sorting ideas

[BigSmokinGun]

First time here. I'm from Southeast PA and have had RC vehicles since the 80's. Currently I have a Savage which is waiting on Novak's HVMaxx Brushless system.
Now to my subject. I want to build a crawler and the only thing set in stone is for it to have a tube chassis like fullsize crawlers. Here are a few questions I have. Axles...driveshaft or Clod? I've read drive shaft setups can torque the suspension...Is that a major issue? Trans...I'm assuming only one motor is needed if running an Emaxx or TXT trans, correct? The other idea was that Scalehobbies trans. on RC4WD. Has anyone here used one of those? Seems like it would give you a good "crawler gear". Guess those are the main ?'s right now. I'll welcome any and all input. Thanks.

BSG

 

[Grizzly4x4]

Welcome BSG,

From what I have seen driveshaft torque is an issue. I have seen suspension setups that tame it but not eliminate it. However that is not to say that you cant build a super capable crawler with driveshafts, 8) there are lots of them here. You just may have to deal with the lift at times.
Clods are great axles to use but they are limited in gearing and width. However, even with the MGT tires I like the gearing of my Clod. It still has enough wheel speed to climb obstacles with momentum. You can run wideners to increase width but that hurts your steering.
Most of the guys I know run dual motors in their driveshaft rigs, but with low gearing one motor should work well.
Sorry, I dont know anything about the Scalehobbies trans.

 

[Reflection]

I myself am kinda new to RC's but personally I like the shafted rigs. I'm building a Kyosho Twin Force right now. Well,I build a little then drive it some then build a little more. I've got it working fairly good now but it's tore down at the moment for some more tweaking. I'm gonna be installing a Emaxx 2 speed probly in a few weeks and will stick with the 2 motors. Running 1 motor and 1 battery is good cuz it makes the rig lighter and I think thats why most do it. I personally like the 2 motors and will probly stick with it.

 

[BigSmokinGun]

Thanks to Grizz and raptor for your responses. Why is it that nobody seems to know anything about the Scalehobbies trans? Hasnt anyone heard of it? Does it not work for crawling? It seems so simple and compact that it would be a natural choice. Not the right features? Everyone says this tranny and that tranny, we need a strong tranny, we need a reliable tranny. In the 2 weeks I've been on this forum I cant tell you how many times I've seen "tranny" but absolutely no mention of the Scalehobbies trans other than me. I'd just like to know why.

Eric

 

[toyofast]

Is this Scale Hobbies Tranny the 3-speed unit on RC4wd? If so, it's too big. Plus you'd need to make a t-case for it so you could make it work..... unless I'm thinking of a different tranny.

Go with a Stampede tranny if you want small, light weight and durable....

I use a Jugg2/TXT tranny in my hybrid crawler, some will use the Maxx one. It all depends on what you want to do.

I prefer to run one motor rather than two, save weight, run time might improve and make life easier too.

 

[rbgerrish]

Can you post a link to the tranny you are speaking of? I havent had any problems with the Stampede tranny or the Emaxx tranny in crawlers...

As for Clod -vs- shafties, I prefer shaft driven trucks for a few reasons. 1) It's more realistic. I enjoy full-size wheeling, and like being able to run a transfer case/transmission. 2) Full-time 100% power. Clods suffer from annoying 'motor bogging' where one motor will be turning while the other isnt. I prefer knowing that all my tires are going the same speed! 3) I like to run in mud and water without shortening the life span of my motor(s). Clods are low to the ground, which is great for center of gravity, but not so good for mud. 4) gearing is a lot easier with a transmission, and you can have multiple speeds.

Both Clods and Shafties can wheel lift under acceleration/torque, but shafties do it more. I dont find this to hamper my trucks crawling ability, nor does it seem to bother antone in our club.


Just my 2 cents.
ryan

 

[Highmark]

Most people haven't heard of the Scale hobbies tranny because it was a nearly exact copy of the origonal Mthompsen truck pulling trannys, which of coarse pisses ALOT of people off. I'm pretty sure Scale Hobbies ended up trying it again with the same design only in plastic but Hua still doesnt stock it because of the similaritys to the origonal.

Anywho it's mainly a replacement for the stock three speed tranny for truck pulling use (the rules in most pulling associations limmit you to a 540 size motor and a single speed tranny) so it is fairly long and fairly large to fit in the three speed frame. I've heard that the Mthompsen trannys are very strong but I don't know about the Scale hobbies one because it's plastic and who knows how well everything is put togeather.

Personaly I would stay away from it, it's to big and I don't like how scalehobbies thought he could get away with rebadging someone else's idea and selling it as his own.

 

[BigSmokinGun]

rbgerrish...here is the one I'm talking about.
http://www.rcrock.com/shopx/go.cgi?...434&session=40ea1ff56b511f8a&L=eng&P=4x4-B034

Here is an aluminum one in a project truck.
http://www.scalehobbies.com/Dsc00032.jpg

And I agree 100% with everything you said with the exception of the mud. Got my TXT axles today! Also got a mig welder! I'm going to try an aluminum tube frame. If that proves too hard to mig I will go to brake line.

Highmark...would you have a pic of the Mthompsen tranny? I understand what you are saying about copying the trans, but if Mthopmsen didnt have a patent on the design, it IS legal isnt it? I'm not saying its cool to do that, but anyway, I understand what you're saying. My thoughts on a custom trans were along that line before I even came across this one. I'd try to keep it as compact as possible though.

Thanks to all 3 of you for responding. I appreciate it.
Eric

 

[toyofast]

rbgerrish...here is the one I'm talking about.
http://www.rcrock.com/shopx/go.cgi?...434&session=40ea1ff56b511f8a&L=eng&P=4x4-B034

That's aimed at the Bruiser/Mounty rigs... you'll still need a way to make it power front and rear axles, 'cause it only has one output. I'd pass on it real quick.

And I agree 100% with everything you said with the exception of the mud. Got my TXT axles today! Also got a mig welder! I'm going to try an aluminum tube frame. If that proves too hard to mig I will go to brake line.

You can't MIG weld aluminum... you have to TIG weld it, at least from my understanding of welding. :wink:

 

[BigSmokinGun]

It has two outputs, those rigs were 4wd. Look at the pic of the aluminum one. Right under the cross member.

And you CAN mig weld aluminum...its not the easiest metal to mig weld but it can be done. Tig welding it gives better results. I'll let you know how it works once its up and running.

 

[Highmark]

Yeah it has two outputs Toyo, the one for the front is kinda hard to see unless the rig is upside down.

In regards to the patent thing, knowing Mark I would say he did but I'm not for sure. I'm not a spokesmen for him and I dont own one of his trannys.

I'm kinda suprised that Hua decided to sell the scale hobbies tranny after all, even with the design changes....