Codyboy Rebuilds His TRX4 "BULLDOG"

[CODYBOY]

Had time for a couple DIY projects in between building axles this week.
For those of you that have followed some of my builds you know that I really like to repurpose!
Here are some wheel weights I made out of brass nuts. 3.5 oz. per wheel.







I turned them down to almost a press fit in some SSD wheels, clearanced them to fit over the portals. Next I soldered a brass washer on the back and removed the VP hub from the wheel so I could use the hub mounting holes as a pattern to drill mounting holes in the brass washer. Next I turned down the washer to 2mm thick and mounted them in the wheel. 3.5 oz. wheel weight for free. They made a huge difference in the front traction.

Next is my rear bumper. A piece of rectangular steel tubing I found at Goodwill.




Here you can see the body mounting pins, the brass 3mm threaded inserts in the stock bumper mounting holes, and the 3mm holes tapped in the square SS rod (off of a wine bottle rack from Goodwill).








The tow shackle, and rusted bumper.



Only cost was a few dollars and a day of my time! And being 68 and retire that didn't put a big dent in my pocket book.
Thanks for looking.
Ernie

[CODYBOY]

Time for a little update.
I built a servo winch out of a old servo I had in the parts bin. I turned a spool out of some alum and mounted it inside the servo. The servo was rated at almost 400 oz and had a burned out board so perfect candidate for a winch. Made a mounting bracket out of some alum angle and anchored it to the bumper mount and frame.









Next up, I wanted a hefty pull pal, so went to the repurpose been and found the parts I needed. The shaft is stainless steel square rod from the wine rack, and the shovel end is a piece of a stainless steel butter knife. .



I heated the line end and hammered it a little, heated and bent the shaft. Nexted I slotted the end for the shovel nose, and heat treated it in oil.



I was going to paint it, but the stainless looks so nice cleaned up I left it natural.





Thanks for looking!
Ernie

[Mountainsofbeer]

Wow that is so cool, the bumpers and body really look like they are old now~! The front grill/bumper is amazing you made that by hand?

[Bad Attitude]

Very nice Ernie!


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[KMS]

I like your servo winch ,What are the 2 allen head bolts holding ...

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by ubernewb

awesome craftsmanship sir!

Thank you for the kind words, every time I do a project I learn a little!

Originally Posted by Mountainsofbeer

Wow that is so cool, the bumpers and body really look like they are old now~! The front grill/bumper is amazing you made that by hand?

I did build it from scratch, if you want to see how, go back in my thread a little and you can see how.

Originally Posted by Bad Attitude

Very nice Ernie!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks BA, How are those axles working out on your Bronco?

Originally Posted by KMS

I like your servo winch ,What are the 2 allen head bolts holding ...

Thanks, coming from Mr. servo winch that means a lot!!! That is about a 15 or 20 year old Airtronics servo and in its day, was about the most powerful you could get for a Losi off road truck. Anyway the two bolts are going all the way through the alum part of the servo body and into the mount I made. If you look close at one of the pictures you can see the nuts on the other side of the mounting bracket.
Ernie

[KMS]

That's a good way to mount it not using servo ears ,,as long as case is metal ,,, Good idea,,,

[CODYBOY]

I've had a design running around in my head for some knuckle weights for a few days now, but I've been working on axle orders so didn't have time to put it on paper. Finished them up yesterday, so started working on these today.



I used hole saws to reduce flat brass stock to donuts that I could machine on the lathe.



For now I'm using three separate donuts soldered together.





They fit nicely inside SSD 1.9 D holes wheels.



I just have to much fun in my shop!
Ernie

[JSterrett]

Very nice, is that something you'd be selling at some point? I have a bunch of weight in my wheels at the moment but I'd much prefer non-rotating weight...

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[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by JSterrett

Very nice, is that something you'd be selling at some point? I have a bunch of weight in my wheels at the moment but I'd much prefer non-rotating weight...

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I'm still thinking about it, right now I'm repurposing to make all the parts. So I would need to check on cost of brass. Also I would need to refine the process, right now I'm not sure the market would support the price I'm thinking. Also depends on interest, the brass would be a big investment for a "grandpa shop" like mine. Time will tell.
Ernie

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Knuckle weights look really nice Ernie, love the non-rotating mass down low!

Thanks Nate, mailed out your tester yesterday!
I ordered enough brass to build a few sets, and they will be first come first serve. They should fit any wheel that has a ID of 1.8" I can make them to fit a smaller wheel but that will reduce the weight a little. Pm me for a price if you want to try some non rotating knuckle weights for your TRX4! I may do more after this run if there is enough interest.
Ernie

[djkaosone]

PM sent! Loving your wheel weight solution!

[CR4NK]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Thanks Nate, mailed out your tester yesterday!
I ordered enough brass to build a few sets, and they will be first come first serve. They should fit any wheel that has a ID of 1.8" I can make them to fit a smaller wheel but that will reduce the weight a little. Pm me for a price if you want to try some non rotating knuckle weights for your TRX4! I may do more after this run if there is enough interest.
Ernie

I am down for a set. PM sent.

[binaryterror]

I wish I had half of your skills and abilities. This truck is sick. Also cool you re-use what you have or find.

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Awesome, looking forward to the testers, thanks Ernie!

Thanks Nate! Your are one of my best testers. And I hope you can get USPS on the ball today and get those foams to your door step!

Originally Posted by djkaosone

PM sent! Loving your wheel weight solution!

Your on the list for this test run, should have final design figured out today, so will post some photos, weights, and have a price this evening.

Originally Posted by CR4NK

I am down for a set. PM sent.

Same info for you Bud, I can't believe a sheet of brass 1/2" X 2" X 5' can run almost $90! Trying to put together a design for best value for you guys.

Originally Posted by binaryterror

I wish I had half of your skills and abilities. This truck is sick. Also cool you re-use what you have or find.

Thank you for the kind words, when I'm tinkering in my shop I feel like a young kid in a old farts body!
Ernie

[wrightcs77]

Message sent for a set

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[CODYBOY]

I promised some of you that responded to me that I would post up some photos of the process and finished weights.

I started with two pieces of flat brass bar, 1/4" and 1/8" thick by 2"X 5".



This is the scrap from reducing material for 4 sets of knuckle weight.





I use three different size hole saws and built two jigs for machining the brass donuts.









First completed pair with the finished design.



Front and back, I didn't realize how much work would go into these for a final product.



Each weight has three different rings and I designed them for adding additional rings for more weight if you want.





My pee brain is worn out trying to refine them to this design, so I still need to run through some numbers before I have a cost.

Thanks for looking!
Ernie

[CR4NK]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

I promised some of you that responded to me that I would post up some photos of the process and finished weights.

I started with two pieces of flat brass bar, 1/4" and 1/8" thick by 2"X 5".



This is the scrap from reducing material for 4 sets of knuckle weight.





I use three different size hole saws and built two jigs for machining the brass donuts.









First completed pair with the finished design.



Front and back, I didn't realize how much work would go into these for a final product.



Each weight has three different rings and I designed them for adding additional rings for more weight if you want.





My pee brain is worn out trying to refine them to this design, so I still need to run through some numbers before I have a cost.

Thanks for looking!
Ernie

The weights look great Ernie! Keep up the great work!

[CODYBOY]

Here are a few more steps needed to a completed knuckle weight. Sorry if this is boring to some of you.

This is how they look after I finish the step of cutting the donuts from the brass stock.



Ready to go to the lathe to be cleaned up and sized.




Sized for a 1.8 ID wheel.



After they are all sized they go into the drilling jig for mounting holes. Each weight has three discs to be drilled. After I'm done drilling all of them, they will go back to the drill press and have the centers remove with a hole saw.





So moral to the story, because I'm retired and want to stay that way. This isn't a business for me, but more of a service for some of you that wanted knuckle weights. I have put a week into design and I have been working two days on six sets. I realize with the price these are not going to be for everyone! Those of you that have seen the quality that goes into my Ascender and Losi axle modifications can be assured that these have the same quality. So having said all of that with time equity I have to put into these and what I need to charge concerns me so these may be the only six sets I do, other than for a few of my buddies.
Ernie

[djkaosone]

Codyboy $$ sent! Keep doing what you're doing, innovate!