Gen8 Maintenance

[vinceherman]

My wife and I both have the Axe edition of the Gen8. We are having a ball trail running (non comp).

Mine squeaks when it rolls. Time to apply some grease I guess.
I read that the Portals are shipped dry on early versions. I can pull mine apart and see if those need some grease
Is automotive wheel bearing grease OK?
What other areas should I apply grease?
What other maintenance should I perform?



Oh, while I have your attention.
We pulled the bumpers in.
Yanked the velcro and have magnets.
Boiled foam and also just received Lil Nova foams to experiment with
4.5 comp cut soft for up front and 4.5 comp cut medium for the back


What else will enhance our fun with these?

 

[Jim85IROC]

I'd try the 4.25" comp cut softs up front, and the 4.5" comp cut softs in the rear. The tire carcass itself is so stiff, that I still couldn't get adequate squish out of my tires with the 4.5" foams. Eventually I upgraded to Jconcepts Landmine tires, and it was a huge improvement for the truck.

 

[ferp420]

If you haven't already get the ssd lower link mounts as soon as posable before the stock ones tear the screws out the only must have upgrade the gen 8 needs and make sure its the ssd brand the others suck and don't fix anything

I use automotive waterproof CV axle grease on all my rc rigs

 

[RockCrawlingKid]

I'd try the 4.25" comp cut softs up front, and the 4.5" comp cut softs in the rear. The tire carcass itself is so stiff, that I still couldn't get adequate squish out of my tires with the 4.5" foams. Eventually I upgraded to Jconcepts Landmine tires, and it was a huge improvement for the truck.

I just ordered 2 pairs of CI lil nova 4.5in heavyweight core with soft outer. Going off the chart it was the softest it recommended. Going to stuff inside the factory super swampers for now.


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[ferp420]

Also before you go much further order a new set of bearings the gen8 has little rtr bearings and the rtr bearings don't usualy last too long I'm guessing the squeak is a bearing going out

 

[RockCrawlingKid]

Yup second ordering bearings. They are small for the application, also the front axle lacks outer bearings on the axle housing leaving the axle shaft unsupported on the output side. Only relying on support from the ring gear bearing and the portal input CV bearing... this is putting a lot of axial stress on that portal input cv bearing, It’s just not that great of a design.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I just ordered 2 pairs of CI lil nova 4.5in heavyweight core with soft outer. Going off the chart it was the softest it recommended. Going to stuff inside the factory super swampers for now.


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Been there, did that, didn't like it. Those foams are too big for the tires, so they end up pushing on the tire carcass pretty hard, and don't allow for enough compression on obstacles. The 4.5" foams work well in a taller 4.75" tire, but in the Redcat tire they're like a fat person in a t-shirt that's 3 sizes too small.

 

[RockCrawlingKid]

Been there, did that, didn't like it. Those foams are too big for the tires, so they end up pushing on the tire carcass pretty hard, and don't allow for enough compression on obstacles. The 4.5" foams work well in a taller 4.75" tire, but in the Redcat tire they're like a fat person in a t-shirt that's 3 sizes too small.

I did order the 4.5 for that reason. CI didn’t have the regular core with firm foam in stock so I went with the heavy/soft. If I don’t like it, it will give me an excuse to upgrade tires haha. My stock foams are toast.

Also I just popped the input shaft/pinion gear on the front axle. I’ve been in there to tighten and lock tire them more than a few times now. Today I actually popped one on the trail and threw the input bearing into oblivion :/. These need to be checked diligently


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[vinceherman]

I think I am going to vent the tires. The 2 vents in the wheels let water in but no water out. I will go to Harbor Freight and buy a leather punch to do this.
I will experiment with the 2 different compound of CI Lil Novas in the 4.5 I bought. My wife wants me to figure it out and then put the best solution on hers. When I order hers, I will also get a pair of 4.25's to continue the experiment.
I read a few references to pre-buying replacement bearings. Which ones? All of them? Link?

ferp, you mentioned lower link mounts. I thought I saw a video where they put on link mounts that were indexed so the screws only had to hold the part on, not resist all the side load. Is that what you are referring to? Can you post a link to the product?

 

[RockCrawlingKid]

I think I am going to vent the tires. The 2 vents in the wheels let water in but no water out. I will go to Harbor Freight and buy a leather punch to do this.
I will experiment with the 2 different compound of CI Lil Novas in the 4.5 I bought. My wife wants me to figure it out and then put the best solution on hers. When I order hers, I will also get a pair of 4.25's to continue the experiment.
I read a few references to pre-buying replacement bearings. Which ones? All of them? Link?

ferp, you mentioned lower link mounts. I thought I saw a video where they put on link mounts that were indexed so the screws only had to hold the part on, not resist all the side load. Is that what you are referring to? Can you post a link to the product?

I vented the od of the tires in 2 spots. Just a couple nips with a small side cutter did the trick for me. I would recommend https://www.fasteddybearings.com/redcat-gen8-rock-crawler-sealed-bearing-kit. If you don’t have the HD axle housings and HD cva shafts/pinion gear I would also recommend those as well order direct from Redcat. SSD link mounts from amain or rpp is what you want. They have a pocket for the axle housing to key into.


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