aluminum links

[Mastah Kyler]

so i picked up some losi mini t ball cups and 1/8" aluminum tubing to make custom likes (i was told that 1/8" works) is the tubing suppose to go inside or outside the ball cups? if neither, then what? thanks!

[Tuna]

Originally Posted by Mastah Kyler

so i picked up some losi mini t ball cups and 1/8" aluminum tubing to make custom likes (i was told that 1/8" works) is the tubing suppose to go inside or outside the ball cups? if neither, then what? thanks!

Someone forgot to tell you that you need threaded rod also. The threaded rod threads in to your t ball cups (so you cut to the desired length) then the aluminum tubing is just for aesthetics. The tubing slides over the threaded rod.

Hope that helps.

If you look for my build you'll see the links with the tubing over the rod. If you look at "Rik"'s build he didn't use the tubing so you can see the rod i'm talking about.

I like the look of the tubing but if I was to do it again I might just leave them bare, it was a bunch of extra work.

[Mastah Kyler]

Damn! I was hoping I didn't have to order some :( neither my lhs not my local home depot carry the right size :(

[elsewhere]

I think its 2/56 rod...
Any shop that does helis or planes should have it.

[Mastah Kyler]

I'll double check hobby town again

[Midlife Crisis]

2 mm threaded rod would work great and be stout. You'd have to heat the rod to thread it it in though.

[Mastah Kyler]

like i said ill double check hobby town again. i dont recall seeing any allthread there but at home depot they had nothing close to that small

[Mastah Kyler]

ok got the all thread now whats the trick? these are pissing me off the the MAX!!!

[screwed]

what size did you get?
i use a thread tap to run into the link ends so the rod turns into the ends easier.

just measure what you need and use dremel to cut rod to size. bevel the ends and thread em in.

[Mastah Kyler]

i got 2/56 and n00b question whats a tap?

[Midlife Crisis]

A tap is a tool to thread the ball cups to make the job cake. A 2/56 tap would allow easy install, but not necessary. It helps me to bevel the ends of the rod, hold them with locking pliers and thread the ends on.

[Mastah Kyler]

I tried just screwing them on and it won't work

[BLOODBANE]

Heres a few pics that may (or may not help)




That is 2/56 rod, with 1/8th tubing over it. It took a little bit to get it started and then went O.K.

[Mastah Kyler]

I cut them and bent them I just can't get the damn cups on and thanks for the pics

[elsewhere]

first things first.
drill a hole JUST big enough through the cup to access the ball stud with the .05 wrench.
THEN cut 5mm off the end of the cup. i believe the measurement from ctr of the cup to the end is really close to 9mm.
that is the effective length. (9+9+your length of aluminium tubning will be your link length)
cut your outter tubing to the lengths u require. if u are doing rear bent links add 5mm to it.
then slide the rod through the tubing leaving about 4/5mm out each end of excess to thread into the ballend.
use a file to give a "point" to the rod (u just want to have a decent thread to start with that is small enough to go into the cup.
rubbing the rod on a candle or a bar of soap just at the tip can help lube the rod to tap easier.

should look close to these

[screwed]

if there are burrs on the end of the cut rod it wont go on right. bevel it. hold rod at an angle and spin it on the running cut off blade. make it kinda like cone shaped at the end of the rod. careful of fingers.

[elsewhere]

haha bloodbane beat me to it!
i was taking a pic!
he didnt cut his ballends so his effective aluminum tubing length is shorter.

[rcdave13]

I use an x-acto to remove a little material from the opening of the ball cup to make threading easier.

[screwed]

sooo .... how'd it go .... or didnt it?

[Mastah Kyler]

i have came to the conclusion that i am incapable of creating my own links so i will resort to paying someone lol i can even send you the materials (except for the ball cups i wrecked too many of them lol) here the dimensions i need
Upper Front: 5 cm middle of ball to middle of ball
Upper Rear: 5.5 cm middle of ball to middle of ball
I want the lower to be bent at about 30 degrees so the dimensions of those will be based off of the upper links please pm me thanks guys