Life of one YETI - Tom Frajer's Axial Yeti build log

[TomFrajer]

So I got Axial Yeti RTR and have some plans with it. I will share my upgrades and experience here. This is my first RC car

Here is website for my project: http://yetibuild.com/

Here is how it looks now:


Parts that are already installed in my car:
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Team Ottsix Voodoo U4 (blue)
Crawler Innovations Deuce's Wild Single Stage Closed Cell (standard)
MIP X-Duty Rear C-Drive Kit For Axial Yeti #14390
Vanquish Aluminum Front Shock Tower Black Anodized #VPS07790
Vanquish Aluminum Double Sheer Steering Rack Kit #VPS07230
Vanquish Aluminum Front Shock Adjuster Black #VPS07770
Vanquish Front Skid Plate Black #VPS07890
Vanquish Titanium Front Link Kit #VPS07200
Vanquish Titanium Rear Upper Suspension Link Kit #VPS07201
AX31169 - Axial Machined Body Post Mount (Hard Anodized)
AX31166 - Axial Machined Shock Mount Plates (Hard Anodized) (2 pcs)
ProLine PowerStroke XT Shocks (5” Length) - 6275-00
ProLine Power Stroke Shocks - 6063-01
Vanquish Yeti Motor Cam Black Anodized
Vanquish Yeti Motor Plate Black Anodized
RRP1564 - Robinson Racing Gen 3 Slipper Unit for Axial Yeti - 64T Black Steel Spur
NOVAK 5mm 32-Pitch Steel Pinion Gear 3-Pack (15T/16T/17T)
OMF 2.2 Wheel Clamp Ring
OMF 2.2 Front Ring Clear Anodized
OMF 2.2 NXG1 Rear Ring Clear Anodized
OMF 2.2 Original Beadlock Clear Anodized
Scale Wheel Screw Kit
SLW Hub Screw Kit
Vanquish Aluminum SLW 475 Wheel Hubs Silver #VPS01043
Vanquish Aluminum SLW 850 Wheel Hubs Silver #VPS01627
Vanquish Aluminum Bell Crank Black #VPS07810
Vanquish Aluminum Steering Rack Black #VPS07231
Holmes Hobbies Puller PRO BL 540 XL 3500 KV (Waterproofed)
Mamba Monster X
Holmes Hobbies HV500 SERVO
Vanquish Centered Pumpkin Rear Currie Axle Black #VPS07400
Vanquish Incision VDI #IRC00021
Axial Yeti / EXO Steering Knuckles Black Anodized
Yeti Front Caster Blocks Black Anodized
RPM Front A arms for Axial EXO Terra Buggy #70472
GPM Aluminum Anti Roll Bar Set Green For Axial Yeti #YT311FL-G
GPM Steel #45 Front Wheel Joint 1 Pair Set For Axial Yeti #YT039FS
Boom Racing Aluminum Rear 4 Link Mounts - 1 Pair Black
Boom Racing Aluminum Rear Lower Links - 1 Pair Black
Boom Racing Performance Combo Package D With Tool Box (Rear Sway Bar Mount,Anti-Sway Bar Arms,Anti-Sway Bar Links) Black
Team DC Axial Yeti Chassis Protector for Yeti Matt Black
Integy Billet Machined Front Bulkhead (Black)
Integy Billet Machined Spur Gear Cover Assembly*(Silver)
Integy Billet Machined Gearbox Case Set*(Silver)
Integy Billet Machined Alloy+CF Rear Cage Stiffener (Black)
Integy Billet Machined Spring Loaded Front Bumper Mount Kit (Black)
Integy Billet Machined Upper Deck Brace*(Black)
Integy Billet Machined Front Bumper Set w/ LED Lights*(Black)
Incision Spool/Locker
Robinson Racing Extra Hard Steel One Piece 15 Tooth Idler Gear Gun Metal For Axial Yeti #1515

Parts that arrived and are ready for installation & spare parts:
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Baja Bug Body

Few more parts are still on it's way:
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Team KNK Stainless Hardware KIT for Yeti
CREEPERBOB custom fabricated titanium rear axle shafts for Currie centered pumpkin axle
Strong Arms RC modified RPM A Arms
Underdriven heavy duty bevel gears for front and rear

So here it goes...




Here goes the Voodoos U4 with Deuce's Wilds inside - feels like completely different car on the road ;) Much better handling, not too prone to rollovers in highspeed turns. Nice!




Yep, I lost right swaybar plastic piece right during my first ride :-D Waiting for replacement. New MIP C-Drive looks very solid! I was able to install it only this way - was not able to slide other end on transmission output shaft - very tight fit - I hope this way everything will be OK...




Pure beauty

Will update next week once second gift-box arrives and I put someting into my Yeti. Hope I will not destroy it (as usual) during weekend :-D

RTR = Ready To Replace, hahaha

[TomFrajer]

Some harder bashing done over weekend and to my surprise, everything is still working - I was expecting to break something

Here is short video of my relentless water and mud bashing:

[TomFrajer]

Another batch of parts arrived today!



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So, weekend bashing sessions were not exactly without any damage






Titanium front links installed:

















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[TomFrajer]

Yesterday I ordered Holmes Hobbies Puller PRO BL 540 XL 3500 KV (Waterproofed) + Mamba Monster X ESC + Holmes Hobbies HV500 SERVO

Yay!

[shiftauto]

Were you able to order it as a combo?

[TomFrajer]

Originally Posted by shiftauto

Were you able to order it as a combo?

No, I ordered combo with Trailmaster ESC (only one choice there) + external CC BEC and then changed my mind and asked if is it possible to swap Trailmaster with external BEC to Monster X as it costs approximately same and it is better choice. There was no problem with swap, I'm just waiting for price confirmation - maybe I will have to pay some extra - don't know yet. I will update later.

UPDATE:
Trailmaster BLE Pro + Puller Pro BL 540 XL 3500 kv + External BEC 10A = $305.97
CC Mamba Monster X + Puller Pro BL 540 XL 3500 kv without external BEC = $284.84

Actually I was refunded $20 and that is nice. Puller XL with Monster X will be better combo IMO and it is even cheaper.

[TomFrajer]

More parts coming today...



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[TomFrajer]

Today I installed new Proline shocks, rear shock mount, rear titanium links and front post mount.

I also discovered that my (stock RTR) servo is broken. Seems kind of stripped, making strange noises and sometimes steereing to one side stops working, then get back to OK after while and so on. I did not took a closer lok at it. Anyway new HH servo is on the way already so I will wait for this...











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[TomFrajer]

Here comes the investigation of my "broken servo"! Things turned out little different. Servo is working and problem was caused by water leaking into reciever box (really waterproof, dear Axial!). I just swapped servo and ESC plugs on reciever box and tried to control servo by throttle - it was working. Simillarly, trying to control motor by steering wheel and it was lagging. This is not good news as I have my new servo on the way, but did not plan to buy new reciever. Anyway, they have TR325 in local RC store so I will pick it up and waterproof it.



Water everywhere!



Sweeet words TRust your Axial



Swapped servo and ESC wires on reciever to test if my servo is working. POSITIVE



Put more aluminium parts to the front. Vanquish steering rack and bell crank are in place.



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[TomFrajer]

This is what i will do to waterproof my new receiver and servo - simple and effective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCui1Z9Sukw

[midnight_f150]

I look forward to your review on those shocks.

[TomFrajer]

Originally Posted by midnight_f150

I look forward to your review on those shocks.

I did not run it with new shocks yet, but whole setup seems much stiffer (with 40wt front, 30wt back) than with stock suspension. I'm more into high speed bashing and racing than crawling, so I think it will handle much better. I'm interested if this setup will be able to take full speed corners without rollovers. It is pretty near with Vanquish shock adjuster installed. But then I will put HH Puller PRO XL into it and my wheels will look into the sky again

I will let you know once new receiver arrive and I will be able to put my car back together and take it for a drive.

[midnight_f150]

Originally Posted by TomFrajer

I did not run it with new shocks yet, but whole setup seems much stiffer (with 40wt front, 30wt back) than with stock suspension. I'm more into high speed bashing and racing than crawling, so I think it will handle much better. I'm interested if this setup will be able to take full speed corners without rollovers. It is pretty near with Vanquish shock adjuster installed. But then I will put HH Puller PRO XL into it and my wheels will look into the sky again

I will let you know once new receiver arrive and I will be able to put my car back together and take it for a drive.

That's the same way I use my yeti I look forward to reading your review after you test it out.

[TomFrajer]

More parts showed up!







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[TomFrajer]

I was not able to install new OMF wheels as I do not have 3/32 Allen wrench. I have metric wrenches and this one is 2.6mm - I have 2.5mm No problem, I can get 3/32 and finish wheels later

Because of this, I changed my plans and proceeded with istallation of Vanquish Motor Cam and Plate along with Robinson Racing Gen3 slipper unit and Novak 16T spur gear:



Look how much beefier Novak spur gear is compared to stock. On the left is Novak 16mm spur gear, on the right is Axial stock 16T spur gear. Novak sells sets of 15, 16, 17.



I'm little worried with this. Look at the holes into the motor. Vanquish Motor Cam is not solid piece as stock Axial's plastic cam. Stock cam has no holes, it is just solid piece of plastic that covers holes in the motor whereas Vanquish cam opens this holes for water to let into motor. I'm still waiting for Holmes Hobies Puller Pro XL so I will see whether there will be same problem. I think motor is sealed from inside, but I'm not sure. I have time to investigate. Any thoughts on this are welcome. UPDATE: I do not have to worry installed it same way as Harley did so I suppose it will not do any harm if water gets under the motor cam: https://youtu.be/n5AmiWT_n7M?t=6m25s

[TomFrajer]

Another thing I tried to install yesterday was Incision VDI but did not finished this as I ran out of time trying to slide Yeah Racing knuckle bearing (bigger one that is inside the knuckle) on the VDI. Hell that was impossible! Interesting thing is that Incision VDI slides right into the stock plastic knuckle with original bearing in it. I have few options to try:

1, Freeze VDI, heat up bearing, then slide in. I'm worried if I can dissasemble it later
2, Put VDI into Vise vertically, carefully align bearing on top of it, put some big washer on it and then use pipe and hammer it right on.
3, Use sandpaper to very slightly brush VDI - this should be better for later dissasembling once I break bearing or something.
4, Try different bearing from same set (I did not tried this yet)
5, Try different bearing (stock one for example - but I can't get that out of the stock platic knuckle )
6, Leave original plastic knuckles on my Yeti for now and do not break things
7, Leave original dogbones on my Yeti for now and do not break things

I wish I can do it this simple, but no luck: https://youtu.be/bkQQg3TxHMg?t=11m3s

I will have to investigate and learn more on this topic and then choose best option. Any advices and thoughts on this are welcome. I'm learning on the go (sometimes hard way) as I'm new to this hobby

[TomFrajer]

More parts! Some of them are spares...



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[TomFrajer]

Assembling the wheels...


















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[TomFrajer]

I just picked up THIS! Cannot wait to put it into my Yeti!



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[TomFrajer]

Originally Posted by TomFrajer

Here comes the investigation of my "broken servo"! Things turned out little different. Servo is working and problem was caused by water leaking into reciever box (really waterproof, dear Axial!). I just swapped servo and ESC plugs on reciever box and tried to control servo by throttle - it was working. Simillarly, trying to control motor by steering wheel and it was lagging. This is not good news as I have my new servo on the way, but did not plan to buy new reciever. Anyway, they have TR325 in local RC store so I will pick it up and waterproof it.

I just contacted Axial asking for replacement receiver. We will see how they care for their customers