AX10 from stock to comp

[Mad4Rnr]

I got my AX10 a few months back right when they first hit the LHS shelves. Even though it's hard for me to leave things stock I felt I needed to do Axial justice and build it up completly stock.

Stock specs:

-AX10 kit
-55t V10 hand wound integy lathe motor
-Novak Rooster crawler ESC
-Hi-Tec HS-5625MG servo
-HPI bug body
-2200 6-cell stick pack
-Losi Rock Claw tires

I already had a Futaba 3PM radio.

[Mad4Rnr]

So after about 10 min on the rock pile in the backyard I stripped the stock servo arm. I quickly threw in a blue Hi-Tec unit that I drilled out with a 1/8" drill bit.





Subsequnt testing confirmed the rumors of the poor stock battery location. I quick internet trip to CheapBatterypacks.com yielded a super sweet 7-cell saddle pack. Note that I had the 4-cell side placed on the right side of the servo to help combat torque twist.

[Mad4Rnr]

OK, now fast forward a month or so...

The drive shafts keep busting and The Crawler Store / RCP releases some sweet accessories. Here are the upgrades:

-Pede shafts with steel yokes
-TCS Delrin servo mount (convert from 3-link to 4-link)
-TCS Delrin boomerang (convert from 3-link to 4-link)
-TCS Delrin battery plates
-RCP stainless striaght axles
-RCP rear lockouts
-RCP aluminum axle C's
-RCP aluminum knuckles

[Mad4Rnr]

The above mods are awesome but didn't quite make the truck handle as good as I hoped. The next mods were the most effective to date:

-fabbed up a 1/4" Delrin skid plate to move the lower links inside the chassis
-bent the lower links with my brake tubing bender
-moved lower link to inside and shock to the outside on axle mount
-moved the shock bump stop inside the shockbody under the piston
-Axial "Red" springs
-mounted ESC on top of the front upper links, cut battery plate
-pulled out star cut foams and added Red Kreepy Krawler foams in front and Pink Kreepy Krawler foams in the rear
-also added about 4oz of lead to each front wheel
-TCS button head hardwear on out side of each wheel
-Grappler body

Now the torque twist is almost gone and CofG is much lower, this thing is totaly comp worthy now

[whitey07]

looks good im digging the new body

[Mad4Rnr]

thanks man, I bet you can't guess whats next...

OK I'll give you a hint:

-SW3 (arrives next week)
-Losi XXX shocks, with traxxas rod ends
-RC4WD narrow beadlocks with some new shoes
-R2D with a 645MG servo and 12t pinion (too bad the TCS servo mount dosn't work with the SW3)
-55t V11 rock crawler motor

church

[Teapot]

Very nice, definitely shows a good upgrade path.

[spot47]

nice build looks great. one thing though, if your going to run the sw3, the disconnect servo will not fit were it is mounted in your picture. i'm running it on a tlt, but thinking about using ax-10 axles like alot of people are doing.

[Mad4Rnr]

ya the TCS R2D servo mount dosn't work with the SW3, too bad cause its a cool mount

[RaceChat]

Originally Posted by Mad4Rnr

ya the TCS R2D servo mount dosn't work with the SW3, too bad cause its a cool mount

Can you explain why it doesn't work please as this is what I was hoping to do ?

TIA

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by RaceChat

Can you explain why it doesn't work please as this is what I was hoping to do ?

TIA

The TCS R2D mount puts the servo right where the chassis and front link mounts are. The length of the motor + R2D + servo in the above picture is about 4", the cut in the side of the SW3 is about 3.5" = no bueno.

[lowtideride]

Originally Posted by Mad4Rnr

OK, now fast forward a month or so...

The drive shafts keep busting and The Crawler Store / RCP releases some sweet accessories. Here are the upgrades:

-Pede shafts with steel yokes

How are the shafts holding up? Do you have any shots of them? Thanks... Cool looking rig.

I am going thru shafts and have the Revo's on the way but just seeing what other options are out there.

[Mad4Rnr]

^^The pede shafts are bullet-proof, I havn't broken one yet, I always lengthen them and use the metal yokes.

Anyway, I recieved my SW3 chassis today and quickly got to work putting it together.



I fabbed a full length skid plate out of 1/4" Delrin. I chamfered the front and rear edges and notched the corners to mount the lower links inside the chassis plates.



I would have finished it tonight but got super pissed when I broke off a M3 tap inside one of the lower links trying to shorten it. So now I will need a new link and a tap, M3 taps break all the time

I still don't know exactly how to mount the Losi XXX shocks, I have some fuel tube but wish there was a better way, any suggestions?

[guest]

Looking good, do you use any lubricant when you tap ?

[mysharona]

Originally Posted by Mad4Rnr

I still don't know exactly how to mount the Losi XXX shocks, I have some fuel tube but wish there was a better way, any suggestions?

I know it doesn't look pretty, but fuel tubing with some m3 washers holding it in place works really well.

[Mad4Rnr]

usually I squirt some WD40 or motor oil on the tap but I was so stoked to get it done I boneheaded it and forgot

I will pick up som cutting oil tomarrow when I get a new tap from the hardware store.

[guest]

Originally Posted by Mad4Rnr

usually I squirt some WD40 or motor oil on the tap but I was so stoked to get it done I boneheaded it and forgot

I will pick up som cutting oil tomarrow when I get a new tap from the hardware store.

Another option is some tap/thread wax it works really good, I actually just use candle wax which also works.

[Mad4Rnr]

I finsished the assembly today using some 65mm long upper links with lowers cut to 75mm long. The wheel base ended up being 12 5/8, I will have to fix that before next weeks comp. I also clearanced the center of the skid plate.










All that's left is mounting the body

[Jonnie Fraz]

Great build! I have a question....why the Traxas rod ends on your Losi shocks? And why not use the Losi bushings to mount the shocks?

[Mad4Rnr]

Thanks, this thing drives great now, real smooth articulation and low CofG, the dig work well too. I'm still trying to get use to the lower belly clerance though.

The Losi rod ends that came with the shocks didn't have a 3mm hole in the ball and the traxxas ones fit, other wise no reason.

My LHS didnt have the Losi bushing so I need to order some and try to replace the fuel tubing.

Originally Posted by Jonnie Fraz

Great build! I have a question....why the Traxas rod ends on your Losi shocks? And why not use the Losi bushings to mount the shocks?