A TLT Design You've Never Seen....unless your Grover
 

At the Average Joe's 4x4 event, Chad showed up with the most unique TLT design I've ever seen. It's simplicity was only matched by it genius. A Pede transmission and a 5" piece of aluminium channel made up the entire chassis !!!! No side plates, no cross members, no anything else. The shocks and the electronics were mounted on the center beam, with the links mounted to the stock arm mounts on the transmission ( the things everyone cuts off Pede trans ) via the long screws from TLT cross members.

It's light, a full pound lighter than Buster, low CG, and cheap ( not alot of chassis parts ).

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2492.jpg

I used a piece of 1/4" x 1" aluminium for my chassis, the drilling brought the beams weight under 2oz. The beam is centered and mounted to the two stock suspension mounts on the trans. I made it longer towards the back for a 60/40 effect. The rear shock mounts are an inch higher and inch closer towards the axle to stand them up to combat touque twist.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2493.jpg
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I cut out a 1/2" from the center of the arm mounts for the center most links and used TE-MAXX shock spacers for the outboard most links. A single pair of 3mm x 62mm screw and 3mm locknut from the TLT kit hold the all together.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2450.jpg

I install my Quick Links and BTA. I couldn't the run the BTA over the drive shaft like on Buster, so I made it out of aliminium instead of G-10. It scraps the rocks alot but works well and has GREAT appoach clearance.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...s/IMG_2437.jpg
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Here's the Specs

TLT axles locked, bearings, cases tapped for 6/32 scews, Quick Links, and BTA
2.2 Moabs on back-narrowed Pede rims 4oz weights in each frt
Grover Rover beam chassis
Vintage Tamiya shocks w/ball end mod
1/4" AL rod for the links
Pede transmission w/bearings 90/12t 48 pitch spur/pinion
Pede driveshafts w/steel yolks at the axles and JATOs at the trans
Lathe motor 55t
SRw/1050 mah 8 cell 2/3A battery
645MG frt 475HB rear
Futaba 3PDF
Vintage Tamiya Hi-Lux (like King Cab) body...hacked

That.....is beautiful. The long-awaited TLT Stick :mrgreen:

How's it crawl?

That`s f,,,,briliant :mrgreen:
Looks like it works well,,,dosent get any lower than that :roll: :roll: :shock:
Looks like we can cut build time,and wheel more. The steering :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

intiresting design that works. Since you have the lower and upper links going to the same point on the chassis its more or less a 2 link right? When you compress the suspension there is no change in driveshaft lengh but only in u-joint angle, making a front dig would be extremely easy. I had a 2 link on one of my crawlers and it worked but the axle only goes up on an angle towards the chassis and it didnt work for me. I have no idea where I was going with this post but good luck with your tlt.

I like the steering, I'm the only one going to Colorado comps that uses a bta steering but mine is way more parts than yours.

Nicely done, I toyed with the thought of "hanging" the tranny like that awhile back but never pursued it. Glad to see that it works.

Innovative design, I like it. Is the tranny mounted pretty solid? Do you get any flex in the case with the links mounted on it?

now that is " OUTSIDE " the box for sure, simply incredible, what a awesome Idea! I am in envy, great workmanship! :mrgreen:

That looks great! The simplicity of it all is awesome and should be very dependable.:mrgreen:

Thanks Chad
 

Thanks Everyone. Grover deservse all the credit for the design, I just built it.

As for it's preformance...FIRST PLACE in it's second comp !!!!
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...r/IMG_2549.jpg
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Here's some early test crawling at Recker Rocks.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...r/IMG_2468.jpg
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http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...r/IMG_2471.jpg

After crushing plastic U-joint yolks at the axles in test crawls, I swaped them out for steel ones. I tried a boat ESC first but opted for a SR instead. Other then that, it's been flawless.

Awesome. I've had a similar design on my bench for a while. Love the body!

Sweet build and sweet pictures, I especially like this since is sporting a S&M Bike sticker on it :mrgreen: do you ride?

MIke

Now that is a sweet design. I love the simplicity of it. Congrats on the first place finish, looks like it performs just as awesome as it looks.

Thanks and apologies
 

Thanks Mike, you are to kind. Your version of the design is super clean and skillfully executed. The bta steeting you made for my truck was awsome at the comp!










Sorry again...about the radio.

Chad-

I do ride. I started BMXing way back in 1984 but I'm more of a mountain biker now. I nipped the S&M sticker off one of my employee's SlamBars. Check out my shop's webpage.

The trans and beam are soild as a single unit. I mounted the beam with a couple of 3mm x 20mm flanged machine screws w/star locking washers just to make sure.

As for any flex in the case, both Grover and I run trucks like this and neither of us have had any noticable flex from these link mounting positions. I had some links binding early in testing, this caused the case to give a little under max articulation. It was fixed by going with the bent links. The material Pede trans are made of is pretty forgiving and handles the abuse.

Very interesting design.

When can we see some video of it in action?

I gotta hand it to Grover, he's posted up some of the coolest trucks. Another great one Chad! I can't even imagine some of the ones we don't get to see.

Great execution on that one azvader. Looks awesome.