RichJohnson

Ok, well very little drive time on the panzer and one drive sprocket is slipping on the drive shaft. It looks like an allen head screw inside the sprocket, and i assume that the mounting flange or whatever inside the sprocket broke off.

Is it time to order metal sprockets from mato?

Was doing a battle last night with my sherman at our military vehicle club barbq and movie night. (fury)

Max-U52

Hey Rich, I have the mato all metal PIII and I also have the Imex/Taigen sprockets on my tauschpanzer and the Imex are far superior, so if you get metal sprockets and idlers I'd get them from Erik, not mato. Just my opinion, but like I said, I have both so I can see them side by side and the taigen are definitely much better (the mato don't even have the center hub, just a hole where the screw goes in). If you still can't make up your mind I can do a quick video when I get home and show you both for comparison. Oh yeah, the shipping from Imex to California will be MUCH less than from Mato.

Pah co chu puk

The drive shaft has a flat cut into it to form a "D" shape for the sprocket to fit on to. The allen screw just holds the sprocket onto the end of the drive shaft. I bet that inside the gearbox where the drive shaft connects to the gears is the problem. There is a set screw in the final gear to hold it tight to the drive shaft. If it loosens up the sprocket and drive shaft will slip. Re-tighten that set screw and the gears can spin the drive shaft. You will need to open up the hull to get to the set screw.

Max-U52

As far as I know the dual ratio or brass gearboxes are the only ones that have a set screw for the axle gear. Most 3 and 4 shaft stamped sided boxes have a pin or just a press fit. I haven't seen the new all bearing boxes, though, so they might have a set screw. What kind of gearboxes to you have in your PIII?

RichJohnson

The gears are old plastic style.
i believe i saw the allen head screw in the sprocket spinning inside the sprocket.

Will the imex sprockets fit?

MAUS45

The metal Sprockets from Taigen will fit the HL plastic gear boxes. They are basicly asiatam copies. I have both and they fit the old HL plastic gearboxes. Here is the link to them at Artistic Hobbies. The cool thing is that you get metal idlers with bearings.

http://www.artistichobbies.com/prodd...prod=TAG120144

TheBennyB

Yea, my guess is you cracked the inner "D" cup on the sprocket. I've busted up a couple of those on my SU-76i. Don't know why I haven't gone to metal on that one yet, other than having plastic sprockets already laying around from other PZIII/IV chassis.

RichJohnson

I bought them. On the way. Thanks guys.