Tamiya's Standard Tracks

[Muscleflex]

Hi all,
I just want to ask - I have the Tamiya Tiger I Early Production Full Option tank - with the standard track. Where can I use it on? Ie the tracks?
Will they be ok on grass? dirt? rocks? road?

Or are they only good indoors on carpet and laminated wood flooring?

also can anyone tell me how I can check the correct tightness of my tracks? (I inherited my tank from my brother - I know nothing about tanks) I think my track might be a tad loose

[tomhugill]

The tiger ones are ok and the rest with one exception seem fine, the king tiger ones are however very weak and should be replaced if you plan on running on grass or dirt.

[Muscleflex]

Hi - thanks. I am picking up a King Tiger tomorrow.
Do I change it to metal or what alternatives are there?

Why is grass hard on the tracks? I saw somewhere that someone mentioned that grass is a big no for the tanks? I would have thought grass is ok as it's soft?

[jarndice]

Track tension is not an exact science but if your track leaves the front sprocket and touches down for the first time on the third wheel back from the sprocket you have it about right.
As to the surface you drive your Tank on, How you drive is at least as important as where you drive,
Smoothness works, Ham fisted brutality will impress the passing audience but it will not keep your tracks in place for long.
shaun

[billpe]

Short grass is fine. Longer than an inch and you pass on a ton of gearbox and hull stress if you try and pivot turn. The Tamiya Tiger is better at coping with this since the hull is built like a box, it's pretty tough, but the KT hull is more like you'd see on a HL or Taigan so prone to a little bit of warping.

Metal tracks will help to some degree however additional weight passes on the strain to a different component.

[Muscleflex]

Thanks. I'll have to check the tracks. They are not loose you see. They have been painted so some might be stiff.
That's why I thought maybe if I run it on carpet inside the house for a bit, they might loosen? I have changed to a single 4000 lipo now so I'm hoping that's saved some weight compared to 2 x 1700nicad packs my brother gave me.

[ALPHA]

A good way to check your track tension is to put your tank on a 2x4 and block it ...see how much hangs off the bottom...I usually set mine at about a 1/4 in below the road wheels...I use this method on all my tanks...it gives you a nice track slack when sitting ...and easy running
Grass doesn't bother my tanks no matter the length of it...I also take my tanks over stones and rocks...the only two obstacles I've never tried is Snow and Sand...I heard wet sand will kill most tracks...and snow can be hazardous if you don't prep correctly

ALPHA

[Muscleflex]

Thanks Alpha - I'll have a look and will try your tip.

[billpe]

They look a little slack. They look like the real thing but for a model need more tension.

Powder snow is fine. Wet snow will destroy your entire running gear, tracks, wheels, idlers, the lot. It builds up in the idlers and gaps in the wheels and will either detrack the tank or bend/break pins. It will also put stress on the axles and hull as the track stretches.

[Muscleflex]

Thanks. So if I do come to the conclusion that it's slack, how do I tighten it? Take out a link or is it the idler that I need to look at?