fitting asiatam pz4 track tensioners?

[lister fiend]

hey ho
ive got a pair of asiatam tracktensioners for my panzer iv
& can't work out how to fit them.
has anyone fitted this confusing kit?
oh & how does it work?
cheers
lister

[Jussek]

hello,

could you post a link to the track tensioners?

could be these?

http://www.asiatam.com/product_info.php ... glong.html

i cannot say exatly how it has to be done, mine haven't arrived yet. But you have to cut, file and drill the plastic ones!

here you can see how to do it (post 58)

http://www.heng-long-panzerforum.com/in ... 0&pageNo=3

or here (post #26238)

http://www.lacadenaherrumbrosa.net/inde ... r?start=30


best regards

[lister fiend]

Thanks jussek
That's the ones
Unfortunately my German
& Spanish are not so good.
So I'll proberbly wait till
You do yours & hope
You do a how to post!
Cheers
Lister

[Jussek]

i do not speak german either, but you can use the chrome translator or simply take a look to the pics, they are self explanatory

credit to Stug-Brigade from HLPF, is his work:





credit to Uhu from lacadenaherrumbrosa:








i hope they do not mind that i put the images here...


i hope this helps


best regards

[lister fiend]

thank you again jussek
that does help
especialy as i can't get access to the posts on that forum
it's just that, as you can see from my photo
the hole that needs to be drilled needs to be quite big to allow for the keyway

i guess i'll just have to drill it out bit by bit, till it " feels right "
wish me luck & i'll let you know how i get on.
cheers
lister
ps i proberbley won't do it till next weekend

[jonger]

lister, you only drill the hole for the centre shaft, you only set the key way once you have adjusted the track tension and marked where the key way is positioned then the key way stops it moving round and loosing tension, Its fiddly to set up and try and get the right point for the key way but worth it in the long run.

[lister fiend]

hi jonger
really? thats a bit gay
so there not really adjustable then
oh well, thanks for the heads up
atleast that makes it pretty easy to fit
cheers
lister
actually i supose metal tracks dont stretch so it will be fine

[strmnd54]

I filed down the key way and used a star lock washer ( see second pic from the top ) on my panzer IV ; so it's fully adjustable...

[jonger]

Yes very fiddly to set up, what it really needs is a centre hole and a series of keyways round it so you can adjust it by moving the key round from slot to slot, I guess if it was an original part it would come moulded like that in the first place. as you say metal tracks don't stretch much so once set up should be set for the duration.

[Jussek]

hi again,

my tensioners haven't arrived yet, but i started to do the dirty work

this is how i did it:

1-) cut the INNER molded part of the tensioners (the part were the nut is). To do it i used for my first time the thread method, because is the better way to cut this part without touch ANYTHING around. I've been impressed of how easy it is!.

2-) drill the hole for the tensioner axle/shaft. To do it i used a drill of the same diameter of the current axle, i inserted it to the bottom of the hole (so it is a tight fit and the danger of deviating doing the hole is minor) , with the hull lying on it's side, take care to have it vertical, and slowly drilling the hole from outside to inside. When the tensioner arrives i will drill the appropriate diameter for the shaft.

3-) cut the outer molded part of the tensioners using the same thread method.

4-) with the cutter of the image and the mini hammer, and with the hull hold between my knees, cut with care both sides and get rid of the excess plastic that the thread has not cut (in my case the cuts were no too straight)

5-) file to left the sides very polite and vertical

6-) use a long and straight stick of the appropriate diameter to verify that both tensioners are facing each other in the right way

the pics:





i hope this helps!


best regards