How many track links does your Tiger Have?

[Chris Hoole]

Hello everyone, just got my first Armortek tank, a 2012 model. The track adjusters (tensioners?) at the rear of the tank are hard against the back plate, I presume this must be wrong and implies a link needs removing? However I have 92 links currently and this seems low compared to the number I have seen mentioned by other people, here on the forum. Does this mean the tracks must have stretched significantly? Many thanks for any assistance given! Cheers Chris (complete novice).

[mark lawson]

With your adjusters hard against the back plate this means your tracks are at the weakest possible adjustment have you tried to adjust the tracks by tightening the adjuster screws away from the rear plate this will tighten the tracks.

[Chris Hoole]

Thanks Mark, I thought it would be the other way around (I have no manual and no experience as yet!). Looking at it again I can see you are of course quite right! Should the tracks hit the first wheel? Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[mark lawson]

Best way to set the tracks is to drive forward even just 10cmthen reverse just a little, tension the tracks until they just touch the third road wheel this is the correct way to adjust each track.

Are you coming to Bovington in October for the model show this is an excellent opertunaty to talk with other owners and gain some advice, welcome to the world of RC tanks.

[Mick Regan]

Hi Chris

I have a Tiger running on 2010 tracks, so I guess they are the same. I have 94 links on the right and 95 on the left. It’s not unusual to have different number each side. The 92 links you are running sounds too short, so I’m amazed they still appear slack! They always stretch from new, but I have never come across so few links. As Mark stated, correctly tensioned tracks should go from the top of the drive sprocket to the 3rd road wheel.
If your tracks are too slack, you will find they will try to wrap around the sprocket when you are driving.

Hope this helps.

Mick.

[mark lawson]

Correctly adjusted Tiger tracks with the track just touching the third roadwheel.

[Chris Hoole]

Hi Mark, Hi Mick, thank you for the posts and the photo (which really helps). The fact you have 94/95 links Mick seems a remarkable difference. 92 (both sides) is considerably shorter. I need to get back on the tensioners and see what a difference they make (3 track links worth?). I am still a bit unsure about the tensioners some having said they should be up against the back plate and some saying they should be off it? As I say I really need to play around a bit with these and all will become clear I expect. I have just lifted the tank onto blocks and will need to wait for another visitor to put it back on its tracks to compare to the photo provided! Many thanks again, Chris.

Ps I put the tank onto blocks to check the suspension and the resistance on each wheel varies quite a bit, some tight, some loose, I presume they should all be the same?

[Adrian Harris]

It might be worth checking the way the idler is constructed.

This is the page from the 2010 Tiger manual.

With the two parts aligned as per the drawings, moving the internal arm towards the front of the tank will move the idler towards the back of the tank, thus lengthening the tracks. If the idler arm has been inserted upside down, then moving the internal arm towards the front the tank will also move the idler towards the front of the tank, shortening the tracks.

Also, if the tracks/wheels/sprocker/idler aren't aligned correctly, then the Tiger will keep throwing the tracks. The usually offered advice for tracks being thrown is to tighten them. Maybe the previous owner had problems with the tank throwing tracks and kept removing links until it stopped, thus leaving it with overly short tracks ?

Adrian.

[Chris Hoole]

Morning Adrian, thanks you for this, is it acceptable to fit the idler arm either way around or should it be as shown? When I get a minute I will go out and adjust the internal arm and see what happens.

[Adrian Harris]

I think the idler will sit too high on the tank if it's not set up the same as the drawing.

The Panther has a high idler but it's not uncommon to see Tigers with the idler nearly on the ground.

Adrian.