Losi Micro Crawler Blade TMC build

[Evilinside]

What is the wheel base on that?

From center axle to center axle - 122mm, like 4.8in

 

[Evilinside]

Observation:

I was looking at the articulation of this comp chassis and locating at what areas causes it to stop twisting.

I installed extended ball points here;

(The scuffed up link arm on the lower right here, I shaved off some plastic just to compare to see if any binding was from the clearance issues there between the end of the link and the knuckle hub... so I left the one alone and sanded down the other... I saw no improvement, so it did not need to be shaved down)

The extended ball stub did increase articulation and kept wheelbase the same. I'm going to install extended ball joints at all four points there, as after installing the first set under the servo, I can now see the obvious catching of the ones under the trans.

When the links rotate, the links hit the base of the shorter ball joints and stop. The extended ball joints allow the links to rotate further around the joint without ceasing on the base as soon.

I have to choose where the extended ball joints will do the most good, I only have 8 of them and I can't find a place to buy them yet. (My buddy upgraded his Trekker to a DP Torsion Chassis as well, so I got his 4 extended ball stubs to add to mine).

 

[ChiefWigman]

Hmm those extended ball joints. where did ya get them? parts number as well?

THanks!

 

[Evilinside]

Hmm those extended ball joints. where did ya get them? parts number as well?

THanks!

They are from the Trail Trekker's upper suspension joints. I wish I had a part number, I don't see them for sale at all yet, I will probably will have to email horizon hobby and ask them to look into a part number for them. The reason I have 8, is my friend and I added the DP Torsion Chassis to both our Trekkers, which removes the suspension completely, so I had my four extended ball stubs and he gave me his four. I want more though...

 

[ChiefWigman]

Ah, trekker joints.. hmm, well those may solve my articulation problems i've got going on in the rear of my McRC since i used the bent links from the Trekker as lower bent links, and it happens to be rubbing with the lower shock mount.. just need those joints then the links will clear the shocks and probably make the rear articulation less stiff.

 

[Evilinside]

Some articulation comparison photos, I will come back to these when I change out to the extended ball joints:

 

[Evilinside]

Ah, trekker joints.. hmm, well those may solve my articulation problems i've got going on in the rear of my McRC since i used the bent links from the Trekker as lower bent links, and it happens to be rubbing with the lower shock mount.. just need those joints then the links will clear the shocks and probably make the rear articulation less stiff.

Make sense. I also am using two of those extended joints for my upper front shock setup for close to the same reason, the shocks were binding on the mounting cross bar without them. The extended joints pushed the shocks enough away from the brace to prevent them from binding.

 

[Evilinside]

I sent a PM to getbent asking about ordering the predator 90t... no response though, been a few days...

 

[ChiefWigman]

THe availability of Predator motors depends on how many donor motors Getbent receives. He may not have any at the moment or is windin' the motors up and is not ready to sell them yet.

 

[i luv duct tape]

THe availability of Predator motors depends on how many donor motors Getbent receives. He may not have any at the moment or is windin' the motors up and is not ready to sell them yet.

are those any good?

 

[ChiefWigman]

are those any good?

Predator motors? Hell yes, i have a 90t myself, those are really good for QLO tires, but im still runnin RC4WD Rok Lok's and they still do fine. It has awesome low speed control, you get better run times with whatever battery type you run.
It has so much friggin' torque that it can move rocks that arent secured good. It will literally move the body on axle if you're jammed between rocks good and try to reverse out of it.

In short they are : "thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"8)

 

[Evilinside]

So while I am waiting for my RidgeBack stuff to arrive I decided to play around with the Blade TMC a little. Well, while I was contorting my Blade TMC, I was paying attention to how the links lock up, effectively stopping articulation.

I was twisting the body around, wishing the links could expand and contract a little. So I decided to employ this idea...

 

[Evilinside]

Before shots of articulation angle:

Some articulation comparison photos, I will come back to these when I change out to the extended ball joints:

Now with upper rear links replaced with stock shocks:

 

[Evilinside]

The placement I have them in allows for no binding against the other shocks.

 

[bouncingbabyboy]

Interesting use of shocks. Great articulation. Are they stiff enough of does it make the back end sloppy? Might be a good place for those blue shocks everyone says are so stiff.

 

[jimecm]

lookin good! Did you use BWD wideners, if so how are they workin out with the trekker axles?

 

[Kraken]

Good job on your build!
Did you find a place/product number to order the
Extended ballpoints?

 

[Evilinside]

Interesting use of shocks. Great articulation. Are they stiff enough of does it make the back end sloppy? Might be a good place for those blue shocks everyone says are so stiff.

There's is almost no slop. If I pick it up, the weight from the wheels, beadlocks, bbs' etc... from that weight it has slop, but it'll never see that weight unless it flips upside down and tries to keep going. ;-)

I was actually really pleased with the result.

 

[Evilinside]

Good job on your build!
Did you find a place/product number to order the
Extended ballpoints?

Thank you!
And I asked and this was the reply:

Hi Xxxxx,



Thanks for the email. That’s a good question. Losi is working on new ball studs. We are working on getting these in stock within the next 3 weeks. There will be a new part number for these Pivot Balls very soon but we do not have the number just yet. Please keep an eye on our website or feel free to check back within a few weeks for the new ball studs.
Thanks,



Josh Underwood

Sales Representative

Horizon Hobby

4105 Fieldstone Rd

Champaign, IL 61821

1-800-338-4639

www.horizonhobby.com

 

[Evilinside]

lookin good! Did you use BWD wideners, if so how are they workin out with the trekker axles?

They will not work. The MtT has an extended axle;

and its own widener;

If you try putting the BWD wideners on it...

The widener wont make it down the axle...