Yet Another Tongde M60

[tank_me]

Just wanted to add, those dual current or PDGBS (DKLM) gearboxes are not typically just a drop in plug and play in TongDE tanks regardless of whether they are the TongDE, DKLM, or Heng Long version. They were designed around the Heng Long motor mounts and of course TondDE gearboxes mount to the side of the hull and not the bottom like Heng Longs. If you do buy one for a TongDE, I would plan on having to custom fabricate the mount for it as they mount to the bottom of the hull and not to the sides. Cool thing is that it's pretty easy to shorten the out shafts that connect to the sprockets. That what I did to use one of them in my Kranvagn. I just shortened the out shaft on the gearbox side and cut the notch to fit the gear connected to the out shaft. Using them in custom applications is pretty easy.

[Rubicon99]

Just wanted to add, those dual current or PDGBS (DKLM) gearboxes are not typically just a drop in plug and play in TongDE tanks regardless of whether they are the TongDE, DKLM, or Heng Long version. They were designed around the Heng Long motor mounts and of course TondDE gearboxes mount to the side of the hull and not the bottom like Heng Longs. If you do buy one for a TongDE, I would plan on having to custom fabricate the mount for it as they mount to the bottom of the hull and not to the sides. Cool thing is that it's pretty easy to shorten the out shafts that connect to the sprockets. That what I did to use one of them in my Kranvagn. I just shortened the out shaft on the gearbox side and cut the notch to fit the gear connected to the out shaft. Using them in custom applications is pretty easy.

The TD "dual current" comes with four different shaft lengths. So it is easy to get the correct length needed without modifications to the shafts on most tanks included the M60. The shortest shafts shown are equal to the stock TD shaft lengths. I used the ones on the far left to accommodate the HL Abrams sprocket on my M60.


Mounting a "dcd" in a M60 is easier than one would expect. So easy I don't even want to show how I do it. There are those that would loosen their minds seeing it. But it works and works extremely well.

This is it actually installed and fixed in place. The magic is on the underside. No permanent mods to the mount or tank hull and completely leaves the stock mounts untouched.

Videos of this M60 are up on my Instagram @fsttanks

[Roaming Gnome]

good thing I wasn't drinkin coffee when I saw the price on one of those, but that begs the question what's the advantage of a dual current versus the standard setup?

[Rubicon99]

good thing I wasn't drinkin coffee when I saw the price on one of those, but that begs the question what's the advantage of a dual current versus the standard setup?

In most tanks it provides for smoother and more precise handling characteristics. Which it also does in the M60 but also allows the use of other sprockets that allow for a wider variety of track options. Right now the TD M60 has limited track options as the aftermarket has not yet built "upgraded" tracks that fit the stock TD M60 sprockets.

Are "dcd" transmission worth the money vs the metal TD gearboxes? For the major of users they are not, the stock metal gearbox are probably one of the better gearboxes on the market. But for those that have a specific need then the "dcd" is a great option.

Currently I have five M60. Only two have "dcd" transmissions. One was installed just to see if it could be done easily. The second was because the tank is intended to be driven in such a way that the stock tracks would not provided sufficient performance.

[keilau]

good thing I wasn't drinkin coffee when I saw the price on one of those, but that begs the question what's the advantage of a dual current versus the standard setup?

Haha! I have been agitating to try those dual current or PDGBS (DKLM) gearbox. But the price is holding me back. I trust @Rubicon99 that they will provide for smoother and more precise handling characteristics.

I have only one early production Tongde M60A1 Patton. I tried the plastic track with metal gearbox. But the track has little traction on any surface and the M60 had very poor driving characteristics, even on rough concrete surfaces. It skits and slips making driving very imprecise. It drives very well with 390 motor and TD metal track. Probably due to the added chassis weight from the heavy TD tracks. But I do not like the look of the TD track because they are off scale and looks bad. The dual current drive will allow me to use HL Abrams sprocket and Tamiya hybrid track. It has both the performance and the look. But ...............

[RichJohnson]

The stock plastic track works excellent on all surafces that I drive it on. Concrete driveway, asphalt street, grass, hard dirt, soft dirt, and powdered dirt.
i have driven the absolute crap out of my slick 60 on very rough terrain and never have had traction or operation issues with the track.
I drive through ravines, over hills, rough terrain, mild rocks everything. I have yet to break the track at all even after pebble jams. It does however stretch as all track does and over time the idler must be adjusted tighter.
The Chevron pads have a little more grip than the hexagon.

The stock radio system in the early releases, Called TDC-x TD1.0 and Td2.0 all had progressively better driving algorithms but none compare to a HL 7.1 or the old after market board I use called an ibu2 (now defunct).

I even run the stock motors but on 8.4volts which you can’t do on a 7.1. You need to use lower or higher voltage batteries.
I enjoy seeing the dual current drives the Rubicon puts in his M60s. Rubicon has a long history of changing tracks and sprockets on many of his tanks over time experimenting to improve reliability or all terrain operation.
with the M60 series the dual current was the only way to accomplish this because of the shaft length design.
While operation is smoother, I don’t really feel it’s worth the upgrade in cost… that being said, I desire to put Merkava 3 tracks on an m60 for my Magatch project and a dual current will be the only way to accomplish it unless I visit my machinist and make longer shafts for the stock tranys (as I have done before).
It. It’s be noted that Robison is running Tamiya Abrams tracks on his dual current tranny m60s. I suggest one visit Tamiya USA and look at he cost per track before they consider doing a dual current upgrade

[Rubicon99]

The stock plastic track works excellent on all surafces that I drive it on. Concrete driveway, asphalt street, grass, hard dirt, soft dirt, and powdered dirt.
i have driven the absolute crap out of my slick 60 on very rough terrain and never have had traction or operation issues with the track.
I drive through ravines, over hills, rough terrain, mild rocks everything. I have yet to break the track at all even after pebble jams. It does however stretch as all track does and over time the idler must be adjusted tighter.
The Chevron pads have a little more grip than the hexagon.

The stock radio system in the early releases, Called TDC-x TD1.0 and Td2.0 all had progressively better driving algorithms but none compare to a HL 7.1 or the old after market board I use called an ibu2 (now defunct).

I even run the stock motors but on 8.4volts which you can’t do on a 7.1. You need to use lower or higher voltage batteries.
I enjoy seeing the dual current drives the Rubicon puts in his M60s. Rubicon has a long history of changing tracks and sprockets on many of his tanks over time experimenting to improve reliability or all terrain operation.
with the M60 series the dual current was the only way to accomplish this because of the shaft length design.
While operation is smoother, I don’t really feel it’s worth the upgrade in cost… that being said, I desire to put Merkava 3 tracks on an m60 for my Magatch project and a dual current will be the only way to accomplish it unless I visit my machinist and make longer shafts for the stock tranys (as I have done before).
It. It’s be noted that Robison is running Tamiya Abrams tracks on his dual current tranny m60s. I suggest one visit Tamiya USA and look at he cost per track before they consider doing a dual current upgrade

Just to expand of what Rich said about track types. I mainly use both Tamiya Abrams and Tamiya Leopard 2 tracks (Leopard 2 is much cheaper). But with the HL Abrams sprocket I run on my two "dcd" drive M60s I can also run the metal dual pin rubber padded Abrams & Leopard 2 tracks solid by Toucan and DKLMRC. I don't use this track because the rubber pads are to soft and have way to much grip on concrete and asphalt and tend to stick in place during turns causing the road wheels to ride off the tracks and de-tracking to occur. I can if needed run stock HL plastic or metal Abrams and Leopard 2 tracks as well.

[Roaming Gnome]

I have the double link tracks Toucan sells on my Abrams, metal frame with over molded rubber pads, they look awesome, but I avoid concrete unless it finished, hooks up a bit to well and creates problems on turns occasionally

[Roaming Gnome]

After digging around some military forums, I found the actual paint code for desert storm, and then found this, opinions?

https://www.lvppaints.com/FEDSTD595-33446-Tan-686A-Camo-Paint-12-Oz-Aerosol-Can.html

[RichJohnson]

Yeah it’s 686sand. I repainted my old Chevy army truck that actually had gone to desert storm and back with real Sherwin Williams bulk 686 sand color. The funny thing about sand color is there are two brands, one fades to a pink hue one fades to a yellow / grey hue.
Anyway, beware using real military touch up paint as it’s a very serious carcinogen.

[Roaming Gnome]

I have a paint hood that exhausts outside with 2 furnace filters particulates, but I'll look to see if there's another source to match, I know one of the auto supply stores can load cans with custom colors, but it's like $20 bucks a pop for just a couple.

[Roaming Gnome]

Got the metal gearboxes and red motors installed, plenty of room... well

[Rubicon99]

Got the metal gearboxes and red motors installed, plenty of room... well

That's a lot of power for an M60. It's going to be fast...really fast!!

[Roaming Gnome]

This is the 2S battery I plan to use, if all goes according to plan I'll run the power leads to the controller from the bottom and the charging lead from the top, it uses 5mm bullet connector I can shorten so that two will fit in one socket coming in from either side.

I did run the tank with the battery and new motors/gearbox, definitely quieter,more than happy with the speed

[Bullistiks]

I know it's been some time ago, but where did you find the bearings?,

[keilau]

I know it's been some time ago, but where did you find the bearings?,

I ordered the ball bearings at Amazon which are name brand, good quality, but more expensive. When you need 48 bearings of 2 different sizes per M60 tank, it can add up. You can also find no name ball bearings on ebay at much lower price.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TJQZBMX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

[Roaming Gnome]

I know it's been some time ago, but where did you find the bearings?,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM6JWTNT/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082PRN5N3/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1