my first crawler build

[STEVEN.B]

i bought a 1.5 t-maxx from a guy at work (other than the motor) it was complete for $40. i did a lot of looking on here and finally started my build. it's my first build so i'm sure i will be going back and doing some stuff different. anyway here is what i have so far.

i took the axles and locked the diffs. locked the a arm down. made some servo mounts and steering arms and link mounts. i bought 2 hitec 645 for the steering.




here is the tube chassis i started.

[Brandon M]

Wow your off to a really good start get some other tires though

[skellyo]

What tranny are you planning on using? I would think a Pede tranny might help keep a lower CG versus an E-Maxx tranny along with being a bit cheaper and more readily available.

[STEVEN.B]

thanks.

i started cutting on those but i will be buying some new tires when i get closer to the end of my build. i had my eye on some in the for sale section but i cant see that any more so i guess i will be buying some new ones.

[STEVEN.B]

Originally Posted by skellyo

What tranny are you planning on using? I would think a Pede tranny might help keep a lower CG versus an E-Maxx tranny along with being a bit cheaper and more readily available.

i might change my mind but for right now i plan on using the t-maxx trans. i tore it apart and locked it in first and locked the reverse out. not sure if that part is going to work or not but all i lost was time if it doesn't. i am going to mount a plate to it and put a gd600 on that i bought off a guy on here. i haven't gotten to the plate yet so i don't know how well it is going to work.

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by STEVEN.B

i might change my mind but for right now i plan on using the t-maxx trans. i tore it apart and locked it in first and locked the reverse out. not sure if that part is going to work or not but all i lost was time if it doesn't. i am going to mount a plate to it and put a gd600 on that i bought off a guy on here. i haven't gotten to the plate yet so i don't know how well it is going to work.

Good luck with it. I'm not sure what the gear ratio is on the T-Maxx tranny, but if it's internals are anything like the E-Maxx, you should be able to get tons of low end, especially with a GD600.

[chevellian]

Looks like your off to a good start. I like the tube chassis. I think the maxx trucks make great crawlers, they just require a little more thought and it looks like your thinkin

[STEVEN.B]

Originally Posted by skellyo

Good luck with it. I'm not sure what the gear ratio is on the T-Maxx tranny, but if it's internals are anything like the E-Maxx, you should be able to get tons of low end, especially with a GD600.

yea i have no idea what my final gearing is going to be. i might be too low. i bought the gd600 because i couldn't get the motor close enough to the trans to get the gear teeth to match up. i was hoping with the gd600 i could get it in closer. does anyone have any close up pics of how they did there t-maxx trans. i did a search on here before but didn't find anything with pics good enough to see what was going on.

[Brandon M]

Originally Posted by STEVEN.B

yea i have no idea what my final gearing is going to be. i might be too low. i bought the gd600 because i couldn't get the motor close enough to the trans to get the gear teeth to match up. i was hoping with the gd600 i could get it in closer. does anyone have any close up pics of how they did there t-maxx trans. i did a search on here before but didn't find anything with pics good enough to see what was going on.

Not many people will use a tmaxx trans not good for rock crawlers how it is and beause if you need reverse you have to switch it with a servo

[Acs_guitars]

You can completely lock up a t-maxx trans so the reverse will work with no servo. The only thing that stops it is the 0ne-way bearing once you do the single speed and FOC.

[STEVEN.B]

Originally Posted by chevellian

Looks like your off to a good start. I like the tube chassis. I think the maxx trucks make great crawlers, they just require a little more thought and it looks like your thinkin

thanks. i'm trying to keep this tube chassis pretty simple since it is my first one. i have been using a mig welder to weld it together. when i get the bugs worked out of this one i'm thinking of making another chassis that looks like my full size jeep buggy.

that will be a little harder so i will see how this one goes first. i have built several full size's from the ground up but like you said the maxx's do make you think more.

[STEVEN.B]

Originally Posted by Acs_guitars

You can completely lock up a t-maxx trans so the reverse will work with no servo. The only thing that stops it is the 0ne-way bearing once you do the single speed and FOC.

i did it kind of like you're talking about except i filled the one-way and what not with some stuff similar to JB weld. if it doesn't hold i can always go back and do it different.

[STEVEN.B]

i got some more done to my chassis and got the rear axle in and the shocks mounted. don't know if i am leaving my shock there. just playing around with shock location for right know.

[STEVEN.B]

here are a few more pics. it's standing on its own now. finally starting to look like something.

i got some more done to my tranny. i think it's going to work out good. i will get some pics up later of how i did it.





it's not flexing as much as i had hoped. do i need more than that?
what do you all think so far?

[JasonM]

It looks a little tall, with stock sized tires i would shoot for 3-4" of GC. Try moving your shocks out towards the ends of the frame and mounting them to the stock shock mounts on the arms. Also try moving your lower links to the bottom arms instead of the uppers if you change the shocks to keep the geometry in the ballpark.

The shape of the frame is looking good.

[gregrocks90046]

Originally Posted by skellyo

What tranny are you planning on using? I would think a Pede tranny might help keep a lower CG versus an E-Maxx tranny along with being a bit cheaper and more readily available.

slvrtungdvl makes 'clocked' emaxx motor mounts that lower the motor to the side of the trans. real trick.

besides, a super class crawler like this build would destroy a stampede trans.

[STEVEN.B]

Originally Posted by JasonM

It looks a little tall, with stock sized tires i would shoot for 3-4" of GC. Try moving your shocks out towards the ends of the frame and mounting them to the stock shock mounts on the arms. Also try moving your lower links to the bottom arms instead of the uppers if you change the shocks to keep the geometry in the ballpark.

The shape of the frame is looking good.

thanks for the input. i probably should have bought my tires and wheels first so i would know my final height as i was building it. i was thinking about making shock hoops on the chassis and mounting the lower shock to the lower arms. i didn't know if i would have to lower the lower arms because of axle torque anyway. if not it sure does make for some good clearance. since i already have them there i'm going to see how it does and make some changes, probably a lot of changes. i would definitely build it lower if i was building it for competitions but i don't know of any around oklahoma and most of my playing will be at 4wheelin camp or on the trail broke down or breaking for lunch.

[STEVEN.B]

i have the tranny mounted to the chassis. i'm going to have to cut and section part of the rear chassis out for rear drive shaft clearance. it shouldn't be a big deal. i knew something would be in the way somewhere.



here is a pic of my t-maxx tranny plate i made to mount my gd600 to. i grinded a little bit off the gd600 so i could get it close enough to get the gears to match. the motor is going to be setting level with the bottom of the chassis.

[STEVEN.B]

i have a question i should know but i don't. are the maxx wheels 23mm hex? i was thinking about buying these http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...6&I=LXLPW9&P=K are they a good wheels for the price or would you all recommend something else for around that price? i plan on buying pro-line 40 series moab xl tires.

[chevellian]

Stock maxx is 14mm. You have to buy adapters to use those wheels on any truck. Tower should put that in their tech notes.

They are great wheels! There are not many choices for the moab xl's.