Heng Long track tensioners strength?

[Estnische]

I noticed this form of track tensioner for a T34 on another forum.

Are these made from pot metal? Has anyone had any breakages? Are there any strengthening/reinforcing solutions?

[HERMAN BIX]

jeez I'd wished I had've seen that .
Where from & what are they worth ?

[Estnische]

It's a 6.0 HL T34 featured on a US forum. Somewhere in my other browsing, I seem to recall someone's HL tank (not a T34) breaking this mechanism and searching for spares. If it is pot metal, I'd be looking to perhaps drill it out and insert a brass tube to reinforce it before it breaks.

Especially if it had metal tracks, road wheels and sprockets, and a T34/76 project was being planned while one was a long time banking up travel allowances.

[HERMAN BIX]

My T34 has had a belting over the years since I finished it, The left idler specifically has been subjected to impacts from climbing over a low wall on the tank-walk we used to use at shows. Its not failed but the gear boxes are pretty flogged. Thats just a stadard H/L one with a bit of epoxy added to stiffen it.
Of course its no "Henntec" but its better than nothing.

[Estnische]

This seems to be different to other T34 lower hulls. Does your look like this?

[HERMAN BIX]

Roughly?, yes, but the small speaker identifies that its a 6.0/6.1 version.
Mine was all plastic, including the idler mount.
im running all metal running gear, tracks are the weakest of the lot.
Could it be that the older plastic that H/L used has been replaced with a less robust compound that they are using metal to replace on key components ?