Optimize the Tongde M60A1 to run on grass lawn with 390 motor and metal tracks

[Rubicon99]

Intuitively, I will connect the MFU M1 power outlet to the 550 drive motor and M2 to the smaller steering motor. It will be nice to have confirmation from the gearbox manual.

If memory serves that is correct.

[keilau]

I wouldn't complain either as the metal one is much more expensive than the plastic one... :) The big 550 motor should be M1. The smaller motor should be connected to M2. M1 is responsible for the track movement. M2 is responsible for turning. You do have to change the setting on the transmitter to enable the "dual current" gearbox. Dual current is a poor translation for dual differential as far as I can tell. I haven't really seen any definitive install docs. I haven't searched YouTube as I've installed a half-dozen of these at this point so I don't really need a manual.

I intend to use a HL dual current system on the TD M60A1. Without a manual, the connection is an easy part. How to change the setting on the transmitter to enable the "dual current" gearbox is another matter since the my early version TD manual did not mention the dual current system.

[Rubicon99]

I intend to use a HL dual current system on the TD M60A1. Without a manual, the connection is an easy part. How to change the setting on the transmitter to enable the "dual current" gearbox is another matter since the my early version TD manual did not mention the dual current system.

Are you using a henglong 7 series or TongDe 3 series control system?

I don't run any TD 3 series systems so I can't say how well it will work compared to the HL 7 series when used with a dual current drive. But I still have the manuals so her is the section you need from the TD manual.

From the TD version 3 manual.

[keilau]

Are you using a henglong 7 series or TongDe 3 series control system?

I don't run any TD 3 series systems so I can't say how well it will work compared to the HL 7 series when used with a dual current drive. But I still have the manuals so her is the section you need from the TD manual.

From the TD version 3 manual.

You sent me exactly what I am looking for. I have only the TD 2 series radio which may or may not support dual current. But I also upgrade to the TD servo barrel recoil. I have only surplus TK70 MFU which does not have servo input. If the TD 2 series radio does not support dual current, I will have to purchase another TK71,

Since dual current drive system has been around more than 7 years and HL supports it since TK60, all TD radio should have supported it. But it is Tongde whose management is very short sighted.

[DavidN]

I have the 7.0 HL board in my TD M60 with plastic tracks. I used Richard Johnson's recoil unit with the Taigen signal converter for my barrel recoil function. I battle with it last weekend on grass battlefield. It performed great.

[keilau]

I have the 7.0 HL board in my TD M60 with plastic tracks. I used Richard Johnson's recoil unit with the Taigen signal converter for my barrel recoil function. I battle with it last weekend on grass battlefield. It performed great.

I think that the Taigen signal converter had been out of production some time ago. Can you use the Taigen order history to see if you can link it to the current product? Thanks.

The lower price for a TK-7.1 board is $62 shipped from Toucan.

[Rubicon99]

You sent me exactly what I am looking for. I have only the TD 2 series radio which may or may not support dual current. But I also upgrade to the TD servo barrel recoil. I have only surplus TK70 MFU which does not have servo input. If the TD 2 series radio does not support dual current, I will have to purchase another TK71,

Since dual current drive system has been around more than 7 years and HL supports it since TK60, all TD radio should have supported it. But it is Tongde whose management is very short sighted.

The TD 2.0 most likely does support it. The biggest changes in the 2 vs 3 was in driving dynamics.

[Rubicon99]

I think that the Taigen signal converter had been out of production some time ago. Can you use the Taigen order history to see if you can link it to the current product? Thanks.

The lower price for a TK-7.1 board is $62 shipped from Toucan.

The "converter" was designed to work with the old 5.2/5.3 HL systems. It was reportedly discontinued because those went obsolete. It works with the newer systems "kinda". It has a tendency to interfere with the proper operation of the battle system. We have seen this on a number of occasions since the introduction of the HL 6 series in 2019 and continuing to today. But since you don't battle your M60 that is not an issue.

[DavidN]

I think that the Taigen signal converter had been out of production some time ago. Can you use the Taigen order history to see if you can link it to the current product? Thanks.

The lower price for a TK-7.1 board is $62 shipped from Toucan.

Yeah! It is currently out of stock according to the link from RCtank.de. However, you can try to email Dominique Slembrouck from the company and ask if she could order for you some. The latest batch I received, the converters worked better than those in the past.

https://www.rctank.de/Taigen-Signal-converter-for-the-new-Taigen-BB-Recoil-unit

[Tang - RC.Senshado]

Just wanted to add my musings about the battle systems and some of the signal modifications out there that I've been able to test:

Adding to the group data on Tongde: I received my M24 Chaffee with the Tongde 3.0 board, though I hadn't gotten an opportunity to battle with it until just lately. I did run my Chaffee stock out of the box with the LegoDEI installed just to give the product a fair shake in our club battle. The 3.0's driving dynamics are not really great, at least not to my liking. The battle system has a recurring hit loop sometimes that could get triggered. That is the most egregious thing about the system that I do not like so far. Not sure the circumstances that cause it yet, but I did observe it from other Tongde 3.0 in our meetings as well. But the owners of those afflicted tanks promptly swap boards to something better. I will do the same when money permits. The elevation is like a servo motor but for behavior it only wants to go to max up/down for me and no fine control. I've not explored it enough to make a conclusion, could be a dumb setting. It converts for battle as easy as any heng long using a LegoDEI for Heng Long since board layout and pinout is similar, so that's a plus for me. The other benefit is the recoil servo port that is standard to it. That's my two cents. I also own other Tongdes that came with the TDC-X and TD 2.0 and will echo that with each release comes rapid improvement over the last, but they are not yet bulletproof or something I would be satisfied in keeping in the tank at the present. I am looking forward to their Matilda. If their board improves yet again I'll be glad I don't have to upgrade out of that.

Updates on what I learned using a Torro: The current signal convertor for V3 boards for Torro/Taigen is this guy: https://www.rctank.de/IR-signal-converter-for-the-compatibility-of-the-tanks-from-HengLong-Taigen-Torro-and-Tamiya-IBU-ElMod and sometimes comes already installed. So far with the correct setting, it plays with other Heng Longs okay. The stock receiver is terrible just like the heng long. I did make some modified harnesses for people to use it and run a LegoDEI (using the version for Heng Long) who were not ready to throw out the board. I do have a lot of good test data from that and can call it a success, but the number of people who keep that system long term is very low because they end up wanting something more responsive on the driving so they don't pour money in making the Torro system better since it'll all get gutted anyway. The range of reception once upgraded makes it usable for club battles and it seems to function reliability as far as battle function goes, no anomalies. For driving dynamics, as others stated, they are behind and not peoples favorite. I don't know anything about the history of the old signal convertor, but our observed data so far is that it works fine. I got donated a bunch of parts from a retiring member of other clubs that I used for research and we are mixing and matching against current boards for fun. The issues cited of interfering signal could be true of the old 5.xx tanks but we're not spotting errors so far (though we don't see anyone with any trying to run a 5.3 series tanks anyway). Probably not relevant to you if you end up buying a 7,1 board or anything relatively new (and are concerned for battling). But the new blue box from Torro is the play if someone wants to keep the Torro or change to a torro board and wants to be compatible for battle. Works surprisingly well. Just giving some food for thought.

[tank_me]

Updates on what I learned using a Torro: The current signal convertor for V3 boards for Torro/Taigen is this guy: https://www.rctank.de/IR-signal-converter-for-the-compatibility-of-the-tanks-from-HengLong-Taigen-Torro-and-Tamiya-IBU-ElMod and sometimes comes already installed. So far with the correct setting, it plays with other Heng Longs okay. The stock receiver is terrible just like the heng long. I did make some modified harnesses for people to use it and run a LegoDEI (using the version for Heng Long) who were not ready to throw out the board. I do have a lot of good test data from that and can call it a success, but the number of people who keep that system long term is very low because they end up wanting something more responsive on the driving so they don't pour money in making the Torro system better since it'll all get gutted anyway. The range of reception once upgraded makes it usable for club battles and it seems to function reliability as far as battle function goes, no anomalies. For driving dynamics, as others stated, they are behind and not peoples favorite. I don't know anything about the history of the old signal convertor, but our observed data so far is that it works fine. I got donated a bunch of parts from a retiring member of other clubs that I used for research and we are mixing and matching against current boards for fun. The issues cited of interfering signal could be true of the old 5.xx tanks but we're not spotting errors so far (though we don't see anyone with any trying to run a 5.3 series tanks anyway). Probably not relevant to you if you end up buying a 7,1 board or anything relatively new (and are concerned for battling). But the new blue box from Torro is the play if someone wants to keep the Torro or change to a torro board and wants to be compatible for battle. Works surprisingly well. Just giving some food for thought.

I'm curious about the connection for the LegoDEI on the Torro stuff. I know how to wire up the IR section, but did your guys using it ever hook up the hit LEDs?

[DavidN]

I'm curious about the connection for the LegoDEI on the Torro stuff. I know how to wire up the IR section, but did your guys using it ever hook up the hit LEDs?

I will post your Torro subject on a new thread and let leave this thread back to its main subject.

[keilau]

Yeah! It is currently out of stock according to the link from RCtank.de. However, you can try to email Dominique Slembrouck from the company and ask if she could order for you some. The latest batch I received, the converters worked better than those in the past.

All things considered, I decide it is better to order another TK7.1. Thank you for the link.

[Rubicon99]

All things considered, I decide it is better to order another TK7.1. Thank you for the link.

Good choice👍. Keeping it straight forward is the better overall option for your intended use.

[Tang - RC.Senshado]

I'm curious about the connection for the LegoDEI on the Torro stuff. I know how to wire up the IR section, but did your guys using it ever hook up the hit LEDs?

Yes I run a Y splitter cable off of the headlights and it supplied enough voltage to operate headlight and LegoDEI hit LEDs.