Fun build thread! My girlfriend regularly reminds me that I am a nerd, but thanks for confirming. I like the quality of your choices in electrics and upgrades, she’s gonna be a hot goat on the rocks:shock:
Thanks for pointing out some tolerance issues. Curious to see whether these consistently turn up in build threads
Anytime you need external validation for the claims that you are a nerd, you know where to find me. "thumbsup"
No, the idler gear runs on bearings on the shaft. He is just making the shaft a touch longer with that shim. Nothing will be spinning against that shim, if it is, there are larger problems. Lol
Exactly. With the few shims, the idler gear shaft now serves as a spacer to maintain the distance between the motor plate and the gear cover needed to allow the idler gear to rotate freely.
Understandable...but, doesn't that mean the idler gear is still up against the shim? While the gear shaft isn't spinning, the gear, itself, is. The metal-on-metal contact, with the idler gear is spinning, crates a lot of friction, thus heat. That's why, in my race vehicles, I use Teflon shims in areas like this.
What wblteen said.
It is more of a metallic orange, I'll see what I can do for some better pics.
I'm getting into the home stretch of this build so let's bring it home in style.
So we have taken our test subject, injected him with mega steroids, and now it is time to expose him to radiation in what will be either a magnificent success or horrible failure.
I do believe the last part to button up the chassis is to install the electronics/battery tray. This is my preferred electronics location because it allows the ESC and receiver to be removed together with 2 screws versus the rear bulkhead and fuel cell locations. The downside is the available space in this location but I had a good plan: a tiny ass ESC.
The good, old Tekin FXR is perfect for spinning the Holmes Crawlmaster Magnum and is super small. It is absolutely swimming in extra room on that electronics tray. The receiver is my favorite Futaba R204GF-E because it isn't too large and has no antenna to worry about. The Capra will be controlled by my Futaba 4PV because Harley uses one and he is my hero. That is either biting sarcasm or a deep internal truth, you decide.
We interrupt this update for an important announcement. It was at this point electronics were tested and I noticed the rubbing noise coming from the transmission. While it wasn't running too rough, it didn't sound good and felt like there was too much drag. I took the truck back apart, swapped the SSD overdrive gears for the stock gears and did the idler gear shaft shimming from my previous post. Once everything was back together, the drivetrain was 1000 times quieter and smoother. Also I stole a 12T pinion from another truck and installed it while I was in there. Now back to the build.
There isn't much left to do with the cage, lower assembly, and body panels complete so I guess it is a good time to introduce them.
I'm a fan but I was a fan from just the concept of this truck so I'm really a poor judge of these things.
Once change I made was to swap the stock hexes for Wraith style hexes. This gives me a tad more width for the wheels to clear the portals but mostly all the wheels I would run have hubs designed for the Wraith style hex. I know SLW hubs and the like work with the flat face hexes but I'm never happy with the space it leaves between the hex and the wheel nut.
The Wraith hexes are a direct fit, it just leaves a little space between the axle spacer and the hex. A couple 5x7mm shims will take care of that little bit of space but I ran out.
Now for a moment we all have been waiting for.
A decision we have all agonized over before
One of the great joys of any build thread.
Wheels and tires!
And the winner is:
Proline Krawlers on SSD Rock Racer wheels!
The SSD wheels were a simple choice because they look super appropriate for a rock buggy and I already had them. How can you go wrong with something that looks good and requires no money being spent? As for the tires, nothing could be more appropriate of a WERock unlimited class buggy than a set of BFG Krawlers and the Proline version also happens to be a damn good tire. These are the G8 versions stuffed with Proline dual stage foam.
So nice, even if pics of black wheels never come out good.
Oh, if you were curious, here are the stock wheels.
They seem nice enough for plastic wheels but we all know what everyone is going to do with them.
And we are mounted up.
Damn, I love this already. More pics!
I know everyone has been wondering what the ride height is like with the Dravtech shocks.
To me it is perfect, exactly what I had in mind when I ordered them. This is with the medium springs in case anyone wants to pick up a set for themselves.
The last thing I want to share is my choice of battery.
These are Helios 1500mah 3S packs in case the label wasn't enough of a clue. This bad boy is a crawler, lightweight packs are where it's at when the battery is the highest mounted piece of electrical equipment on the truck. 1500mah will be good for over an hour of driving easily.
Speaking of driving, this is now a functioning truck. I had the chance to drive it around my house for a bit and first thing you notice is the Holmes Crawlmaster Magnum is smooth as hell. Even with the relatively tall 36ish:1 gearing, this moves as slow molasses in a snow storm (it is October and it was 95* here yesterday, let me think about cold weather). The dig is functioning nicely. I have it set as a 2 point of locked and unlocked and it is obvious locking the rear is going to be fun.
And now our origin story is complete and our hero has been forged. Stay tuned for stories of his unending battles against the rocks!
