RCCrawler Forums

RatFink008 · 03-04-2007, 10:34 PM

Hi all.... my name is trevor and i live in michigan... i am an avid RC car enthusiast. i work at a machine shop. now on to the hard tricky stuff... i want to build a crawler. but one thats not electric.... one thats gas powered... any ideas??? here is mine........

Chassis: the one from the F-650 build
trans: toss up... tmaxx trans (with slipper clutch off emaxx)???
motor: O.S. 90 4-stroker
axles: i dont no yet... solid axle.... like on the tamiya F-350
suspension: 2 link coil over shock...
150cc fuel tank...

any ideas and hits let me no... i need or want to buy a chassis any ideas as to what i can make it out of???

Robb · 03-04-2007, 10:43 PM

Just run a quick search for "nitro crawler." You will finds loads of information on the subject.

RatFink008 · 03-04-2007, 10:49 PM

i also forgot to add... i talked to my 3 local hobby stores and they said they cant get me solid axles... and i dont feel like making them....

dezfan · 03-04-2007, 11:04 PM

Asbestos is your friend.

Rider385 · 03-05-2007, 10:10 AM

i know that the engine you are looking at is kind of a stroker BUT isnt it a plane engine... limited powerband like 20,000 rpm i think... then clutch issues... have you ever tried going slow with a nitro truck? like on rocks and stuff. I've blued numerous CB by doing so I was using my savage with kong like a crawler. AND! to have power w/ a nitro engine you need rpm.

like every one will say here, they told me too

. go for Electric

since you're building it up yourself and have acces to a machine shop... you can do something nice.

Rat1 · 03-05-2007, 10:18 AM

The 4 stroker might work as 4 stroke motors have more torque down low then your normal Nitro motors. I agree that going electric would be far better for a crawling application as the gas motors or nitro motors just do not have the low speed torque and electric does.

Another thing to consider is heat. Wet powered motors create alot of heat and without cooling air flowing over them they will fail quickly or start to loose power.

Then you have to look at weight. By the time you are said and done your machine will weigh alot more then a compairable sized electric. You still need all the same things an electric does along with an extra servo for throttle, the heavy motor and a fuel tank etc. You will need a very strong chassis to support the power system of a wet powered truck.

Savrunner · 03-05-2007, 10:19 AM

Nitro and crawling do not mix in my opinion only.

Crawling is about slow calculated moves. Nitro engines will not be able to go slow. They are not made to go slow. two stroke engines are made to scream. High RPM is how u get power. You need power at 10 RPM or 5 RPM to crawl.

But to each is own. If you go Nitro, good luck and have fun as having fun is the most important part of any hobby.

DaViolentOne · 03-05-2007, 10:42 AM

Nitro and crawling don't mix very well at all, no, but, you may have a better chance with the 4 stroke over a 2 stroke.. May...

Heat, airflow and clutch bells are definate issues to deal with.... I haven't seen many clutches that will engage fully, without slip, at low RPM and not have some kinda chatter when idling... Maybe if you could keep the revs high and had some kinda serious reduction unit in the line somewhere...

I'm not too savvy with the 4 stroke nitro engines... What I DO know of them tho' is they need a lot more displacement to get the same kinda grunt as a 2 stroker, but, being 4 stroke it should run a lot cooler than it's 2 stroke displacement equivalent...

cotharyus · 03-05-2007, 10:43 AM

Honestly, from someone with 20+ years of back ground in the hobby - if you manage to gear something nitro low enough to crawl with it, you're going to break the engine in short order. Just get lipo and brushless stuff if you want more runtime

Thorsteenster · 03-05-2007, 10:50 AM

cant a gear box be made so the engine is turning high revs but the output is turning slow, maybe through gearing it WAY down or some kind of slipper system?

TwistedMetal · 03-05-2007, 01:01 PM

I like your idea, unlike everyone else who posted here. I would use a revo trans (ebay +- $35). Use the jato spur and clutch bell with it. I would try to find a 4 stroke engine with a metric shaft (so you can use the traxxas gears). use the revo diffs, and make a tube axle housing for it. just lock the diffs with jb weld. good idea i think. if your worried about cooling the 4 stroke, put in a radio shack electric fan, or a cpu fan out of a computer. small, light, and will run on 6v.

yzfrone · 03-05-2007, 01:18 PM

Heat Issue
Heat Issue

Thorsteenster · 03-05-2007, 01:26 PM

get some PC water cooling components and build a recirculating cooling system.

Rockpiledriver · 03-05-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robb

Just run a quick search for "nitro crawler." You will finds loads of information on the subject.

Best advise yet.

Do yourself a favor and don't get the "I'll show you guys" attitude it will only cost you loads of cash, with nothing worthwhile to show for it.

We have heard it all before, not a single person has ever built one that actually works.

BENDER · 03-05-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockpiledriver

Do yourself a favor and don't get the "I'll show you guys" attitude it will only cost you loads of cash, with nothing worthwhile to show for it.

We have heard it all before, not a single person has ever built one that actually works.

x2

It'll save you money, and alot of headaches in the long run, to just go electric. Even if you make something reasonably worthy, I'm guessing not many clubs will let you compete with it. The Colorado guys run comps in alot of semi-public places. We are tolerated mostly because the electric rigs are very quiet, and usually pretty slow.

jetboat · 03-05-2007, 03:29 PM

if your stuck on not doing electric try going the way I've been working on for a couple years now. Find an old Diesel snowthrower and build a SUPER crawler out of it. But forget getting the parts at a hobby shop!

mrpink · 03-05-2007, 04:56 PM

nitro Don't Crawl.

RatFink008 · 03-05-2007, 06:07 PM

maybe i should clear some things up here.... it is a 4 stroke gas engine that has been machined to a 4 stroke diesel(runs on straight diesel)... the cooling issues have been solved already... the engine going into the crawler is out of my RC tugboat... when i build or buy any toy for a hobby i go for realizm... now as for cooling... i have a PC fan cooling the motor same thing i had in my tug... the engine is bout twice the size as the traxxas 2.5 and idles right round 1000 rpm and goes to 15k.

run2jeepn · 03-05-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatFink008

when i build or buy any toy for a hobby i go for realizm...the engine is bout twice the size as the traxxas 2.5

how in the world is motor that size going to look real?

gregrocks90046 · 03-05-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatFink008

maybe i should clear some things up here.... it is a 4 stroke gas engine that has been machined to a 4 stroke diesel(runs on straight diesel)... the cooling issues have been solved already... the engine going into the crawler is out of my RC tugboat... when i build or buy any toy for a hobby i go for realizm... now as for cooling... i have a PC fan cooling the motor same thing i had in my tug... the engine is bout twice the size as the traxxas 2.5 and idles right round 1000 rpm and goes to 15k.

i say go for it!

03-04-2007, 10:34 PM	#1
RatFink008 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 9	Need Massive Help Here!!! Hi all.... my name is trevor and i live in michigan... i am an avid RC car enthusiast. i work at a machine shop. now on to the hard tricky stuff... i want to build a crawler. but one thats not electric.... one thats gas powered... any ideas??? here is mine........ Chassis: the one from the F-650 build trans: toss up... tmaxx trans (with slipper clutch off emaxx)??? motor: O.S. 90 4-stroker axles: i dont no yet... solid axle.... like on the tamiya F-350 suspension: 2 link coil over shock... 150cc fuel tank... any ideas and hits let me no... i need or want to buy a chassis any ideas as to what i can make it out of???

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03-04-2007, 10:43 PM	#2
Robb RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: VARCOR Posts: 1,826	Just run a quick search for "nitro crawler." You will finds loads of information on the subject.

03-04-2007, 10:49 PM	#3
RatFink008 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 9	i also forgot to add... i talked to my 3 local hobby stores and they said they cant get me solid axles... and i dont feel like making them....

03-04-2007, 11:04 PM	#4
dezfan I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Happiness is a warm AK. Posts: 12,563	Asbestos is your friend.

03-05-2007, 10:10 AM	#5
Rider385 Rock Stacker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montréal! Posts: 94	i know that the engine you are looking at is kind of a stroker BUT isnt it a plane engine... limited powerband like 20,000 rpm i think... then clutch issues... have you ever tried going slow with a nitro truck? like on rocks and stuff. I've blued numerous CB by doing so I was using my savage with kong like a crawler. AND! to have power w/ a nitro engine you need rpm. like every one will say here, they told me too . go for Electric since you're building it up yourself and have acces to a machine shop... you can do something nice.

03-05-2007, 10:18 AM	#6
Rat1 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rats nest Grafton ND Posts: 381	The 4 stroker might work as 4 stroke motors have more torque down low then your normal Nitro motors. I agree that going electric would be far better for a crawling application as the gas motors or nitro motors just do not have the low speed torque and electric does. Another thing to consider is heat. Wet powered motors create alot of heat and without cooling air flowing over them they will fail quickly or start to loose power. Then you have to look at weight. By the time you are said and done your machine will weigh alot more then a compairable sized electric. You still need all the same things an electric does along with an extra servo for throttle, the heavy motor and a fuel tank etc. You will need a very strong chassis to support the power system of a wet powered truck.

03-05-2007, 10:19 AM	#7
Savrunner Rock Stacker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Budd Lake, NJ Posts: 87	Nitro and crawling do not mix in my opinion only. Crawling is about slow calculated moves. Nitro engines will not be able to go slow. They are not made to go slow. two stroke engines are made to scream. High RPM is how u get power. You need power at 10 RPM or 5 RPM to crawl. But to each is own. If you go Nitro, good luck and have fun as having fun is the most important part of any hobby.

03-05-2007, 10:42 AM	#8
DaViolentOne Rock Crawler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey, BC, Canada Posts: 870	Nitro and crawling don't mix very well at all, no, but, you may have a better chance with the 4 stroke over a 2 stroke.. May... Heat, airflow and clutch bells are definate issues to deal with.... I haven't seen many clutches that will engage fully, without slip, at low RPM and not have some kinda chatter when idling... Maybe if you could keep the revs high and had some kinda serious reduction unit in the line somewhere... I'm not too savvy with the 4 stroke nitro engines... What I DO know of them tho' is they need a lot more displacement to get the same kinda grunt as a 2 stroker, but, being 4 stroke it should run a lot cooler than it's 2 stroke displacement equivalent...

03-05-2007, 10:43 AM	#9
cotharyus Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mid TN Posts: 411	Honestly, from someone with 20+ years of back ground in the hobby - if you manage to gear something nitro low enough to crawl with it, you're going to break the engine in short order. Just get lipo and brushless stuff if you want more runtime

03-05-2007, 10:50 AM	#10
Thorsteenster I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 3,377	cant a gear box be made so the engine is turning high revs but the output is turning slow, maybe through gearing it WAY down or some kind of slipper system?

03-05-2007, 01:01 PM	#11
TwistedMetal Pebble Pounder Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Monrovia Posts: 178	I like your idea, unlike everyone else who posted here. I would use a revo trans (ebay +- $35). Use the jato spur and clutch bell with it. I would try to find a 4 stroke engine with a metric shaft (so you can use the traxxas gears). use the revo diffs, and make a tube axle housing for it. just lock the diffs with jb weld. good idea i think. if your worried about cooling the 4 stroke, put in a radio shack electric fan, or a cpu fan out of a computer. small, light, and will run on 6v.

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03-05-2007, 01:18 PM	#12
yzfrone Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nova Posts: 27	Heat Issue Heat Issue

03-05-2007, 01:26 PM	#13
Thorsteenster I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 3,377	get some PC water cooling components and build a recirculating cooling system.

03-05-2007, 03:29 PM	#16
jetboat I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tax Nation Posts: 2,289	if your stuck on not doing electric try going the way I've been working on for a couple years now. Find an old Diesel snowthrower and build a SUPER crawler out of it. But forget getting the parts at a hobby shop!

03-05-2007, 04:56 PM	#17
mrpink RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: trying to find out what a TVuPer is..... Posts: 1,851	nitro Don't Crawl.

03-05-2007, 06:07 PM	#18
RatFink008 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 9	maybe i should clear some things up here.... it is a 4 stroke gas engine that has been machined to a 4 stroke diesel(runs on straight diesel)... the cooling issues have been solved already... the engine going into the crawler is out of my RC tugboat... when i build or buy any toy for a hobby i go for realizm... now as for cooling... i have a PC fan cooling the motor same thing i had in my tug... the engine is bout twice the size as the traxxas 2.5 and idles right round 1000 rpm and goes to 15k.

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