SW3 with different link placemet

[cars69]

I have a SW2 that works very nice that I have run now for the
last 3 Comp series here in AZ. I picked up a SW3 chassis and
felt it was close in design to the SW2 with less chassis plate.
I wanted to try something a little different with the SW3. Here are
some pictures of what I did to my SW3.









About 2 years ago My son (Grover) posted up a picture of my Super a TCS
Stick with a battery placement on the bottom of my front clod hubs.
I think everyone in the country knows what knuckle Packs are now.
I think ideas that work in this hobby need to be shared.
Many real Rock crawlers have their links this way. The articulation is smooth and
the same amount on all four corners. This is a 60/40 setup. I also mounted the motor
to the front of the R2-D using a adjustable motor mount plate. The trans sides are thin
and you can bend them when you tighten down the mounting screws.The motor plate
prevents you from bending the trans case. This also moves the weight to the front of
the truck. I love the way it drives over rocks!

[BENDER]

Very nice, cool servo mount for the dig. I was wondering when someone would try that link set-up with my chassis.

[cars69]

Originally Posted by BENDER

Very nice, cool servo mount for the dig. I was wondering when someone would try that link set-up with my chassis.

Thanks Brad! I like your Chassis.

[killjoyken]

Hmmm, that link setup looks very familiar....

Nice work!

[cars69]

Originally Posted by killjoyken

Hmmm, that link setup looks very familiar....

Nice work!

Yes it is like the GC1. I have never seen the chassis in person. I
think the upper links are longer and they are mounted to the link plate
along side the servo and not behind them. I also just bought a GC1
from syco133 on this site, but I haven't got it yet. I can't wait to
build the GC1 and compare the differences.

Rick-

[Tanis]

Truck looks good, Rick I like the way you approached the link geometry differently than the standard norm, trying new/different things is what keeps things evolving into better performing machines.
I like the way you mounted the motor on the front of the R2D, I didn't have the room for it in mine, with my custom tranny mount, but I haven't noticed any ill effects from having the motor on the back yet.
Paintjob is sweet.

Nathan

[OldNube]

Did you also try your sw3 with a "conventional" link set up... and if you did what are the differences?? Either way....cool ride.

[flee]

nice does it work good did you notice the difference as far as anti squat or your cg

[cars69]

Originally Posted by Tanis

Truck looks good, Rick I like the way you approached the link geometry differently than the standard norm, trying new/different things is what keeps things evolving into better performing machines.
I like the way you mounted the motor on the front of the R2D, I didn't have the room for it in mine, with my custom tranny mount, but I haven't noticed any ill effects from having the motor on the back yet.
Paintjob is sweet.

Nathan

Nathan,
I know you gave me a lot of good info on setting up this chassis.
Thanks for all that info your rigs look like they work great. So far I love
this truck, but I haven't run it that much yet.

Rick-

Originally Posted by OldNube

Did you also try your sw3 with a "conventional" link set up... and if you did what are the differences?? Either way....cool ride.

No, I set it up this way from the start. I do feel it climbs verticals better
than my SW2 setup the conventional way.
Rick-

Originally Posted by flee

nice does it work good did you notice the difference as far as anti squat or your cg

I haven't run this rig a lot yet. I have noticed that when flexing the front end
the rear wheels stay on the ground a lot longer. Also on my SW2 conventional link setup
if the rear wheel comes off the ground more than 2 or 3 inches it wants to roll over.
This SW3 will let you lift the rear wheels a lot higher. I think this is all due to
the rear links set lower at the chassis for the anti squat.

Rick-

[gr33nlite]

That's a good looking SW3 I'm waiting on mine to arrive as I speak. How's that link to the shifting on the R2D work out?

A few other things I'm wondering about:

I thought I saw some alum blue anno'd servo posts? Where'd you pick those up from? I've looked around but am unable to find a place that has them *in stock.*

How do you like the MSD wheels? Have you any time using the RC4WDs to compare them with the MSDs?

[cars69]

Originally Posted by gr33nlite

That's a good looking SW3 I'm waiting on mine to arrive as I speak. How's that link to the shifting on the R2D work out?

A few other things I'm wondering about:

I thought I saw some alum blue anno'd servo posts? Where'd you pick those up from? I've looked around but am unable to find a place that has them *in stock.*

How do you like the MSD wheels? Have you any time using the RC4WDs to compare them with the MSDs?

Yes my SW2 has RC4WD Wheels with Mashers Tires. The MSD Wheels are
Heavy, but I like that.Your wheels are the lowest part of the truck that's
where you want the weight. The RC4WD wheels wouldn't hold the tires until
I use a disc sander and removed a small amount of each side of the wheel.
I understand the newer wheels are ok now. I would buy both wheels again.
The R2-D shifts every time on both trucks. I have a straight no bind push/pull
on the linkage setup. The servo posts (ebay).



Rick-

[Tanis]

Originally Posted by cars69

The R2-D shifts every time on both trucks. I have a straight no bind push/pull
Rick-

That is the key to the R2D working flawlessly.

[hotwheels000]

Going to take some pointers from this Rick as I was planning on a very simular set up with my SW3 ....when I find time to build it. Looks good , keep us posted on your findings.

Devlin

[cars69]

Originally Posted by hotwheels000

Going to take some pointers from this Rick as I was planning on a very simular set up with my SW3 ....when I find time to build it. Looks good , keep us posted on your findings.

Devlin

I drove in our comp today. It really was the first time running this truck
setup.We were on some very slick low traction rock. I ran it once when
the wheel base was at 11" wide but not in a Comp. In one of the
pictures above you can see I cut the wideners down. I have a 9.75"
wide wheel base now. I have to say this truck drove great. It climbed
and side hilled great. Nothing broke it just did everything right. The only
reason I placed 2nd today was me the driver. I used my nomadio senor
radio for the first time and I had trouble with shifting into dig and hitting
reverse. I have to learn to take my finger off the trigger.

Rick-

[Tanis]

Rick, that's great to hear it worked like you wanted. A little time on the radio, and I'm sure that will little issue will be behind you.

[cars69]

Originally Posted by Tanis

Rick, that's great to hear it worked like you wanted. A little time on the radio, and I'm sure that will little issue will be behind you.

Nathan, My old M8's have been very good to me. I like the small 3rd channel
wheel for the dig. My Sensor has the 3 position button. You have to think
about how many times you pushed it to know if your in 2WD or 4WD when
you use the dig. Every year a little more of memory goes away. Less thinking
gives less stress to my brain. I'm not as young as you are!

Rick-

[cars69]

http://img532.imageshack.us/my.php?image=moviezq5.flv


This is a link to a short video to see how it crawls.
Sorry for the poor video it's my first one on here.

Rick

[Tanis]

Rick, looks like it crawls well, nice balance and smooth articulation. Excellent work.

I hear ya on the 3rd channel, you know exactly where you are with the dial, and it's so easy to do just disconnect or lock up the rear.

[miniwheeler]

Originally Posted by killjoyken

Hmmm, that link setup looks very familiar....

Nice work!

Yes it does

[cars69]

[quote=Tanis;912850]Rick, looks like it crawls well, nice balance and smooth articulation. Excellent work.

Thanks, I sure like it so far. I'm happy I went with this link placement.
I wanted to change it from my SW2 conventional placement so the trucks
would be different.

Rick-

Originally Posted by miniwheeler

Yes it does

I'm sure there are a lot of other Rc Crawlers with this link setup. It's very common
in full size crawlers. I first got my idea when I saw the design of the SW3's skid plate
for the lower links. The notch in the skid plate was already there. I just cut out some
of the center. I used the stock TLT chassis plates to make my upper link plates.
I used some of the holes that were already drilled in the TLT chassis to mount the axles
and the upper links. Thats why my upper links came out a lot shorter than yours or the
GC1 chassis. I'm sure not trying to take any credit for the link design. I'm just showing the
placement of my links on a SW3 Bender chassis, and how good it drives.

Your chassis looks super light. I also like how narrow it is. Is that the
same setup you ran at the Nats?

Rick-