Competed with the Rock Force - some of my simple mods

[John]

I competed in the Socal event at Stoddard Wells yesterday and tested out the Rock Force. The rocks were very challanging for even the highly modified rigs. Track width needed to be narrow in order to do well on the challenging rock courses set up by the SoCal and RCP Crawlers crew. A few mods that I recommend after the first day out.

#1 Narrow your track width. With the stock Rock Force sitting at a 11" track width, I recommend getting a set of wheels with a pretty good offset. I talked with Proline at the event and I would highly recommend getting a set of their Slash wheels. The rears should work perfect to get the Kyosho width down close to 10 1/4". One note, the Kyosho stub axles are very short. I could only get about 3 ~ 4 turns on the hex nut with the stock wheels. Some of the aftermarket aluminum wheels will be too thick to get the outer hex on. You could mil down your aluminum wheels or purchase a set of plastic beadlocks like the Proline Slash wheels.

#2 File down some of the sharp edges on the bottom skid. Also file down the screws that hold the skid to the chassis supports. Mine stuck out just a little and hitting it with a file brought them flush.




#3 Extend the links. The Rock Force sits at 11 7/8" squashed. I made some plastic spacers for the rear that brought it out to 12 1/4". You could also add them to the front to get to 12 1/2".



#4 Raise the steering linkage to above the knuckles. With the steering linkage at stock postion, I hit a lot of rocks on entry. Also, replace the large headed screws on the bottom of the knuckles with a round/flat head version. The stock large head screws did tend to hang up on a few things.



#5 I laid down the shocks a little in the front and cut off the chassis were the stock shock mounting holes used to be. This was just a personal choice as I was able to lower the front portion of the Bug body that I used to run in the comp.




#6 Raise the rear dig linkage and servo arm. This wasn't a huge problem as I only noticed the servo arm draging one time on one specific set of rocks. You could also make a skid plate to protect the linkage. I really like the rear disconnect design. It brings a full size servo to just above the axle case for lower CG. There is no additional weight with the dig mechanism as seen with other digs that mount to the tranny.


Some pics from yesterday. The rocks were like razor blades and very challanging. I have a bunch of pics from the comp that I will post up later today.









Since the truck incorporates a 3 link front set up, there is a lot of room in the front portion of the chassis to install your battery pack. You can mount a custom battery pack pretty low in the chassis, so that they lay about even with the front steering servo. I used a standard 6 cell stick pack for my tests, so my battery mounted at the top portion of the chassis.

I am really interested in trying out the high speed gears. I ran a Kyosho X Speed motor which is probably equal to a 27 turn brushed motor and I felt I could use a little more torque. I think the high speed gears and a 35 or 45 turn brushed motor may be a good choice for those going with a brushed motor. I will test this out during the week and let you know the results.

[dezmoon]

thanx for the advice,,,over all how was the rigs performance,,were you pleased with what you went with???

[John]

Yes, overall pleased. I think once I get the gearing and motor dialed in, this rig will be able to compete with the best of them.

Best of all, no broken parts. I really don't know what would break on this rig. The axles, driveshafts, worm gears, links, stub axles and axle cases are super strong and I really can't see many issues with them.

[FrankyRizzo]

Dammit!! I asked Brian when the next Stoddard Wells one was and he didn't know. We wanted to go.

[Rockpiledriver]

Originally Posted by FrankyRizzo

Dammit!! I asked Brian when the next Stoddard Wells one was and he didn't know. We wanted to go.

And I told you our schedule was on our website.

http://socalrcrc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=430

[Harley]

Originally Posted by John

I recommend getting a set of wheels with a pretty good offset. I talked with Proline at the event and I would highly recommend getting a set of their Slash wheels. The rears should work perfect to get the Kyosho width down to 10 1/4" or less.

I don't believe that is true.


..

Originally Posted by stampedeproject

If you are looking for beadlocks for the Rock Force, the new Pro-Line Epic Beadlocks work GREAT as a direct bolt on replacement for the Rock Force and drop the overall width by a 1/4" to around 10.5"-10.75" with the stock tires installed.

[John]

Originally Posted by Harley0706

I don't believe that is true.


..

I am curious if the ones Stampedproject suggested were the fronts or rears. The offset is more on the rears. We had a set of the fronts that were drilled out and they gave us close to 10 1/2" with Losi Claws. We didn't have a set of rears that were drilled out, but the Proline rep said we should get another 1/4" less in overall width. I am ordering up a set for my Rock Force and I will give you the exact track width when I get them mounted.

I modified my first post, until I have the slash wheels mounted and measured.

[John]

Originally Posted by Rockpiledriver

And I told you our schedule was on our website.

http://socalrcrc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=430

That is where I found out about the comp.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by John

I am curious if the ones Stampedproject suggested were the fronts or rears. The offset is more on the rears. We had a set of the fronts that were drilled out and they gave us close to 10 1/2" with Losi Claws. We didn't have a set of rears that were drilled out, but the Proline rep said we should get another 1/4" less in overall width. I am ordering up a set for my Rock Force and I will give you the exact track width when I get them mounted.

I modified my first post, until I have the slash wheels mounted and measured.

I am also interested in the confirmed info, thanks John. I hate to see mis-information is all

[dieselfuel]

Originally Posted by FrankyRizzo

Dammit!! I asked Brian when the next Stoddard Wells one was and he didn't know. We wanted to go.

Originally Posted by Rockpiledriver

And I told you our schedule was on our website.

http://socalrcrc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=430

OWNED!!!


looks great john, i definetly wanna try to pick up one of these kits some time. i imagine with all the truck's gear reduction happening in the axles the torque twist is very minimal.

[killjoyken]

Drilled out the Proline beadlocks and mounted them up. I've still got the Switch tires on, but it actually looks pretty cool. Outside edge of tire to outside edge is 10 1/4". With some Panthers it would probably push it out to around !0 1/2". Not bad, but still not as narrow as I'd like. I'm still waiting to hear back from Vanquish about making custom wheels.

[HiloDB1]

Nice, Im hoping Mayhem can make a set of Comp DP that will bring the track width down to 10.5~10.75. I have a set and really like the design.

[John]

Originally Posted by killjoyken

Drilled out the Proline beadlocks and mounted them up. I've still got the Switch tires on, but it actually looks pretty cool. Outside edge of tire to outside edge is 10 1/4". With some Panthers it would probably push it out to around !0 1/2". Not bad, but still not as narrow as I'd like. I'm still waiting to hear back from Vanquish about making custom wheels.

Thanks for the pics and the information. Are you using the rear or front Proline wheels to give you the 10 1/4" measurement?

[killjoyken]

I'm using the rears.

[stampedeproject]

I used the Slash Epic Rear beadlocks with stock tires. Thinner Losi or Prolines will net you 10.25-10.5" width.

Also DNA Stalker Wheelie King Beadlocks will work also. With the Stalkers and Badlands I am just under 10.5"

Here is my previous post.

Beadlocks for the Kyosho Rock Force Solved

[JSSuper]

Originally Posted by John

#3 Extend the links. The Rock Force sits at 11 7/8" squashed. I made some plastic spacers for the rear that brought it out to 12 1/4". You could also add them to the front to get to 12 1/2".

Hmmm I'll have to look into that, if I can even get a truck that is.

Actually I had a question regarding the dig system... Naturally it wouldn't be as smooth as a switched dig for a Berg, but in comparison to the add-on Axial dig systems how did it function?

Very informative write-up btw, so thanks. I'm leaning more and more toward this for my comp rig.

[HiloDB1]

I found these spacers at a local hardware store today. They work perfectly to extend the links. They fit snug over the screw and are about the same diameter as the links. Right now Im at 12-3/8". And it only cost me $0.87 for each piece .