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Getting Smashed at the Fox and Bull (my Bully v2 build) lots of pics :)
- Thread starter Foxy42
- Start date
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
The onyl benefit I can see is slightly more (and more progressive) travel, but chaotic is right, it gets ever more 'progressive' at it reaches the stop, in other words, the springs and oils you selected start playing less of a role and more variables come into play, such as the sloppiness of the modded eye, how much it can rotate, what angle it's at, etc.
To be honest, I don't see any unwanted movement with these particular shocks modded in this exact way on my truck at this time, but I accept that it is common side effect of offset shock eyes.
Lots of progress today, but I might wait til tomorrows progress to post the next round of pics.
To be honest, I don't see any unwanted movement with these particular shocks modded in this exact way on my truck at this time, but I accept that it is common side effect of offset shock eyes.
Lots of progress today, but I might wait til tomorrows progress to post the next round of pics.
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winnerone23
I wanna be Dave
In post #6, you mentioned wanting the front uppers a little longer..
You could just unthread ur link ends a touch to get a little more length out of them.
Personally, I think they look pretty spot on.. imo..
As for ur shocks. If ur looking to limit ur shocks and lower ur ride height, I have found that a short spring(pen spring) internal on ur shock shaft works great. Not only to lower ride height and keep smooth travel but also acts as a limiter when it gets compressed, as ur shock fully extends..
As for ur chassis choice.. Grade A and zero regrets with that choice! ;-)..
Ill be watching to see how you work out ur shock setup..
Articulation should be it last worry.. most go with a tire height, as a good starting point.. I run mine a little more and love it!
I run scx shocks on my SMASH and low low ride height.. like 2 1/2- 3/4" ride height but get 4" of drop out on breakovers.
You should also be able to twist ur upper links so they clear ur front crossbrace.. even turn them end to end if need be..
You could just unthread ur link ends a touch to get a little more length out of them.
Personally, I think they look pretty spot on.. imo..
As for ur shocks. If ur looking to limit ur shocks and lower ur ride height, I have found that a short spring(pen spring) internal on ur shock shaft works great. Not only to lower ride height and keep smooth travel but also acts as a limiter when it gets compressed, as ur shock fully extends..
As for ur chassis choice.. Grade A and zero regrets with that choice! ;-)..
Ill be watching to see how you work out ur shock setup..
Articulation should be it last worry.. most go with a tire height, as a good starting point.. I run mine a little more and love it!
I run scx shocks on my SMASH and low low ride height.. like 2 1/2- 3/4" ride height but get 4" of drop out on breakovers.
You should also be able to twist ur upper links so they clear ur front crossbrace.. even turn them end to end if need be..
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
Good call, I have since unthreaded the upper front links a few mm and am very happy with the result. I'm also almost there with the shocks, sorry for the delay on the next round of progress guys, kids and christmas. Thanks for all the tips and encouragement.
Tossedman
RCC Addict
Hey did you thread lock all the screws on your axles?
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
OK, here's progress over Christmas...
Starting with some more shots of the axles as I was taking them apart, inspecting and greasing them...
And now motor and servo installation. For the motor I used the stock pinions. The carbon fiber motor mount pictured is the Nordic Crawler Designs item. More about this in a minute... At this point it really strikes you how well these axles are put together, like a perfectly fitting jigsaw. I admire the brain that came up with this modular design of the covers.
Nice servo, at 7.4v it makes 630oz-in. :O
At this point, I would have proceeded with some shots of the electrics installation, unfortunately, due to heavy use over Christmas, by camera got mauled by various unskilled users both small and large (I'm looking at you wifey) and those shots seem to have been lost. So here's a token shot of the less visible shock mods, a 10mm fuel tubing spacer internally on the shaft, and a long rod end to help clear the servo and battery mounts.
Now what follows is basically the finished shots. In as much as anything is ever finished. It still needs foams and tire venting, as well as knuckle weights (waiting for Sniper and Turbos adapter) and lastly, mini T springs and cups. I'm going to try it out in the next few days, but so far I'm really, REALLY pleased. I have full clearance, full steering (ok, I'm rubbing the battery more than I'd like, but that's because its a big battery). The roof paint came out really wrong, in fact, its nothing like I envisioned it, however, I actually really like it, kind of a tribute to my home country and a show of supprt for the upcoming soccer world cup. Must thank Holmes and Chaotic for the epic logos, can never go wrong adorning an off road machine with gear and skull motifs. lol.
Despite the significant lowering from last time, it has retained a lot of articulation.
Front axle shots
Rear axle (sorry about the flying motor wires, they'll be reigned in in due course.
Receiver, sitting on an inverted and slightly bent Blue Monkey RC Bully electronics plate. Very handy, though I will be cutting a slither of metal off the side as it limits articulation ever so slightly more on one side than the other...I really like this solution for the RX so far...
A vanity shot
And the obligatory profile clearance shot...
As I put this rig together, I began to realise how everything is a compromise, and the need to drive the rig and match it to your style to make sure your compromises are giving you what you need and taking away something you don't.
Anyway, it is now fully RTR pending these final items.
Will be updating this as I tweak over the coming weeks.
Starting with some more shots of the axles as I was taking them apart, inspecting and greasing them...
And now motor and servo installation. For the motor I used the stock pinions. The carbon fiber motor mount pictured is the Nordic Crawler Designs item. More about this in a minute... At this point it really strikes you how well these axles are put together, like a perfectly fitting jigsaw. I admire the brain that came up with this modular design of the covers.
Nice servo, at 7.4v it makes 630oz-in. :O
At this point, I would have proceeded with some shots of the electrics installation, unfortunately, due to heavy use over Christmas, by camera got mauled by various unskilled users both small and large (I'm looking at you wifey) and those shots seem to have been lost. So here's a token shot of the less visible shock mods, a 10mm fuel tubing spacer internally on the shaft, and a long rod end to help clear the servo and battery mounts.
Now what follows is basically the finished shots. In as much as anything is ever finished. It still needs foams and tire venting, as well as knuckle weights (waiting for Sniper and Turbos adapter) and lastly, mini T springs and cups. I'm going to try it out in the next few days, but so far I'm really, REALLY pleased. I have full clearance, full steering (ok, I'm rubbing the battery more than I'd like, but that's because its a big battery). The roof paint came out really wrong, in fact, its nothing like I envisioned it, however, I actually really like it, kind of a tribute to my home country and a show of supprt for the upcoming soccer world cup. Must thank Holmes and Chaotic for the epic logos, can never go wrong adorning an off road machine with gear and skull motifs. lol.
Despite the significant lowering from last time, it has retained a lot of articulation.
Front axle shots
Rear axle (sorry about the flying motor wires, they'll be reigned in in due course.
Receiver, sitting on an inverted and slightly bent Blue Monkey RC Bully electronics plate. Very handy, though I will be cutting a slither of metal off the side as it limits articulation ever so slightly more on one side than the other...I really like this solution for the RX so far...
A vanity shot
And the obligatory profile clearance shot...
As I put this rig together, I began to realise how everything is a compromise, and the need to drive the rig and match it to your style to make sure your compromises are giving you what you need and taking away something you don't.
Anyway, it is now fully RTR pending these final items.
Will be updating this as I tweak over the coming weeks.
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Foxy42
Rock Stacker
Have now.
Fully Ready to comp apart from wheel weights and foams, and I'd like a smaller battery.I really have to take my hat off to the NCD servo mount, it is the KEY to perfect front shock clearance, even with the fatty stock traxxas springs, I have full clearance and steering.
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Foxy42
Rock Stacker
I did. I did not threadlock the chassis screws, but every other metal to metal fastener got some blue stuff on it.
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
I'll find out for you matey.
looking good, looking very good
not going to use tomy's electronics plate? his servo mount does help with clearance
I still haven't decided what to do with the escs. these axles just scream brxl-minis
I am thinking of decasing a set of standard brxls, just need a heat gun to remove the heat sink and finding a set of
electronic trays like yours
it is almost new years over there so without further ado
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL and may the best crawler win
not going to use tomy's electronics plate? his servo mount does help with clearance
I still haven't decided what to do with the escs. these axles just scream brxl-minis
I am thinking of decasing a set of standard brxls, just need a heat gun to remove the heat sink and finding a set of
electronic trays like yours
it is almost new years over there so without further ado
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL and may the best crawler win
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
I haven't tried tomy's mount actually. As I was test fitting it came to me to try the blue monkey mount which i ordered a while ago for the original bullies. When I looked at it I immediately noticed it was upside down (motors have swapped sides in the new axles), I was about to throw it back in the parts bin when i thought i might be able to stick the receiver to the underside of it if i fitted it upside down. After fitting i had the idea to bend it down and it worked so well i just stuck with it after that. I haven't decased or smashed anything,there are two Tekin FXRs stuck back to back on the skid plate (perfect fit by the way, not a mm to spare), the Castle BEC on top of those, the rx where you see it and the battery on Tomy's mount.
Nice looking build. I think your the first to put that servo in a crawler that Ive heard of. Let us know what you think of it."thumbsup"
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
Thank you, I hope I can tell you something useful soon.
So far, I can report that it is of all alloy construction, the gears feel a bit gritty, as they do on the only other Protek servo I have, a 100T (now discontinued). I haven't opened up the servo, though I think I might see if I can improve its lubrication one day. I'm running it at 7.4v from the Castle BEC, through the Futaba micro receiver. I prefer to power servos directly from BECs, but for now, the wiring this way is easier. The speed is phenomenal, definitely the claimed .11, if not faster. It seems faster than a .10 servo I have in a truggy. So far, so good.
So far, I can report that it is of all alloy construction, the gears feel a bit gritty, as they do on the only other Protek servo I have, a 100T (now discontinued). I haven't opened up the servo, though I think I might see if I can improve its lubrication one day. I'm running it at 7.4v from the Castle BEC, through the Futaba micro receiver. I prefer to power servos directly from BECs, but for now, the wiring this way is easier. The speed is phenomenal, definitely the claimed .11, if not faster. It seems faster than a .10 servo I have in a truggy. So far, so good.
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
41mm bud, hole center to hole center, give or take a few fractions of a mm.
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Tossedman
RCC Addict
I've been following this build with great interest. This build is very similar to mine, other than your chassis has been smashed and your shocks haven't been modded, so it's great for me to follow along. Mine's my first ever crawler and as usual I can't seem to do things half assed. Could'a started with a kit, but nooooo, I have to jump in with both feet to the world of comp crawler building. Not complaining though, I've enjoyed every second of it, learned a ton and am looking forward to getting this thing on some rocks (in about 4 or 5 months when all the snow melts). Thanks for the detailed build. It gives me lots to learn from.
Cheers eh,
Todd
Cheers eh,
Todd
Chaotic Crawlers
I wanna be Dave
what shocks are those?
are they the 2660(3.5"?)
whats your wheelbase now?
the rig looks really good, but i obviously want to try to help with any pointers i can.
it looks like your shocks are actually mounted in the cab mounting holes?
the truck looks pretty tall, which leads me to believe you have a longer shock or your wheelbase is short.
i am excited to hear how it drives for you."thumbsup"
are they the 2660(3.5"?)
whats your wheelbase now?
the rig looks really good, but i obviously want to try to help with any pointers i can.
it looks like your shocks are actually mounted in the cab mounting holes?
the truck looks pretty tall, which leads me to believe you have a longer shock or your wheelbase is short.
i am excited to hear how it drives for you."thumbsup"
Foxy42
Rock Stacker
I wouldn't take too much stock in what I post, I'm every bit as new as you to crawling.
This is my second crawler, its funny you mentioned that you didn't start with a kit, I did. It was a helpful learning experience building up a Bully v1 ARTR (already moved on to a buddy that rig), but ultimately, it was wasted money. Looking back I don't know if I'd do it the same way again, or just dive in like you.
After the v1s, I immediately moved on to a custom build, I had already spent a lot of time reading and was torn between getting an expensive set of Dlux berg axles or waiting for the Bullies. As it happens, circumstances made the decision easy and I got the v2s, very glad I did. As much as Dlux is the ultimate evolution of the Bergs, its a lot of money for a very mature product, now I have a great base to build on with a brand new product, and learn along with others.
If you have any queries I'll do anything I can to help, like I say, my experience is limited, though I like to think I'm a natural at this kind of thing (bloody hope so after nearly 30 years building toy cars!! lol).
