Recommendations for custom link material for an smt10 running freestyle axles

[mdfjhm92]

Any recommendations on materials to build custom links to connect freestyle axles under an smt10?

[svt923]

Most monster trucks are running aluminum links because they are durable and light. The wheels and tires are already heavy enough so the goal is to not make it any heavier than it needs to be.

1/4' aluminum tube is a good diameter to use with Traxxas rod ends and you will probably want the thickest wall you can find (I don't remember what the ID was on the tube I used). Cut to length, drill, and tap the ends for 4mm or 8-32 set screws. The aluminum is soft enough that you can tap it pretty easily without killing drill bits or taps but still durable.

[mdfjhm92]

Thank you very much. Gonna try to tackle my first link builds this weekend

[Jay-Em]

..And when You don’t have a tapping set around: 4mm allthread with length of alu tube with 4mm inner diameter around it, works fine too, though a bit heavier. Just cut the alu tube to the length You want the links to be, then stick the allthread in it, leaving about 1.5 cm of thread free on both sides, screw-on ballends. Done!

In ‘the days of yore’ we made TXT-1 links that way, for a long wheelbase build. ( more stable on the straights, or rather ‘as stable as a TXT-1 will get.. still a bit sway-ish, but much better handling, especially when big brushless motors were used.. )

And when You can get Your hands on them : Tamiya TXT-1 and/or Agrios aluminium links fit directly on the SMT10! Exactly the right length.

[mdfjhm92]

So they fit on an smt10 running freestyle rc axles?

[Jay-Em]

“They” ? You mean thevTXT/Agrios links?

Quite probably yes. After all, they’re just lengths of high strength aluminium, precicely tapped to receive 4mm rod ends.