Ittybitty's DD XR

[SDheavymetal]

I thought about brass knuckles awhile ago. They look well made. I will check the web sight for prices. Good write up and great pictures! I also thought about tungsten knuckles also. Or aluminum knuckles with 4 or 5 holes drilled for pinewood derby tungsten 3/8 weights would be WAY COOL!

[Erik D_lux]

Originally Posted by SDheavymetal

I thought about brass knuckles awhile ago. They look well made. I will check the web sight for prices. Good write up and great pictures! I also thought about tungsten knuckles also. Or aluminum knuckles with 4 or 5 holes drilled for pinewood derby tungsten 3/8 weights would be WAY COOL!

Tungsten is a very hard material. I am glad I am not making these knuckles from anything harder than 7075.

AL knuckles with derby weights are possible. Harvos are Delrin with the derby weights so just change the material and its basically been done.

[Chaotic Crawlers]

Great write up itty bitty.

A question on your shafts though.
Couldn't you have just mated a stock xr inner shaft to the bully style outer!

I know someone has already done it in a wraith and was just curious if you tried?

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Crawlers

Great write up itty bitty.

A question on your shafts though.
Couldn't you have just mated a stock xr inner shaft to the bully style outer!

I know someone has already done it in a wraith and was just curious if you tried?

Absolutely...BUT I couldn't get mine apart...AND I liked the idea of being able to keep my previous setup assembled just in case I wanted to change things up again...all it would take is removing the 2 screws per c-hub and swapping things out. It was mainly because I couldn't get the stock shafts apart though...and since I had the ability to make the new shafts work I went that route.

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by Erik D_lux

Arent you on your own text list

Originally Posted by Erik D_lux

Harvos are Delrin with the derby weights so just change the material and its basically been done.

Erik must not have gotten that ETRC memo either...


all upgrades are a SECRET

[ittybitty]

Well yesterday was a bust due to rain so I took some time today to get this rig on the rocks. The location I went to wasn't the best in the world for comp crawlers, but it's the closest to the house and has PLENTY of sidehilling and steep climbs (just straight up though). If any of you saw the last video of my berg this was the same place so it was good to compare the two rigs.

Obviously I jumped up in the amount of knuckle weight on the rig so it's a little difficult sometimes to distinguish whether what I'm seeing is due to the weight or the non 8* setup. There is one particular section that I know the front end would wash out when trying to dig uphill from a sidehill. With it's current setup there was no washout...instead it whipped around VERY quickly...and most importantly with great stability. In other words it didn't lift the uphill tire, and there was no hint that hit wanted to washout.

I did make some changes to the link geometry to compensate for the additional weight and it really seems to be settling nicely now. I'll have to get it on some rocks where I'm familiar with a few gates to really compare things...to be continued

[Harvo]

you forgot to post the pictures and video.

[ittybitty]

I was slack and didn't take any...

[Erik D_lux]

Cool! Cant wait to hear the rest of the results.

[ittybitty]

I swear this guy doesn't get any sleep! Erik has one-upped himself on his knuckle design again. Not only has he made them more adjustable and/or adaptable but he's also reduced the cost quite a bit by making these changes. The first design had the kingpin bearing pockets incorporated into them which required several more cuts, and a lot more time...especially on the 8* versions. I can't even begin to wrap my head around the set up necessary to get everything right when doing it that way.

Enter the new style...which can still be made in brass, delrin, or 7075 aluminum. Of course your imagination is still the limit when it comes to how you want them set up for your rig as far as bearing sizes, weight reduction and such go. The biggest benefit of this new style is that they will work on BOTH 8* AND non 8*. It's just a matter of adjusting the mounting position of the carbon steering arms which also hold the kingpin bearings. I really like this because not only did Erik work hard to reduce the weight of my set to as close to my original knuckle and weight setup, but now if I want to I can switch between the 8* and non 8* c-hubs and really be able to see what the differences are on different terrains and such.

Another nice feature on these are two holes on the backside of the knuckle which are tapped for 3mm in order to be used for steering stops if you choose to do so

My first knuckles weighed in at 140g per knuckle These weigh in at 83g each, but I have the ability to use DLux add on rings OR a few weight slugs. Erik sent some brass slugs that weight approx. 4g each, but the holes are set up to use the tungsten weights.

I'll stop talking now and let the pics do the rest...









New knuckle weight...


Old knuckle weight...


Brass slugs...

[CrawlrKing]

Amazing !!!

[SDheavymetal]

Wow Erik that is a great design! Im going to get some of those.

[stubs179]

Those are nice pics!

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by secsm

cool rig thanks for vid.

^^ saved for posterity

[Harvo]

Just saw this. Nice. But I thought you had the new..new..new knuckles. Not just the new...new knuckles.

[Erik D_lux]

Nice servo horn BTW. I really like mine.

[AddictedtoRC1]

Originally Posted by Erik D_lux

Nice servo horn BTW. I really like mine.

I was actually eying that up. Who makes it?

[Erik D_lux]

Air Wild

[Weekend Crawler]

How do the wheel hubs fit on that style of outer stub shafts on the front universals?

[ittybitty]

The hubs are made by DLux. They're delrin and have a pin that goes through the hub, stub shaft, and hub again. Stronger design and no need for a hex. A set screw in the stub secures the pin from falling out.