My build...a few new twists...

[JSN]

So I just spent the last bout 5 hours working on the creeper... its basicaly done.

My issues:

Hardware: I had a few screws missing and a few EXTRAS...of course they were not the size I needed I had screws on hand so no big deal.

Axles: two of my axles would NOT got through the outer bearing... again no big deal... a few min with a india stone had them sliding through like butter.

Wheel stub Shafts: a new twist here i think.... one did NOT have the freaking pin hole drilled in it... kinda hard to make the hex bit and lock with that tiny grub screw. and a not so new twist... it seems I have one of the over hardened kits as well... one of the shafts snapped when i tightened down the wheel

Diff lock: The rear seems to be fine...of course I haven't even put power to it so it may not be... the Front however will not stay locked when just hand spinning the wheels not matter how I adjust the thing... I pulled it back apart and I think I may have found the problem... two of the 3 pins on the red locking ring are a bit bent and are pushed out the back side a few thou... i think there is simple not enough engagement to lock up that diff with out shimming it closed with a washer(the typical locker fix)

Rim's/tries: I also had a few Factory stripped screw holes... they should have just left the F'ing rings off:neutral: After a bit... no LOT's of cussing I had one rover mounted... without LOT's of BEER to keep my blood pressure down there was no way i was doing the other 3 so... i mounted up the stockers with out any issue or cussing the stockers were going to be my bashing tire anyway... I had already planed on buying another set of beadlocks for the rovers. One ? here... I got the green creeper(wifes like the color)...my wheel washers are RED... I could care less... it was the wife who mentioned it...are they supposed to be RED?

All in all I'll give the build/kit quality an A-... I expected some issues being a new kit and a first production run to boot...I've built WORSE kits over the last 20 odd years. I'm sure Venom will take care of the few small problems for me.

BIG thanks to you guy's that built/broke before me... I had already ordered the spare parts and then some that I figured I would need to finish up the build and keep it on the rocks... I hoped they would show up today along with the creeper... I know they shipped so hopefully they will show tomrrow so I can get this sucker finished an on the rocks Saturday

[JSN]

UPDATE:

I contacted customer serviec and they are taking care of my stubs

My spare parts showed up so I was able to finish up the creeper build... still had issues with the diff locks. here's What i did to hopefully fix mine for good. I found that the pins on the red ring were installed flush with the back HOWEVER they seemed to short to actually give me positive lock...I was right;) I took a drill bit out of my index that closely fit the pin Dia... chucked it up in my drill press and pressed the pins OUT about 1mm... put it back togeter and all be they lock! I now have POSITIVE unlock AND lock... I've only ran two packs at this point BUT before I pressed out the pins i could not turn the wheels by HAND more than a few times before the diffs would unlock...only time will tell how well the set up hold up to abuse.

Any of you more talented than me guy's with the machines to make the parts could do us ALL a favor and make some new lock rings out of STEEL with nice hard pins that have the proper lenght.... I know your out there

Over all I'm THRILLED WITH THE CREEPER!!! my back yard is littered with rocks(desert landscape) and so far there is nothing the creeper can"t handle... I hope to get out in the desert tomrrow and really put it to the test

On a side note my LHS is getting a delivery of beadlocks today so I should have some new beadlocks to mount the rovers on tonight... the rovers should help a bit with some belly clearence and give better traction.

[Louis]

just so you know, my wheel washers are red too, and i have the green kit. Another thing you might want to upgrade is the lower links. Mine are really pissing me off so i just ordered some new 30degree ones. I also ordered rovers, hope theere as good as said.

I was so tired of f***ing around with diffs, i just mig welded them up!!

O, add PICS!!!

[JSN]

louis... i was REAL close to welding them myself! I put another 2 packs on it this afternoon... neither diff unlocked only time will tell how well they hold up though.

What didn't you like about the lower links? about the only thing so far i have done is ditch the 50/50... I pulled the internal springs... used some Losi yellow (soft IIRC) spring for compression w/ 60wt oil... gained almost 3/4 inch belly clearance. The GC is a bit higher BUT the belly clearence is worth it IMHO. Oh...I also made a skid plate out of some 1/16 derlin sheet i had... REALLY helps keep the tranny from hanging.

Forgot to add... dumb a$$ at the hobby shop pulls out PROLINE SLASH rims when I go to buy the "Proline or axial Beadlocks" I asked for...I'm about done with my LHS's... NONE of them ever seem to have what i need or want... oh yeah they'll order it for me... hell I can do that myself sitting at home and not waste the gas...time and money going to have them do it for me