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Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:33 pm
by Martin Donnison
Sorry guys, me again. She has been off her build stand for the first time today. Drove her down the ramps up four steps and to the end of the garden and back again.

My question is how do I determine how tight the tracks should be. I don’t want to under or over tighten them. The last thing I want is to damage them.

Your help again would be much appreciated.

Thanks Martin.

Re: Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:21 pm
by Steve McEvoy
Martin, the build manual states between 10 & 20 mm deflection in the tracks. I presume this is measured on the middle of the top run.
Hope this helps.
Steve.

Re: Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2024 9:45 am
by Martin Donnison
Thanks Steve. I will check to see what I have got.

Re: Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2024 4:31 pm
by Martin Usher
Will have to check this also, ran down the ramps yesterday and around the Cul-de-sac to see how it looked, lots of twisting and turning with no lose end caps, think the mod worked ok.

now for the rest of the build.
Martin.

Re: Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2024 2:09 am
by Chang
Steve McEvoy wrote:
Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:21 pm
Martin, the build manual states between 10 & 20 mm deflection in the tracks. I presume this is measured on the middle of the top run.
Hope this helps.
Steve.
Hi Steve , can you explain more about your answer please.
I am confused about what does "10 & 20mm deflection" and "on the middle of the top run" means.

Thanks and best regards,
Lerh Chang

Re: Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2024 8:12 am
by Paul Sparkes
We have lots of hours running on the leopard now, and I'm still adjusting the track tension to get it right.

Tighter seems to keep the tracks on the sprocket better but loose runs smoother, so we run on the tight side, but I haven't measured it.
Just run and look at whats happening if it looks loose tighten it etc. Also they will loosen/stretch when run.

Re: Leopard 2A4 track tension

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2024 12:13 pm
by Steve McEvoy
Hi Chang, By 10 -20mm I'm pretty sure they mean put a ruler upright in the centre of the tracks with the tank on the ground the measure how much you can lift the top run of tracks and it should be between 10-20 mm. This is just a base setting. As Paul said run it and see, if it looks too loose or jumps the sprocket tighten them a bit at a time until you get smooth running.

Regards
Steve