Heng Long Suspension Spring Rates, Spring Settings, Adjustment Discussion
Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 3:18 am
While putting my Jagdpanther back together after doing an entire teardown for my project, I noticed 2 distinctly different springs-
Although they have the same amount of coils, one is clearly thicker than the other-
I never noticed this before on other tanks I have that I've removed the wheels and suspension from because I had kept all the parts meticulously organized and separated to go back exactly where they came from. This project was a bit bigger and different.
So here are the different "Spring Clocking Holes" -
The 10 O'clock position is the firmer setting with either spring and softer setting with 11 O'clock. (NOTE that the clocking may be different on your model of tank so you will need to test to see what best suits you,)
After deciding where to place my firmer springs I then inserted them into their respective slots. Then I decided if I wanted them to be a Firm Spring/Firm Setting or a Firm Spring/Soft Setting. Same with the Softer Springs, Soft/Firm, Soft/Soft.
After I got all the springs where I wanted them I just placed the trailing or leading suspension arm over the spring notch including the washer then the hex screw, screwed it down till I could sneak the arm into the travel channel then held it and tightened the screw to Snug then a tiny bit extra. It is Very Important to NOT OVER-TIGHTEN THESE SCREWS! 1. You may strip the screw. 2. You may strip out the plastic hole where the screw goes and 3. You may tighten too much that the wheel might not spin properly.
Both the Same Spring on 2 different settings or "clockings" the one on the right is the firmer setting, the one on the left softer.
Previously I thought all the spring rates were the same on each tank just on different clocking settings. Turns out it's a combination of spring rates AND clocking settings.
Here is a video that I thought best showed the concept and process-
NOTE that this person in the video added new clocking holes to adjust their suspension to their liking. In their case SOFTER.
I learned something new and I hope I can help others
Chef
Although they have the same amount of coils, one is clearly thicker than the other-
I never noticed this before on other tanks I have that I've removed the wheels and suspension from because I had kept all the parts meticulously organized and separated to go back exactly where they came from. This project was a bit bigger and different.
So here are the different "Spring Clocking Holes" -
The 10 O'clock position is the firmer setting with either spring and softer setting with 11 O'clock. (NOTE that the clocking may be different on your model of tank so you will need to test to see what best suits you,)
After deciding where to place my firmer springs I then inserted them into their respective slots. Then I decided if I wanted them to be a Firm Spring/Firm Setting or a Firm Spring/Soft Setting. Same with the Softer Springs, Soft/Firm, Soft/Soft.
After I got all the springs where I wanted them I just placed the trailing or leading suspension arm over the spring notch including the washer then the hex screw, screwed it down till I could sneak the arm into the travel channel then held it and tightened the screw to Snug then a tiny bit extra. It is Very Important to NOT OVER-TIGHTEN THESE SCREWS! 1. You may strip the screw. 2. You may strip out the plastic hole where the screw goes and 3. You may tighten too much that the wheel might not spin properly.
Both the Same Spring on 2 different settings or "clockings" the one on the right is the firmer setting, the one on the left softer.
Previously I thought all the spring rates were the same on each tank just on different clocking settings. Turns out it's a combination of spring rates AND clocking settings.
Here is a video that I thought best showed the concept and process-
NOTE that this person in the video added new clocking holes to adjust their suspension to their liking. In their case SOFTER.
I learned something new and I hope I can help others
Chef