Codyboy's "bulldog bronco" ascender

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Thanks Nate, just got home from a little trip. Did you get your axle today? How does your aftermarket c-hubs fit?
Ernie,

Yes, I did thanks! Have to fit them up and see still. They are pretty though.

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Ok, time for a little update. Natedog sent me some shims for my axles, so I thought it was time to work on my own....
All for now, thanks for looking.
Ernie,

Thanks for sharing your how to again! Nice fab job with $4 in parts.

[joe122]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

This is from my first ascender build. I got in trouble with oversized photos so I had to delete a bunch of them. Since I changed direction with build I decided to start a new one.

I wanted to add weight to the front of my ascender, and thought about weighting the front axles and then I came across these in my build box. They will make perfect brake drum spindle weights!



If you have followed any of my builds you know that I like to repurpose used items. I think these are used to close off plugins on floor mounted electrical boxes. I gave $2.00 apiece for them.
I also ordered some alum front spindles (VTR33401 as they are designed for the ascender spindle weights.

I drilled a hole in them so I could use a 10-32 X 1 1/2" bolt to clamp them together and chuck them up in my lathe.



They needed to be machined so 1.9 wheels will fit over them.




Next, I counter sank them with a 1 1/4" bit so there is a cavity for the 12mm hex to fit into, and it also makes room for the VP wheel mount to fit inside the weight.





A 15/32" pass through hole is next, so it will fit tightly over the flange on the alum spindle.
Next is a 2mm pass through hole to mount the weight to the spindle.





I cut a slot in the weight so I could tighten the 12mm hex pins and mounted them on the chubs. You can see that I aged them.







A few shots of what they look like mounted, and how they fit inside the wheels.






Sooooooo. $4.00 and a little machining time for 2.5 oz of weight on each side!!

Does help? I have some more of the plugs that are not machined that I could take a photo of if you want.
PS: found the photos and inserted them.

Genius! Great idea. Thanks for sharing!

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Ok, I wanted to post up a few more steps to adding this weight ( axles are now at close to 60 grams) to your a front axles.

To put them in the wise at the drill press I found a drill bit the right size to pass through the undrilled axles. This works great to get the axle square to the drill press.





After the axle is clamped in the vise I drill it out in two step.



In between the different size bits I chamfer the holes so the bit centers in the hole.






Here is the three bits and the chamfer tool.




Some of the rainbird sprinkler brass I repurposed for this project.



Tubes ready to be JB welded into the axle.



Now I use a drill bit that is a tight pass through to get a perfect match on the tubes inside the axle for gluing.



And completed axles for some ascender friends.



All for now, thanks for looking, now go make your weighted axles!!

Ok, I don't really want to make a business out of this, but there has been quite a interest in these and if I can offer a need service for some of you ascender guys I guess I need to do it. Sooooo after talking with Natedog a little this morning I decided to keep everything on the up and up I bought my blue star. I have a few other things I might try, one being some tube work.
Ernie,

[Natedog]

Ernie, Good talking with you again and congrats on your vendor's star, looking forward to more of your nice products!

[Hobbezco]

You'll be selling these now? What kind of price range are we looking at? I am interested.

[CODYBOY]

If I have enough interest I will. I'm not going to post any info in the vender section for now, I don't want this to get carried away ( I want to stay retired). These will be for front axle only for now. I will take a look at the rears later. I will pm you with price.
Ernie,

[CODYBOY]

Ok, I want to mount my 1.9 tires on some Vanquish v2 or v3, can't remember which they are. So I need some odd size foams. I guess I will bore you with another How I do it (it might help someone)??

I'm starting with some repurposed closed cell foam (a $1.99 Goodwill paddle board).



Using a 4.5" hole saw.



That board was just right for the four foams.



Now to cut out the centers with a 1.75" saw.



Test fit to the 2.2 wheel. I'm using these wheels because 1. I'm cheep, they have been resting in my wheel box since before we knew what a XR10 was. 2. They are black with cool orange rings. 3. I can go to a larger brake drum weight if I want. 4. I like the way the 1.9s look on the 2.2s.



Next, to a jig on the wood lathe to check for true and clean them up.





Next step is the router table a relief and notch so they set nicely inside the grove in the wheels. That was why I used the 1.75" hole saw to cut out the center.





Outer foams are cut on the band saw. 5/8" thick will fill the tires nicely.





I cut them to length (12") and glue the ends together with contact cement.



Here you can see the notch in the foam and the grove in the wheel, this keeps the foam from sliding from side to side.



Finished product, they fit and look pretty good.


All for now, thanks for looking.
Ernie,

[Natedog]

Very nice work on the foams! That's why I like external clamping beadlocks without internal rings, easier to mount and help hold foam in place.

[CODYBOY]

I decided it was time to paint the Bulldog Bronco. I won't put you through another how I do it for laying out and painting.
Lime green, yellow, candy red, silver and black.





Some shots by my pond/crawling rocks.









Painted brake drums.



The bulldog roof panel.





All for now, thanks for looking.
Ernie,

[Poprivet]

Nice job! you've done it again man, color scheme looks killer.

[Natedog]

Paint and body looks great! Hope you have better durability with those VP wheels than my buddies did, look great but a good tumble often rips the center out of the wheel.

[avengernut]

Looking good!

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by Poprivet

Nice job! you've done it again man, color scheme looks killer.

Thanks Poprivet, I like the paint colors, but seeing it on the chassis now I'm not sure I like the body, chassis, and tire/wheel combo look together! Is it that the body looks to tall. You have a good eye, what do you think it is?

Originally Posted by Natedog

Paint and body looks great! Hope you have better durability with those VP wheels than my buddies did, look great but a good tumble often rips the center out of the wheel.

Thanks Nate, now that I see the whole package together I'm not sure I like the tire/wheel combo. Same question for you, need input from different eyes.

Originally Posted by avengernut

Looking good!

Thanks avengernut, input?

[Natedog]

Body too tall or cage top too low. Silver or gunmetal grey wheels would look better than black imo.
EDIT: I like the body paint job.

[avengernut]

Umn,maybe try a different wheel an tire combo?

Sent from my SM-G900R6 using Tapatalk

[Hobbezco]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Body too tall or cage top too low. Silver or gunmetal grey wheels would look better than black imo.

Took me a few minute to figure out what didn't look quite right to my eye, but Nate is onto it. The cab roof seems too low. I like the color scheme though.

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Thanks Poprivet, I like the paint colors, but seeing it on the chassis now I'm not sure I like the body, chassis, and tire/wheel combo look together! Is it that the body looks to tall. You have a good eye, what do you think it is?



Thanks Nate, now that I see the whole package together I'm not sure I like the tire/wheel combo. Same question for you, need input from different eyes.


Thanks avengernut, input?

Originally Posted by avengernut

Umn,maybe try a different wheel an tire combo?

Sent from my SM-G900R6 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Hobbezco

Took me a few minute to figure out what didn't look quite right to my eye, but Nate is onto it. The cab roof seems too low. I like the color scheme though.

Yea, seems we are all in the same ball park, Thanks for the input guys. I will work on a few changes before I make any drastic changes and post up some photos this evening.
Ernie,

[CODYBOY]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Body too tall or cage top too low. Silver or gunmetal grey wheels would look better than black imo.
EDIT: I like the body paint job.

Thanks Nate, thought I had your input in that last quote, but guess not. Anyway you saw my response,

[CODYBOY]

Ok, I was able to lower the body 1/2", and changed out to different wheels a tires. I like the looks a lot better.

Before and after.













Thanks for looking.

[Poprivet]

The roof did look a little low, but i thought it made it look chopped, and chopped is always cool . That being said... it does look better with the body lowered.

I liked the first wheels, but they need a red beadlock to tie in with the pinstripe.

Just my opinion.