RC4WD Militant 2.2 Beadlock Rims

[Vengeance]

Okay, so I have been looking at these wheels for over a year now and I finally pulled the trigger and ordered them, they arrived today.

My question is... wait for it.... How in the heck do you assemble them? not the screws for looks but actually mounting tires on them??

These things are a hot mess and I am either a little slow mentally today or I need to be a cephalopod.

I verified they are 2.2 rims and I am trying to mount my Axail Wraith kit tires to them. The wheels halfs keep dropping inside the tire while I am attempting to hold the assembly tight enough together to get the tiny screw through and then somehow get a tiny nut on it...


If anyone knows any tricks... please help.

Thank you,
Jason

 

[sickcivic95]

I ended up making a styrene jig to press the halves together before I put any screws in it. I just used the axle nut hole as the center pin cut two pieces of styrene to 2.2 and drilled a bunch of small holes around the outer edge and inner area to allow me to start a few bolts in each location. Once I had a few on I removed it and installed the rest normally. And I had 8 wheels to do...... I also had a few I had to throw in the freezer for a bit to help Witt the tire fitment...

--Dan

 

[Vengeance]

Thank you for the info... holy buckets those wheels are nutz to install.
V

 

[TURBOFEST]

A simple and cheap method I have heard of and used for the rc4wd steelies (similar concept to the militants) is to just go to the hobby shop and buy two longer 2mm screws that you can use to line up the two haves and because the screws are longer it's much easier to catch the threads with the little nuts. Once they are tightened down a little bit you can easily put the rest of the screws in and tighten them down completely. then swap out the two longer screws for the normal screws and tighten everything up...your done. Its an extra step, but it takes alot of the headache away. "thumbsup"

 

[Vengeance]

Follow-up to wheel assembly... And thank you both for the pointers, I appreciate it.

What I ended up doing was using two 3mm screws to hold the assembly together while I put in the rest of the regular screws and nuts. So problem one solved. However I have ran into another issue which I am not pleased about at all.

Some of the hardware for the wheels is very soft. I have two of the wheels assembly screws for the bead lock portion stripped. They where stripped using no tools just a hex driver. And they were not that tight when it happened.

I am not bashing RC4WD however it is not the first time I have received inferior fasteners from them let alone the first time I have had wheel issues due to tolerances and materials.

Personally I think they should have used a steel rear half for the wheels and threaded the holes. This would have taken care of both assembly issues. Add to that good quality steel screws and it would be perfect.

Until I can run the truck I will not know if these rims are actually going to hold the tires as they should or not. Right now I have my doubts.

Originally I planned on using the Vanquish SLW wheels with the scale looking beadlocks but they did not have the colors in stock I wanted, and RRP does not carry their modular 2.2 SLW rims, mostly they carry the 1.9 lines.

Anyhow, thank you both again. I think I will be contacting Harley to see if he can source the replacement screws for the Militiants and make sure I am getting a good quality steel fastener.

Jason

 

[Natedog]

A simple and cheap method I have heard of and used for the rc4wd steelies (similar concept to the militants) is to just go to the hobby shop and buy two longer 2mm screws that you can use to line up the two haves and because the screws are longer it's much easier to catch the threads with the little nuts. Once they are tightened down a little bit you can easily put the rest of the screws in and tighten them down completely. then swap out the two longer screws for the normal screws and tighten everything up...your done. Its an extra step, but it takes alot of the headache away. "thumbsup"

This or I just carefully held the wheel with one hand and started the screws a little at a time.

Follow-up to wheel assembly... And thank you both for the pointers, I appreciate it.

What I ended up doing was using two 3mm screws to hold the assembly together while I put in the rest of the regular screws and nuts. So problem one solved. However I have ran into another issue which I am not pleased about at all.

Some of the hardware for the wheels is very soft. I have two of the wheels assembly screws for the bead lock portion stripped. They where stripped using no tools just a hex driver. And they were not that tight when it happened.

I am not bashing RC4WD however it is not the first time I have received inferior fasteners from them let alone the first time I have had wheel issues due to tolerances and materials.

Personally I think they should have used a steel rear half for the wheels and threaded the holes. This would have taken care of both assembly issues. Add to that good quality steel screws and it would be perfect.

Until I can run the truck I will not know if these rims are actually going to hold the tires as they should or not. Right now I have my doubts.

Originally I planned on using the Vanquish SLW wheels with the scale looking beadlocks but they did not have the colors in stock I wanted, and RRP does not carry their modular 2.2 SLW rims, mostly they carry the 1.9 lines.

Anyhow, thank you both again. I think I will be contacting Harley to see if he can source the replacement screws for the Militiants and make sure I am getting a good quality steel fastener.

Jason

How have the wheels been holding the tires? What power are you running?