Pah co chu puk

A new idler axle in solid brass for Heng Long Panther G and Jagdpanther models is avalable. This fits the Asiatam adjustable mounts and replaces the stock screw that must be ground down to work. This part is milled to fit snugly with no slop, has a flat in the shaft for the set screw and is sized extra long so you have more adjustment side to side to match with the road wheels. It is designed to work with both the stock plastic idlers and the metal upgrade ones. It is an aftermarket part and can be added to the tank at any time as a simple switch-out.

I was unhappy with the weak link in this system so I designed a part to work better. I had a machine shop mill out the parts for me, I nedded 4, but to be cost effictive I had to make 125 parts. Now I would like to see if they work like I hope. I will put them in my Panther and Jagdpanther for testing but I need more input. I need other people to test these and give me feedback on how they work. I'm sending Phil at RCTankwars some samples to test and plan to sell through him if he thinks they are any good.

Anybody who would like to receve a free set of two to test can PM me your name and address. . All I ask is an honest opinion in return. I have limited quanitys and can not afford the postage for overseas so please, I can only respond to folks in the US and Canada. When I run out of samples or money for postage the free offer is over. If the feedback is good I can do another run of these to sell.

I have not worked out any cost per part yet.

ROLLIN ARMOUR

Hello, I would like to try a pair in sons Jagdpanther if possible can they be modified for a HL Panzer IV? Thank you

MassiveOverkill

PM sent.

Pah co chu puk

I don't have a pzk IV so I have no idea if it would work. PM me an address and I can send you a pair.

Mathom1

PM sent. I will gladly pay for shipping, just let me know.

Buckeye36

My Feedback: (3)

PM sent.

Pah co chu puk

Five PM's so far, I get them out in the mail by tomorow.

Pah co chu puk

I sent out a free sample set of two to the following tankers by US mail today.

Harleridr
Buckeye36
Mathom1
MassiveOverkill
Frantz70
Phil at RC Tankwars

When you get them try them out and let me know what you think.  You may post your comments here or PM me.  Honesty is important even if they don't work.  Hopefuly everyone will love them.

MassiveOverkill

Thanks man.

Buckeye36

My Feedback: (3)

Thanks!

CHIEFSONN

pm sent

Pah co chu puk

I sent out a free sample set of two to the following tankers by US Mail today.

CHIEFSONN
1sgt
Devildog1341Va
tomhugill
STO_118

Some of you have offered to pay for shipping, thanks.  The shipping is cheap enough that I'm willing to cover it.   I realise you will put some time and effort into this conversion and out of respect for that, the offer is free.  I have not had time to put these in my tanks yet so some of you may be the first.  If it does not work I would feel bad charging you money.  This is a new product, these are the prototypes I'm sending out so I only ask for your opinnion. 
                                     Thanks, Greg

P.S.   Those who pay attention will note that two of these guys are in the UK.  The postage was not too much so I can extend my offer to overseas tankers too. 

Devildog0341Va

Greg,

Thank you.

MassiveOverkill

Greg, on HL Jagd's do we have to remove the stock plastic boss, or just drill a hole to accomodate the larger shaft?  It looks like the boss has to be removed.

Panther G

I have a full set of NEW Panther road wheel axels. You may be able to get good bearings for them and replace the HL axels with these. with out seeing both brands side by side i'm not sure if it can be done but it is worth looking into. I will let these new in package axles gor for the price of shipping. As i already have to complete sets of road wheel and axel combos assembled. One set with bearings the original set with the Tamiya supplied bushings that came with the kit.

Pah co chu puk

I'm not sure what you mean by "boss". Perhaps this helps...

I did just get done converting my Jagdpanther and my Panther G this evening. Each conversion took about 20 min. I used two diffrent methods.

Jagdpanther method:
I inserted the new Brass Axle into the wheel "as is" leaving the brass tube insert in the cast wheel. Perhaps thats a "boss" . This tube is a pressed in part in the plastic wheels so the Brass Axles are sized to fit both plastic and metal without drilling the wheel. To aling the idler with my road wheels it was nessary to cut off about 2.5 mm of the narrow part of the shaft to clear the Asiatam mount on the hull. It fits snug so I de-burred the shaft with fine sand paper before inserting it. Everything snapped together like I hoped. I gave it a short road test and the tank drives just fine, I'm happy.

Panther G method:
I placed a 13 mm ( 1/2 inch ) washer on the Brass Axle shaft before inserting it into the wheel. This washer must be sized at least 5 mm inside ( 7/32 inch ) so it fits aganst the large flange on the end. This, plus a smaller brass washer between the wheel and the Asaitam mount positioned the Brass Axle so no cutting was nessasary. Again the brass tube insert in the cast wheel was used as designed.

Both methods will work on either tank ( AFV ), I was experementing to see what works best. The brass cut easy, but the washer works too. Two options for instalation.

For those of you with samples in the mail, you have something nice to look forward to, I love them so much I put the old screws in the trash. They work as well as I had dreamed!

Pah co chu puk

A picture is worth a thousand words.

MassiveOverkill

The part circled, does it need to be cut down, or left as is?  Thanks:

Pah co chu puk

That looks like the stock mount with a longer shaft and a sleve of some sort.  These are designed to fit on the Asiatam adjustable idler mounts.  I will dig up a pic of it installed from behind like that to compare.  It may take a few min.

If you do not have the Asiatam adjustable idler mount upgrade, these Brass Axles may not work for you as planned.  I have sent you a pair so experiment with them and see what you can make work.  Good Luck!

Pah co chu puk

Here is a picture of the Asiatam mount on the hull without the wheel mount in place and before painting. The other pic is from behind, installed.

MassiveOverkill

I see now, so they're made to work with this from Phil:  http://rctankwars.com/images/product...0Tensioner.jpg
which requires removing the stock mounting boss so the aftermarket mount sits flush with the chasis.

Pah co chu puk

Yes, they are designed to fit that product.

Pah co chu puk

The first picture is a close up of the stock screw ( left ) and the Brass Axle ( right ) upgrade.

The second picture shows the assembly with 13 mm washer. The washer positions the Brass Axle so no cutting should be required.

The third picture is the assembly without washer. This will require cutting the narrow part of the shaft off to be flush with the Asiatam mount.

Greese may be applied to the Brass Axle if desired. I use 1 thin brass washer between the wheel and the Asitam mount to reduce friction, this is not required for the Brass Axle to function.

Some of you should get yours soon, good luck and don't be afraid to experiment with them.

Pah co chu puk

The first picture is the final assembly using the 13 mm washer.

The second picture is the final assembly without the 13 mm washer. The exposed section of brass would need to be cut off.

Pah co chu puk

After some testing I think some sort of lube at the brass / brass interface is needed.  I set up a drill press and ran a wheel for a while to simulate hours of running and the wheel spun free at first then as the brass heated up it began to grab and stall the wheel.  I added a light oil and it spun free again, running without trouble for as long as I ran it, a couple more hours.

I can have these parts nickiel plated for a few cents extra per part.  That would give them a hard chrome like finish.  That could reduce the need for lube.

One set has arrived at a tankers house for more testing!