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Old 02-26-2019, 09:40 PM   #1
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Default New Ascender Owner

Hello everyone. I picked up my 1st crawler about a month ago. Very pleased with my choice of the Ascender. So far it's been a ton of fun.

There's a lot of good info on this forum and some very nice rigs.



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Old 02-26-2019, 09:50 PM   #2
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

Congratulations and welcome! Looks like you're off to a good start on upgrades!

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Old 02-26-2019, 09:55 PM   #3
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Congratulations and welcome! Looks like you're off to a good start on upgrades!

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The upgrades are becoming a bit of an addiction

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Old 02-26-2019, 11:20 PM   #4
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Welcome and looks nice. Like the shoes also
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Old 02-27-2019, 05:28 AM   #5
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

Welcome. It looks like you are having a lot of fun with the truck. Great choice on the K10.

Also, I'm curious how you like the weighted knuckles. Big difference? Small difference?


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Last edited by rkj__; 02-27-2019 at 06:05 AM.
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Old 02-27-2019, 05:18 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by rkj__ View Post
Welcome. It looks like you are having a lot of fun with the truck. Great choice on the K10.

Also, I'm curious how you like the weighted knuckles. Big difference? Small difference?


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Love them. Probably the best upgrade I've done so far. Able to climb things I wasn't able to before. Was pretty shocked with the difference.

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Old 02-27-2019, 08:25 PM   #7
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Love them. Probably the best upgrade I've done so far. Able to climb things I wasn't able to before. Was pretty shocked with the difference.

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Darn. I was hoping you would tell me they were a waste of money. LoL.


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Old 02-27-2019, 08:54 PM   #8
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Darn. I was hoping you would tell me they were a waste of money. LoL.


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Lol. I mean total waste of money. And the rear weights don't help at all either.

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Old 03-06-2019, 08:33 AM   #9
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

Is the k10 the only rig you running at the moment

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Old 03-06-2019, 08:52 AM   #10
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Is the k10 the only rig you running at the moment

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Yep

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Old 03-06-2019, 08:59 AM   #11
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

Did the weights help with the torque twist or make it worse

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Old 03-06-2019, 09:02 AM   #12
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Did the weights help with the torque twist or make it worse

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To be honest, I don't really notice a problem with torque twist. I'm usually crawling so slow it doesn't become an issue

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Old 03-06-2019, 09:04 AM   #13
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

Congrats! Excellent first choice. It's a great truck.
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Old 03-06-2019, 09:07 AM   #14
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To be honest, I don't really notice a problem with torque twist. I'm usually crawling so slow it doesn't become an issue
There is so much discussion about the torque twist on the Ascender. Most reports state that moving the rear shock's lower mounting point outward helps, though does not eliminate it. Personally, I have not been bothered by the torque twist at all either. I've adjusted my driver side rear shock with a touch more preload than the passenger side, but that's all. Yes, I can see that the vehicle leans, if I'm going up a steep, smooth ramp, but I don't really care.

I'm just a noob, who has only been crawling solo so far. Maybe if / when I get together with others, and start comparing my rig to others', I'll care more. But for now, I'm happy.
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Old 03-06-2019, 09:14 AM   #15
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There is so much discussion about the torque twist on the Ascender. Most reports state that moving the rear shock's lower mounting point outward helps, though does not eliminate it. Personally, I have not been bothered by the torque twist at all either. I've adjusted my driver side rear shock with a touch more preload than the passenger side, but that's all. Yes, I can see that the vehicle leans, if I'm going up a steep, smooth ramp, but I don't really care.

I'm just a noob, who has only been crawling solo so far. Maybe if / when I get together with others, and start comparing my rig to others', I'll care more. But for now, I'm happy.
The lean up an incline is what I have noticed too I as well am new to the hobby but me and my 9 yr old boy are loving the hobby. We run a vaterra ascender k10 which I have posted pics of and an everst 10 which is his and also have a upgraded hpi jeep

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Old 03-06-2019, 09:41 AM   #16
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Cool. Yep, some weight at least in front is really a game-changer.

Plan to come out for Proline By The Fire event in Apple Valley in May. About 250 other enthusiasts gather for a phenomenal crawling event.
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Old 03-14-2019, 11:15 AM   #17
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

I'd like to jump in here if I may.


Hi everyone, my name is Chase and I'm a newb to the RC crawling world (everyone wave and say HI CHASE.)


I just ordered an Ascender K10 from RPP yesterday in their package deal that included the battery and charger. I've been eyeballing various 1/10 crawlers for a while now and finally decided on the K10 after scouring the internet and YouTube tirelessly trying to gather as much info as possible. That said I have done a fair bit of reading here and a few other places on common mods and I have a short list of things I'd like to try but could use a little input to make sure I'm on the right track.


Shock mods (drill pistons), pretty straight forward it seems
Additional weight on axles- would the Vaterra brass brake rotors on each axle be enough or should I be looking into weighted knuckles up front and then what for the rear?
Stretch wheelbase to 12.3" or so (WB4?) still trying to completely understand the how/why of stretching correctly (yes I've looked at the thread by Rich)
At some point down the road I'll probably go for the 2 speed transmission and an upgraded steering servo.


My plan for now is just to start playing with it as delivered, then start making some changes. Open to suggestions/feedback. Glad to see there is a good body of knowledge here and a wealth of great info on these trucks!
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Old 03-14-2019, 11:24 AM   #18
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Hi and welcome to the Ascender gang.

SSD make brass knuckles and rear axle weights which are good stuff and put the weight in the right place (down low and not rotating ie wheels weights strain the drivetrain). Ascenders a re pretty tough. I have only broken a few parts and thats through stupid driving and big crashes.

Enjoy


Heavy Brass Knuckles for Ascender

Brass Rear Axle Weights for Ascender
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Old 03-14-2019, 11:40 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by cowboyona426 View Post
My plan for now is just to start playing with it as delivered, then start making some changes. Open to suggestions/feedback.

I'm currently executing the same plan! I wholeheartedly support that approach.



I think this thread has already established the SSD knuckles make a significant, and positive difference.



It's funny, when I spend too much time reading this forum, and not enough time running my truck, I start getting the itch to do upgrades. But, when I actually go out and run my truck, I'm like, pffft, screw upgrades, this thing rocks, just the way it is.



Recently, I just got a good free upgrade, as the weather has warmed. The tires are more grippy and compliant at 5C, than -5C. lol
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Old 03-14-2019, 12:12 PM   #20
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Default Re: New Ascender Owner

Quote:
Originally Posted by cowboyona426 View Post
I'd like to jump in here if I may.


Hi everyone, my name is Chase and I'm a newb to the RC crawling world (everyone wave and say HI CHASE.)


I just ordered an Ascender K10 from RPP yesterday in their package deal that included the battery and charger. I've been eyeballing various 1/10 crawlers for a while now and finally decided on the K10 after scouring the internet and YouTube tirelessly trying to gather as much info as possible. That said I have done a fair bit of reading here and a few other places on common mods and I have a short list of things I'd like to try but could use a little input to make sure I'm on the right track.


Shock mods (drill pistons), pretty straight forward it seems
Additional weight on axles- would the Vaterra brass brake rotors on each axle be enough or should I be looking into weighted knuckles up front and then what for the rear?
Stretch wheelbase to 12.3" or so (WB4?) still trying to completely understand the how/why of stretching correctly (yes I've looked at the thread by Rich)
At some point down the road I'll probably go for the 2 speed transmission and an upgraded steering servo.


My plan for now is just to start playing with it as delivered, then start making some changes. Open to suggestions/feedback. Glad to see there is a good body of knowledge here and a wealth of great info on these trucks!

Velcommen to the asylum.


This forum likes you to start your own thread about your own rig with your own questions, instead of hijacking someone else's thread. I know, it's contrary to other forums, but seems to work. No harm no foul.



Since this is a new Ascender thread let's look at each point...
1. Shocks. If I'm not mistaken later production had an updated shock piston and was better setup as built. Earlier ones the circlip covered half the holes and they were too small, so too much damping. I've now seen 3 pistion versions from them after building kits and ordering parts.

You can open them up and have a look, but if there are holes larger than a pin hole and not blocked by the clip, you're good to go. I'm not sure what weight oil the come with, but 20 or 25 seems to work fine in them. And yeah, they seem to leak a bit just like the Axial shocks. Keep them topped up.

2. A little weight on the front really helps with uphills - reduces flipping over backwards and improves front traction. I got my first set of brass knuckles, the SSD ones and they're really nice - after 2 years of running and hundreds of miles. I have stock plastic axles, custom built 'cody-boy' axles, and beeftube inserts. I've always run weighted hubs with my wheels and they work fine. For slow speed crawling they're fine. A step up are axle inserts and heavier terminal hardware - it all gets expensive.

IIRC the Vaterra brass weights only work with the upgraded c-hubs as well - not just by themselves. Most people want to upgread to beadlock alloy wheels, better foams and tires, so a hub weight is an easy add on to the mix. SSD knuckles are the shiznit though.

3. Wheelbase - the K10 is WB2 - 11.5 or thereabouts. If you get a spacer kit for the links and the longer grub screws, you can extend the rear links out to right about 11-7/8", or about WB3. It improves hill climbing a bit, but at a cost of turning radius. My very first rig was the K10 and I have since done this mod and like it. Another buddy has Class1 tires on his at stock WB and does really well in that class. It's a lot bigger job to extend the frame and reconfigure the front to be WB4, but do-able if you want to run a 12.3 wheelbase aftermarket body, like most of what Proline offers. The good news is you can make it fit almost any lexan body on the market.
4. A 2spd trans might be something if you have a radio to support, want or need the extra speed for trail-running, but most find their joy climbing rocks and it's not not applicable there. And if you upgrade to a 3S battery most find it's way plenty fast enough. You can even add a tooth or two to the pinion and get even more speed out of them. Crawling begins to suffer at the high end. Expecially with the stock speed controller.

5. The stock servo is weak and cheap and fails soon enough. So yeah, plan to change it out for something like a DS3218, or something from Savox, or Hitek. The stock speed controller only puts out a couple of amps so if you get too strong of a servo the electrics won't drive it. For $12 the DS3218 just works really well, and for another $40 you can upgrade the ESC to a HobbyWing 1080 and they just work way better than the stock dynamite thing, especially for 3S power.

6. A very good mod is outboarding the rear shocks. You need a couple 32mm cap screws and a couple of link pivot balls for spacers, then mount the lower shock mount to the outside of the axle bracket. This helps stop torque twist when climbing.

I would encourage all newcomers to the platform to read thru @Natedog's Ascender thread - tons of free or cheap mods, he really knows how to set them up.
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