RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi chaps, I am having a pig of a job trying to get the correct tension in the track of a 1/6th scale tank I am rebuilding. On the original model the tension was placed on the rear axle using springs. If this worked or not I have know idea, as I never saw the tank move. At the moment I have made two blocks out of aluminium with a slot in each to take the rear axle and a bolt on each end of the slot to lock the axle in place when I get the correct tension. The problem I have is that it looks like the correct tension places the rear axle outside the hull. The only other thing that I can adjust is the ride height. But before I start playing around with too many things, I wanted to ask one of you chaps in the know if there is a good way to check, 1. The correct ride height. And 2. The best method of getting the correct tension in the track. Thanks

That depends on which tank we are talking about? some tanks did have the rear idler axle swing out behind the tank - Panzer IV and Sherman are two that spring to mind immediately.

The other question to be answered is how many track links should the tank have in real life - if you have more or less than the correct figure, then that would indicate perhaps whether the tensioner was in the correct place and the ride height was correct?

If all else fails, just remove a link or two. No one else will count them!

It’s a tiger one. Maybe removing a few links will be the way. Thanks

A tiger should have 96. As Jumbo suggests, nobody awards points for the correct number of links...

BUT, if you find you end up with significantly less than that figure it could indicate you have other problems such as bent track pins or worn pin holes in the tracks. Shortening the track and cranking up the tension won't fix those issues - at the least the track will fail to mesh properly on the drive sprocket if they have stretched too much, at worst it could be a sign of impending failure of a link or pin.

On the other hand, if you find an extra then it might well have been the case the original builder put in one more to give it the sagged look of a used track when it was new, and now the tracks have gotten a little use and stretched, it can be safely removed.

terry1956 wrote:Hi chaps, I am having a pig of a job trying to get the correct tension in the track of a 1/6th scale tank I am rebuilding. On the original model the tension was placed on the rear axle using springs. If this worked or not I have know idea, as I never saw the tank move. At the moment I have made two blocks out of aluminium with a slot in each to take the rear axle and a bolt on each end of the slot to lock the axle in place when I get the correct tension. The problem I have is that it looks like the correct tension places the rear axle outside the hull. The only other thing that I can adjust is the ride height. But before I start playing around with too many things, I wanted to ask one of you chaps in the know if there is a good way to check, 1. The correct ride height. And 2. The best method of getting the correct tension in the track. Thanks

A quick picture of what you are trying to deal with would help. What make is the tank?

I would suggest changing the title of this thread to something like "correct track tension 1/6th Tiger 1." To attract those that have 1/6th tigers to look in on this problem, they may know what's best