Bren tripod t&e adjustment

Whats the proper / correct way to adjust the traverse clamp lever & clamp nut ?

I just received a nice MKI tripod and my degree ring is painted green. The traverse clamp is not really locking it down and the paint makes it "gummy".

Planning on removing the green paint and want to correctly adjust the traverse clamp and lever.
I have not had a chance to study it but not trying to re-invent the wheel and wondering what the official method is for adjustment .

Too bad it cant talk , I wonder where my AA extension rods ended up!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../qWY7bHO-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../JIo2MID-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../TQloAap-1.jpg

You shouldn't have paint on the top of the bar, it's got numbers you need to read. The paint will be a big factor in gummy or sluggish movement. If you clean the paint out of the mating surfaces on the T&E you'll end your problems.

You might also want to look into finding a replacement front attachment pivot... from the picture above it looks like a bar has been welded to a flat spot ground on the top of the attachment point for the bren... such a piece of steel would mimic the attachment point for an MG-3/Mg-42. With that piece of metal on there you will not be able to mount a Bren.

Check BRP Guns inventory of parts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WallyG.

a bar has been welded to a flat spot ground on the top of the attachment point for the bren

---

So it is. I'd just make that all gone myself...carefully. There were lots of these altered for other things.

Good eye on the added metal bar , I completely missed it and looking for missing parts and adjusting the ones I have.

Its easy to remove metal......I will take care of the front attachment point but if I need a replacement its an obtainable part.
Removing the paint from the , got most of it off but the traverse clamp is still not firmly clamping it.

How is the clamp nut on the bottom removed?
Its number 27



https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...21/09/aq-1.jpg
Can it be removed or unscrewed or does the clamp arm / lever need to be removed to adjust it ?

Pulled the pintle out , that's an easy fix and glad the guy that welded it was not a great welder, not much penetration.

To adjust the T&E tension clamp can I just pull lever #26 then reposition for correct clamping force then re-pin it ?

If it is not clamping completely before running out of adjustment throw... how about adding a washer of shim material to the stack to allow for quicker clamping... it probably would not take very much to get the hard lockup you are seeking. Thoughts?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cal50

To adjust the T&E tension clamp can I just pull lever #26 then reposition for correct clamping force then re-pin it ?

---

Yes. That will work too. Turn the screw by hand until snug and then set the handle where you want it. Try it a couple of times and then tap it down the splines again.

Looks like I will remove the retaining pin then pull the handle to adjust clamp tension.
It travels a lot smoothly with the paint removed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cal50

It travels a lot smoothly with the paint removed.

---

It should have been blued or parkerized and then the upper surfaces painted. Lazy man's way to paint is with a spray can and cover everything. You have to be able to manipulate it after all...

Had some free time and pulled it apart.
Simple job that would be easy to screw up and damage or ruin the handle.

Solid pin was hammered into place and has not been removed for about 2 decades.....before I was born in the 60's.
Used some Kroil and carefully drilled the solid pin on both sides then punched it out.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../uEWg1se-1.jpg

Man , I wish all fixes were this simple.
Turned the handle 180 degrees and it clamps solid. Now to turn a solid pin to replace the one I drilled out.

From a Auction that ending yesterday.
See some similar parts in the pictures.
Maybe metal finish or something helpful for you in the pictures.

MG-34 German Sub-Machine Gun (Demilled) | Epic Auctions and Estate Sales

Nice.....
Now I will be taking the green paint off the T&E to see whats under it,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cal50

ow I will be taking the green paint off the T&E

---

Should be blue or parkerizing.

Going to blast and fresh park my T&E mech, stops and repaired pintle.

Another thing I noticed is my degreed arc / traverse ring appears solid without the four mounting screws like I see on other tripods.
Were some built this way or am I missing something and need to look closer?

I see no serial number or proofs by the AA leg locking mechanism either.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../TQloAap-1.jpg

It seems some traversing bars were numbered and some not. Is your numbered faintly under the paint? They shouldn't be painted there either. There should be a scale both on top and facing you when you're shooting prone with gun in low mount...

Here's a group with parts, maybe worth a look and a contact? Not sure about your importing parts, I should think it would be a possibility for you though.
http://www.bren-gun.com/html/tripods___spares.html

Here's a group in Ga, closer to you.
BREN Tripod Parts

Mine is clearly ( not in my pic ) graduated on top and the front.
I removed the paint on top and blued it , need to do the same for the front.

The part that has me confused is I do not see any of the four (4) screw holes on mine attaching the traverse bar to the tripod.

Part #31 shows four screws 2 left / 2 right on the traverse ring and mine has none.

Now I see what you're talking about, yes that's strange. I'm going to see what the book says... "Bren Gun Saga"...

Will get a better pic later~

Not a single screw in the traverse ring.....
Really strange and I have not seen a pic of another tripod similar.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../hN0un5c-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../77JHXqU-1.jpg

I checked the book and bot the Mk1 and Mk2 have the screws...someone will be along I should think. If only Peter Laidler would have a look...

It has the slot and detent for the AA leg up front and the spring loaded leg retainers on the rear legs, MKI features.


I wish this thing could talk because I have a few questions, lol.

There's another member here that has a few, seems in a past pic he showed us there were a couple like yours without those screws. You can see from almost any angle if they're present. Here's several of his tripods and the two nearest seem to be same as yours...maybe he can help? https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=65945&page=1

I sent him a PM a while ago on a different topic and never got a reply.
His orange colored tripod looks similar.

I wonder if its an early production or prototype because everything else has screws ???
Mine has no numbers or proofs in the AA leg mounting area either , at least to the naked eye.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cal50

I wonder if its an early production or prototype

---

Early or late? Or some other country's knockoff? There are guys here that can answer definitively but they all seem to be hibernating...

Well this is an interesting tripod.

It's interesting what we run across decades later. All these little cool spiders were made across the pond from me (USA) but one is now sitting in my gun room!

There was Belgian production of this tripod after the war. A friend of mine had one - I borrowed it for many years. Eventually he wanted it back.

Brought to my attention by Brit Pumber,please do NOT do anything else to the tripod !
You have a Czech ZB206 tripod which is a rare beast and needs documenting before any refurb work is under taken.
Your Bren T & E is loose as the ZB 206 traverse arc is not as wide and thinner in profile.
There are a few variations of the correct T & E for your tripod which you now need to look for or try and contact who you brought yours from in case it is still about.
The stops as have probably already been mentioned are Bren tripod MK2 items and not for this tripod (or early UK ones)
The T & E you need will have a tapered spigot to attach it to the gun as export Czech Brens and ZB30's will not have the UK type butt mounting including trial ZGBsThe exception to this are Czech UK trial T & Es for early UK made Brens.
As has been stated it has been repainted so please try and carefully remove this if you are going to refurb to try and get to the original paint if it exists.
There will hopefully be a Czech inspection stamp with a date on it (probably 37 ?) and an end user marking.
Will post some pics later of things to look for when the beer has worn off a bit !
ATB KG

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kev G

STOP !!!!!

---

Like I said, 30 days this post has been waiting. Hibernating...as we slowly go through solutions and suggestions. Never fails.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kev G

Brought to my attention by Brit Pumber,please do NOT do anything else to the tripod !
You have a Czech ZB206 tripod which is a rare beast and needs documenting before any refurb work is under taken.
Your Bren T & E is loose as the ZB 206 traverse arc is not as wide and thinner in profile.
There are a few variations of the correct T & E for your tripod which you now need to look for or try and contact who you brought yours from in case it is still about.
The stops as have probably already been mentioned are Bren tripod MK2 items and not for this tripod (or early UK ones)
The T & E you need will have a tapered spigot to attach it to the gun as export Czech Brens and ZB30's will not have the UK type butt mounting including trial ZGBsThe exception to this are Czech UK trial T & Es for early UK made Brens.
As has been stated it has been repainted so please try and carefully remove this if you are going to refurb to try and get to the original paint if it exists.
There will hopefully be a Czech inspection stamp with a date on it (probably 37 ?) and an end user marking.
Will post some pics later of things to look for when the beer has worn off a bit !
ATB KG

---

The only thing I have done was removing the added welded bar on the front attachment point and turned the clamp nut / handle a half turn to clamp the traverse ring.
I did remove the green paint from the traverse ring.

It appears my T&E is BSA so someone likely tried or thought (like me) its a Bren tripod.

If anyone wants / needs measurements or pics let me know and I will get them.
I can see how this is easily mistaken for a Bren tripod and likely made the trip across the pond mixed in with Bren tripods.

Any idea how many ZB tripods are out in the wild?

I was looking for a mk1 tripod to put my double dovetail mk1 gun on and ended up with ZB tripod, lol.

The T&E's you need to look for will be similar to these.
More likely the tapered spigot type.

On the quadrant you should find a Czech HK inspection stamp.

Have a look on the RH side (or all over) the quadrant for markings.
One of mine has Iraqi markings the other has an Enfield inspection mark.

Also look on the bayonet mounting attachment to see if this is marked.
My UK one is marked 14.

Can you have a good look over it every where and let us know if you find anything ?
A very nice find :-)

Had some time to do a clean and search for interesting marks on the tripod. Not a lot to be found but a few ~

Top of the traverse ring / RH side has a clear diamond with something inside of it , need to get some solvent to clear the paint out. It has what looks like a zero & nine below it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../DLGNWJB-1.jpg


What appears to be an "HK" marking on the top of the traverse ring~

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../1SAMvuN-1.jpg



AA leg attachment area has no visible markings on the flat surface , front or side.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../9nw0C6q-1.jpg

This one appears to match Kev's Iraqi example... the triangle logo with arabic numerals enscribed below matches the pattern in his pictures above... I have the rear section of a BRNO double dovetail Zb/Bren receiver with the Iraqi crest and assorted arabic inscriptions... the two numeric characters here looks like/similar to the serial number inscription and rear sight knob elevation numbers on mine and in pictures Kev sent me of a complete original gun.

Thanks for the pictures cal50 appreciated.
I presumed the 37 number on mine was a year date as 1937 was the date of the contract for Iraqi Brens.
As yours shows 59 in western Arabic and also eastern Arabic I'm now presuming this is the tripod number.
The 37 was also why I thought these were Iraqi but the usual inspection/acceptance mark for Iraqi ordnance is the Jeem which I cant find on mine ?
Anyone any ideas on the crown marking and country connection ?

Kev:

Does the crown marking here bear any resemblance to the crest markings on the Brens? Mine is not readily accessible to check and it has been a while since I looked closely at this feature. If it is similar... could it not be an earlier acceptance mark to the triangular Jeem? It might imply that the Brens and this tripod were part of the same era's production for Iraq. Just postulating here... Fascinating thread about a rather rare bit of history. Thanks guys!

Like I said before , I wish these things could talk.........

Mine will work for my Bren gun when I get it finished but it does raise another set of questions. Its a cool and unique tripod but whats it worth standing next to a regular MKI Bren Tripod value wise ?
Part of me would prefer it to go to the guy with the correct gun missing the correct tripod but nice MKI's tripods are not exactly easy to find either.

Looked it over again today with a fresh cup of coffee and found the front leg / bottom has a BSA mark~

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../StvG9qM-1.jpg

WallyG Have attached a few pics of the crown.
Bears a resemblance but the tripod quadrant crown is a bit basic.
I have not seen this crown marking on any parts of other Iraqi Brens.Attachment 120581Attachment 120582Attachment 120580
Have only seen the Jeem marking as shown on the gas regulator housing.

WAY cool!

Thanks for the great pics Kev!

Well... more than one country used the crown in its markngs... Naturally the UK... but also... the Dutch.. and the Dutch used the Bren post war.. I've several cases of their .303 ammo. Since this tripod received a liberal application of UK parts by someone... I wouds suspect a post war rework program by some institution rather than an individual adapting a tripod from an unusable to a usable configuration... Armies were much bigger users of such programs and these guns... Could it be a Dutch acceptance for the completion of the tripod's conversion? Again... I have absolutely no proof... but it is conceivable.

Thanks again guys!

WGH

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../x09or6b-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../nAt2tLn-1.jpg

I also have had to share your Questions.
Yes, I think because of several reasons you have a ZB Tripod.
Out of time tonight but I'll get back with you this and a few other things.
Your T&E is loose because it's British, more later.

Later 42rocker
Look Ma no hands, opps I meant screws.
Attachment 131328
If you are lucky the number on the traverse bar will match the number in the front
Attachment 131329

Attachment 131330

Here is another ZB pic. Click on pic to enlarge.
Attachment 131400

More Another time

Later 42rocker

cal50
I'm glad that you ground off the stub on the "goose neck" and used it. I've found on mine that the ZB "goose neck" hole is around 15 thousand smaller in diameter. So a Bren "goose neck" will not fit in the hole, I tried. Min e is missing at this time. Also, I believe that your front leg where you found the BSA marking (nice spot) is a replacement leg. The front bolt also. If you review your pics you will notice the "cut out" for the front bolt is an upside down "U", same on mine. The bolt that is there has a complete round head, (non-lighten style), not like the normal 1/2 moon head. Mine also at this time. I'll add more later. Back to work.

Later 42rocker

At one time, I had, on long-term loan, a Belgian-made one.

42rocker do you have the T&E for your 206 tripod ?
If so interested to know what size taper the butt socket insert is as they differed on some country contracts ?
More questions later lol
Nice find.

Herstal MK2 tripod

Kev G and others
I wish that I had the correct T&E for this tripod.
I'm either going to get lucky and find one or try to take a "Czech ZB 26 & 30 Sustained Fire Set" and have a go at it. Trying to combine a GB T&E and the post of the fire set and see what happens.

cal50 sorry about hijacking your thread, some.

Seems that we both have ZB30 (or close) tripods.

Later 42rocker

Useful info is never hijacking !