The return wheels are well supported on their axles.
The wheel is shown here removed, to show the brass axle bearings and two internal ball races.
......and its very tempting to clean away some of that authentic dirt!
Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
Re: Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
- Attachments
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- Well supported front axle.
- D36CBA91-AD23-4EEB-9CAF-1058FC5FAED9.jpeg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 1222 times
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- Return wheel axle bearings.
- 41284D54-9EE5-46F7-BE49-52DCE2CB5379.jpeg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 1224 times
Never too old to learn........
Re: Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
Mission completed Herr Dr.Professor.Herr Dr. Professor wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:01 am Gee, zooma, when you work out your Clark TK24 with your Fly Sky FS-i6, I will be quite interested. I could switch my M10 to my FS-i6. I'd like that, especially if you do all the work to figure it all out, and I don't need to spend any money. Ooooh, am I a weasel.
The only money you may need to spend is for the inexpensive adapter to convert the left hand stick unit to self centring.
Now that I have worked it out, the TK24 CH board works very well with the FlySky FS-i6 radio.
Bob..
Never too old to learn........
-
Herr Dr. Professor
- Captain
- Posts: 5228
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:48 pm
- Location: Southern Wisconsin USA
Re: Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
I am accustomed to various drive configurations, so I could even save that money.
Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild. Track Adjustment.
This early Challenger 2 is old enough to be one that was made with no track tension adjuster.
The track tension adjuster "shape" that is moulded onto the hull is exactly the same as the more recent ones that can be adjusted, but the unit is moulded in one solid piece and so nothing moves, so the tracks tension cannot be adjusted.
I am considering using a razor saw to cut off the "flipper" shape to see if I can make it pivot and move. This "flipper" shape actually has a hole moulded into it - in the exact position that the pivot bolt would fit if it could move!
The moulded line where the "flipper" needs to be separated is quite well defined, so if I can get a razor saw to reach into this area and I am able to cut to this line I should be able to remove it.
If I can remove the "flipper" part successfully I can then saw-off the dummy hydraulic shaft and drill through the hydraulic tube body and fit a 4mm cap head bolt to replicate the one that is fitted to more recent Challenger 2 tanks.
Assuming that these "flipper" shapes can be removed intact, I should be able to clean them up and copy the shapes from some scrap metal (ideally brass or alloy) and fix them back in place with 4mm cap head bolts so that they can pivot.
Apart from wanting to be able to adjust the track tension, I believe that as the adjustable "flipper" pivots forwards (and downwards) it will do so in an arching movement, and this in turn will increase the clearance between the top of the tracks and the underside of the hull moulding where it is currently rubbing.
Making these track tension adjusters work would solve the problem with the tracks rubbing against the top of the hull moulding so two problems could be solved at the same time.
Another alternative would be to buy a third party track adjuster instead.
Does anyone know of a good working track tension adjuster that is made to fit the Heng Long Challenger 2?
The track tension adjuster "shape" that is moulded onto the hull is exactly the same as the more recent ones that can be adjusted, but the unit is moulded in one solid piece and so nothing moves, so the tracks tension cannot be adjusted.
I am considering using a razor saw to cut off the "flipper" shape to see if I can make it pivot and move. This "flipper" shape actually has a hole moulded into it - in the exact position that the pivot bolt would fit if it could move!
The moulded line where the "flipper" needs to be separated is quite well defined, so if I can get a razor saw to reach into this area and I am able to cut to this line I should be able to remove it.
If I can remove the "flipper" part successfully I can then saw-off the dummy hydraulic shaft and drill through the hydraulic tube body and fit a 4mm cap head bolt to replicate the one that is fitted to more recent Challenger 2 tanks.
Assuming that these "flipper" shapes can be removed intact, I should be able to clean them up and copy the shapes from some scrap metal (ideally brass or alloy) and fix them back in place with 4mm cap head bolts so that they can pivot.
Apart from wanting to be able to adjust the track tension, I believe that as the adjustable "flipper" pivots forwards (and downwards) it will do so in an arching movement, and this in turn will increase the clearance between the top of the tracks and the underside of the hull moulding where it is currently rubbing.
Making these track tension adjusters work would solve the problem with the tracks rubbing against the top of the hull moulding so two problems could be solved at the same time.
Another alternative would be to buy a third party track adjuster instead.
Does anyone know of a good working track tension adjuster that is made to fit the Heng Long Challenger 2?
- Attachments
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- This is the track tension adjuster that is fitted to more recent Challenger 2 models.
- 02147EE8-97D7-4690-BA0D-6948873CADAC.jpeg (681.02 KiB) Viewed 1122 times
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- This is the cast alloy track adjuster shape.
- 8BE72DCC-FD40-41BD-A288-FBA0E0CE3A70.jpeg (555.32 KiB) Viewed 1122 times
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- The position of the 4mm adjuster bolt can be seen here.
- DD494CEF-7200-4496-A30C-600884822B9C.jpeg (676.28 KiB) Viewed 1122 times
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- A one piece solid moulding was supplied on the early Challenger 2 chassis. Non moveable and non working.
- BF1E9168-8953-4DB0-92C2-531997F29510.jpeg (766.17 KiB) Viewed 1122 times
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- The replacement part needs to fit and pivot like this.
- A2973E97-75DE-4970-807B-29B1B79F971E.jpeg (700.33 KiB) Viewed 1122 times
Never too old to learn........
-
ColemanCollector
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1065
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2023 8:50 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
Is this the flipper thing you're looking for ?
Mike.
- Screenshot_20250215_143308_Chrome.jpg (170.5 KiB) Viewed 1056 times
Elbows up
Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild. Track Adjuster.
Thanks Mike - YES that is the correct part to fit the later version Challenger 2.
I am hoping to make it fit my early version Challenger 2 .........but I would also like to find out if anyone makes a complete third party track adjuster that I could take a look at as well ?
HennTec is a name that I recall, but I cannot find any information about his track adjuster to fit the Challenger 2.....and I don't know of anyone else that makes a track adjuster to fit it?
Bob.
I am hoping to make it fit my early version Challenger 2 .........but I would also like to find out if anyone makes a complete third party track adjuster that I could take a look at as well ?
HennTec is a name that I recall, but I cannot find any information about his track adjuster to fit the Challenger 2.....and I don't know of anyone else that makes a track adjuster to fit it?
Bob.
Never too old to learn........
Re: Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
This wheel is called a sloth wheel...
Re: Used Challenger Strip and Rebuild.
Thank you for the link.
I have contacted HennTec and received a reply to advise that they do not make a track adjuster to fit the Heng Long Challenger 2.
Maybe they make a track adjuster for a different tank that I can adjust to fit as I do like the HennTec design that has the cross bar across the chassis and some of the pictures on their site look very much like they have been fitted to similar sized MBT's .
Never too old to learn........
