RCCrawler Forums

BL_Force · 10-07-2007, 11:46 AM

I started building a torsion chassis from scratch yesterday. I'm using 1/8" music wire and a plastic cutting board. I designed this chassis with two different spacings for the two chassis wires to tune the amount of flex. The transmission is also balanced laterally to the chassis centerline and the shafts just clear the wire. It's going to have behind the axle steering with custom machined aluminum links and the option of easily adding 4WS. I'm going to run Axial beadlocks and rock lizards.

Flyin Hawaiian · 10-07-2007, 09:42 PM

lookin good keep up the good work

SMOKEY · 10-08-2007, 12:19 AM

looks really good so far can't wait to see the finished product if there is such a thing these things are never done

BL_Force · 10-08-2007, 07:21 PM

Thanks! I worked on my steering setup. I think it is rather unique. I couldn't come up with a traditional link that satisfied me, so I came up with this. The cross bar is solid 1/4" 6061 aluminum and the slider plate is 1/8" 6061. It's not going to bend that's for sure.

MetalMan · 10-08-2007, 09:43 PM

That's a very unique steering setup! I like it. Does it give full steering throw in both directions?

BL_Force · 10-09-2007, 07:12 AM

Thanks! It does give full throw in both directions with travel to spare. I thought about moving up one hole on the servo horn to get more torque out of the servo, but that would also slow the steering down a bit. I'll run it as-is and see how it does. I could also get more lock to lock out of it if I get CVs and mod my knuckles later. I would also need to clearance the center link a little more than it already is under the pumpkin.

BL_Force · 10-09-2007, 07:45 PM

I'm getting a lot done tonight. I machined four servo mounting blocks, duplicated the steering setup on the rear axle, and am building up the Axial beadlocks. Next, I plan on making some small vertical plates for the sides of the center section to mount electronics and horizontal body post to and also trim the music wire to the final lengths. :-P

BL_Force · 10-10-2007, 08:02 PM

Aside from body mounts, I am finished with the build. I programmed the mixing on my 3PM for the rear steer and got that all trimmed out and went for a spin around the basement. It turns on a dime with the rear steer. I'm wasn't sure about my wheel weighting, so I started with 6oz in each wheel, which brings the total weight to just over 6 pounds balanced almost 50/50. I'm sure I will be playing with the tuning for a while to get it dialed in just right.

BL_Force · 10-11-2007, 06:33 PM

Well, it's pretty much done. I completed the body mounts tonight and mounted up an old body I had. Now I have to wait a couple of weeks for a local meet to try it out.

cartronicshn · 10-11-2007, 08:48 PM

Looks really nice, i specially like the body mounts

LOSIMAN · 10-12-2007, 05:18 AM

That Looks Really Nice Man Good Job. I Have One Question Your Drive Shafts Look Really Close To The Piano Wire, Does It Hit When It Articulates Back And Forth?

BL_Force · 10-12-2007, 06:42 AM

Thanks all!. The shafts do clear when articulated, but barely.

SMOKEY · 10-12-2007, 09:30 AM

Looks Awsome Great Job

BL_Force · 10-12-2007, 03:59 PM

I went playing for a few minutes today at a local crawling spot. I'm not too crazy about the Lizards so far. Sometimes they bite, but they tend to hop really bad if they spin. I trimmed the foams and they are weighted 6oz each. I think I'm going to get some Rock Claws or Masher2Ks if I can't dial these in better.

coolkidjf7 · 10-12-2007, 09:28 PM

looks nice man but slam that body!

dezrik · 10-12-2007, 10:48 PM

super clean build great job

, when i had the BMVii chassis i never thought of putting side plates on :O

BL_Force · 10-15-2007, 10:39 AM

Thanks for the compliments!

I got tired of the green rings real quick so I stripped and polished them out. I'll get some new crawling pics this week.

SnoopMaxx · 10-15-2007, 12:32 PM

Clean looking build you got there

DumpsterRC · 10-15-2007, 07:39 PM

About the wheel hop problem. The rods may be flexing when there is traction and springing back when traction is lost. I had a similar problem with my bmv style crawler.

I added a link mounted to the axles about an inch above the rods. On mine the link runs from the front axle to the rear axle and is mounted with rod ends. It serves as a traction bar, and in my case almost eliminated wheel hop.

It could just as easily be two shorter links. One running from the front axle , and the other from the rear axle to the tranny, or side plate.

Your mileage may vary.

I like your steering setup.

BL_Force · 10-15-2007, 08:04 PM

Thanks for the info and the compliment. Your theory is the same as mine. I took the body off and put the truck in a wheel hop situation and could see the axle wrapping up and unloading due to the wire flexing. It's pretty much just like leaf spring wheel hop. I'm working on either a solid link or a horizontal shock with no spring above the center of each axle extending to braces between the side plates. Hop shocks if you will. My S10 has one from the factory and it works.

10-07-2007, 11:46 AM	#1
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	WK torsion chassis scratch build I started building a torsion chassis from scratch yesterday. I'm using 1/8" music wire and a plastic cutting board. I designed this chassis with two different spacings for the two chassis wires to tune the amount of flex. The transmission is also balanced laterally to the chassis centerline and the shafts just clear the wire. It's going to have behind the axle steering with custom machined aluminum links and the option of easily adding 4WS. I'm going to run Axial beadlocks and rock lizards. Last edited by BL_Force; 10-08-2007 at 07:32 PM.

10-09-2007, 07:12 AM	#6
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Thanks! It does give full throw in both directions with travel to spare. I thought about moving up one hole on the servo horn to get more torque out of the servo, but that would also slow the steering down a bit. I'll run it as-is and see how it does. I could also get more lock to lock out of it if I get CVs and mod my knuckles later. I would also need to clearance the center link a little more than it already is under the pumpkin. Last edited by BL_Force; 10-09-2007 at 07:16 AM.

10-15-2007, 08:04 PM	#20
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Thanks for the info and the compliment. Your theory is the same as mine. I took the body off and put the truck in a wheel hop situation and could see the axle wrapping up and unloading due to the wire flexing. It's pretty much just like leaf spring wheel hop. I'm working on either a solid link or a horizontal shock with no spring above the center of each axle extending to braces between the side plates. Hop shocks if you will. My S10 has one from the factory and it works. Last edited by BL_Force; 10-15-2007 at 08:09 PM.

10-07-2007, 09:42 PM	#2
Flyin Hawaiian RCC Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,190	lookin good keep up the good work

10-08-2007, 12:19 AM	#3
SMOKEY Rock Crawler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: mesa az Posts: 657	looks really good so far can't wait to see the finished product if there is such a thing these things are never done

10-08-2007, 07:21 PM	#4
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Thanks! I worked on my steering setup. I think it is rather unique. I couldn't come up with a traditional link that satisfied me, so I came up with this. The cross bar is solid 1/4" 6061 aluminum and the slider plate is 1/8" 6061. It's not going to bend that's for sure.

10-08-2007, 09:43 PM	#5
MetalMan Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 78	That's a very unique steering setup! I like it. Does it give full steering throw in both directions?

10-09-2007, 07:45 PM	#7
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	I'm getting a lot done tonight. I machined four servo mounting blocks, duplicated the steering setup on the rear axle, and am building up the Axial beadlocks. Next, I plan on making some small vertical plates for the sides of the center section to mount electronics and horizontal body post to and also trim the music wire to the final lengths. :-P

10-10-2007, 08:02 PM	#8
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Aside from body mounts, I am finished with the build. I programmed the mixing on my 3PM for the rear steer and got that all trimmed out and went for a spin around the basement. It turns on a dime with the rear steer. I'm wasn't sure about my wheel weighting, so I started with 6oz in each wheel, which brings the total weight to just over 6 pounds balanced almost 50/50. I'm sure I will be playing with the tuning for a while to get it dialed in just right.

10-11-2007, 06:33 PM	#9
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Well, it's pretty much done. I completed the body mounts tonight and mounted up an old body I had. Now I have to wait a couple of weeks for a local meet to try it out.

10-11-2007, 08:48 PM	#10
cartronicshn I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2006 Location: HONDURAS...ROCK HEAVEN Posts: 5,076	Looks really nice, i specially like the body mounts

10-12-2007, 05:18 AM	#11
LOSIMAN Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HOLT Posts: 4	That Looks Really Nice Man Good Job. I Have One Question Your Drive Shafts Look Really Close To The Piano Wire, Does It Hit When It Articulates Back And Forth?

10-12-2007, 06:42 AM	#12
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Thanks all!. The shafts do clear when articulated, but barely.

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10-12-2007, 09:30 AM	#13
SMOKEY Rock Crawler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: mesa az Posts: 657	Looks Awsome Great Job

10-12-2007, 03:59 PM	#14
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	I went playing for a few minutes today at a local crawling spot. I'm not too crazy about the Lizards so far. Sometimes they bite, but they tend to hop really bad if they spin. I trimmed the foams and they are weighted 6oz each. I think I'm going to get some Rock Claws or Masher2Ks if I can't dial these in better.

10-12-2007, 09:28 PM	#15
coolkidjf7 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 517 Posts: 341	looks nice man but slam that body!

10-12-2007, 10:48 PM	#16
dezrik Rock Crawler Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pinedale, WY Posts: 873	super clean build great job , when i had the BMVii chassis i never thought of putting side plates on :O

10-15-2007, 10:39 AM	#17
BL_Force Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corryton Posts: 40	Thanks for the compliments! I got tired of the green rings real quick so I stripped and polished them out. I'll get some new crawling pics this week.

10-15-2007, 12:32 PM	#18
SnoopMaxx Rock Crawler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 904	Clean looking build you got there

10-15-2007, 07:39 PM	#19
DumpsterRC Pebble Pounder Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: grand rapids Posts: 122	About the wheel hop problem. The rods may be flexing when there is traction and springing back when traction is lost. I had a similar problem with my bmv style crawler. I added a link mounted to the axles about an inch above the rods. On mine the link runs from the front axle to the rear axle and is mounted with rod ends. It serves as a traction bar, and in my case almost eliminated wheel hop. It could just as easily be two shorter links. One running from the front axle , and the other from the rear axle to the tranny, or side plate. Your mileage may vary. I like your steering setup.

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