Flange Bearings for Drive shafts

[Beeg]

Saw this video of a guy adding flange bearings to his drive shafts.

At 2:33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qdKRZmD62Q

Is this really that advantageous? I can see where it would help seal the hole in the hull to prevent dirt and gunk from getting in but would it really smooth things out and prevent wear?

[Rubicon99]

Saw this video of a guy adding flange bearings to his drive shafts.

At 2:33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qdKRZmD62Q

Is this really that advantageous? I can see where it would help seal the hole in the hull to prevent dirt and gunk from getting in but would it really smooth things out and prevent wear?

Yes these really help out a lot especially on the larger modern tanks like the Abrams, Challenger and Leopard. The support they add reduces the “sprockets wobble” providing a straighter alignments of sprockets to tracks and this in turn helps noticeably to improve track retention.

They also play a role in reducing the likelihood of bending the drive axle when the sprockets or track picks up a rock or other hard debris and “jams up the work”. This is especially true for heavier tanks running metal tracks and upgraded higher torque red motors.

[Beeg]

Yes these really help out a lot especially on the larger modern tanks like the Abrams, Challenger and Leopard. The support they add reduces the “sprockets wobble” providing a straighter alignments of sprockets to tracks and this in turn helps noticeably to improve track retention.

They also play a role in reducing the likelihood of bending the drive axle when the sprockets or track picks up a rock or other hard debris and “jams up the work”. This is especially true for heavier tanks running metal tracks and upgraded higher torque red motors.

In the video he states he used 8x12x2.5mm (MF128?) flange bearings. Doing a "google" search most of this size run around $10-$12 apiece. On the eastern overseas sites they only have (MF128ZZ) 8x12x3.5mm. Are the 3.5mm bearings too wide or will they clear the gearbox and still sit flush with the outside of the hull? They are about half the cost..

[Rubicon99]

Look at the inside of your Sherman. Check the space between the outer gearbox frame and inner side of the hull where the axle goes though. You should have more the 2mm of free space. If you do then the 3.5 mm should be fine. Hull thickness alone is about 2mm of the 3.5mm of the bearing.

[Beeg]

OK, I measured the distance from the gearbox to the outside edge of the driveshaft "axle" hole and it's 7.5mm so plenty of room for the 8x12x3.5 flange bearing. Thanks!

[karltrek]

The same flange bearing works on the Challenger II and Abrams. I installed them on both and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of the tanks. And now my tracks are not coming off as often on the Challenger. This should be a standard feature on all of these tanks.


This is the Challenger II

[Rubicon99]

The same flange bearing works on the Challenger II and Abrams. I installed them on both and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of the tanks. And now my tracks are not coming off as often on the Challenger. This should be a standard feature on all of these tanks.


This is the Challenger II

I totally agree. The bearings should be a standard feature(at least on the metal wheel and track Pro version). I would pay the dollar or two increase in price for the performance and reliability gains they offer.

[Elbee]

The same flange bearing works on the Challenger II and Abrams. I installed them on both and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of the tanks. And now my tracks are not coming off as often on the Challenger. This should be a standard feature on all of these tanks. This is the Challenger II

KT, Are you running a flanged bearing on both inside and outside the hull? Best, LB

[rzing]

Would these work on the Heng Long Tiger 1 with metal (Zinc) gearbox and metal wheels and tracks. There seems to be a fair amount of play and it would be nice to tighten things up.

[Rubicon99]

Would these work on the Heng Long Tiger 1 with metal (Zinc) gearbox and metal wheels and tracks. There seems to be a fair amount of play and it would be nice to tighten things up.

HL makes a axle bearings mount for the Tiger and yes it does help a lot with it too.

[Beeg]

I hadn't noticed this before in the manual for the HL Sherman but it lists and gives part numbers for flange bearings. And what looks like a upgraded axle drive shaft with extra bearings unless this is what already comes with the steel gear box. I did a websearch for the HL part numbers and came up zero's. Maybe Motion will eventually carry all these upgrade parts..

[Rubicon99]

I hadn't noticed this before in the manual for the HL Sherman but it lists and gives part numbers for flange bearings. And what looks like a upgraded axle drive shaft with extra bearings unless this is what already comes with the steel gear box. I did a websearch for the HL part numbers and came up zero's. Maybe Motion will eventually carry all these upgrade parts..

The bearings shown are for the gearbox not the drive shaft. In my experience with past use of them they do next to nothing for longevity, performance or smoother gearbox operation. Well nothing that a good oil or grease won’t do just as well.

The drive shafts shown are actually pretty good to use as replacements should you bend or strip out a shaft.

[Beeg]

The TK-FB001 Flange Bearings are for the gearbox as well? They show a different size.

[karltrek]

KT, Are you running a flanged bearing on both inside and outside the hull? Best, LB

Only on the outside of the hull.

[Rubicon99]

The TK-FB001 Flange Bearings are for the gearbox as well? They show a different size.

The six FB001 bearings shown are for the gearbox not drive shaft support.

[rzing]

A question about bearings for the Tiger 1. I recently received some drive shaft bearings for my Heng Long Tiger 1 with metal tracks, drives, idlers, and road wheels. The company the bearings came from is called Kenzezol in China? Ordered them in April and they showed up yesterday. They offer drive shaft bearings for several of the Heng Long tanks. The bearings come press fit into a sort of cup shaped plastic flange that looks just like the inner part of what comes on the tank. There are two plastic trim pieces surrounding the drive shafts on each side glued to the tank lower hull. A larger piece has some detail molded in and the smaller cup piece that seems to be glued into that larger piece. Do I need to remove this whole assembly ( I assume it's glued on ) or do I just remove the smaller cup piece and replace it. I assume it's also glued in. Also it doesn't look like the driveshafts are centered all that well. Do I shim the motor gearbox assembly to align them with the plastic flanges or shift the trim pieces to match the shafts?