Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd 4.0 Berg

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Welp, I ran 3 of the 4 courses pretty clean today. Course 4 presented a tricky uphill vertical that my setup didn't like. The front end wouldn't compress enough to pull the front end down on the clock. Of course I did it after I didn't finish the course. Think I ended up 5th. Tough competition today!

The setup did everything I wanted it too except that steep vertical. Driving a 5lb truck definitley has a little learning curve. I'll probably need to add another ounce of weight up front. Ran 2oz total up front today. Probably didn't help that I jammed in alot of tuning into four 500mah packs before the comp.

There is still work to be done in the spring/shock tuning department as well as probably lowering the front uppers to the lower hole. The rears are already in the lowest hole. So, I might have to get some adjustable 4-link axle mounts the will let me get more separatation at the axle.
I should have some video up in the next few days.

 

[Blaz1]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Very nice build!!

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Very nice build!!

Thanks. Still tuning on this rig.

I was racking my brain before last weekend's comp trying to get this rig dialed in. I was narrowing it down to the springs. Couldn't get the right mix, so I just ran it. The front end wouldn't settle at the comp on some steep off-camber verticals and the front end would lift just a touch on some sidehilling if I didn't plan out the line.

Well, got to thinking today that I would try my old non-8 deg steering setup. Swapped everything out to my old VP knuckles and STRC chubs. The 8-Deg knuckle weights will work with two new mount holes drilled on the side. I was able to put them on without securing them and get a pack in before dark.

I took off the SLW wheel widners and ended up 10.75" out front and out back.
Lowered the front uppers down one hole as well.

I added the non-8 deg steering, base knuckle weights (3.5 oz each). I have a little toe in on my steering. The truck handled night and day better. Even with soft springs all around. I'll need to go up one step firmer out back. The front end did not even think about lifting on uphill turns, digs, etc, when controlled. At 5lbs 4oz now, the truck will still grab ledges and make the vertical climbs. I just tested 1 pack. But it might just be the ticket for my setup. "thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"

 

[Harvo]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

So do you think it was moving the link or changing the knuckles that did the trick?

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

So do you think it was moving the link or changing the knuckles that did the trick?

Good question. It's quite a difference in driving it now. Don't know if one hole down would do that but it might.
I'll raise the upper back up one hole tomorrow and see what happens. I am bad about tuning more than one thing at a time. I am always pressed for daylight running time during this time of the year. I also added the 6oz (total) of knuckle weights too before I ran it. :ror:

 

[Harvo]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Good question. It's quite a difference in driving it now. Don't know if one hole down would do that but it might.
I'll raise the upper back up one hole tomorrow and see what happens. I am bad about tuning more than one thing at a time. I am always pressed for daylight running time during this time of the year. I also added the 6oz (total) of knuckle weights too before I ran it. :ror:

Hmmm... the weight may have been a big factor too.

 

[ittybitty]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

YAY for heavier trucks "thumbsup"

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Hmmm... the weight may have been a big factor too.

It was 5lbs 1.3oz before I switched knuckles. It lost 3.5oz from removing the wheel wideners but I added 6oz back (knuckle weights) to end up at 5lbs 4oz now.

YAY for heavier trucks "thumbsup"

Bah hum-berg! :ror: Keepin' it semi-lightweight for now. My SS was 5lbs 10oz or so. Feels like a brick compared to now.

 

[Die-Laughing]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Dayum! Another Szczerba Build! You build everything man! "thumbsup"

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Dayum! Another Szczerba Build! You build everything man! "thumbsup"

Thanks, most of my builds are "ghetto", "thrown together" or "I don't know what I am doing".

I did put the upper links back up a hole, put the 8-degree setup back on and removed the wheel weight. Kept the width at 10.75" on all corners. Ran a pack with this setup. Tested vertical and steep sidehills.

Then I swapped to the non-8 degree setup with the same setup as above. Ran a pack with that. Then added the base wheel weights and ran a pack. Tested vertical and steep sidehills.

Next I removed the non-8 degree setup and put the 8 degree setup back on with base knuckle weights. Ran that a pack.
I am getting quick at swapping from non 8 degree to 8 degree steering.

Then put the non-degree setup back on with base weights and lower the front links down one. I'll keep the uppers all the way down for now.

Notes about the non-8 degree setup. Most you guys already know.
On vertical climbs it grabs a little better. The sidewall grabs the ledge quicker.
Digs are quicker/tighter.
Turning on sidehills is better.
You get the berg push (dealt with that before) but I like the outer tire turning harder.
The outer tire turning harder lets you put it into the face of a rock and help get up a face.

Notes about the 8 degree setup. Most you guys already know.
No berg "push"
Steering is less janky feeling overall.
Digging is not as tight.
Front tires seem like they don't bite as hard on vertical (sidewall grabbing) and sidehill digs.

So I guess it was the 8 deg steering messing with my truck setup the whole time and not the springs.
I kept everything the same in the non-8 degree vs. 8 degree setup testing today. The 8 degree setup just felt a tad less stable in a couple situations. Not mention the difference in digging and vertical climbs.

Ordered a few more sets of mini springs and got some losi full size 1.2lbs black springs ordered too.

 

[TURBOFEST]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Notes about the non-8 degree setup. Most you guys already know.
On vertical climbs it grabs a little better. The sidewall grabs the ledge quicker.
Digs are quicker/tighter.
Turning on sidehills is better.
You get the berg push (dealt with that before) but I like the outer tire turning harder.
The outer tire turning harder lets you put it into the face of a rock and help get up a face.

Notes about the 8 degree setup. Most you guys already know.
No berg "push"
Steering is less janky feeling overall.
Digging is not as tight.
Front tires seem like they don't bite as hard on vertical (sidewall grabbing) and sidehill digs.

So I guess it was the 8 deg steering messing with my truck setup the whole time and not the springs.
I kept everything the same in the non-8 degree vs. 8 degree setup testing today. The 8 degree setup just felt a tad less stable in a couple situations. Not mention the difference in digging and vertical climbs.

Sounds about right. I just couldnt deal with it. went back to vertical.

P.S. The agent is lookin awesome!

 

[helhedded]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Nice work, Shane! You are a gentleman and a scholar.

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Sounds about right. I just couldnt deal with it. went back to vertical.

P.S. The agent is lookin awesome!

Thanks. I am finally past the tuning wall I hit. I was racking my mind to get this truck to quit acting funny. All in the 8 Degree system though. :twisted: Glad I did narrow it down to that though.

Nice work, Shane! You are a gentleman and a scholar.

A scholar? Only thing I learned in college is that I can follow directions. And a gentleman, Not bloody likely!

I am working on homemade knuckle weights right now. Grade eight, 5/8" inner diameter washers. Only costing me $6 total and it will get me about 2.8oz total up front each side and I'll be able to take weight off that.
The base VP knuckle weights are 3.5oz each. I want to see how much the truck really needs to still crawl good. I am thinking a little less than 3.5oz each side but I don't want to start hacking on the VP base weights.

 

[EGRESSor]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

"ghetto" weights looking good:mrgreen:

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

"ghetto" weights looking good:mrgreen:

Correct answer!
Any of my pictures can be put into 1 of the 3 categories I listed above.

This knuckle weight was just a quick 45 minute build (Not even close to that German engineering). Still have to the do the other side and drill the top of the one pictured for additional weight. Like I said, only costing me $6 in washers and my time. 8)

 

[JeremyH]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Looking good Shane!

When you get these low weights finished, you should give them a shot with the 8* setup......IMO, it really needs a LOW (nothing above the axle) knuckle weight setup to work well. "thumbsup"

 

[helhedded]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

The weights are cool, Shane.

Looking good Shane!

When you get these low weights finished, you should give them a shot with the 8* setup......IMO, it really needs a LOW (nothing above the axle) knuckle weight setup to work well. "thumbsup"

makes sense!

 

[Szczerba]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Looking good Shane!

When you get these low weights finished, you should give them a shot with the 8* setup......IMO, it really needs a LOW (nothing above the axle) knuckle weight setup to work well. "thumbsup"

Thanks, now you tell me.

The weights are cool, Shane.

makes sense!

I wish I had some better tools in my shop other than a drill press, grinder, dremel, etc.

 

[JeremyH]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

Thanks, now you tell me.

Well, I dont have any sort of explanation for it, but the things that most guys arent liking with the 8* setup, I dont see on my berg using the bigron weight system....that is the only difference that I can think of...

 

[Duuuuuuuude]

Re: Szczerba's 2012 Secret Agent'd Berg

I wish I had some better tools in my shop other than a drill press, grinder, dremel, etc.

What do you think I made these with? A drill press is all you need, man! :ror: