RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi All

After some advice please, I have done a forum search and have not found much joy on answers, so excuse me if it's a common question
I've just stripped my M41 Bulldog, and seen the plastic gears are stripped, the smaller one connecting to the drive sprocket shaft (if that's the correct term for it). I've looked at various sites to purchase a replacement gearbox, but am getting a bit confused as to what I need.
Prices range from £9.00 for plastic geared boxes to £70 for metal geared boxes.
With the metal ones which is what I want to upgrade to is where the questions come in:
pot metal - cheapest
Brass - more expensive
Steel - most expensive

Q1 - There are also many different brands, so which ones are better/best?
Also I assume, as with my helicopters, once you upgrade to a metal part something else has to give to the stresses, now I appreciate the tanks motors are not spinning at ridiculously fast rpm's, but I suppose the same concept applies here.
Q2. What other recommended upgrades should I do to avert breakages with a metal gearbox upgrade, is the plastic chassis a concern?
Q3. gear ratios, I've seen 3:1, 4:1, 5:1 - 5:1 I would assume gives more torque/pulling power and less speed? which is better for less stress throughout?

For the Bulldog, I think I will have to resign to the fact it will just be a general play around for myself and my son, due to lack of upgrade parts for it, so not too bothered on realism etc.. that will go in to my Panzer.

look forward to your helpful replies

cheers
Andy

My two brass or steel two cents here The ratios as posted in detail somewhere on the forum are misleading in the 3:1 to 5:1 thing.
Those numbers are the number of shafts but the 4:1 in my view are the slowest/best for the larger tanks like Tiger, Panther etc.
Steel is stronger and louder than brass but again my view..with the stress factors on these small models..really comes down to preference
and what is available/fits your model. The best gears in some ways are these DKLM ones that Maxmeker shows off I think..BUT you need a clark or IBU board to run them. Finally I have the steel gears 4:1 on my Panther/Tiger and KTiger and Brass on my StuG.

Hi
Contact Dave at Forgebear Tanks. He can get you a good pair of metal gearboxes that are a direct replacement for your plastic ones. I usually run my tanks on plastic until they wear out and then upgrade to these metal ones from dave, so far I have not seen any wear being passed further down the chain yet ( I usually run my tanks at club meets or in my garden). Anyway talk to Dave he is a Tanker himself and not just a dealer, so can give you good practical advice.

Thanks for the replies so far.
Tao - so with the Bulldog being a 'lighter class?' of tank the 3:1 will be fine? I take it the stock motors can handle any ratio or is it advised to upgrade them as well with different ratio gearboxes?
I like the fact that steel sounds 'louder' than others lol... I like noise! Those DKLM gears look awesome but dang they're expensive!
I saw the Clark boards earlier and defo's gonna get one for my Panzer to I can use my Spektrum DX8 for 2.4ghz setup

Hawkeye3guns - Thanks for the tip, I been on fleabay and seen Forgebears site, quite a bit of good stuff he has.

Good afternoon,
You have the best idea in that one of your tanks can be for play dates with your son and you can keep the basic units in it ( until and unless you find that you are replacing plastic tracks, sprockets, idlers and gearboxs quite often ) and go for the upgrades in your PzIII. Dave from Forgebear can set you up with your Walker needs as well as steel gearboxes for that tank. MaxMekker or Robert from ETO can get you costlier and bulletproof types of gearboxes if you want to go that route.
regards,
Painless

Andy Mc, You will do better going to Dave's own website at ---
www.forgebeartanks.com
I put that site in my Favourites cache with no regrets.
Shaun.

PainlessWolf wrote:Good afternoon,
You have the best idea in that one of your tanks can be for play dates with your son and you can keep the basic units in it ( until and unless you find that you are replacing plastic tracks, sprockets, idlers and gearboxs quite often ) and go for the upgrades in your PzIII. Dave from Forgebear can set you up with your Walker needs as well as steel gearboxes for that tank. MaxMekker or Robert from ETO can get you costlier and bulletproof types of gearboxes if you want to go that route.
regards,
Painless

Yea sort of learnt that the hard way with my helicopters! always keep a 'runner/barebones' setup to play and learn on, else things get silly expensive. problem with these hobbies are they so addictive and we always want more lol

thanks Jarndice for the link, will certainly save in my favourites list, everyone seems to be mentioning Dave so i'm sure i'll be in good hands with good products and a weaker wallet

silly question - but on all the sites I been on, incl Daves..the pictures show a full gearbox with motors, so do these come with motors or without? is it literally just the metal gears you get and they need fitting?

They typically come with the motors so you just drop the new ones in..motors and all...and the motors are also a bit stronger than the stock ones too!