RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hey guys i have got nylon gears in my tiger 1 and do you think it is good or better if I was to put metal sprockets medal idlers and metal tracks with the the nylon gears

Hi Applelover

Personally if I were using plastic gearboxes i would stick to plastic tracks and sprockets.

I'm a novice so perhaps someone will come along who knows a lot more. But I chose to forego steel tracks when i chose my king tiger. (I did get the metal idlers and sprocket though, thee is more room in the idler to modify and add bearings inside and more axle options).

A lot of people prefer to use the plastic tracks. They say the plastic tracks are lighter and don't put the same amount of strain on the gear box, tk18 board, and battery time. Also if you want to drive the tank more inside house much of the time, the plastic tracks are definitely preferable. Those metal tracks aren't doing your wood floor any good.

From my experience.

Metal tracks add a lot of weight to a tank and are noisey. Like other have said will also add wear to components and shorten battery life. The plastic tracks are fine I’ve had my Tiger 1 for 3 years and only once snapped a link and I use mine out on the grass.

Metal sprockets, no advantage. I do use metal with my plastic tracks because I snapped a few teeth off the plastic ones.

Metal Idler? Yes but not because it’s metal, the plastic version goes wobbly quickly and therefore makes the tracks come off more frequently. I changed to the metal and long 4mm bolt for the axle as this gave a stronger installation and less wobbly, again this has lasted 3 years with out any further attention.

Ian.

Tankbear wrote:From my experience.

Metal tracks add a lot of weight to a tank and are noisey. Like other have said will also add wear to components and shorten battery life. The plastic tracks are fine I’ve had my Tiger 1 for 3 years and only once snapped a link and I use mine out on the grass.

Metal sprockets, no advantage. I do use metal with my plastic tracks because I snapped a few teeth off the plastic ones.

Metal Idler? Yes but not because it’s metal, the plastic version goes wobbly quickly and therefore makes the tracks come off more frequently. I changed to the metal and long 4mm bolt for the axle as this gave a stronger installation and less wobbly, again this has lasted 3 years with out any further attention.

Ian.

Well said Tankbear. I also use plastic tracks and have yet to have a problem with them. i use metal sprockets simply because i like the lower gear ratio of the black steel gearboxes and the drive shafts of the steel gearboxes are a slightly larger diameter and my plastic sprockets would not fit them.

I think metal tracks just add a bit of realism. When driving on grass the tank drives through the grass and not on the grass. Can't say about battery life as I use +3000 in my tanks and they run long enough.

When you start adding metal tracks etc then you have to strengthen other parts of the tank but for me thats no problem because tinkering is one of the things I enjoy about the hobby.

Had my Tiger 8 years and only had one problem it was when I first added metal tracks etc but didn't do anything else to the tank and a suspension arm broke off.

I will readily admit I'm quite backwards when it comes to running gear compared to the battling fraternity. I'm very much metal tracks, impact low ratio gearboxes and metal sprockets and idlers. On my German heavies I like them to drive like the 60T beasts they purport to be. However on my battlers I favour tamiya gearboxes and plastic tracks, on fact I reverted back to the standard ratio tamiyas (previously had impacts) on my panther so I can battle with it again.

Thanks guys

what goes well with the nylon gears?
if trying to use metal tracks, it will be plastic shavings & empty wallet!
for thick carpet or not manicured lawns i would recommend black steel gearboxs.
if only on well kept lawns & wooden floors, then just glue up the clutches & away you go.