Battery moved to top links, it's better

[MikeSSS]

My WK is stretched and the battery has been in the stock battery box, at the front of the reversed chassis.

I removed the battery box and mounted the battery on top of the front top links. I cut a cardboard cushion for the battery to sit on, with notches in the sides for the velcro cable ties that hold the battery to the links.

The notches prevent the cable ties from moving lengthwise up or down the battery.

This set up holds the battery very well.

Climbing is better with this setup and so is descending, even moving crosswise on a slope is better. There is less chance of a tumble with the new, lower center of gravity.

It still lifts the left front wheel on a very steep climb but it doesn't sommersault backwards.

[joemomma95]

You know we want pics.

I've been playing aorund with my battery position also, I'm only working with stick packs(like the one that comes with the WK) and I've been trying to avoid putting it on the links....why?

Because I can't see mounting the battery to the upper links and it not affecting the movement of the links themselves. Have you noticed any problems there?

I know alot of people do it this way but I just can't see it working out. Maybe I should just try it and see for myself ...

[MikeSSS]

Sure, I wondered the same thing.

It would be a problem at high speeds but it's not at low speeds.

The axle pivots about the upper links so the only thing that happens is that the links spiral with respect to each other but it's not much. The links just rotate a bit under the cardboard cushion which does not grip the links, it just sits on them.

When the front suspension is compressed upward the battery goes between the chassis sides but that does not happen often either.

I'm using six cell stick packs the size and weight of the battery that comes with the WK.

The only effect I noticed was a large increase in stability and resistance to tumbling.

The stock tires are the limiting factor now. Well, the diffs need more poster putty and less grease probably.

[kreepykrawler]

there will be no problems w/ moving the batt onto the links. i've been using this set up for a couple weeks and it works very well. i just have my batt sitting on top held w/ velcro straps. it moves a little to one side, but i have my batt. is in backwards. that is, the connector is facing towards the center of the truck. it routes thru the chassis.

having the batt. on the links will offset the higher c.g. that the motor causes. plus, if you have replaced the plastic links w/ metal ones, and all the other metal replacement pieces that go on the truck, the motor being up high really is'nt that big of a deal.

[SeanD]

What about tandem battery packs as seen is this video? Any advantages or is the weight not far forward/low enough?

http://www.hpieurope.com/show_video....en&videoID=106

Sean

[MikeSSS]

They were not climbing steep things in that vid.

I think that having one battery on top of the front links is better.

I get 1.5 hr to 2+ hours run time on one 3300 Radio Shack Red Pack so I don't need two packs on the car.

If more weight was desired it would be better to add it to the front axle or inside the front rims.

[joemomma95]

Well, I looked at doing this, really wanted to try it...then I realized why i hadn't before....my upper links are to far apart on the chassis side, no stick pack would sit there. Right now I've got it stuck to the front of my chassis with velcro and it seems to be ok, I know though that there are some steep climbs that I've tried in that if I had the battery sitting lower it wouldn't backflip as easy...I guess I'll have to think of something else, but in the meantime my setup will work with what I've got..