RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Looking at picking up a basic plastic geared, plastic track HL Sherman to mess around with. I don't see much on here about people swapping gearboxes or motors with these, so that might be my answer.
Are there recommendations for upgraded gearboxes and motors for these?
Thank you.

jzoo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 12:04 am Looking at picking up a basic plastic geared, plastic track HL Sherman to mess around with. I don't see much on here about people swapping gearboxes or motors with these, so that might be my answer.
Are there recommendations for upgraded gearboxes and motors for these?
Thank you.

I don’t know much about the Sherman, but from what I have read, the basic plastic version is a reliable runner. I believe even the track are quite strong. I would consider steel gearboxes, and see how it runs. I am sure those with more experience will be along to give better advice.

Just like my friend said, it all depends on what you intend to use it for. If it's for cement, carpet, etc., and just for playing, no problem. But if it's for grass, sand, dirt, or gravel, metal motors and tracks are better, but the mechanical components might suffer.

The plastic are quite tough, and quieter than either the metal or steel versions. Just in case you aren't aware--HL sells "metal" and "steel" gearboxes. Avoid the potmetal "metal" ones. Poorly cast and noisy! Steel are machined.

Mike.

I kept all of my Mato and Heng Long Shermans on plastic. The tank is light enough to not need metal tracks for durability, and if the grass is so long that the sprocket binds and causes the slipper clutch to kick in, then you'd likely just risk stalling the motors with metal gears.

Generally adding metal just moves the point of failure from something cheap and easy to replace, to something more expensive like the drive electronics. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Uh oh. Well, it's true, I am a bit dense. I have had many a HengLong and Taigen tanks apart, and I am wholly unaware of a "slipper clutch." Could one of you explain to jzoo and me how this clutch works and where it's located?

your not alone Herr Doctor as I didnt know theres a slipper clutch in HL gearboxes either

It is inside one of the larger gears, I will take a picture when I get home if nobody else beats me to it

It's on the first driven gear by the can motor. That little circlippy-looking thing inside the gear in the pics. Idea was if things got bound up and the tracks jammed, the slipper clutch would slip and stop the electric motor gear from stripping the plastic gear. Lots of people glued them in place if they started to slip prematurely.
Edit--they do nothing however to protect the board from being overworked as my son proved when he took his Tiger for a spin in wet snow. Smell that cooked RX13!
Mike.