Idea for scaler steering... Need ideas for building a steering box.

[JavelinSST390]

I'm looking to create pretty much the ultimate in scale steering, here's the idea:

Full-interior'd scaler, steering servo mounted under the passenger side floor with a VERY long servo arm sticking up through the pass. floor, up against the firewall. Linkage runs across from servo arm to the steering column, which has a lever arm on it that, when the servo moves, rotates the entire steering column, including the steering wheel, which runs out through the firewall, hooks to some kind of driveshaft (complete with U-joints, thinking Highlift driveshaft?) that runs down to a 90-degree "steering box" on the frame.

My main thing is, what could I use for the steering box? Does anyone know of a compact, 1:1 ratio bevel gearbox? I was dreaming up ways I could make one, using say, a pair of diff. pinion gears from an axial or TLT or what-have-you, but if there's something out there strong enough (this pig will be HEAVY!) that exists already, I am all down for using it.

[Harley]

Going to be pretty over complicated and has some flaws in theory. Mainly the long horn to a lever to a gear box.

[JavelinSST390]

Overly complicated, yes. But MAN would it be cool if I could get it to work. But I think the idea is sound, as long as I put bearings in EVERYTHING where shafts mount, make sure there's no slop, etc. BUT, I figure, if the lever on the "steering column" is the same length as the arm at the base of the steering box ("pitman arm") as long as the travel is the same as if the pitman arm were attached directly to the servo at the front of the chassis, then the longer arm from the servo to the linkage under the dash shouldn't make any nevermind, in fact, it will DECREASE the total needed travel of the servo.

I guess my main thing is I want to be able to hide EVERYTHING on this rig. I want people to look at it and think it's an 1/8th scale static model.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by JavelinSST390

in fact, it will DECREASE the total needed travel of the servo.

I guess my main thing is I want to be able to hide EVERYTHING on this rig. I want people to look at it and think it's an 1/8th scale static model.

Decrease travel yes but that doesn't equate to less strain on the servo, it's the opposite.

[JavelinSST390]

ohhhhhh..... yeah.... ummm. Kinda forgot about that. I feelz stoopid now. But, if I can find a way to equalize lever lengths, it should work, albeit in a rube-goldberg fashion. What about putting the servo right under the dash and putting a gear on the servo to a same-size gear on the steering shaft? Although it would be pretty tough to hide a servo under the dash. My idea is to get most of the electronics and the batts between the floorboards and a pair of belly skids that will run the length of the floor on either side of the frame. Then the only thing I gotta hide in a fuel cell might be the ESC. But this thing's gonna have three or four servo's in it, BEC's for each, LED wiring, winch controllers, all kinds of crap to stuff in it somewhere.

I'm planning a build on the level of Guido, War Pig's stuff, etc. Yeah right!

[JavelinSST390]

BTW, after some EXTENSIVE googling, and binging, (god, that soundss dirty, doesn't it?) I DID manage to find some 90-degree Gearboxes with 4 and 6 mm inputs and outputs, but they're a little big at an inch square and a half-inch thick. Plus, the cheapest one was $120! AND they were only rated for 4-7 ozf/in. Considering I'm looking at running a 300 oz.-in servo thru it, I doubt they would hold up long.

[Charlie-III]

Why not closer to a real rig.
Servo runs a gear to the steering column (which has a gear on it), you steer & the steering column moves. You could also use a small chain or "timing belt" instead of gears.
Then a flex drive (small driveshaft?) to a worm drive (worm on steering column) and a pitman arm on the worm gear output.
You may be able to use LCC trans parts for the box.

[dont slow down]

How about a Tundra Highlift steering box? It's not a gear box but it's 1:1 and you can run as much power through it you want. It looks pretty scale.

[anderskda]

Rc4wd has a steering box

Remote Steering Arm Setup

[TrickyRicky]

Think Im going to have to use this on the next build

[ROLANDROCKSHOP]

Originally Posted by dont slow down

How about a Tundra Highlift steering box? It's not a gear box but it's 1:1 and you can run as much power through it you want. It looks pretty scale.

and availible in alum as well!

[mitchr97]

how well does that servo box work?

[dont slow down]

Mine works fine, I could use a stronger servo or a BEC but my wheels are small so I don't need a lot. It's strong though, it could handle some stress. The plastic would be the first to fail.

[project_mayhem]

Lol, I'm working on exactly the same thing right now. I'm using an axial drive shaft, and pinion shafts. Extra aluminum hex at the wheels end that I'm going to weld an arm to. I'm making a block that mounts on the axle with two axle bearings to support it. Then I'm just going to weld a arm on the cab end with a small link to the servo arm. The steering wheel and column will be attached to the cab end of the drive shaft. I'll add pics when I finish the axle block.

[Katan]

Originally Posted by anderskda

Rc4wd has a steering box

Remote Steering Arm Setup

Ours is smaller than a High lift one and you can use any 25T servo horn on it.

[tedo]

Originally Posted by Katan

Ours is smaller than a High lift one and you can use any 25T servo horn on it.

This is interesting. I have never heard of it before... Is it brand new, or been out a while?

[Katan]

Originally Posted by tedo

This is interesting. I have never heard of it before... Is it brand new, or been out a while?

It's new. Anything on the front page of the store is relatively new...

[project_mayhem]

If you want 4-link with a remote servo, you could make something similar to the rc4wd setup. Just make a mount on top of the axle in the center of the axle where the servo would go. Use a L-shaped servo horn, and mount the servo in the chassis with a push rod the same as the link length, and match the angle. Almost no bump steer, and no axle mount servo.

[mitchr97]

I'll look into that!

[jh1985]

not sure if your still doing this? But why not put a y on your servo cable remote mount the steering one onut of sight and use a micro servo to rotate the steering wheel.