Trouble with low profile gearboxes

[tribalmasters]

Hi guys!

Been browsing a while but this is my first post

I got me a HL Panzer III, just bought some heavy duty gearboxes and asiatam wheels from Forgebear,  an aluminium hull from Welsh dragon and also got hold of some metal tracks too 

Problem is I can't seem get the damn gearboxes to fit the new hull!!  I have 2 problems 1 is that although all the important holes seem to line up, I can't get at them too well to tighten the screws as they are under the cogs!!  Is it important to screw them all in or can I get away with just the ones I can get to?  The second problem is the part where the sprockets attach to the gearboxes one of them is longer by about a centimetre than the other is there a way around it or should I talk to forgebear?

On a lighter note I don't seem to be having any problems with the electronics hehe!

Thanks guys!!

[septon]

the man to ask about the asiatam gearboxes is rob (fv432) hi fit them to most of his tanks


paul

[Woz]

1-Use a dremel or hacksaw to shorten the screws.

2-If you mean the output shaft that the drive sprocket screws onto then get in touch with Forgebear as these have to be the same length. (The US tanks use a shorter shaft, so may be there's been a mix up.)

[tribalmasters]

If I shorten the screws will that make them easier to screw in?  Going to get a little help on that one next week   As for the other problem I noticed looking at the gearboxes that they may have been from different batches as the brass is shiny on one and dull on the other.  On the original heng long boxes the bit that attaches to the sprocket only stuck out the side a little way as does one of the new gearboxes.  The other sticks out quite a bit more so I think that may be the wrong one perhaps!!

[fv432]

hi tribalmasters

the problem you have is the same as mine its the plate the boxes sit on in the chassis  :-[

they have been made wrong well out of wack on oneside

[fv432]

these boxes as far as im aware only come in the short version for pz3-4 and tiger

[tribalmasters]

Maybe Forgebear accidentally put a tiger one in with my panzer one hehe!   Since I am no good at drilling stuff should I exchange them both for normal Heng Long ones or is it an easy fix?

[fv432]

its the mounting plate from the hull thats at fault and not the boxes

theres only one type of low profile box 

all thats needed is to pre-fit the boxes attach the sprockets and reacks and mark where the holes should be and re-drill the holes in the chassis plate lol not the boxes

[tribalmasters]

When I relocate my holes can I remove the hull plate and screw the boxes in from the bottom?  Is that how they should fit?  I can't get at the holes from the top as the cogs are in the way

Good thing is I know someone with a big drill to help me

[Wight]

I am surprised at this,I thought the heavy duty gearboxes were also asiatam and would be a direct fit.

I have had problems fitting the standard gearboxes,but got around it by cutting a bit off the front of each so they clear the front plate nuts.Also drilled a hole in the side of each gearbox so that the front return roller stub goes into it.Once this was done the gearboxes lined up fine.
Although it is extremely tricky putting the fixing screws in and only 2 lined up on one side where as 3 lined up on the other.Seems fine with 2 though.

This is how the front of the gearboxes look,this was the only way I was able to get the standard gearboxes to line up.




This is without the cut outs.



Well worth the hassle once you've done it though.
Good luck.
Steve.