LavaCapCrawling My First Micro Build

[RcLee]

I'm going to really have to look close. Does fluid only shocks help on crawlers? I'm at no springs & spacers right now & i get the way you say the frame pops up. no weight on my rear axle helps alot though. I seem to over flex & roll. Your widening kit should help that.

[LavaCapCrawling]

Well, broke my collarbone and am now home for the duration. The frame was coming alone in cyber space. I changed the design after I decided to go with carbon fiber instead of aluminum. It's on hold until I can operate the equipment safely. I was able to complete a front steering link change and stainless links for the front and rear.

[TekmoCrawl]

How did you break your collar bone?

[LavaCapCrawling]

Originally Posted by TekmoCrawl

How did you break your collar bone?

Snowboarding.

[TekmoCrawl]

Bummer, at least you were doing something awesome! And nice work on the rig. :thumbup:

[LavaCapCrawling]

I started driving my micro again and in the process broke my heavily drilled out frame and a stock shock. I created a new frame out of .025 delrin and used two layers for each side plate. Essentially copied the stock frame, just left out the bumper mounts.

I Modified some ball joints to allow a bit more travel.

The new shocks are stainless steel hypo tubing and rod using the stock springs. I cut out parts for four but only finished the rear two, I was skeptical. However they are awesome and I can now do the lighter thing. I will finish the front two very soon.

[LavaCapCrawling]

I finished the front shocks awhile ago and decided to get a new stock body just to freshen up the look a little.

The new shocks work sweet. The truck has no lower limit, I can pull the shock apart if I try. However, when crawling, the return springs keep the travel limited to just a little more than stock. When the truck gets stuck the suspension can be forced to travel more when it has too. It can over travel when crawling but it takes dropping a wheel in a hole. Overall i'm pretty happy with the current performance level, it's the best yet.

Some photos and a short video.

Trail trekker rocking - YouTube

[smuggl1n]

what happened to the cf chassi?

[LavaCapCrawling]

Originally Posted by smuggl1n

what happened to the cf chassi?

After a little market research and further cost research, I scrapped the idea. The tooling to cut carbon is expensive and wears out quickly, which makes the cost per frame pretty high. Sorry for the let down.

On a side note. I saw you rig up on eBay. It's pretty freaking nice.

[smuggl1n]

Oh yeah thanks that was another side project i had figured I would throw in on there to see what I could get for it to fund some other builds, Mabey I need to take it of eBay to see what kind of trades I can get for it first.

[LavaCapCrawling]

I tweaked a few more things on the truck this week.

I reshaped the steering setup. I wanted to turn tighter and found that the clearances were not near good enough around the worm. I added a layer of brass to the top of the steering link and ground a layer off the bottom. I now have much tighter steering and my servo has to use much less effort.

I got my first aluminum hop up. The skid plate from Team Losi. I wore out the arm mount holes and had a ton of slop in the suspension. The new skid plate makes a huge difference, I never would have guessed it would. I took the 5mm standoffs off the back and the whole suspension is much more stable. Picked up a set of rear Micro T springs today and put the softest in the back and the firmest in the front. They make a huge difference in my homemade shocks.

I ordered 500 3/32 steel balls from McMaster and added 250 to the 100 1/16 steel balls in each of the front tires. It sound like a lot but is only like 3/4 of teaspoon of shot. The center of gravity is right at the front lower ball mounts, if I can get the front balls over an obstacle I'm good to go most of the time.

[Jet-Pack-Jesus]

great build i just about to start my own. im just running in to problems with the esc and radio combo from losi so i was trying to get after market stuff. have you also had problems or is it just me?

[RcLee]

Lavacomp
Ever come out w a spring return kit or a thread to build your own?

[LavaCapCrawling]

Originally Posted by RcLee

Lavacomp
Ever come out w a spring return kit or a thread to build your own?

I looked into it, made models and posted a fishing thread. The interest didn't seem to be there. However, I am now inspired and will get quotes from the stamping house and post a thread with price points and see if it is something that people want. From my experience the return springs make the truck way more capable on the climbs. I will explain how on the thread.

[LavaCapCrawling]

Originally Posted by RcLee

Lavacomp
Ever come out w a spring return kit or a thread to build your own?

I looked into it, made models and posted a fishing thread. The interest didn't seem to be there. However, I am now inspired and will get quotes from the stamping house and post a thread with price points and see if it is something that people want. From my experience the return springs make the truck way more capable on the climbs. I will explain how on the thread.

[RcLee]

That my prob when it gets steep the trucks chassis comes up & kinda ruins momentum.

Keeping the truck low will let me have more control. I've notice big dif on ride heigth w 1 truck has intercos w velcro'd lowered body & other has mi claws w stock body mounts.

With your setup up do you run full length stock springs or cut them?

[LavaCapCrawling]

Originally Posted by RcLee

That my prob when it gets steep the trucks chassis comes up & kinda ruins momentum.

Keeping the truck low will let me have more control. I've notice big dif on ride heigth w 1 truck has intercos w velcro'd lowered body & other has mi claws w stock body mounts.

With your setup up do you run full length stock springs or cut them?

Ya, the frame lift is horrible.

When I was rolling stock shocks I was using full length stock springs. With the home brew shocks I'm using micro t springs white in rear and blue in front. My current shocks have about twice as much travel as the stock shocks.

[RcLee]

You have a thread on the shocks?

[LavaCapCrawling]

Originally Posted by RcLee

You have a thread on the shocks?

Just the pictures above. I am thinking to do a rev.2 soon. I will do a better job taking step by step shots. They're made of .063" ID hypo tubing, .062 precision ground rod, micro T ball cups and .032 sheet.

[klown41143]

You got alot of r&d on that rig. Looks good.

posted via the billboard that is a samsung note 2.