Rubber tracks

If you have not linked them,( melted the pins or glued the ends together), do that first. Next if the drive and idler sprockets are not glued solid remove them. Once you have made your track whole, place the drive sprocket into the track and have it lined up, then put your idler over your guide teeth and GENTLY place them back on the tank. If your sprokets are installed but move just roll the track on using the drive as the alignment tool. Hope this helps.

Well, guess my noobness is showing brightly. I didn't link the tracks beforehand. I don't think I glued the idler so I might be in luck there.

So, do most modellers link the tracks first then paint/weather them before putting them on?

Thank you

Your a noob? Well... Nah its all good. Kinda depends on your preference. I have seen tracks painted and weathered before installation and after, experiment. Me I paint the tracks first then wrather them aft Dr installstion, try to blend it all together. Your in luck with the loose wheels. Be VERY GENTLE when rolling on the track, it will work. If, IF the track comes apart, try a couple of standard staples or thread. Once they are in place put the joint under a road wheel, it will be almost invisible except to the most scrutinizing judge. Practice makes perfect and questions ate always welcome.

If possible I always paint/weather my tracks before putting them on I find it easier to work with them.  If they are rubberband tracks I don't glue them together until after weathering and just touch up the area were they were glue or melted together. 

If they are magic tracks I fit them on the vehicle until dry and pull them off for weathering.  So I make sure the wheels, idler and drive sprocket aren't glued in place until I am ready to add the magic tracks with idler going on last.

Workable tracks I pin the final links together on the vehicle.

I glue them first together, then GENTLY stretch them in segments of 3-4 inches at the time. Then fit them on starting at the sprockets and work from there.

I had a friend who has a wood working shop build me a painting jig for rubber band tracks. A horizontal board with a verticle board attached. The vertical board has a slot cut into it so the tentioning pegs can slide back and forth. I put the tracks together before painting, and slide them over the tentioning pegs. It's a little more work doing it that way, but I'm retired and can invest that extra time.

 Other people may not have that kind of time though. Just a little tip that might help.