Idler Wheel distance on Tamiya Tiger 1

[Muscleflex]

Hi all,
It's me again!
Just a question - I think I have my tension correct now (well it's not slipping anymore after I took a link out of each side last night) but this is something that's bugged me since I noticed it when I got the tank...

The idler wheels are not the same distance from the next roadwheels with the other side. ie left idler wheel is closer to the roadwheel compared to the idler wheel on the right side.

Is this normal and ok?

My idler arms are aligned. It's not like one arm is higher than the other - they're both aligned with each other

Left idler wheel touching roadwheel next to it:


Right idler wheel has space between it and next roadwheel:

[DavidByrden]

Well, firstly, this isn't a problem, because the idler wheels on a Tiger were moved independently to adjust the track tension. So it's not unusual to have them misaligned on the same tank.

Secondly, the road wheels were not exactly opposite each other; but the difference was very small, it wouldn't account for the difference on your model.

Thirdly, it doesn't look as if your idlers are aligned. The right one seems to be significantly higher up than the left one. I wonder what their arms look like, in behind there.

David

[billpe]

Perhaps one track is longer than the other? It doesn't really matter as long as the tension is good and the idler isn't rubbing on a wheel.

[Muscleflex]

Thanks...
I'll open it up when I get home and will take a photo and will post on here. My brother said perhaps the track tension is too tight that it's pulling one wheel more than the other..
I do find the idler wheels have a lot of play... maybe they are supposed to have this like you've said - for adjustment?
The tracks are the same length. I measured them when I had both of them out last week.
Thanks

[billpe]

I don't think on any of my tanks the idlers on both sides are in the same place. As David says, the wheels on one side are not aligned on the other, so this will affect idler position. As the track pins wear and stretch, tension will also change. I'd be surprised if the plastic track tension would pull the idler or arm out of it's setting, just by the way it's designed. If there is too much tension you're more likely to do one of two things: Snap a track (or bend a pin) or bend the hull around the idler arm. I wouldn't be concerned about it's position, just that you have good enough tension that the track doesn't ride off at all and it's not too tight.

If the idler wheel itself has allot of slop on the axle that's an entirely different problem though. It's not the tightest of fits anyway but it shouldn't wobble or have more than a fraction of a millimeters play in it. The arm itself has a little more slop but not much or enough to affect tension. It's something on the Tamiya Tiger that doesn't really need any aftermarket parts/adjustment to make it work, unlike the idler on the Tamiya King Tiger or Leopard 2.

[Muscleflex]

Thanks. The tank was given to me all built by my brother. I know nothing about tanks and up to last week before I took the idler arms out to adjust it, I didn't know how it worked!
I'll keep what you've said in mind and will not worry about it too much. I might do a video of how loose my idler arms are just to show you guys and you can tell me whether i should be concerned or not.

[Muscleflex]

Hi all!
Thanks once again for all the help! I think I sorted it out!
The main problem was (and I didn't see this until at the very end).. the idler arm was not pushed properly into the holes! I'm sure it was always like this (I'm blaming my brother for this as well! hah! )
Here's the video I took before I noticed the problem! Sorry about the orientation. I thought I had my phone in landscape mode.


The left side slips once in a while... so I will adjust that a tad.. but overall, I'm happy! Will need to take this outdoors this weekend if I have time and will give it a proper run!
It's never run outside yet!

[Muscleflex]

Here is another quick video I shot showing the idler arm fixed in its place:


Again sorry it was in portrait. I shot this in landscape but I must have pressed the record button while it was still in portrait mode