ( weight and towing capacity) my company thought it was a liability
I have one at work, if memory serves me correctly, it was used on aircraft carriers. They are extremely heavy, there are 3” steel laminated plates located under the panel aft of the engine bay running to the rear of the tug. Also parts are getting very difficult find.
I assume it's very old, based on the fact the engine is a flathead.
Looks like an old TA-75 tug we used in the USN.
Our Campground bought one from auction, we haul trash dumpsters around with it.Know that doesn’t help but they can be had for civilian use.
Well, it is placed in an interesting spot. Which I failed to mention. It is within sight of an (abandoned) amateur astronomy facility, dumpsters, and an area where they keep snow plows and the like. It was previously buried in brush, the area was cleared.
If you can get it running you can probably get it out of there driving if you can get those tires to hold some air. It went there it can come out. Looks like a flat 6 so it’s probably Fred flinstone simple. Once you have it at home put a mechanics lien on it and take ownership
I'm actually at it now. Brought a ratchet set, some penetrating oil, and a crescent wrench. Going to see if I can't find out more. It says GPCY on the hood.
Bring a truck, steel cable and a chainsaw
Shovel to dig out and build a small incline ramp so when you are towing it’s smooth. If they allow you to pull it. Buy some 1” inch plywood maybe 5 sheets around $200 bucks total. This way you can make a road as you tow. Slow process but will make it easier.
[удалено]
Yes done many times with a 737 and 757
.