DKLMRC tracks for the Challenger 2

[tank_me]

This is the Heng Long gearbox available from Toucan Hobby.

Henglong ML49mm ML59mm Steel Gearbox 1/39 or 1/56 Gear Ratio for 1/16 – TOUCAN RC HOBBY (toucanhobby.com)

Unfortunately, no spec for the motors.

Yeah, I have in several tanks. It's a 380.

[Meter Rat]

Sorry. Put in the wrong quote.

[Meter Rat]

I am planning on getting a much lighter weight plastic version HL Challenger2. I already have a Heng Xin gearbox with 390 motor. I will try that first to see how it works out.

The tracks are likely to be the DKLMRC rubber pad metal track. I want to try that because I never have a DKLMRC track. The HL CNC gearbox with 540 motor will be the next step if the 390 Heng Xin does not work well.

If you are running the DKLMRC tracks, you may want to fit a brace to the lower hull. Again in my experience I had a lot of de-tracking issues. I took a lot of advice from here and other RC tank forums. To get the tension right, caused the drive sprocket and idler to deflect, even with the top screwed down. I think the length of the chassis compounds the issue. I had fitted drive shaft support bearings, ran with and without, and only one sprocket guide, fitted gearboxes with bearing. Only when I installed a brace did I get the tracks to stay in place. Sorry to Rubicon to have to disagree with him. I did follow and take note of a lot of his work. keilau if I am teaching you to suck eggs, and you already know this, then please accept my apologies.

[keilau]

This is the Heng Long gearbox available from Toucan Hobby.

Henglong ML49mm ML59mm Steel Gearbox 1/39 or 1/56 Gear Ratio for 1/16 – TOUCAN RC HOBBY (toucanhobby.com)

Unfortunately, no spec for the motors.

Yeah, I have in several tanks. It's a 380.

I was looking for your gearbox with the 540 motors. Do you have a link to the seller?

[keilau]

If you are running the DKLMRC tracks, you may want to fit a brace to the lower hull. Again in my experience I had a lot of de-tracking issues. I took a lot of advice from here and other RC tank forums. To get the tension right, caused the drive sprocket and idler to deflect, even with the top screwed down. I think the length of the chassis compounds the issue. I had fitted drive shaft support bearings, ran with and without, and only one sprocket guide, fitted gearboxes with bearing. Only when I installed a brace did I get the tracks to stay in place. Sorry to Rubicon to have to disagree with him. I did follow and take note of a lot of his work. keilau if I am teaching you to suck eggs, and you already know this, then please accept my apologies.

NOT AT ALL. I really appreciate your comments.

I have one pair of the Tamiya nylon tracks on the HL Leopard 2a6 now. I can move it to the Challenger2 if it is the best track for the HL Challenger2. How well does the DKLMRC rubber pad metal track work on the HL Leopard 2a6?

[Meter Rat]

NOT AT ALL. I really appreciate your comments.

I have one pair of the Tamiya nylon tracks on the HL Leopard 2a6 now. I can move it to the Challenger2 if it is the best track for the HL Challenger2. How well does the DKLMRC rubber pad metal track work on the HL Leopard 2a6?

Not a clue. That sound flippant, but as I do not have a HL Leopard 2a6 I cannot pass judgement. I can only give my input on using DKLMRC tracks on the Challenger and Abrams, and my personal experiences of these two models. Applying the same approach to all modern tanks with long wheel bases, and their requirements to have tight tracks I would think there would be similar issues. I have a friend who has a 1/6 Challenger and he has similar track retention issues. I can only put it down to the long wheel base and tight tension on modern tanks that causes issues. So it appears that the issues scale up.

[keilau]

I was looking for your gearbox with the 540 motors. Do you have a link to the seller?

I answer my own questions:

https://www.dklmrc.com/Dual_550_motor_4_1_steel_gearbox_for_116_Leopard_2A6/p2389473_14664952.aspx

How easy is it to swap to the 540 motors?

The gear ratio is 4:1 for this gearbox. A 25000 Plus/minus 5000 rpm 540 should work fine?

[keilau]

Not a clue. That sound flippant, but as I do not have a HL Leopard 2a6 I cannot pass judgement. I can only give my input on using DKLMRC tracks on the Challenger and Abrams, and my personal experiences of these two models. Applying the same approach to all modern tanks with long wheel bases, and their requirements to have tight tracks I would think there would be similar issues. I have a friend who has a 1/6 Challenger and he has similar track retention issues. I can only put it down to the long wheel base and tight tension on modern tanks that causes issues. So it appears that the issues scale up.

DKLM offers the same rubber pad metal track for Leopard and Challenger. I will search the forum to see how well this track works on the HL Leopard.

[tank_me]

I answer my own questions:

https://www.dklmrc.com/Dual_550_motor_4_1_steel_gearbox_for_116_Leopard_2A6/p2389473_14664952.aspx

How easy is it to swap to the 540 motors?

The gear ratio is 4:1 for this gearbox. A 25000 Plus/minus 5000 rpm 540 should work fine?

With the 540s the Abrams is probably slightly slower than it should be in scale speed, but it has tons of power. I'm using a Clark TK80 to power it.

That motor should work fine. You just have to undo 4 screws on the motor case, slide a couple of gears out of the way, remove two screws holding on the motor, and pull the pinion gear. Installation is the reverse. They are made to fit the Leo so the 550s should fit in that hull. The gearboxes are also available through Toucan. Mounting screws come up from the bottom just like the Heng Long CNC gearboxes so they will not work for every installation.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325746678827?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D260258%2C260884%26meid%3Ddc30d701457e457b9bb05bb9623e8fd8%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D235015007243%26itm%3D325746678827%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithLambda85KnnRecallV1V2V4ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRankerAndBertRecallWithVMEV3CPCAutoWithCassiniEmbRecall&_trksid=p4429486.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A325746678827dc30d701457e457b9bb05bb9623e8fd8%7Cenc%3AAQAIAAABcHD%252FO%252BVoFoPPIoZ2g0kOZxWd85mWuIHekSp3qag7zFfwObZeQoitzE%252FDCfcejfO%252BzOLmzZmy11RrgWpA56KM9DpasK%252BGtGYwCFvgaK6ijP5AqShEUhT8f2oX6hvndJ3G0oWH8DD1DlBWseQltpxcSDW2Uu52NrseaxeINpsrDP6vx7ny%252BkPKauMa3yeSanWiihNArKFiXVGk86HlOlazmtCtQ4pBQbEGmd55HxjzUyT4Ju7%252FZGnyZddzmp3%252Fa5got%252F%252BC5VKK5u9pZ78QNI92QDVuyA1zEtJIvqXjDjm5%252Fnb2MGgqbU2VbrnN7xL%252BnlBNqiKAoFHkjjMQ0e7Q3fxwGPMNLHQIAuffmYl2eGdKo7k%252Bl6n2qI9v%252BBvRaVYIJwtuVA2Wy4id7VoN4mIkZTWhCr2A%252F5Kh7j4ukNfyaUufUodAjvwDnWiMQqnjxYkf0Zp735Q2nIGvtQh%252F3c5pYZwKz0ysBy8ioPVEPIeZ9HSdwnGc%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01HQV9P6PHY06K36NXP3AMMQ3X

[keilau]

With the 540s the Abrams is probably slightly slower than it should be in scale speed, but it has tons of power. I'm using a Clark TK80 to power it.

That motor should work fine. You just have to undo 4 screws on the motor case, slide a couple of gears out of the way, remove two screws holding on the motor, and pull the pinion gear. Installation is the reverse. They are made to fit the Leo so the 550s should fit in that hull. The gearboxes are also available through Toucan. Mounting screws come up from the bottom just like the Heng Long CNC gearboxes so they will not work for every installation.

I have swapping 380 vs. 390 motors on the Heng Xin gearbox many times. The 550 gearbox seems very similar.

[cleong]

AAF Meseum RX Shop is no longer working or carrying Tamiya tracks. Tamiya US store wants $400+ for this tracks. Any alternative source for Tamiya parts?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395141544590

Its a more reasonable price I believe, but see if HK-based retailers can order it and have it sent to you?

[keilau]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395141544590

Its a more reasonable price I believe, but see if HK-based retailers can order it and have it sent to you?

Your e-bay link with specific item number is very helpful. The price is excellent. I cannot find those UK or HK listing when searching from my US ebay account login. I also cannot see the other TTP Models auction listing from my US account, only the link from you.

[keilau]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/395141544590

Its a more reasonable price I believe, but see if HK-based retailers can order it and have it sent to you?

Using your ebay link to UK seller as a clue, I searched sellers in Europe and Hong Kong. I found a used Tamiya original track (not the expensive die-cast metal track). It came in dirty, but in very good physical condition. I was able to clean it up and it looks like new. Thank you cleong .

The double-pin tracks, which are equipped with pads made out of rubber like the actual tank, come pre-assembled.

It will be used with the Heng Long Chellenger2. I paid about 60% of what I paid AAF Meseum Shop. I am happy that the used tracks seemed to be on a display model with very little wear.

[cleong]

Let me know how it goes. When I purchased Tamiya Leopard 2 tracks for my HL Challenger I was informed I needed new sprockets that were compatible with Tamiya tracks.

[keilau]

Let me know how it goes. When I purchased Tamiya Leopard 2 tracks for my HL Challenger I was informed I needed new sprockets that were compatible with Tamiya tracks.

I use the HL metal sprocket with the Tamiya nylon track on my HL Leopard 2A6. They are hand in glove perfect match. Runs extremely smooth.

I am buying upgrade parts for the Challenger2 before putting down the money for the tank. With the track problem solved. I should move ahead very soon. Won't find out how well the Challenger2 metal sprocket works with the Tamiya nylon track until I have the tank and the parts. I am ordering the HL challenger2 metal sprocket. I believe that it has a good chance of working as is with the Tamiya track.

[keilau]

The Tamiya nylon track has everything I desire. A double pin design for realistic track movement. Closed pin construction for durability and appearance. No inside hollow to trap dirt.