Tiger 1 Track pins how best to stop rusting

[andyquirot]

Hi all
Whats the best way to stop my track pins from rusting as i am stripping the track and drilling them to fit cotter pins and washers.
Regards Andy Quirot

[Peter Silcock]

A smear of Copperslip grease will prevent rusting and seizing up.

[andyquirot]

As simpley as that. Why dident i think of that having a der day!!.
Thanks
Regards Andy Quirot

[Stephen White]

Andy, copper slip may well be OK, although it's really intended to prevent seizing of non-moving components. There are other options, such as dry lubricants such as Oxylube.

You might however consider the advice to avoid wet lubricants such as greases, which can promote particle wear. The alternative, which is effective, is simply to etch prime and paint. You might want to have a look at the Knowledge Base Topic on lubrication here:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... =34&t=5796

Happy New Year.

Stephen

[Adrian Harris]

Another option might be to buy a set of the plated pins from Gill, which are also already cross-drilled.

Adrian

[andyquirot]

Good point Adrian but i probley quite costley.
I have made a jig tonight. I drilled using a 1.2mm milling bit.
Ive drilled about 20 and removed the rust and test fitted them they seem ok. Also used dry chain lube on then.
I will like to come back to you when i get the tank turned over about lining up the sprockets and wheels etc.
Regards Andy Quirot

[andyquirot]

I also dont have mutch space to work. Bad photo attached.
Armortek under bench on right.
Regards Andy Quirot.

[leesellars]

Hello Andy

The use of any wet lube is not the way to go as they will pick up debris and you will have premature wear and tear on your tracks. they are designed to run dry. my suggestion is to use the tank more often.

Lee

[Peter Silcock]

People have different experiences clearly. I have probably 100 hours on an old Tiger using Copperslip on the track pins- no sign of wear in the track pin areas at all. Only a smear required not for lubrication just rust prevention and no sign of dirt being attracted- but then I am pretty careful with my models and don't run through sea water or clay.

[simon_manning]

once upon a time i over thought this problem, my answer, i had 2 set's of stainless steel track pins made, fitted them, never a problem since, no rust!, regards simon manning.

[Gerhard Michel]

Olafs bronce pins coming with his steel track links are a nice solution which prevents rusty and stiff pins also when the track links themselves become rusty. And they don't need any lubrication.

[mark lawson]

You could also use Brass pins which will were well and are also self-lubricating.

If your tracks do become wet when you are using the tank its best to try and dry them as opposed to leaving the model standing in a wet pool, parking the model on cardboard helps a lot, this will help reduce some of the corrosion.

[Mark Heaps]

my suggestion is to use the tank more often.

Lee

That was our suggestion for Chieftain & Challenger 1 in British Forces Germany. Every exercise, the first four days were spent going from break-down to break-down. After this initial period, we normally had very few faults to fix for the rest of the time.

[dennypatterson]

Mark heaps is right, use the b..... thing we did on our mk 111 and mk 1V cents never had any problems!!!!!!
Denny.

[andyquirot]

Hi All
Great advice very helpfull
I have done 15 with drylube and have noticed when the the lube everapes i dose in fact leave a waxy coating behind. I assebled 15 track pices and they felt Very nice.

I have also done 15 with copperslip and feel very nice .

So i have decides to clean and drill the pins. Then i coated them with dry lube and let it leave behing the waxey coating and also a small amount of copperslip. I must say the track dose feel very nice. When i compere it to track that was assembled when i got the tank if feels so much better. Time will tell.

Once again thanks all.

P.S. i dont like using the tank on water or sand ect.