1/16 Tamiya King Tiger Road Wheels won’t spin

[Michael151722]

Hello,

I am near the end of the build and was doing a test run but for some reason on one side one of my road wheels don’t spin at all. It spins going backwards but not forwards. It’s weird I tried play with the idler tensioner but to no avail. Please help

Thank you

[Panzermechaniker]

What is going on with your idler? It's being pulled forward when you go forward and looks like it's preventing the wheel moving but then in reverse it goes back to a more normal position which allows the wheel to move. You should remove the tracks and check the idler. The Tamiya KT idler system is the worst one out there and is the first thing that should be replaced. Do yourself a favour and buy a Henntec tensioner system. I have one on both of my Tamiya KTs. The Tamiya KT idler system is pure garbage


https://www.rctank.de/Tamiya-King-Tiger ... system-116

[Michael151722]

What is going on with your idler? It's being pulled forward when you go forward and looks like it's preventing the wheel moving but then in reverse it goes back to a more normal position which allows the wheel to move. You should remove the tracks and check the idler. The Tamiya KT idler system is the worst one out there and is the first thing that should be replaced. Do yourself a favour and buy a Henntec tensioner system. I have one on both of my Tamiya KTs. The Tamiya KT idler system is pure garbage


https://www.rctank.de/Tamiya-King-Tiger ... system-116

Hello, Thank you for your reply I am planning on upgrading my idler wheels but saving for some upgrades and this tank alone took most of my budget, in the mean time is there a fix to it, I tried to change the position of my idler wheels etc but no use. It seems like that wheel is only spinning backwards but not forwards. On rougher terrain like over a cardboard it will kind of loosen up a little. Is it the track not meshing with it?

[Jofaur86]

Hello, indeed, as said above, it is the simplest and best system, the Tamiya being largely outdated. Attached is an old link, for possible improvements?
https://www.customrcmodels.com/shop/dar ... _parts.htm

[Michael151722]

Hello,

Thank you I will be looking to order those but in the meantime is there anything I can do to make it spin, as that is the only wheel that doesn’t spin when moving forward everything else does

Thank you

[Panzermechaniker]

If you look at your video the problem is with the idler shifting position. The idler isn't supposed to move position while driving. It should remain in place.The position it is in when you reverse is sort of where it should be. I don't know how it is moving like that which is why I mentioned you need to take the track off and see why it isn't mounted correctly or almost seemingly not at all.It's moving like as if the grub screw is not holding the idler wheel axle in place in the arm. You can tell just by the odd shape of the track. Take a look at other KT vids/pictures and compare them to what your right track looks like when you drive forward and you will see what I mean

[Son of a gun-ner]

Yes, I agree with Panzermechaniker, first thing you need to do is remove that track, then test just how much free movement that idler has. It's as if there aren't any bearings fitted in that idler, and the mounting screw/bolt is wobbling about like a prick in a boot.

[Michael151722]

Hello,

Thank you for the reply I did as told removed the tracks tightened up the grub screw but when it moves with the tracks my idler wheel still pushes forward I have tightened the idler tension I can still Kee on turning so I am not sure how tight I should go in this case?

[Panzermechaniker]

The idler should not be moving position at all when you are driving. The tensioning system itself only moves it slightly back and forwards to adjust track tension. If the idler is loose there is something else going wrong in there. It's been almost 3 years since I assembled that Tamiya KT idler system before immediately replacing it with the Henntec on my first one. But I don't remember my idler just moving freely like yours is, it was more it was useless as a tensioning system. You might have to take it apart and re-assemble it. It's such a ridiculous system who knows what has happened

[Son of a gun-ner]

If your idler is still sloppy/floppy/wobbly, tensioning the tracks won't help. We need to know why the idler isn't firmly fixed in place to stop it from being unnaturally pulled forward.
The Thing with the aftermarket idler tensioner, it keeps the idlers from flopping about like a dead Norwegian blue.