RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Well I finally got around to ordering some Taigen metal drive sprockets and idler wheels for my sons HL Tiger. I've fitted the drive sprockets ok, but I'm not sure how to do the idlers. So far I've put the long shaft through the idler, and then screwed the 2 halves of the idler together. Am I right in thinking the next step it to drill through the HL hull, put a washer on the shaft and then the shaft through the hull, so the washer sits between the idler and the hull, then inside the hull, put 1 of the circlips over the the end of the shaft to hold it in place?

I've got a track tensioner that I was going to fit sometime, but thats got a threaded hole for the idler, so can't see how the Taigen idlers will fit it?

Take a look at this and see if it helps...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI3L9Rn0kcc


I would think that for the tensioner you'd just replace the shaft with a shoulder bolt of the appropriate size.


Bill

bikerdude wrote:Well I finally got around to ordering some Taigen metal drive sprockets and idler wheels for my sons HL Tiger. I've fitted the drive sprockets ok, but I'm not sure how to do the idlers. So far I've put the long shaft through the idler, and then screwed the 2 halves of the idler together. Am I right in thinking the next step it to drill through the HL hull, put a washer on the shaft and then the shaft through the hull, so the washer sits between the idler and the hull, then inside the hull, put 1 of the circlips over the the end of the shaft to hold it in place?

I've got a track tensioner that I was going to fit sometime, but thats got a threaded hole for the idler, so can't see how the Taigen idlers will fit it?

In short, yes, drill through and place the circling in its groove.
Once drilled, dummy fit the idler and verify the alignment to the drive sprocket using washers or a spacer if required, then once your happy snap the clip in position

What kind of tensioner do you have? It sounds to me like you are going to have a mismatch.
I've gone through the process. I know it inside out.
The Taigen set is very good. but it is perfect with a Henntec type of tensioner. If you have the Mato type of tensioner (which I understand can be fitted on this chassis) you will need Mato idlers for a perfect fit. And perfect fit is really what you want in this department because idlers take a lot of stress while driving. No wonder the original HL set up sucks.
The Mato idlers have a self tapping screw inside, they rely on a kind of inward facing force to operate well. Taigen idlers have a shaft inside which is good enough but the force is different. And you cant really use Mato idlers on a Henntec tensioner although you can sort of attach them.

p.s. I happen to have two unused Mato idlers with bearings in my stock. No use for me.

Thanks, for the replies, had some spare time today so got it all out and had a look. I had 2 different tensioners, one was a hentec, not sure on the brand of the other. The hentec looked like it was probably the better unit so I got the dremel out and fitted the tensioner, then the idlers were an easy fit. Haven't been able to test it really, with all the snow. My son did use it for 5-10 minutes and the tracks stayed on, but then it all got bunged up with snow. Will test it properly when the snows cleared.

Cheers.

Whenever there is a choice I would always go with the "Henntec" Tensioner.
Shaun.