Mini Slingshot setup question?

[Wild Snapper]

I keep trying different setups to get this thing dialed in, but I haven't been able to find a setup yet that outperforms my previous stock chassis setup ( which of course was heavily modified.)
My main issue is about front shock articulation. I am reading through these posts saying that limited articulation is a good thing, but the limited (maximum) articulation that i've been able to get out of this mini slingshot in my opinion, is not enough to make it truly perform, and I have tried many setups, using different types of shocks, chassisn setup ect...
Maybe people are crawling on different types of rocks than me but when my rig is flipping over sideways because there is a lack of front articulation I know there is not enough.
Currently I am using late mini T losi shocks, long ones in the front with the lightest spring rates.

Is anyone truly happy with the performance of this chassis, I would agree that many parts of this chassis are great and inovative but the total package and actual real life use of it, I just haven't been able to find the value.( I am not giving up on this chassis and think DNA is a great company), but I am frustrated.

Question- Am I doing somethis wrong, I'm reading posts of people moving their front lower links to the outside of the axle plates (on the outside of the shocks) and are using the axial bent link ends. I just spent time switching up my setup again only to discover that once you do this you lose the ability to turn the wheels...this is stupid. Did I set this up wrong or is that what happens when you move the lower links to the outside.

Does anyone actually have a mini slingshot setup that truly performs in all the ways that a crawler should.
Yes everyone has their preferred setup, but I think there are some universal truths( somethings work and some don't) and example of this would be that we can all probably agree that the stock losi mini does not perform well...at all.
Please people don't be too critical, I am just frustrated and feel that I have not been able to make this chassis work after countless mods and tweeks. I am not a noob, I know how build crawlers and also know how to drive and have placed 1st at comps several times.
If another company besides DNA made this chassis, would people feel differently about it. Any groundbreaking insights to this chassis would be great and describing a setup that really work well ( in all the ways a crawler should). Thanks

 

[JOOTZ]

i have done a lot of big rock crawling at a local park since i got the chassis done, i know what you mean with the chassis and must say i spent a lot of days thinking, looking at it, tweaking and testing to get it to where i am comfortable with how it performs.
i used mini-t rear shocks with the soft yellow springs and 80 shock oil, cut the front upper links to clock the front axle and set the servo straight. axle link points are stock, axial bent links for the 4 axle upper links (did this to clear the shock springs) front link mounted to outbound hole,backs to inbound hole, inbounded shocks with M3 locknuts as spacers- fronts are on the 4th hole, backs same. with that set-up my lipo still fit in the front between the shocks and even with the shoch spacers. i just adjusted the rear left shock for torque twist.
i think the ticket for me for this chassis was the addition of the wheel pig strap on weights, after installing those the handling went from night to day, although i may yank those off for my rockforce build or buy another set. the wheelpigs are a great innovation and gary is a great guy to deal with.
hope all that helps...

 

[NoDecoDiver]

I keep trying different setups to get this thing dialed in, but I haven't been able to find a setup yet that outperforms my previous stock chassis setup ( which of course was heavily modified.)
My main issue is about front shock articulation. I am reading through these posts saying that limited articulation is a good thing, but the limited (maximum) articulation that i've been able to get out of this mini slingshot in my opinion, is not enough to make it truly perform, and I have tried many setups, using different types of shocks, chassisn setup ect...
Maybe people are crawling on different types of rocks than me but when my rig is flipping over sideways because there is a lack of front articulation I know there is not enough.
Currently I am using late mini T losi shocks, long ones in the front with the lightest spring rates.

Is anyone truly happy with the performance of this chassis, I would agree that many parts of this chassis are great and inovative but the total package and actual real life use of it, I just haven't been able to find the value.( I am not giving up on this chassis and think DNA is a great company), but I am frustrated.

Question- Am I doing somethis wrong, I'm reading posts of people moving their front lower links to the outside of the axle plates (on the outside of the shocks) and are using the axial bent link ends. I just spent time switching up my setup again only to discover that once you do this you lose the ability to turn the wheels...this is stupid. Did I set this up wrong or is that what happens when you move the lower links to the outside.

Does anyone actually have a mini slingshot setup that truly performs in all the ways that a crawler should.
Yes everyone has their preferred setup, but I think there are some universal truths( somethings work and some don't) and example of this would be that we can all probably agree that the stock losi mini does not perform well...at all.
Please people don't be too critical, I am just frustrated and feel that I have not been able to make this chassis work after countless mods and tweeks. I am not a noob, I know how build crawlers and also know how to drive and have placed 1st at comps several times.
If another company besides DNA made this chassis, would people feel differently about it. Any groundbreaking insights to this chassis would be great and describing a setup that really work well ( in all the ways a crawler should). Thanks

I just got back from the rocks and I can tell you right now I have lost performance from stock. By a fair margin.

With this chassis the truck is a lot more planted, but I definitely lost the ability to navigate the sections of the local track that require anything more than basic articulation on multiple points.

If just my front wheels have to go, it's fine, or just the rears. But on the parts of the track where the front and rear have to be oppositely twisted, I can no longer even start the crawls.

Loss of articulation might be good in certain aspects, I suppose, but I kinda wish I had it back, because some of the best parts of the track are impassable for me now, the truck just flips over because the rear cannot articulate once the front has already done so.

 

[G1050]

i am comfortable with how it performs.
quote]

That's a telling statement. Are you just "comfortable with how it performs" or do you think it performs as well as it possibly can and should?
I have been following your thread JOOTZ and greatly appreciate all of your insight and great write-up and pictures. But I am watching this thread because I am on the fence about buying the Slingshot chassis.
I do think the stock MRC has a little too much articulation but I really don't want go to the opposite end of the spectrum and lose a lot of valuable articulation. But, I agree with UP AND OVER, the stock MRC does not crawl well enough for me in its stock form.

I am anxious to modify my MRC to be more capable and I thought there was a consensus that the Slingshot would be the answer but now it's looking like that's not the case. Hopefully, I'll get more insight from responses to this thread. Thanks in advance.

 

[NoDecoDiver]

The chassis is phenomenal.

I think the mini late model shocks are my problem. They have robbed the kit of articulation in a major way.

I just put the factory shocks back on - and although I did lose a bit of the RIDICULOUS CG the Slingshot has, I got all of the articulation back, which means I need to find a set of shocks somewhere in between the late models and the factorys.

 

[JOOTZ]

articulation

 

[NoDecoDiver]

Can you please take some shots of how in the hell you got the shocks to work inbound of the chassis?

No matter what I do the upper links contact the shock bodies and kill the articulation. How are you making that work?

 

[NoDecoDiver]

DX3S = Late Model Shocks - Absolute Max Articulation.

Everything else = Factory Shocks

 

[Wild Snapper]

articulation

Respectfully... Jootz the reason you are able to display good articulation is not becuase of your suspension setup, or the chassis, it's because of those axle wideners which adds reach / weight and creates more articulation. I am glad your happy with your setup and I also think your threads are great, BUT with me I have tried the widerners and I don't like them because they limit steering and make my rig feel sloppy and creates a loss of control. If I put my wideners back on the that would solve my articulation problem, but I'm not looking for that kind of setup.
Anyways, I appreciate the feedback so far... I was kinda planning on getting flamed by everyone because of the general repect level for DNA, but it seems their are alot more people struggling with this chassis than me. Like I said in my original post I really respect DNA and think they are a great company, I am just dumbfounded by this chassis and can't seem to get it to work well.
The mini slingshot is kind of like a rubic cube, after working on it for a while I will figure one side out, but the rest will all be off.
But I am not willing to give up hope on this chassis, I want it to work. Is there anyone out there who feels they have dialed in this chassis that allows for full articulation (without wideners) and how. Thanks guys.

 

[JOOTZ]

i am comfortable with how it performs.
quote]

That's a telling statement. Are you just "comfortable with how it performs" or do you think it performs as well as it possibly can and should?
I have been following your thread JOOTZ and greatly appreciate all of your insight and great write-up and pictures. But I am watching this thread because I am on the fence about buying the Slingshot chassis.
I do think the stock MRC has a little too much articulation but I really don't want go to the opposite end of the spectrum and lose a lot of valuable articulation. But, I agree with UP AND OVER, the stock MRC does not crawl well enough for me in its stock form.

I am anxious to modify my MRC to be more capable and I thought there was a consensus that the Slingshot would be the answer but now it's looking like that's not the case. Hopefully, I'll get more insight from responses to this thread. Thanks in advance.

by comfortable i meant the difference versus the stock chassis on the rocks VS. the SS on the rocks.

articulation

Respectfully... Jootz the reason you are able to display good articulation is not becuase of your suspension setup, or the chassis, it's because of those axle wideners which adds reach / weight and creates more articulation. I am glad your happy with your setup and I also think your threads are great, BUT with me I have tried the widerners and I don't like them because they limit steering and make my rig feel sloppy and creates a loss of control. If I put my wideners back on the that would solve my articulation problem, but I'm not looking for that kind of setup.
Anyways, I appreciate the feedback so far... I was kinda planning on getting flamed by everyone because of the general repect level for DNA, but it seems their are alot more people struggling with this chassis than me. Like I said in my original post I really respect DNA and think they are a great company, I am just dumbfounded by this chassis and can't seem to get it to work well.
The mini slingshot is kind of like a rubic cube, after working on it for a while I will figure one side out, but the rest will all be off.
But I am not willing to give up hope on this chassis, I want it to work. Is there anyone out there who feels they have dialed in this chassis that allows for full articulation (without wideners) and how. Thanks guys.

i used the wideners to get that effect, knowing you have been on my thread i didnt include that with my earlier post. its true DNA did put this chassis out early and may have negated further testing on it- thats all good and done. for me this was an eye opener and has taught me an invaluable lesson on kit builds which i am enforcing on my rockforce.
also no offense taken, flameproof here being on countless other forums/LOL. sorry i was not able to give the proper info on here since we have different set-ups and plans for the slingshot.
good luck on your build...

 

[NoDecoDiver]

Well, I'm about done with it.

No matter what I do I cannot get it to perform like it should.

The low CG makes short shocks a neccessity. This is ok, except for the fact that when the front articulates, it lifts the rear tire because there is no tolerance in the short shocks.

I'm sure this could be solved by buying DNA's 1.9 Billets, as thats what they use in the demo video and the truck seems to work fine.

But I'm not gonna drop another 100.00 on this kit.

I'm already a little sickened that I dropped 100 on the chassis and hardware. I really expected to fight the build process, which I obviously did, but I also expected to see a huge performance increase a la DNA's youtube comparison showing the Mini SS wasting the stock MRC on the same course.

But I also really wish they would have included some DETAILED instructions on how they built the one in the video. I expected at least some basic what's what type of instructions in the chassis kit, but it was just parts and hardware.

I still think the DNA guys could remedy a LOT of these problems we are seeing by just putting out a parts list for the demo truck, and a setup sheet like for carpet racing showing where everything is bolted on etc.

I'd like to not give up on this kit, but right now it's my only crawler, and I can't even run my favorite course with it anymore.



​

 

[swisherteets]

how much are you running for wheel weight?
I was haveing this issue with mine when i first built it (the rears lifting due to the fronts. add more weight. One of the other guys talked about this with the wheel pig system but if you dont want to get that then ya can just put stick on weights i am probably gonna step my weght up to 4.5 to 5 ounces in each of the front tires and 3 in each of the rears it might even need more than that
you dont need DNAs wheels to make this chassis work

 

[NoDecoDiver]

It's not just the wheels though.

I do not have enough articulation to complete simple obstacles.

My setup is just like the (pic heavy) build.

But I'm telling you - I am missing something. I have nowhere near the performance that you see in the DNA video.

I wanna know how they set that truck up (rod ends, links, etc) before I decided to take this kit off of my MRC.

Their truck did not have the clocking mine does, so evidently they figured something out to work around that, or they cut the links for the video.

That, and their articulation is much better than mine.

Man that makes me angry watching that video. I wanna know what they did differently in setup. I have tried my Mini T shocks to see if that was the issue, but there was no change.

I still can't articulate anywhere near the amount that their demo does.

 

[Crawl It]

I have my mini t shocks mounted inbound front and rear and the uppers outside of the shocks and it seems to articulate fine. I'm sill waiting on parts to get it running.

 

[lowridinjuggalo]

Thanks f0r the thread i was fixing t0 0rder 0ne myself talk t0 the guys yesterday ab0ut it.. I have heard threw 0ther pe0ple that chassy has n0t been p0rfrming like it sh0uld... Ive g0t the st0ck chassy w0rking really well after m0ds.. S0 i gues ima stick t0 the st0ck 0ne f0r n0w 0r make a chassy 0f my 0wn thanks marcus

 

[Wild Snapper]

by comfortable i meant the difference versus the stock chassis on the rocks VS. the SS on the rocks.

i used the wideners to get that effect, knowing you have been on my thread i didnt include that with my earlier post. its true DNA did put this chassis out early and may have negated further testing on it- thats all good and done. for me this was an eye opener and has taught me an invaluable lesson on kit builds which i am enforcing on my rockforce.
also no offense taken, flameproof here being on countless other forums/LOL. sorry i was not able to give the proper info on here since we have different set-ups and plans for the slingshot.
good luck on your build...

I totally agree with you man, and I also place way more value on the learning process of building this stuff than the actual stuff, because that comes and goes, there is always another project.
Maybe it is just the chassis and it's really just designed for the type of crawling that demands less dynamic articulation.
For people that are on the fence about getting a slingshot, it's not a beginner build project in my opinion, but it sure is way better than the stock setup, by alot.
Hey if ignorance is bliss, then this might be the ticket"thumbsup".

 

[JOOTZ]

Can you please take some shots of how in the hell you got the shocks to work inbound of the chassis?

No matter what I do the upper links contact the shock bodies and kill the articulation. How are you making that work?

here are the picks, hope they help...

 

[NoDecoDiver]

There must be some part of my chassis kit that is out of spec.

I tried the EXACT same thing that you have pictured there. Same rod ends, same mounting points, everything. I even used bigger spacers than you.

The upper links pinch my shocks no matter what setup I try to use.

I wonder if my skid plate is cut too narrow or something.

Are your shocks mounted to the stock factory axle mounting point?

 

[JOOTZ]

by comfortable i meant the difference versus the stock chassis on the rocks VS. the SS on the rocks.



I totally agree with you man, and I also place way more value on the learning process of building this stuff than the actual stuff, because that comes and goes, there is always another project.
Maybe it is just the chassis and it's really just designed for the type of crawling that demands less dynamic articulation.
For people that are on the fence about getting a slingshot, it's not a beginner build project in my opinion, but it sure is way better than the stock setup, by alot.
Hey if ignorance is bliss, then this might be the ticket"thumbsup".

been in heaven since i got this chassis, going back to hell with the rockforce "thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"

There must be some part of my chassis kit that is out of spec.

I tried the EXACT same thing that you have pictured there. Same rod ends, same mounting points, everything. I even used bigger spacers than you.

The upper links pinch my shocks no matter what setup I try to use.

I wonder if my skid plate is cut too narrow or something.

Are your shocks mounted to the stock factory axle mounting point?

my shocks are mounted to the stock axle points and i chamfered the TVP where the shock bodies are hitting on the lower side as that hindered articulation by not letting the shock bodies move. if you got snagging on your skid plates you could chamfer those too.

 

[doors4u]

Do you think it would be better if they came out with a suspension link kit included with the chassis or am I misunderstanding the problem? It looks like a great chassis, but seems like there are a few setup issues. I know that half of the fun is supposed to be the build and tuning, but it is frustrating to get something new and have it be a basket case.