Heng Long Turret Turn Upgrade

[Tankbear]

This upgrade will probably be more to the benefit of users who have upgraded the electronics package and have proportional turret turn control, although can be done regardless of the electronics your running.

The objective is to make the turret turn faster (this might be undesired with HL controls) but with proportional control you have the benefit of fast turning or slow controlled movements. Plus if you’re into IR battling to Tamiya standard as your tank receives damage the turret naturally rotates slower, so starting with a faster turning your less penalised.

The upgrade is simple as changing the motor in the rotation unit. You will notice that the motor plastic end cap is a certain colour (black, blue, green, yellow, white) these are basically different speed. I unfortunately don’t know which order is best apart from what I tried with green been starting motor, yellow slower, black faster.

If you have a HL tank with the small turret gear (about 10cm diameter) then if you have a spare airsoft unit, use that motor as is faster and better quality than the one in the turret turn unit.

If you’ve one of the modern tanks (ZTZ99 or Leopard 2A6) your already at a disadvantage as it uses a larger turret gear which unfortunately means slower turning. What I found to work in this instance is buying some high speed motors. I found some white cap ones rated at 13,100rpm @ 3v these work quite well in these tanks, although after some use (about 9 months) the motor does stop working due to the excessive voltage.

The same also be done with the elevation motor unit.

Here's some short videos.

Turret rotation faster unit and 360 degree rotation


Elevation unit


Ian.

[wibblywobbly]

I went through the same exercise on my ZTZ, the white cap was the fastest, I think I got it down to a 9 sec 360 degree turn in the end?

As to why HL put that useless motor in a turret with a ring that size is anybody's guess...

The only thing to watch out for is catching the barrel on anything as the stall amps going through the motor will shorten its life quite rapidly and put a lot of pressure on the board esc. I discovered this the expensive way when I saw magic smoke coming from my SLU. Luckily the turret esc's are on a small piggy backed board so I could simply remove it. The motor was also toast. I tried two more white caps and then went back to another colour when I ran out of them.

[Tankbear]

Short of remaking the turret motor gearbox with a few less gears I can't see an easier option.

[Wildboar44]

Thanks for posting the advice on this subject . Excuse the dumb question, electronics are a mistery to me , What would I be
ordering as a replacement ...ie spec ?... 3v you say, but are they sized ? ...some have those "resistors" thingy's , some dont ,
have you a link for a possible supplier as my ZTZ just about beats a sundial in turning !

Thanks in advance

Gordo

[Tankbear]

Hi Gordo.

Here's ones I put in mine ZTZ you see in the video.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300648764340? ... 1423.l2649

I just put them in the tank and used it but first time the motor smelt a bit burning, so might be worth running them on 3v battery (2 AA) to bed in the bushes first then it might last a bit longer when installed in the tank.

Ian.

[Tankbear]

I might give this a go.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190837265361? ... 1423.l2649

Lose the worn gear and put the first gear directly on the shaft of this motor.

Watch this space (well in about 3 weeks when it arrives)

Ian.

[Wildboar44]

I might give this a go.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190837265361? ... 1423.l2649

Lose the worn gear and put the first gear directly on the shaft of this motor.

Watch this space (well in about 3 weeks when it arrives)

Ian.

The Child in me said " just mount it direct to the bottom of the turret".... 8600rpm and it should take off all right !