Team RC4WD Guide to the TF2

[LEWIS]

David what's up. Good stuff. Can't wait to start building my tf2. Getting parts in line. Longer front shocks and shock towers for the front ordered. And drive shafts. And thanks for the new skid . Talked to metal masher. And he's going to do the yota body for me. So I need to get it to a roller and off it goes to him.

[new2rocks]

You're gonna love it, and I can't wait to see your finished product.


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[Natedog]

Originally Posted by HollywoodRC

Excellent read.... I plan to run 3S as well. I apologies if these questions have been answered somewhere else in this forum. I am very excited that I have a TF2 on ordered. I had this truck in college and can't wait to bring back the memories to life. Thanks for all you guys support.

Where's your build thread?

Originally Posted by Big Bill

Thanks for the RC4WD link. I have had Axial based rigs for the past 7 or 8 years and have been looking for something different lately. One that I know in my area runs a TF2 , I would really like to see one on the rocks before I cut loose with the $ for one. Thanks again.

Hey Bill, did you buy one of these yet?

Originally Posted by LEWIS

... Can't wait to start building my tf2. Getting parts in line. Longer front shocks and shock towers for the front ordered. And drive shafts. And thanks for the new skid ...

I looked and don't see your build thread?

[Big Bill]

"Hey Bill, did you buy one of these yet?"

Not yet Nate,but I do see one in the near future. Got to check one out this Sunday at our local GTG, pretty impressive it was stock but still worked well from what I could see.

[Natedog]

Cool, they are pretty sweet scale rigs with leafs, makes a better driver and fun.

[Torqqe]

Awesome write-up. Anticipate I will be referencing it a lot! Thanks for the effort in sharing your collective knowledge on the subject. My TF2 RTR is in route to my RC stable and should arrive in 2 days... very excited. To date I have been running axial products exclusively for scale/crawl rigs. Currently have 3 SCX-10s and an AX10 Deadbolt. But there is just something special about this TF2 that has been pulling my attention for quite a while now. Stoked that I bought one! Woot, first post on the forum! :P

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by Torqqe

Awesome write-up. Anticipate I will be referencing it a lot! Thanks for the effort in sharing your collective knowledge on the subject. My TF2 RTR is in route to my RC stable and should arrive in 2 days... very excited. To date I have been running axial products exclusively for scale/crawl rigs. Currently have 3 SCX-10s and an AX10 Deadbolt. But there is just something special about this TF2 that has been pulling my attention for quite a while now. Stoked that I bought one! Woot, first post on the forum! :P

Thanks for the kind words and welcome to the forum. I think you're going to love your TF2. Since I built my first one over a year ago, it's a rare day that I reach for my SCX-10 when picking a rig for a trail run or a session on the rocks.

[Smonkman]

How does the gearing/speed of 1st gear compare to that on an SCX 10. I'm trying to figure out my electronics for my kit. I'll be running a 2S battery, just trying to decide on motor.

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by Smonkman

How does the gearing/speed of 1st gear compare to that on an SCX 10. I'm trying to figure out my electronics for my kit. I'll be running a 2S battery, just trying to decide on motor.

Stock final drive ratio (spur/pinion, tranny and axle combined) in 1st gear comes out to a hair over 42:1, which is shorter gearing than a stock SCX10 (approx. 38:1 if running a 5:1 spur/pinion combo). I run an HH Crawlmaster 13T (equivalent to a 27 T on 2S in mine and really like it. Ultra smooth startup, plenty of punch in 2nd gear, nice run times (2+ hours with a 5000 mah 2S).

[northern hooligan]

During my summer vacation a few weeks ago, I had the chance to drive a TF2 while camping, and its a different rig from my Ascender.
So for the past 2 days I decided to look at the TF2 as my scaler (winter build). I wanted to give a shout out to Team RC4WD for the work put into the comprehensive guide to the TF2. As I read ..overload the brain on information.... I am making my list and trying to find the newest threads for the most current info (ie: diff shim needed or fixed from factory) and of course mods ( G2 Shock hoops etc ) and of course regrease / loctite everything and make a list of parts needed. Now I will wait till the LHS's stock arrives in Sept to start.

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by northern hooligan

During my summer vacation a few weeks ago, I had the chance to drive a TF2 while camping, and its a different rig from my Ascender.
So for the past 2 days I decided to look at the TF2 as my scaler (winter build). I wanted to give a shout out to Team RC4WD for the work put into the comprehensive guide to the TF2. As I read ..overload the brain on information.... I am making my list and trying to find the newest threads for the most current info (ie: diff shim needed or fixed from factory) and of course mods ( G2 Shock hoops etc ) and of course regrease / loctite everything and make a list of parts needed. Now I will wait till the LHS's stock arrives in Sept to start.

Thanks for the kind words about the guide. It was a lot of fun to put together, and I'm glad you've found it helpful. It should be up to date in its current form. I went through it last year when the Mojave 2 bodyset was released (which didn't include any mechanical changes), and there haven't been any changes to the platform since then. The shim swap on the front axle is still a must, and I still recommend swapping out the stock nylon punishers. Once you start your build, please be sure to post a build thread. We'd love to see what you do with yours.

[bmuzz1]

The info is very helpful, thank you! I just purchased my first TF2 kit version for use with the Chevy Blazer body I'm planning to do a C1 Expedition build with. I've had a couple pairs of axles in the past but still consider myself a noob to them besides the XVD's.
I just ordered the low profile skid from Shapeways and have a laundry list of future parts and mods lined up.

[rustneversleeps]

Originally Posted by new2rocks

The RC4WD Team has just posted a new, comprehensive guide to the TF2. If you're considering a TF2 or are looking for ideas for one you already have, check it out on the RC4WD forum:
Team RC4WD's Comprehensive Guide to the TF2

Enjoy!

Well all i have to say is Wow and special thanks to you for a well documented mods,upgrades and know how..
There are some mods that i will be trying for sure to improve the enjoyment from a leaf sprung rig which will be my second,the first one being the Bruiser back in the 80's...Ya just call me old fart.....
Happy to be with the TF2 Mafia family....
Now it's just a waiting game for these parts to arrive so i can start this thing.

[FireWire79]

Thanks for posting a great right up. I am super scared and excited to finally build a true scaler. I know it's going to be a lot of time consuming work to do right, but this is the kit to do it with.

Just got to remember to go slow and be patient.

[Fishcharger]

Originally Posted by new2rocks

Thanks for the kind words about the guide. It was a lot of fun to put together, and I'm glad you've found it helpful. It should be up to date in its current form. I went through it last year when the Mojave 2 bodyset was released (which didn't include any mechanical changes), and there haven't been any changes to the platform since then. The shim swap on the front axle is still a must, and I still recommend swapping out the stock nylon punishers. Once you start your build, please be sure to post a build thread. We'd love to see what you do with yours.

My TF2 kit should be arriving tomorrow. First thing I will do is add grease and lock tight. The "shim swap" you mention is per earlier in the thread correct? As in if shims in the axle housings and outside the housing are in the wrong place they need swapped?


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[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by Fishcharger

My TF2 kit should be arriving tomorrow. First thing I will do is add grease and lock tight. The "shim swap" you mention is per earlier in the thread correct? As in if shims in the axle housings and outside the housing are in the wrong place they need swapped?

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Congrats on your purchase. RC4WD changed the specs on the shims recently, so your kit may or may not require the swap. Best thing to do is check the pinion mesh and adjust the shims if there's any play between the ring and pinion gears.

[Fishcharger]

Originally Posted by new2rocks

Congrats on your purchase. RC4WD changed the specs on the shims recently, so your kit may or may not require the swap. Best thing to do is check the pinion mesh and adjust the shims if there's any play between the ring and pinion gears.

Alright! Got my kit today. Kinda odd what I have found in taking apart the front axle housing. There is a shim on the outside behind the c-clip. But I find no shim on the inside. There is some play in the mesh but doesn't Bind when moving in or out. To shim this to get rid of that play where do you recommend adding the shim?


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[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by Fishcharger

Alright! Got my kit today. Kinda odd what I have found in taking apart the front axle housing. There is a shim on the outside behind the c-clip. But I find no shim on the inside. There is some play in the mesh but doesn't Bind when moving in or out. To shim this to get rid of that play where do you recommend adding the shim?

I'd recommend shimming inside the pinion to push the pinion as close as you can to the ring gear while still spinning freely without binding or grinding. If there's too much in/out play, the gears will end up stripping.

[Digital]

new2rocks is right about rc4wd making some adjustment to the gear mesh because my diffs were actually not bad out of the box. There is tiny amount of play when pushing/pulling the pinion but totally acceptable in my opinion. Haven't seen a need to adjust the shims really.

Hat's off to rc4wd for actually fixing issues with their kits as they discover issues. The only issue I frowned out was the lockout issue with the shackle mount in the back. The bowhouse 3d printed mounts fix that problem, hopefully rc4wd fixes that in their newer kits.

[mthomson]

Excellent write up!!