New (old) rig - AX10 I think

[AK KRAWLER]

I’ll post some picture tomorrow, but I picked up a used AX10 and it looks like it has some potential. Crazy big Cherokee body, some decent 2.2 RC4WD Dick Cepek Tires and plastic beadlock wheels.

I’ve already swapped the wheels/foams over to a set of 2.2 Imex Swamp Dawgs tires, which I cut off the small lugs and put them on my Gen8. It was fun out in the snow.

Back onto the AX10, it has some bent links and old SCX10 axles. I plan to drop a set of AR60 axles, update the electronics and likely install the skinny 2.2 wheels ant tall 2.2 Deep Woods tires, I think it would make a good combination.

[AK KRAWLER]

It looks like the rear lower links are bent more on one side than the other and it is causing the rear axle to not be straight.

It has bent, high clearance links, so I’ll start looking into what will fit it.

[rob5059]

Nice old school project truck.

[AK KRAWLER]

Originally Posted by rob5059

Nice old school project truck.

Thanks Rob, it should be fun and likely more capable as a crawler than any of the scale’ish trucks we currently have.

I plan to swap in a set of AR60 axles and I think this will be a good home for my skinny 2.2 wheels and the tall DeepWoods tires.

I would also like more of a caged body on this one. I’ll start looking to see what’ll fit.

[AK KRAWLER]

Tear down begins…

Out with the AR44’s and in with the AR60’s.



One AR60 in and the DeepWoods installed



I’m going to go look at a set of links tomorrow and see if they’ll work for what they want.

[dCowler]

My friend is looking to build an AX10 next. We're finishing the installation of the rack and tonneau covers on his truck tomorrow for the year-end trip. I'm gonna tip him your build here.

[AK KRAWLER]

The more, the merrier…. Send’m my way, I’ll need all the help I can get.

I really wanted to get this thing back together today, but not sure I’ll find links locally. We only have one RC Shop in town and they said they do not have any Wraith links.

I guess I could build some, but I’ve never done bent links and not really sure how long to make them…

[AK KRAWLER]

So, I went to our local hobby shop and picked up a Wraith AX80083 plastic link set, because people have said that the Wraith Links are a drop in affair. Mainly to see how they fit and be able to have a template to build some DIY links.

Nothing has gone right… I have tried every conceivable combination to make these things fit!!!! The pinion is pointing to the sky!!! And articulation sucks.

Please take a look and let me know what I’m doing wrong…!!!

[nightcrawler48]

The original links on the Scorpion were a 3-link set-up. Separate lower links and a "Y" link for the top (single connection at the axle). I don't have that set-up to measure but it seems to me the top link was quite a bit shorter than the lower links. If I remember correctly, the Wraith links, top and bottom, are the same pin to pin length or pretty close to the same.

The link mounting locations on the Wraith are totally different than the AX10. The vertical distance between the upper and lower links on the AX10 is at least twice the distance of the link mounting on the Wraith. Then, the horizontal distance has the same issue. The horizontal distance between the upper and lower link mounting is also twice or more the distance of the link mounting on the Wraith.

Either the top links need to be shorter or the bottom links need to be longer. Or a combination of both, slightly shorter top links and slightly longer bottom links.

A quick way to check, and to also get an idea of what wheelbase you might end up with, is unbolt one end of both lower links (at the axle is probably better). Now rotate the axle til you get the axle pinion shaft fairly level. Measure the distance between the rod end and the mounting point and that will give you an idea of how much longer the lower link needs to be. For now, a quick fix (???) would be to make a set of straight, longer, lower links. That would give you a better idea of what your link mods should be to get what you want.

[rob5059]

Wraith links work on the AX10 v2 chassis. Back in the day we used to drill new holes in the chassis for the upper link mount. It allows for longer upper links and the suspension moves more freely.

[AK KRAWLER]

Thanks everyone!!!

I may have figured it out, to at least complete my mock up.

I used the hole just above the ones you drilled. I’ll likely be drilling holes as you did, but we’ll see.

I’ll post some pics once I get up and moving. Was up till past 2am and it’s 6:50am now

[ferp420]

they sell allthread at the hardwere store and i use 4mm id x 6mm od x 1m stainles steel tube about $10 for 3 sticks on ebay for my links you can pick up breakline instead from the local auto parts store to if you dont want to wait for stuff to be.delivered from that hay hole on the other side of the ocean
and i use rc3wd rod ends cauze there cheap and flex rather than break like other brands ive used

[AK KRAWLER]

Thanks ferp, I plan to grab some supplies to have on hand for this type of stuff.

Originally Posted by ferp420

they sell allthread at the hardwere store and i use 4mm id x 6mm od x 1m stainles steel tube about $10 for 3 sticks on ebay for my links you can pick up breakline instead from the local auto parts store to if you dont want to wait for stuff to be.delivered from that hay hole on the other side of the ocean
and i use rc3wd rod ends cauze there cheap and flex rather than break like other brands ive used

While I was at the hobby shop, they had a set of SS Incision Links for the Bomber. Since the Bomber uses trailing arms, it did not come with rear lower links.

I installed the front set and used a hole in the chassis that was further back for the upper link mount. It’s not great, but gives me a good starting point.
For the rear, I used the Bomber upper links for lowers and the existing bent links that came with the AX10, as uppers. It lined up decent and should be able to be fine tuned.







I would like to get it set up with more of a droop setup. Looking for recommendations on a decent shock for this type of setup, or other ideas for using the current shocks to do this.

[AK KRAWLER]

Slammed


100% Droop, I think it would be better at 70% to 80% Droop


Wheelbase is not a real concern, currently it is sitting at 13”.

[ferp420]

have you tryed the pen spring mod you loose alittle articulation but gain some ride hight and still have a little bit of spring on the shock

[AK KRAWLER]

Originally Posted by ferp420

have you tryed the pen spring mod you loose alittle articulation but gain some ride hight and still have a little bit of spring on the shock

Thanks ferp, I forgot about that mod and might give it a try. Ultimately, I will be replacing the shocks, as I found them to be mismatched and I’m not sure it’s worth it to spend much time on them.

I did install some random springs I had laying around. I had to cut the rears shorter to fit, because the rear shocks are shorter than the fronts. I’ll play with it a bit more and see where it takes me.





I definitely think this motor is going to have to go. It has little to no low speed control and tends to build up stored energy, then releases it. I have a couple motors on hand to try out.

[AK KRAWLER]

Well, I pulled the Radon motor out and it has tons of play in the shaft. I had a 540 45T Crawlmaster in my motor box, but not sure which model. It has a gray can, I’ll post some pictures after church.

I also swapped out the axles for another set of AR60’s that were in better shape, installed a 35kg servo and ran it around a bit.
Once I get the ride height and pinion angles sorted out, it should be a fun little crawler.

Now to decide on a body.

[cartronicshn]

Nice build there, i still have my og ax10 on the stock chassis and axles around.

[AK KRAWLER]

Originally Posted by cartronicshn

Nice build there, i still have my og ax10 on the stock chassis and axles around.

Thanks man. It’s been a fun, no pressure build. I’ve never built this kind and of rig, so there has definitely been some learning curves. So far, I am pretty impressed with what it will climb and I am ready for summer, so I can get outdoors.

[AK KRAWLER]

Not really a Dodge fan, but I bought this New Bright body for another project that it ended up not working for, it was too small.

I’m thinking of cutting it up and squishing it on this crawler.
I still need to remove all the stickers and figure out the paint.