How to widen the TLT axles with outer shafts?
 

I have heard of using longer outter shafts to widen the TLT axles? I have searched and found a mention of HPI /MT rear axles with spacers but I was wondering if there are any wider shafts or any other options that you guys might know of?

i think someone makes wideners out there.........im sure that helped you out alot....LOL

I am not sure of any longer shafts out there. I'd really like to find some though. I wonder how long the pajero front shafts are. Those might be an option. Or even wild dagger out drives.

Yea, Inet's Clodbuster aluminum adapters work perfectly, but they are $39.99
I don't want to pay for those if I can get a set of new outer shafts that would work and be solid and cheaper..... Also it would be a good tip for later builds when i need to widen my other TLT's...
If I have a longer shaft it would make it easier to fit some of my home engineered adpaters on the axles

rbgerrish has the list to some factory parts that widen the TLT axle... how much it widens it, I can't remember but perhaps he'll see this thread and share the part numbers :)

His TLT is a good 1/2" or so wider than mine.....

Hello,

You need:

"TG10 Long Wheel Axle (2 pc)" tamiya part number 50808. (2 packages)
"TL01 Tow-in Rear Upright" (2 pc)" part number 53345. (2 packages)

The second parts are the wider hex's that fit in your wheels over the longer shafts. You could glue 2 regular hexes together and probably get the same result.

This will widen your TLT Remote Control Vehicle about 1/2" overall. Not much wider...but a bit!

Ryan

Do you need the wider Hex's or can you space the regular Hex's out a little with spacers?

I wonder if these Super Blackfoot shafts are the same diameter. They are .25" longer.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGG15&P=7

yeah that would be sweet if those worked , because no one makes wheel wideners that accept the pin, the hex in machined into the widener, so for guys like me that run wheels that just use the pin (no hex) we're screwed. Usually all the 1/10 axles ride in the same size bearings (my HPI Rush axles work, but only slightly wider and bind when turning)...a 1" over width increase would be awesome without the use of wideners

you could probably use a regular hex and some spacers, as long as part of the hex contacted the wheel! (So it turns!) Or glue it all together or something...

Ryan

i found out that these take the same 5 mm bearings so these should be the same type shaft but almost a 1/4" longer which would give even more width...I think I will at least try them to see if they fit, if not, they are not very expensive so I'm not out too much...

Tower says these are 1 11/16 long... A little spacer added and you got 3.375" wider wheelbase.
Personally my TLT needs all it can get cause my tires are tucked so close to the chassis of my Jeep that they scrub quite a bot when twisting up in terrain. :)

Let me know if they work , I would like a little more width too
Kevin

Oh, definately will be posting it if it works. :)

:) Ordered the Blackfoot axles yesterday. Can't wait to try them out.

I already received mine, and they work perfectly! A perfect .5" wdith increase, which is quite a lot on these little trucks. Of course you need some washers to shim the axle out so I wound up getting these, just for the 5x11mm washers. I only bought two packs and each axle requires 7 washers so you need to get 3 packs to do all 4 axles. Or you can get some alum. tubing and cut 1/4" spacers. Or just go the the hardware store and get 'em.

another thing I like is the axle locknut can be threaded on all they way (with my RPM Torkerz) into the nylon ring. Can't wait to crawl and see/feel the difference.

Awesome, that is good to know... At least I know they will work when i get them in the mail. I ran my TLT Jeep last night and was jones'n for more width cause the darn thing scrubs SO much while crawlin around. :roll:

here's the pics of the longer axles...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...wler/axle1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...wler/axle2.jpg
stock axles in knuckle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...wler/axle3.jpg
longer axles in knuckle

you can see the width increase very easily. A true 1/4" extension per axle for a .5" over all track width increase

he swings, he hits one out of the park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin

So are those blackfoot axles these: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGG15&P=7 ? THe only other thing you would need to make them work would be some washers?

How does the longer dogbone cup effect the turning radius and or pressures on the axle shaft when trying to turn? Are you "trimming" the extra portion down so it doesn't alter the turning radius or just leaving it?







I see that someone has already shown that this can be done, by offering it as a kit:

http://www3.kcn.ne.jp/~tobee/English.htm

http://www3.kcn.ne.jp/~tobee/42980.JPG

Toyo,

I noticed that issue with the stock drive cups, I added #10 washers to help fix that. I am also contemplating fishmouthing the drive cups perpendicular to the slot in the drive cup to get the maxximum ammount of steering travel. I don't know about the Blackfoot stubs, maybe someone who has em can give us the verdict.

Yeah they are slightly longer. I dodn't cut or shave them down. I really didn't notice a difference, but obviuosly there had to be a difference. I'll probably do it today. The extra width is great, cheapest way to widen the truck 8)

Another question(s) for those who have done this mod...since it's gained my intrest.

To me it seems like the added stress on the plastic TLT hubs will cause them to break early on, before they should. Has anyone noticed this to be the case?

Are you guys running bearings in the hubs, for those that have done this mod?

The washers or spacers that are needed to take up the extra space between the axle pin and the hub... What type of added friction will that cause to the hub, bearings or hex? Wouldn't a bearing be better suited to take up that extra space rather than a solid spacer or multipule washers?

Anyone have pics of this modification completely installed yet?

Some extra stress can be assumed but being that the TLT is basically a light truckI don't think it will be extreme stress. Bearings are always better unless you are ORCRC and submerging the axles all the time. :-) The spacers, if they are the correct size will limit the stress by keeping the axle straight in the bushing housing.
Basically it shouldn't be too much stress.

Funny, it took me looking through all of Towers Outer shafts to GUESS if these would fit, then all along there is someone else that already has the kit put together. But at least this way we know how to build the kit ourselves and cheaper. Cheaper is always better. I should get my shafts in the mail today or tomorrow. :)

What are teh rubber o-rings for?

http://www3.kcn.ne.jp/~tobee/42980.JPG

c'mon man, you couldn't clean up the harry shaft before posting pics of it. :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...wler/axle2.jpg

Well your not adding so many spacers that it will cause friction betweeen the hub and bearing. It's just like the stock setup were there is a very small amount of "wiggle room". At first I did add to many spacers that it locked the axle to the hub, not good. Also I don't run wheels that accept hexes, they only accept the pins (RPM Torkerz) so this mod is great for us that run those type of wheels.

I am running bearings in the hubs.

Of course it would add extra stress there's more length to torque on the hub, but not nearly as much as a widener.

I'll take a pic of them mounted up with the spacers. It's nothing exciting just some washers :lol: I also trimmed down the axle so I can turn more, I trimmed them farther that the stockers so I get a lot better turning now, it's not much but it needed it for sure.

OK here's the pics...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...r/HPIM1375.jpg
washers installed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...r/HPIM1378.jpg
shaved down axle for improved turning. You can see how close the dogbone pin comes to the edge of the axle at full lock.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...r/HPIM1380.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...r/HPIM1381.jpg
In those pics the washers aren't compressed all the way together. When compressed there is a 1mm clearance between the washer and the axle pin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...r/HPIM1384.jpg
stock axle

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...wler/axle3.jpg
Un-modified new axle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...r/HPIM1382.jpg
New axle shaved down. Much more clearance

Thanks for the trick. I'm ordering the parts right now.

Edit: Tower is out of stock on the axles. They say they will be in March