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Old 09-22-2017, 10:40 AM   #41
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Default Re: Spaceman "builds" an ascender

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I have had good luck with the 772's. I have one as a servo winch and run straight off my 2s battery and beat the snot out of it and it still winches great. So they'll take the high power and love it. They are absolute turds on 6volts though.



Ben


I discovered the turd issue as well, I only have 2 BEC's for all my rigs so I've been swapping them around so the Ascender ended up without one and it was so bad, I had to put it away till I swapped the BEC back again.

The TRX4 also has a D772 so I decided to try it without the external BEC and it was almost as good, the traxxas ESC must have a good internal BEC.

Thanks for the tip on running straight off the 2s, I'm gonna try that


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Old 09-23-2017, 07:53 PM   #42
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I finally found the elusive anti-sway bar and got it installed and the first test run showed that the rear barely moves, but it seems more stable.

I'll see how the break-in goes and then maybe try some annealing if it's still too stiff.


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Old 09-24-2017, 07:55 PM   #43
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The board is at 45* and the swaybar is disconnected.



Same angle with sway bar connected.

At first, the rear barely moved then I realized there were grub screws on the pivot brackets so I backed them off and then sprayed some dry lube and it loosened up well.

I went on a trial ride with the local group and the Blazer did really well.


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Old 09-25-2017, 01:25 PM   #44
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While crawling with the local group, I found myself going over backward where others were still climbing so I decided I need more weight down low.

These are 5/8 flat washers, I don't have a scale so I don't know exactly how much they weigh, but calculations show about 1oz each.

I used two in each wheel on the Komodo so I wanted to try them for size on the Ascender.

The ribs on the inside of the wheel only allowed one washer per wheel so I used the router attachment on my dremel to take off about 5 mm which allowed 2 washers per wheel.



I left the washers out so I can do a baseline ramp test before adding washers. I first tried a rubber floor mat for traction and it failed at 50*, then I found an old kitchen rug and it failed at 55*.

Once I find a better traction surface the testing will resume.


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Old 09-27-2017, 01:18 PM   #45
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This is a about as far as I made it up before going over backward so I wanna go back there with my weights and see how far I get...


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Old 09-28-2017, 07:01 PM   #46
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Stopped by today after work with the front wheels weighted and made it up after increasing the rear shock preload.

I tried a few times after and my right rear tire would fold up and I would go over backward.

Definitely time for new tires and foams and I'll run the Vaterra Swampers on a lighter rig.




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Old 09-29-2017, 07:11 PM   #47
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Default Re: Spaceman "builds" an ascender

So this happened....



And then this...






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Old 10-04-2017, 01:34 AM   #48
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So this happened....



And then this...






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You could try using a brass plate in the battery tray can't remember where the idea is from but looks like it works


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Old 10-04-2017, 03:21 AM   #49
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That's the 'meat stick' haha!

I think it jatotheripper's idea. And something that's on my to do list one day....
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Old 10-04-2017, 07:11 AM   #50
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Good call on the “meat stick” I remember reading about that, maybe I’ll try a vegetarian version;)

One issue I’ve noticed recently is that when going down and off camber, I often lift a rear tire and then roll over.

It’s more noticeable since the rear swaybar install so I’m gonna try stiffer springs and maybe even more internal limiting on the front shocks.


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Old 10-04-2017, 10:50 AM   #51
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Default Re: Spaceman "builds" an ascender

Mounted new tires and wheels, nice! What are your shocks limited at internally and externally currently? How thick is the rear swaybar? Ride height settings?
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Old 10-04-2017, 10:05 PM   #52
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My wife wanted her proline TSL’s back so I got some Duratrax Deep Woods...

And some Rc4wd steel sliders...


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Old 10-04-2017, 10:11 PM   #53
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Mounted new tires and wheels, nice! What are your shocks limited at internally and externally currently? How thick is the rear swaybar? Ride height settings?


The stock external limiters were moved to the inside, the front shocks are set a couple turns from the to and the rears are about 3/8” from the top.

The swaybar is a random part from Banggood and is set with the links as far out as it goes so I can’t go any softer, but I can move the links closer to the pivot for more stiffness.


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Old 10-05-2017, 07:15 AM   #54
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SSD diff covers....


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Old 10-05-2017, 09:45 AM   #55
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The stock external limiters were moved to the inside, the front shocks are set a couple turns from the to and the rears are about 3/8” from the top.

The swaybar is a random part from Banggood and is set with the links as far out as it goes so I can’t go any softer, but I can move the links closer to the pivot for more stiffness.
I was re-reading your thread and that is what I gathered, thanks for confirmation. I would put same limiter inside and out, then back off all preload collars until they tough the shock caps. That shold help sidehilling and crawling in general.

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SSD diff covers....
Very nice, one of the few must have upgrades imo.
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Old 10-05-2017, 10:32 AM   #56
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Default Re: Spaceman "builds" an ascender

Yep, the Meat Stick was my idea. It's detailed on my thread. I even give the McMaster-Carr part number for the brass stock. It works really well and I'm not sure why more people don't do it.

I really like your swaybar bracket and the fact that it kind of hides the swaybar.

Those wheels look great on that truck. I have them, but haven't used them on any vehicle yet.
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Old 10-05-2017, 11:34 AM   #57
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Thanks for the advice Nate, I’ll find some spacers and I’m still gonna order a spring set cuz I’m planning on steel bumpers and the rig is only getting heavier.




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Old 10-05-2017, 11:57 AM   #58
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Default Re: Spaceman "builds" an ascender

You're welcome, could put the old rubber bumpstop spacers back outside the shock where they go and use some shock spacers internally.

Losi: Shock Spacer Set: Losi (LOSA5050)

https://www.teamassociated.com/parts...ck_spacers_v2/
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Old 10-05-2017, 12:02 PM   #59
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Jato - I like the look of the wheels on the Blazer too, but the only problem is my washer weights don’t fit.

As to the swaybar mount, a local hardware store has a good selection of aluminum plate so I bought a couple gauges and use tong style vice grips to bend.

P.S. don’t worry about me posting at work, I’m heating PVC conduit for my apprentice so I can turn it and post at the same time. Plus, I’m the boss on this project


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Old 10-07-2017, 10:03 AM   #60
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You're welcome, could put the old rubber bumpstop spacers back outside the shock where they go and use some shock spacers internally.

Losi: Shock Spacer Set: Losi (LOSA5050)

https://www.teamassociated.com/parts...ck_spacers_v2/


Did some testing, I found the key to traction on my climbing test ramp...


Once the ramp and tires were clean and shiny and the Blazer had only the mods documented in this this thread (minus the washers in the wheels as the new wheels will need a new design), I started at 45* and made it all the way to the top with all 4 tires touching, the right front lighter than the rest.

Next was 50* with the same result but lighter yet in the right front.

Then 52* and MOTS

55* was where it started going over backward. I first increased the rear preload to almost max and no help so I dropped it back to bottom.

Next was 4 oz of washers zip tied to the front bumper to represent a fabricated steel bumper and no luck

Next was 6oz under the battery to represent a “veggie patty” and no good.

Since the front shocks looked like they were extending, I zip tied the axle to the frame at ride height and I easily made 55*. I then tested 58* and failed and ran out of time.

The conclusion appears to be to either limit the shocks or use a winch to compress the front shocks when climbing.

I have a winch on the way so stay tuned...


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