So, the title almost says it all.  I was running tests today on my HL Stug III to see how it performs in grass prior to Aquino this year, and the tank seems to throw a track on just about every second sharper turn.  This is the case with both sides, and in both longer and shorter grass.

The specs on the tank are: upgraded metal gearbox, plastic wheels and suspension, plastic tracks.

Does anybody have experience with this sort of problem?  It would be a shame if Team Hippo had to become strictly an indoor tank.

Robert B. Marks wrote:

So, the title almost says it all.  I was running tests today on my HL Stug III to see how it performs in grass prior to Aquino this year, and the tank seems to throw a track on just about every second sharper turn.  This is the case with both sides, and in both longer and shorter grass.

The specs on the tank are: upgraded metal gearbox, plastic wheels and suspension, plastic tracks.

Does anybody have experience with this sort of problem?  It would be a shame if Team Hippo had to become strictly an indoor tank.

Normally this is caused by one of two issues that deal with excessive track length.
1. Stretched track (Usually only occurs with plastic tracks)
2. Idlers/mounts are bending/loose from track tension (Plastic hull)

I assume that it is a HL tank with all plastic running gear? If a metal lower Taigen (Torsion Bar suspension) you could adjust the track tension.

You may have to grab some adjustable track tensioning idlers and install them.
https://www.matomart.com/prodview.php?p=748

Jarlath wrote:

Robert B. Marks wrote:

So, the title almost says it all.  I was running tests today on my HL Stug III to see how it performs in grass prior to Aquino this year, and the tank seems to throw a track on just about every second sharper turn.  This is the case with both sides, and in both longer and shorter grass.

The specs on the tank are: upgraded metal gearbox, plastic wheels and suspension, plastic tracks.

Does anybody have experience with this sort of problem?  It would be a shame if Team Hippo had to become strictly an indoor tank.

Normally this is caused by one of two issues that deal with excessive track length.
1. Stretched track (Usually only occurs with plastic tracks)
2. Idlers/mounts are bending/loose from track tension (Plastic hull)

I assume that it is a HL tank with all plastic running gear? If a metal lower Taigen (Torsion Bar suspension) you could adjust the track tension.

You may have to grab some adjustable track tensioning idlers and install them.
https://www.matomart.com/prodview.php?p=748

This only happens in grass, though - indoors the tank is fine.  Does this still suggest that the solution is track tensioning idlers (as opposed to upgrading the suspension arms to metal)?

Yes. As you turn and the track grips the grass, the slack in the track allows grass to try and bunch up at the pivot pins/outer track projections and causes the track horn to ride out of the wheel/idler groove and throw the track.

On a smooth floor indoors, no real grip in turning = no track tension issues.

Jarlath wrote:

Yes. As you turn and the track grips the grass, the slack in the track allows grass to try and bunch up at the pivot pins/outer track projections and causes the track horn to ride out of the wheel/idler groove and throw the track.

On a smooth floor indoors, no real grip in turning = no track tension issues.

In lieu of a track tensioner, would removing a link or two from each track work instead?

(Aiming for simplicity here.)

Maybe? Usually a track length is a lot of change to overall length.

If a Heng Long, you may think about taking off the road wheel arms and drilling a new spring index hole to give a stiffer suspension. 



Make sure you drill the correct direction

So, it's a good news/bad news situation.  The good news is that track tension adjustment is built right into the tank, so I was able to make adjustments with a screwdriver and test it out.

The bad news is that this is not the only problem causing it to throw a track.  It turns out that one of the suspension arms has too much play, is pulling out of its groove on turns, and taking the rest of the track with it.  I tried to tighten it, but either it requires an allen key I don't seem to have between 7/64 and 3/32, or I'm doing something wrong (and, there's nothing left in the budget to get new tools).  Either way, I think I'm beyond what I can do on my own here.  So, I think I need help.

I've got a set of metal suspension arms pending in my Mato Mart rewards cart, so hopefully that has arrived by the time Aquino rolls around and the arms as a whole can be upgraded.  But, this is getting very frustrating.

Robert B. Marks wrote:

So, it's a good news/bad news situation.  The good news is that track tension adjustment is built right into the tank, so I was able to make adjustments with a screwdriver and test it out.

The bad news is that this is not the only problem causing it to throw a track.  It turns out that one of the suspension arms has too much play, is pulling out of its groove on turns, and taking the rest of the track with it.  I tried to tighten it, but either it requires an allen key I don't seem to have between 7/64 and 3/32, or I'm doing something wrong (and, there's nothing left in the budget to get new tools).  Either way, I think I'm beyond what I can do on my own here.  So, I think I need help.

I've got a set of metal suspension arms pending in my Mato Mart rewards cart, so hopefully that has arrived by the time Aquino rolls around and the arms as a whole can be upgraded.  But, this is getting very frustrating.

Bring the tank with you to Aquino. I'll have a full 1/16 repair motor pool setup there (As per usual with full tools) for fixing everyone's tanks

It is also likely a 3mm hex bit that you need.