Mato Metal Sprocket on HL Abrams with HL Plastic Tracks?

[jono21]

Will using the Mato metal drive sprockets work with the stock plastic tracks? My plastic drive sprocket bit the dust after my son had a go with my Abrams. Been looking at the Mato metal tracks with rubber pads, so figured I should just replace the drive sprocket with the Mato ones while I save up for the tracks.


Also, what is the consensus on tracks with rubber pads on both sides?

Thanks

[SoCalBobS]

As far as Heng Long metal with rubber pad tracks, they shed pads. They’re just dovetailed in. If you find one that fell off you can glue it in place, but if you’ve been battling outdoors for a couple hours, they’re gone!

[Rubicon99]

Will using the Mato metal drive sprockets work with the stock plastic tracks? My plastic drive sprocket bit the dust after my son had a go with my Abrams. Been looking at the Mato metal tracks with rubber pads, so figured I should just replace the drive sprocket with the Mato ones while I save up for the tracks.


Also, what is the consensus on tracks with rubber pads on both sides?

Thanks

You will also need to upgrade you motors to 390s if you want to be able to turn well with rubber padded tracks on anything but hard packed dirt.

Also if you do not have metal wheels with bearings it is a good suggestion to add those as well because the rubber padded track is "sticky" and need road wheels that do not wobble around otherwise in turns the track will simply "drive off" the road wheels.

Does you metal sprockets have "retaining rings"? Some do some do not. If not you should consider buying a set with the rings as these go a long way to keeping the tracks on.

MATO tracks like Bob said have a history of losing rubber pads. Look at the ones Toucan sells for the Abrams they are substantially better. Also there are two type of metal/rubber tracks. One is Leopard 2 style and one is Abrams. They both work on the Abrams sprockets.

Lastly MATO Abrams sprockets do require the track to be a little tighter the with HL metal sprockets if you want reliability.

There are a few more things but that can also be added that do tend to help in track retention. The biggest is adding drive shaft bearings to the drive support housing.

[tank_me]

Toucan sells both types of tracks: the over-molded and the slotted type. I have the over-molded Abrams tracks and haven't lost a pad, but did loose a center guide. Looks like they come with a few spares unlike my original set that didn't. They don't specify which is which on their site, but the over-molded ones have "CS" in the part number for Canshuo. I will be ordering a new set for my other Abrams so at least I'll be able to repair my other track's center guide.

[jono21]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess at the moment I'm planning to keep the plastic tracks due to budget concerns. I do have red 390 motors and a nice steel transmission. My son got the tank stuck in the snow a couple of months ago and gunned it, seared the plastic drive sprocket off. I "fixed" it with copious amounts of hot glue - so far so good. Of course this was after his tank battery died - his Leopard came with stock metal tracks since I knew his had to be more durable. Of course, with metal tracks and red 390 motors, the stock battery does not last long. I just outfitted his with plastic abrams tracks (was a stretch and had to lengthen them) to try to get him some longer battery life and speed.

I guess my main question was, if Mato metal sprockets are compatible with heng long plastic tracks as on Matomart they said it's wider?

I'm looking for some affordable metal sprockets that have the holes in them (for looks mainly and maybe performance?) that will work with my plastic tracks - and be ready to go later when I save up for some metal tracks with pads. If anyone has suggestions, I'm happy to hear them.

I wanted to order from DKLMRC but they are not currently shipping to the USA for tariff reasons.

[Rubicon99]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess at the moment I'm planning to keep the plastic tracks due to budget concerns. I do have red 390 motors and a nice steel transmission. My son got the tank stuck in the snow a couple of months ago and gunned it, seared the plastic drive sprocket off. I "fixed" it with copious amounts of hot glue - so far so good. Of course this was after his tank battery died - his Leopard came with stock metal tracks since I knew his had to be more durable. Of course, with metal tracks and red 390 motors, the stock battery does not last long. I just outfitted his with plastic abrams tracks (was a stretch and had to lengthen them) to try to get him some longer battery life and speed.

I guess my main question was, if Mato metal sprockets are compatible with heng long plastic tracks as on Matomart they said it's wider?

I'm looking for some affordable metal sprockets that have the holes in them (for looks mainly and maybe performance?) that will work with my plastic tracks - and be ready to go later when I save up for some metal tracks with pads. If anyone has suggestions, I'm happy to hear them.

I wanted to order from DKLMRC but they are not currently shipping to the USA for tariff reasons.

Toucan has the same HL sprockets available as DKLM. They are just the newer HL Abrams sprockets. You have to fish around to find them but they are available. Or simply add the debris holes yourself. Many of us have but I won't say it's easy if you don't have a drill press.

[jono21]

Thanks. Do the holes actually add any benefit at this scale? I found some online with no holes and may give them a try.

Also, what are your thoughts on the drive axle bearings? Are those a worthwhile upgrade? I found some on toucan and some on RC tank legion, but the price on RC tank legion makes me wonder what makes them better or not.

[tank_me]

A lot of us like our tanks to look like their full sized counterparts which is why we want the mud holes in the sprockets. I don't think they make much difference at 1/16th scale.

The bearings can be a blessing or a curse from what I've seen. Adding them to nice straight gearbox output shafts can add some extra load protection for heavy metal tracks. I have seen people add them where they cause issues because the gearbox output shafts are not completely aligned and/or bent. In that case it will add additional friction to the drivetrain. So if you are sticking with plastic tracks, I would say they aren't worth the time, money or effort.

[Rubicon99]

Thanks. Do the holes actually add any benefit at this scale? I found some online with no holes and may give them a try.

Also, what are your thoughts on the drive axle bearings? Are those a worthwhile upgrade? I found some on toucan and some on RC tank legion, but the price on RC tank legion makes me wonder what makes them better or not.

The sprockets "holes" are beneficial if you run in soft dirt or sand as they do help evacuate the loose material faster and this helps keep the tracks and sprocket teeth mated. I run in soft fine dirt and sand often and have sprockets with and without "holes". By far the tank with "holes" in the sprockets run more reliably.

If you don't run in dirt and sand often then they do nothing except look a bit cooler.

[jono21]

Thank you for the info. Yes, I will plan to run on sand every so often, so holes it is!