Need help installing Henntec Track tensioners on jagdpanther

[panzernut]

Hello again. I could use some help with the installation on my Henntec tenstioners for my HL Jagdpanther. The directions are in German and not very clear on the photos. Here is what I think I need to do.

1.) Remove the plastic "tensioner' that the idler wheel screws into on the rear of the tank hull. Cut/grind flat with the hull sides.

2.) Drill hole for the tensioner shaft to go thru the hull.

3.) Instal the two plates per side (one inside,one outside of the hull).

4.) Attach the idler wheels to the tensioner and tighten set screw. Also, does anyone know what I can use to attach the idler wheel to the tensioner? The idler wheel was screwed into the hull with a wood type screw. The kit does not supply anything I can use.

Ant help would be appreciated as I don't want to destroy the Jagdpanther!

Thanks.

Jack

[PainlessWolf]

Heyas Panzernut,
The shoulderscrew that came with the HL plastic idler mount will need to be shortened when used with the new adjustable idler tensioner. Not much, a couple of thread turns. You will have to sleeve it with some brass tubing or use some shrink wrap tubing to get a solid mount using the set screw that comes with the adjustable tensioner. You need to measure the distance that the original HL glue on Idler mount sat out from the hull (did it use any washers?, how many?, etc) so that your Idler wheel on the adjustable tensioner sits out the same distance to ride smoothly in the track. Use some Superglue Release to get the glue on idler mount to pop off for measuring duties instead of grinding it off (there may be a second inner piece which is part of the hull that will have to be ground off, it was like this on my HL King Tiger) A quick tip is to use any washers on the adjustable tensioner shaft that goes into the hull through the metal mount plate to get the right spacing, _not_ on the shoulder bolt that fits into the exterior adjustable tensioner mount. It makes for a much more solid mount for your Idler.
Regards,
Painless

P.S. Make sure that the large hole you drill (13mm?) is _not_ centered on where the shoulderscrew that held your Idler on was screwed into the plastic idler mount piece. That original mount was a direct screw into the hull. Your new adjustable tensioner should have the hole where the shoulderscrew fits in on an _offset_ metal mount. I found that making the old mounting hole where the shoulderscrew went, into the bottom screw hole for the new tensioner mount plate helped line everything up perfectly.

[panzernut]

Painless,

Thanks for the advise. It worked out well! Nice to be able to adjust the tracks now.