HVAC's Knightrunner Project

[HVACTeacher]

Hey all!
I picked up a Knightrunner shortly after they came out. I really liked the looks of it, I'm sure everyone here knows how that goes.
I swapped out all the electronics with the exception of the motor, I have a ton of nice motors, I don't know why I stopped short there.
Seeing all the cool stuff on Club 5 I think I ordered every tid-bit they make for this bad boy, love how it turned out!
I have a Castle ESC, CC BEC, Savox WP servo (Can't remember M# off the top of my head), H.O.G servo winch by Precision RC Works, Sanwa RX and a lighting kit by Club 5. Stock tires on RC4WD steel beadlocks.

I've made some suspension changes since the photo of the wheel popped around. I added some bits from Bowhouse that I had prior to the IFS2 kit coming out.
Unfortunately the hardware for the Bowhouse stuff is all loose and I need to redo it
I thought I used Loctite, but at the time I didn't have the nice gel tube that I would normally use. Oh well, live and learn.

I don't have any pics of the lid off, but here it is.

https://imgur.com/a/CZGinv7

 

[HVACTeacher]

Here's some pics with the lid off

https://imgur.com/a/FrDNfYU

 

[HVACTeacher]

https://imgur.com/a/WJYfsxz

 

[HVACTeacher]

Parts list -

Club 5 Racing Ezon light kit
Club 5 Racing Grille
Club 5 Racing Third brake light
Club 5 Racing Complete inner fenders w/ rock lights
Club 5 Racing Magnetic body mount set
Club 5 Racing Tonneau cover
Club 5 Racing Dual exhaust
Club 5 Racing Steel front skid
Club 5 Racing Husky hi clearance links
Power Hobby brass rear diff cover
Bowhouse RC Aluminum servo plate
Bowhouse RC N2R Aluminum steering bell crank
Bowhouse RC Bump Stops

https://imgur.com/a/pJqS6rw

I really need to redo the front end as I mentioned in my op.

 

[HVACTeacher]

I finally got around to reassembling the front end as I thought I hadn't used any locktite. That was not the case, the screws had the tell tale sign of white residue when I removed them. I decided I should clean them up anyway and apply a product I know and like. This was yesterday evening, I thought 24hrs should be enough time for it to cure or bond properly..

So we hit the trail and headed up to the old abandoned hotel.

https://imgur.com/a/992jRIg

We've had a bit of rain since the last time I was here, there's quite a bit more growing, including the bugs. The hotel is looking in rough shape since I was last out.

This being my first official outdoor run with this truck, I wasn't sure what to expect. I ran the truck on 3s, this gave it just enough wheel speed when needed.

First thing I noticed was how quiet the truck is. The drivetrain is almost silent. Next, the lack of ground clearance due to the sub frame hanging down along with some bump steer (geometry change during use).
I also noticed I need to add a bit more preload to the front, it was a tad too soft.

During quicker sections on the trail, the truck looked fantastic and the suspension was working well. I had also rolled it twice and the magnet body mounts did a remarkable job at keeping the body on. Super happy with those!

Heading back I took some different trails and ended up stuck. One reason was because I was starting to fell like I didn't have complete control over the front end and two because I was splitting my concentration.

Perfect time to try out the winch!!

https://imgur.com/a/XmvBHMC

That didn't go so well!

The truck wouldn't pop up out of the dirt, it just kept burying the ifs subframe deeper. Once I recovered the truck I could see what it was caught on..

https://imgur.com/a/A9rQxQI

I highlighted the old root clump.

 

[HVACTeacher]

So heading back down the trail now, one less piece of equipment at my disposal, I hit another snag.. the truck stopped turning once on this hill.
I had backed down to get a better line when suddenly I couldn't steer.

https://imgur.com/a/pC7UNBy

Hmmm

https://imgur.com/a/Mm3PS44

The darn front end has fallen apart again.

https://imgur.com/a/g37KZP0

The only other note able thing that is not a big deal at all is a leaking shock.

I want to love this thing, but I am definitely frustrated with it. I feel like I just need to move on from the V1 IFS.

 

[HVACTeacher]

Looks like I am rebuilding the V1 steering linkages lol

Since the battle between the US and the World the prices of tiny car things has climbed quite a bit here in Canada.
A year or two ago the V2 IFS kit was $99 + 12% taxes, now it's $149.00 + taxes. I really want to put those type of hobby funds towards different projects.

I decided to spend some more time looking the truck over. First thing I noticed was the screw I used or that was included was 10 mm, even without placing a shim on it that doesn't leave me a lot of thread engagement; I decided to swap those out for 15 mm.

https://imgur.com/a/qd4BgHN

The other issue I had was a leaking shock. I couldn't really find any reason for it: caps were tight, seal in place. I figured it must have been the angle I had the shock mounted at; it's going to apply a lot of side load force to the cap. I decided I would bring it back one hole on the lift keys to lessen the leverage.

I swapped out what was left of the oil in one and the other full shock to 30 wt, figured that would be close/close enough. I also put 2mm more spring under it as I found it just sagged a little to much for me on the trail.

Looking forward to my next run!

https://imgur.com/a/MGWMM7W

 

[HVACTeacher]

Today I was looking at the Bowhouse product pages for the steering bell cranks and rack. They say in there to change out the hardware for the steering rack to the bell cranks to 14 mm.
That's reassuring that I am now, on the correct path. Hopefully it holds together on my next run!

 

[HVACTeacher]

Well. It happened again.

https://imgur.com/a/f6VP9IN

I picked up some 22mm screws, we're gonna put some nuts on these things. Enough is enough.

Had fun on my short run though.

https://imgur.com/a/rLN0efr

Couldn't get up anywhere on here. Had to bust a U-turn and go back down that rock slope.
I think more front weight might have helped, larger tires for sure but that negates the challenge.

https://imgur.com/a/PDwbGwj

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Can you put nuts on the other side of the screws?

 

[HVACTeacher]

Can you put nuts on the other side of the screws?

That's the plan. The bell cranks are threaded all the way through and there is clearance to the servo plate for hardware.

I took it to my LHS last night on my way home from the quarry. I quickly pulled the skids off so we could get a measurement of what is required.

I don't have the drive to work on this thing again so it can sit for a while and think about what it has done to me

 

[HVACTeacher]

I finally got around to making repairs on this guy today. I had to pull it apart and study what I was going to do.

My plan was to run hardware up from the bottom and place a nut on top, easy peazy, right? Wrong.

There was no clearance on-top of the steering bell cranks to support that. I had to reverse the hardware.

In the end I elected to enlarge a few holes through the Bowhouse servo plate so I could feed 22mm screws through from the top. It's not pretty but it's serviceable.

A machined washer on the servo winch mount and we were gtg.

Heaven help this thing if it falls apart again!!!

https://imgur.com/a/3623cAt

I hope to get it out soon-ish to try it out.

 

[HVACTeacher]

Gosh, that was short lived. Ten minutes maybe?

https://imgur.com/a/aNSgLj5

I think I am over this truck.
It's time to swap out the radio and list it. That's enough punishment but at least I can say I tried it LOL

Guys, the more time that goes on the more I am choked at this rig. Just when I thought I finally had it and was going to have a good session it breaks.

I had ordered new wheels and tires for it; I was excited. Now I think I will be excited when I see it gone as it means I can put that money towards something else.



(Apologies to anyone who owns one and has a good time lol)

Here's the whole run, start to finish besides the 3 minutes I drove it from my truck parked off to the right of the camera.

 

[HVACTeacher]

I looked at the manual, so those two pieces (wishbone on chassis, rod end on caster block) are supposed to be threaded into each other. That section of threaded rod pulled out of the wishbone.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I probably would have throw the truck off the cliff, but yeah I agree...time to sell!

 

[HVACTeacher]

I probably would have throw the truck off the cliff

Hahaha!

I think you can tell by my face and tone I was in shock that it broke again.

Edit/Update:

Unfortunately my LHS is unable to get this part; it's on backorder through their channels.
I pulled the ship into the Bay and found some.
Should be here in a few weeks.

I'll have to stare at this broken thing longer.

 

[Gula]

SAS it......Keep the truck, put a solid axle up front?

 

[89Industries]

Switch the whole shebang for the ifs2?

 

[HVACTeacher]

SAS it......Keep the truck, put a solid axle up front?

Switch the whole shebang for the ifs2?

Thanks for the replies and this is indeed a possibility. But it would negate the whole reason for buying it; 3rd Gen Taco look a like.

I have also stated above in the thread my reasons for not wanting to spend the extra money on changing it out to IFS 2.

Then there is a whole separate reason for wanting to move it; a new rig!

I asked my LHS to bring in something for me last week and I have a rule that I cannot own too many vehicles of the same purpose and the same scale. I came up with it a number of years ago. **

So between the Ascender and this, this is going.
I plan on doing another Toyota focused build in the future, it just won't be on this chassis.


** Back around 2020/2021 I looked at my life and wondered what I was doing? I had toys up to my eyeballs. I would work extremely hard then "reward" myself.

I had a classic truck, a lifted truck, a new RV, a basement full of toys; gaming PC, retro gaming consoles and games, current (at that time) gaming consoles, a bunch of RC's and a home gym.

I worked for the municipal government and I was growing my business but I had no time for anything. Everything I owned was aging out, it required maintenance, time and in the end more money to keep everything going.

First thing to go was the classic truck.
I drove it very rarely and it cost a fortune just to keep it there for if I wanted to drive it (Storage fees, maintenance, insurance). The market for what I had (1979 F150) was also at an all time high. I doubled what I had in it when I sold it.

That same summer I moved a bunch of RC's with great success.

Next up was the retro games. In that time period the value had absolutely spiked, all my collecting was literally paying off.

Just from selling some games and a Losi Micro T I had made as much as I would have at my day job. There were some bangers in there I miss like PaRappa the Rapper, my N64 with Mario Kart 64, but again, I wasn't using the stuff.

So, keep things from getting to crazy again I try and just use that rule going forward.
If one comes in, usually one must go.
It is also easier on my marriage lol

This would make three on the bench I want to get listed and sold asap.