Bully sswx super

[MystRacing]

I started last fall acquiring parts to build a berg super. The plan was to go as light as possible with 2.6" wheels and do it with pretty much all stock components, and what I had on hand for other parts. I was hoping to get away with stock shafts and AX10 stub axles with a light crawler. Here's the stuff I had available at the time. Figured I'd use the berg stuff I had left over from modifying the berg including the chassis and go from there.

About the time I was ready to start the new wheel rule for a minimum 3.2" wheel was instituted. I thought about scrapping the whole idea of building a super until I saw the Bully axles. I shelved the berg axles because the larger wheels will make it pretty much impossible to get away with stock berg axles. So super bullys it is.

After some contemplation I decided to build a lengthened chassis. The on hand berg shocks are pretty long but even so the stock berg chassis was way too short IMO. I also wanted more room to mount batteries electronics etc. in the chassis. I've been very happy with the SWX knockoff chassis I made for my 2.2 so I decided to build a Super SWX. The chassis uses the same basic suspension geometry but is 52mm longer and 5mm wider than a SWX. This should make the berg shocks the correct length for a 17 3/4" wheelbase. I machined the skid from 3/8" delrin and used 1/8" aluminum plate for the sides.

So here's the mock up ready to start on the links.

So here's the plan as it sits now.

RC4WD Super Bully axles
Home Made Super SWX Chassis
55t Novak motors, (I raced for 25 years, they'll run far Better than usual.)
ESC Mamba Max
Punk Dig Switch
One Futaba 9156 and One JR 8711 (already had them)
Hand made aluminum Links
Revo rod ends
Shocks Berg (had on hand)
Body Pro-Line Bug to match my 2.2, see avatar.
Micro receiver
Spektrum Dx6i radio

If RC4WD takes pity on me and gets around to shipping in time, I'm going to use their stock steering setup until I decide on something I like better. If they don't get it to me in the next two weeks I'll have to come up with something myself.

As far as tires and wheels: I will run oversized cougars on narrowed maxx wheels. Eventually I want to run narrowed pro-line 3.7" wheels with custom hybrid panther tires, we'll have to wait and see how that works out.

 

[4xFord]

Nice work on the chassis, if you don't mind, please post up the motor mods, I am interested to see what you do to get more out of them.

 

[Chris_BC]

Great build, That is what i am starting on, my bullies will be here in 4 days."thumbsup"

 

[MystRacing]

I don't have any secrets to make the motors more than they are just the usual racing stuff. Align the brush hoods, align the bearings, turn the comm, switch to high silver content brushes, serrate the brushes. I've never looked but I would think someone would have posted this all up in the electronics section. Most of the people I run with do zero motor maintenance so their much faster motors are much slower than they should be after the third or fourth outing.

I started the weekend off tearing down the axles for PTFE based grease and to locktite the screws. My axles came with 12 tooth pinions, I'm going to give them a try but ordered 10 tooth pinions when I ordered the axles in case the 12's were too much. Then mocked it back up with the shocks for link building.

Here's a little honest tech thrown in the usual gratuitous check out my truck thread. The picture below is of my lathe with a link in it ready to be threaded. The tap is in a standard tap handle, but in the drill chuck is what's known as a tapping guide. It's a spring loaded device with a pointed tip that pushes itself into the tapping handle. The purpose is to align the tap so it starts aligned perfectly with the hole in the end of the link. This makes tapping a much easier job. The tap guide will also work on a mill or drill press.

And a little more tech. Here's a picture of my lathe with the tapping setup in it. The lathe is a Seig X2, 7X14 Lathe. It says 7X10 on it but I installed a longer bed to make it the same as a 7X14. What I'm trying to show here is even with a 14" bed it's a pretty tight fit with all the gadgets attached. This is one reason why people with machine equipment tell you to get the biggest machine you can afford. When it was a 7X10 (6" shorter, Seig apparently can't do basic math). It was too short to accomplish this operation. I'm not looking for an argument, but I wouldn't want anything smaller than a 7X14.

So back to the Crawler. Here's how it looks now with the links installed. Don't pay too much attention to the tires they're just for the purpose of holding it up for now. Though they are almost exactly the same outer diameter as a 2.2 rover in case anyone wants to run 2.2 size tires and still be legal.

I think a little limiting on the articulation will be in order :shock: but there's definitely no binding.

Here's an overall picture.

Here's the current steer angle. This is stock unmodded steer angle. I'm really pleased with the clearance to the links and shocks. Even with the larger tires it'll be pretty good. I haven't decided if the extreme steering mods and pizza cutter tires are necessary yet.

So tonight I need to make spaces for the lower links so I can adjust the wheelbase. The steering parts should be in tomorrow. I'm really liking the way this is coming out.

 

[70duncan]

Dang Jodie, I can't believe I am just now seeing your thread .

This is looking good. I was hopping that you were still building a Super.

I am very happy with my super Bullys. I am sure that you will be too.

I just got mine driving tonight, and with the steering modded, I really don't need the dig. I turns almost the exact same :shock:.

I am headed out tomorrow for test and tunning. Then I will find out what I need to change.

Glad to see yours is comming together, I will need to stop by and check it out "thumbsup"

 

[liverkiller1]

alls i gotta say is wow great work cant wait to see the finished product i love that chassis i have the swx on both my 2.2 and the sswx is awesome it def would want one if i ever built a super

 

[MystRacing]

I just got mine driving tonight, and with the steering modded, I really don't need the dig. I turns almost the exact same :shock:.

I must confess I had the same thought when I looked at your steering. I'm going to drive mine and see what I think with it stock before I get too carried away.

I have my steering parts, hopefully I'll have this thing running, minus modded tires by Saturday. Changing the schedule really put the squeeze on me time wise.

 

[70duncan]

No kidding. I don't even have a 2.2 together to run at the comp any more. I just started builing one, and I don't think there is any way I can have it even rolling by the first comp.

 

[MystRacing]

Well I had a very busy weekend. I have a super now, I think this qualifies as a super. I'm not sure which body I'm going to run on it now. With the chassis as long as it is my original bug idea may not work.

The Rok Lok 4.0's are awesome but will probably have to stay home till the 65:1 gears area available it doesn't have a lot of torque with huge tires. I made the body mounts with delrin cross braces and AX10 body posts. I got the stock steering setup for now. Given I have a comp in under 2 weeks getting a working truck put together took priority at this point.

Similarly I ended up just jamming the electronics in. I wanted to leave room for the battery on the bottom. I ordered batteries from Holmes hobbies they should be in this week. It isn't real pretty but it works good.

Here's a picture from the top, this thing turns great with the rear steer I don't think it really needs any modification to turn better. The width is 15 1/2 inches, hopefully I won't have to many tight courses to run.

Here's my pizza cutter wheels I narrowed the maxx wheels 20mm and used epoxy and a old tee shirt to reinforce the seam.

While I'm waiting for 65:1 gears I'll be running one of these sets of tires.

I love this picture, my berg looks like a 1.9 sitting under the super.

 

[70duncan]

These two pictures just made my knees go week and I got a funny felling in my shorts :shock::shock::shock::shock:

Looking good "thumbsup".

Do you want to go and do some driving this weekend or if you have some time after work we go out for an hour or so.

 

[MystRacing]

I work too late to get out after work, and my wife volunteered me to help my daughter move on Saturday. I'm hoping to get down to 141 site 1 on Sunday for some testing. I'd certainly like to at least drive it before the comp.

 

[70duncan]

I hear you there. I am going to try and run out there also when ever I get a chance.

 

[trailduster79]

Holy Big F'ning Super Batman!!!

Looks good!

 

[MystRacing]

Holy Big F'ning Super Batman!!!

Looks good!

:lol: Thanks, I ordered the 65:1 gear cases just waiting now for the big tire debut.

 

[70duncan]

I sure like that new lid you have on there.

I am guessing that you painted it. Great job "thumbsup"

 

[MystRacing]

Thanks for the compliment, I did NOT paint this one though. Sean Deaner had it when he had my berg. I expect he bought it painted, he wasn't known for his mad paint skillz when we were racing together.

 

[The Violator]

I love the gold shocks. I'm rocking them also. What oil are you running? I have them with internal springs and 35w oil.

 

[MystRacing]

I went with 30 weight. Haven't driven it yet on the rocks but it feels pretty good on the bench. I tried 40 first and it seemed way too stiff.

 

[Mikeney]

Very nice build! How long are the shocks you run?

 

[MystRacing]

They're stock Berg shocks from the kit. I haven't measured them but my best guess would be about 5" I will check tonight if I remember too.

I drove the truck yesterday and Saturday. With 10 tooth pinions and 55 turn motors the Rok Lok 4.0's are not too much tire it works just fine. On the tires though, they aren't much good IMO. At least mot on the sandstone around here. They're awesome in loose dirt and misc junk (sticks etc.) but they don't grab the rocks at all like the cougar pizza cutters or the usual suspect 2.2 tires. They also don't work nearly as good as the soft plow boys from Nova.

My wheels on my pizza cutters popped apart. They did last a good hard 45 minutes of crawling but still popped apart. I'm going to try a new direction on the tires. It won't be cheap but I think it'll work.

It was a rough weekend of driving I smoke a 94156 servo on Saturday, and the tore the gears out of a a lesser servo on Sunday. The little video below is a good way to show how the weekend went.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6G3-iOaISM

The camera was on a tripod and didn't get hurt. I have new servos on order and a plan for tires. Hopefully things will work better at the comp next Sunday than they did this weekend. As they say if it was easy everybody would be doing it.

All that being said I'm really impressed with the Bully axles they work great and I don't think I need to modify my steering. Though I can tell from first hand 70duncan has some crazy sharp steering.