Dlux Berg Build

[Erik D_lux]

Moving into the MOA world...

Looks like I have about a week before I get the rest of my parts for this car so I decided I will do a build thread while waiting. I have found the most challenging part of building this car is the availability of parts. It seems like everything is back ordered or just not offered anymore.

One of the things that has always held me back from the MOA cars is the extra weight. Ironically I believe this car is going to weigh less than my Losi. I still do not like the weight of the motor being on the back axle and I am being conscious of weight overall so I am paying extra attention to where I am putting the weight and how much everything weighs. Ideally I would like zero weight except for knuckle weights.

The best part of starting off with a relatively heavy car is that you have so many options of where to take weight off.

 

[Erik D_lux]

I was really surprised what a little grinding and shaving on the gear case could do.

Bone stock 58g

After shaving and grinding 50g

 

[Erik D_lux]

Next were the gears.

I dont have my mill yet so I could not mill them. I didnt want to drill them because usually when you drill small parts like this and try to be precise it looks like crap. So, I turned my on the lathe. I really like the way they turned out.

Stock 2nd 13g

Stock 3rd 12g

Modified 2nd 9g

Modified 3rd 8g

 

[fa1rch1ld]

Good luck with the build. I think you'll dig the moa over the Losi "thumbsup"

I have found the most challenging part of
building this car is the availability of parts. It seems like everything is back
ordered or just not offered anymore.

I'm having the same problem with my build, started from scratch. I guess
that's one down side. Parts won't be made forever.

 

[Erik D_lux]

Then the 4th gear and locker. Youre a fool if youre not running the RCbros locker. They weigh much less and are cheap to boot.

Stock 4th gear 12g

Stock locker 15g

Drilled 4th gear 10g

RCbros locker 4g

 

[Erik D_lux]

Stock 4th and locker 27g

Total modified 4th gear and locker 14g

All gears together 21g lost + 8g for the case = 29g

 

[Erik D_lux]

Stock link mount 9g

A couple holes later... 7g

 

[Erik D_lux]

Then I moved on to the axle tubes. There were a couple of things I wanted out of the axle tubes that I could not find.

• Ultra light weight
• Clearance for 86Jeep style steering with out modifying the tubes
• Not having to mess with clocking every time I want to change my caster
• Have the ability to clock my shocks/links
• Smaller inner diameter axle tubes so that the rear axle shafts do not have the opportunity to bend within the axle tubes

Since I could not find all the above that is on the market I set out to make my own. These are just the prototypes and I need to run them for awhile but if all goes well they should be on the market soon. I have figured out recently that I need to up my game a bit to be competitive. So, the best part about these is that they are all made in house. This will keep my prices lower and I wont have to deal with stocking issues.

Stock short side 29g

Stock long side 49g

Stock axle tubes total 78g

 

[Erik D_lux]

DLUX front short side 18g

DLUX front 7075 long side 34g

DLUX front axle tubes total 52g

 

[Del Monte]

Good to see you switching over too... Good luck on the build "thumbsup"

 

[Erik D_lux]

DLUX rear short side 15g

DLUX rear long side 22g

DLUX rear tubes 37g

 

[4xFord]

Very cool stuff! "thumbsup"

 

[Erik D_lux]

I put it all back together with some DLUX chromo gear pins and wheel pins, Mann 2nd and 3rd gears.

When I started dealing with the knuckles/C's I had a hard time believing you guys deal with the amount of slop that these cars have in the king pins so, I had some no slop king pin bushings made.

Edit:
Important note:
The bushings are made to work with the stock stainless steel screws. If you use a different brand stainless screw, aluminum screw, steel screw etc,. you may find some will not even fit or be sloppy. After measuring many brands and different materials I have found the screws to vary greatly. I have not found a steel screw or aluminum screw that will fit.

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=318384

 

[Erik D_lux]

And,... this is where I am at now. I have the axles complete and am working on shock mounts and a servo mount. I just got some new tools to help me along with all of this. It has been keeping me real busy setting the tools up and doing a crash course on some lite CAD to build some of this. I hope to be able to offer the servo mount and titanium tie rods for either Berg style or Axial style when I get everything together so I can offer somewhat of a complete kit that will get everybody everything they need axle wise.

DLUX front axle thus far 8.2oz

DLUX rear axle thus far 7.2oz

Stock axles total 21.4oz, DLUX 15.4oz.

The above rear axle is with 6mm rear shafts. If I would have kept the stock dog bones in it would have reduced another .14oz coming real close to 7oz total.

 

[Erik D_lux]

Oh, forgot to add...

I am super stoked. I was worried that there was no way I would be able to keep my 7980 servo and the 86jeep steering. With the small diameter axle tube I am able to keep it if I run a 14t pinion. A smaller servo such as a 7950 fits with just moving the motor up on the case and a 12t pinion (or smaller if you want) this is with zero mods to my axle tube.

 

[Erik D_lux]

Good luck with the build. I think you'll dig the moa over the Losi "thumbsup"

Good to see you switching over too... Good luck on the build "thumbsup"

Very cool stuff! "thumbsup"

Thanks guys. I am pretty excited to work on some new stuff.

 

[fa1rch1ld]

Have plans on producing more axle tubes? :shock:

Edit: missed some stuff when reading early this morning. Exciting info here. Can't wait to see
what comes available after some testing.

 

[ittybitty]

First off...I know what you mean about waiting on parts and most of them being out of stock...it's aggravating, but part of the game at this point. Your parts are looking good and I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with for link mounts.

Then I moved on to the axle tubes. There were a couple of things I wanted out of the axle tubes that I could not find.

• Ultra light weight
• Clearance for 86Jeep style steering with out modifying the tubes
• Not having to mess with clocking every time I want to change my caster
• Have the ability to clock my shocks/links
• Smaller inner diameter axle tubes so that the rear axle shafts do not have the opportunity to bend within the axle tubes

Since I could not find all the above that is on the market I set out to make my own. These are just the prototypes and I need to run them for awhile but if all goes well they should be on the market soon. I have figured out recently that I need to up my game a bit to be competitive. So, the best part about these is that they are all made in house. This will keep my prices lower and I wont have to deal with stocking issues.

I hope to be able to offer the servo mount and titanium tie rods for either Berg style or Axial style when I get everything together so I can offer somewhat of a complete kit that will get everybody everything they need axle wise.

I believe he is saying that he will "thumbsup" It actually sounds like we'll be seeing the availability of quite a few of the parts needed to make D lux Berg Axles in the near future!

 

[DickyT]

Looking good Erik! I'll be watching this progress :mrgreen:

 

[JeremyH]

Very cool! I like those tubes!