Tiger I to King Tiger

[bikerdude]

I realise to a lot of people here this will be a big no no, but... With all the running issues on my sons Tiger I, if my last attempt to fix the sloppy rear idler wheels doesn't solve it does anyone know if it's possible to fit the drive sprocket and rear idlers from a King Tiger, to a Tiger I. The tracks would have to be changed to the KT as well, not sure if they would work with the standard Tiger road wheels, or they'd need to be swapped for the matching KT road wheels as well?

Anyone think this sounds remotely plausible, or are there glaringly obvious obstacles that I've missed? Thanks.

[tomhugill]

I also don't think you'd gain anything swapping the running gear. what improvements have you made to try and solve the problem so far?

[bikerdude]

Oh well, it was just a thought. Not done a lot so far, it was the basic plastic version, that's had metal gearboxes fitted. I've tried putting in an extra track link and taking 1 out, but that made no difference. The tracks always seem to ride outwards, so the idler will start off sitting between the bits on the inside of the tracks, then they'll end up between the wheel, then outside the wheel, and then the track comes off.

I did buy a couple of track tensioners, but haven't had time to fit them, and as the adding and removing links made no difference, I don't have much hope of the tensioner helping. Trying to watch it as it happens, it seems to me that they come off because the tracks are only supported on the inside, so my thinking was that as the KT idler is much wider, it'd support the track across a greater width and not allow it to twist like it does at the moment.

[jarndice]

" it seems to me that they come off because the tracks are only supported on the inside, so my thinking was that as the KT idler is much wider, it'd support the track across a greater width and not allow it to twist like it does at the moment".[/quote]


Having just read your piece I am left wondering if you have the tracks on the correct way round because the tracks when they are in the correct position will support the Idler on both sides,
If you look at your Tanks tracks you will see that half of the width of the track on the inside from the centre raised section to the edge is flat but in the centre is a raised section that runs the full length of the inside of the track and on the opposite outer edge is another raised section of track which again goes all the way around the inside of the track,
If the track is on in the right way the Idler sits supported in between these two raised sections,
If your Idler is unsupported on one side it must be because the track is the wrong way around.
Shaun.

[bikerdude]

It's those raised teeth-like parts that start off sitting either side of the idler, then work their way over, so 1 is sat between the 2 halves of the idler, then both on the outside, before the track then comes off. It's in his bedroom and he's asleep so cant get any photos at the moment, but I'll try and get some to explain what I mean over the next few days.

[bikerdude]

Had a look today, did get some photos, but forgot photobucket are useless now, so need to find a new place to upload them.
Anyway, I'd say the issue is definitely with the idler wheels, as theres a good 4mm+ freeplay, wobbling them side to side. I Tried tightening them but they're as tight as they can be. The problem seems to be with the brass bush inside the idler, it's too small and so even when fully tightened up again the washer it's still allowing sideways movement, so I'll either have to try and knock up some new bushes, open up the idler to take a very small bearing, or (hopefully) find a source of reasonably priced idlers that come with bearings already fitted, that will fit a Heng Long model.

On the plus side, while doing that I did get round to having a look at the lack of machine gun flash. I'd bought a metal machine gun with LED and fitted it a few months back, but it never worked. Had another look at it again, all wired up but still not working, so rummaged around and found a red LED in my box of bit, wired that to the tank and it worked, so I got a bit of rod, inserted it in the machine gun and gave it a sharp tap to knock the LED out the end, fitted the new 1, bit of heatshrink to hold it together, and all sorted, 1 working machine gun flash, and a very happy son.

So all that's left now is to sort the track throwing habit, and the lack of noise when firing the main gun, someone said before about a microswitch on the BB unit, but I had the turret apart and couldn't see which bit I was meant to be looking at, then had to clear the table for tea.

Happy Christmas to anyone who happens to be reading this!

[jarndice]

Hi, If you go to ---
www.forgebeartanks.com
and Click on the Tiger 1 you will find on page two a set of both early and a set of Late Idlers and Sprockets,
The early are for a Taigen Metal Hull and a Heng Long Plastic Hull,
The set comes complete with new axles for each type and from personal experience they are an easy fit.
Shaun,

[bikerdude]

Thanks, I did have a quick look and saw those, but it didn't look like they even had a brass bush in them, and couldn't see how they fit, as theres no hole in the centre to put a bolt or anything through, but hadn't noticed the little pack with bolts in. Does that mean you have to drill through the hull of a HL to fit the bolt?

[midlife306]

There are hubcaps that pop off, then you put the pins through
Cheers
Wayne


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[bikerdude]

Thanks, I'll get a set ordered tomorrow.