Should I be worried ?

[Ryliepup]

So I was doing some Maintenance on my Upgraded Henlong M1A1 Abrams and I noticed the plastic around the sprockets axel had cracks on both sides I’m just wondering if this is a major issue or not

[jarndice]

And you are who exactly ?

[Jimster]

Looks ominous! Try filling the cracks with some solvent or epoxy or something similar to reinforce it. Seems like a failure waiting to happen.

[Ryliepup]

And you are who exactly ?

I just joined the forum I’m new here

[PainlessWolf]

Ryliepup!
Hello and welcome to the Forum. It's recommended for new guys to go and do an introduction. Tell us about your interest in scale armor, what tanks you have and how you'd like to grow your collection maybe. We love to chat and kick the virtual road wheels around here. Pics are a bonus as well. The people on the Forum are an ever growing repository of scale tank knowledge and lore. We're looking forward to your contribution of that library of knowledge.
regards,
Painless

[Son of a gun-ner]

Well young man, I would stop running the tank till the problem is sorted. Just gluing the cracks won't be strong enough.
You'll need some two part epoxy glue, and a metal band, a short off cut from a suitable diameter tube, that will fit snugly over the damaged plastic drive shaft retainer.
It's better to sand the plastic for a tight fit rather than have an oversized diameter tube. The length of the tube should be no more than the length of the retainer, and no less than half its length. Then once you have a tight fit sorted, glue the tube in place. Best to do both sides while you're at it.

[tankme]

That is the outer support bearing mount. It can actually be removed and replaced. Most of the HL Abrams don't even have these "support bearings" installed so to me it's not a big deal. AliExpress has plastic replacements...or metal replacements:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... mainSearch

[Will01Capri]

The fact it is cracked suggests there is a fatigue taking place based on some load
If it is a support bearing and that housing is cracked, then it suggests there is reason to have a support bearing. Removing it may prevent the cracks, but that shaft is either flexing or the gearbox in the hull is flexing. Sounds like later on then cracks maybe appear elsewhere.

Personally i would be advising to check the gearboxes are secure and then i would be looking to reinforce the hull and maybe repair or upgrade the support bearing area. Some people have made their own support bearing housings, some 3d printed, others fashioned from steel/alu