tracks coming off
Re: tracks coming off
Wow...I've been beatin the hell outta My Tiger 1 and never has it thrown a track. Metal tracks and drive wheels, plastic idlers... No problemo
I don't know what makes em work...I just drive em
HL Tiger 1...Non S&S converted to IR S&S. metal suspension arms and spigots, metal tracks, metal drive wheels and idlers
HL Tiger 1...Non S&S converted to IR S&S. metal suspension arms and spigots, metal tracks, metal drive wheels and idlers
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daviddunlop
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- Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:10 pm
- Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Re: tracks coming off
ForgeBear, you were very close in your guess about the number of track links on the Tiger I. It is actually 96 links per side.
There are two aspects to reliable track operation: track tension and wheel alignment. Most of the discussion here seems to focus on the problem of tension. Given the rear idler design HL used is not the best available, there are a lot of tank commanders out there operating their Tiger I's who have seldom if ever had issues with the idlers bending or breaking, or having tracks thrown.
The main tension problems can happen at either end of the tension spectrum. If your tracks are too tight, you end up pulling on the rear idler assembly which can eventually bend it forward. With enough of an angle on the idler wheel, it becomes easier for the track to slip off. With too tight a track, rough ground ends up creating a series of sharp tugs on the track and these bear mostly on the idler assembly...the weakest link.
At the other end of the tension spectrum, you can have too much play in the track. Granted that big old track slumped down on top of all the road wheels might look very cool, but take a closer look at what will happen every time you stop and start your tank. As soon as your drive motor starts up, it has to take up all that slack track laying along your road wheels. This allows the drive motor to gain a surprising amount of momentum. Once all that upper track slack is gone, the torque of the motor slams right into the rear idle assembly. Over time that will bend or break the assembly.
The other consideration in good track operation is the wheel alignment. If all the road wheels, or even one road wheel assembly are not in proper alignment with the drive sprocket and idler assemblies, it will force the track to curve as it runs along the ground. Add this to uneven ground and a turn, and the risk of throwing the track increases considerably. I have a drawing somewhere in my files that shows the correct track alignment for the Tiger I. As soon as I can track it down (no pun intended) I will post it for you.
Best regards,
David
There are two aspects to reliable track operation: track tension and wheel alignment. Most of the discussion here seems to focus on the problem of tension. Given the rear idler design HL used is not the best available, there are a lot of tank commanders out there operating their Tiger I's who have seldom if ever had issues with the idlers bending or breaking, or having tracks thrown.
The main tension problems can happen at either end of the tension spectrum. If your tracks are too tight, you end up pulling on the rear idler assembly which can eventually bend it forward. With enough of an angle on the idler wheel, it becomes easier for the track to slip off. With too tight a track, rough ground ends up creating a series of sharp tugs on the track and these bear mostly on the idler assembly...the weakest link.
At the other end of the tension spectrum, you can have too much play in the track. Granted that big old track slumped down on top of all the road wheels might look very cool, but take a closer look at what will happen every time you stop and start your tank. As soon as your drive motor starts up, it has to take up all that slack track laying along your road wheels. This allows the drive motor to gain a surprising amount of momentum. Once all that upper track slack is gone, the torque of the motor slams right into the rear idle assembly. Over time that will bend or break the assembly.
The other consideration in good track operation is the wheel alignment. If all the road wheels, or even one road wheel assembly are not in proper alignment with the drive sprocket and idler assemblies, it will force the track to curve as it runs along the ground. Add this to uneven ground and a turn, and the risk of throwing the track increases considerably. I have a drawing somewhere in my files that shows the correct track alignment for the Tiger I. As soon as I can track it down (no pun intended) I will post it for you.
Best regards,
David
Re: tracks coming off
Idealy the track should come down on the third road wheel from the sprocket but over time tracks stretch so you'll need to take a link out.
It's important that everything lines up right and that the suspension arms don't have any sideways movement.
If everythings tight and lined up then it's hard to throw a track, even if the track is too slack-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqARyBz5FsU
It's important that everything lines up right and that the suspension arms don't have any sideways movement.
If everythings tight and lined up then it's hard to throw a track, even if the track is too slack-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqARyBz5FsU
Last edited by Woz on Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
