• Welcome to RCCrawler Forums.

    It looks like you're enjoying RCCrawler's Forums but haven't created an account yet. Why not take a minute to register for your own free account now? As a member you get free access to all of our forums and posts plus the ability to post your own messages, communicate directly with other members, and much more. Register now!

    Already a member? Login at the top of this page to stop seeing this message.

First real RC - Craigslist find - Super-budget build

I let my 5yo drive it on 2s and he promptly ran it into an immovable object. Broke 3 end links up front and bent the servo arm.

cf1528c4424f58bdb6023d723bad2cd7.jpg


cdf2379025766d4810e0adbecbb4ceaf.jpg


I took the opportunity to replace the blue steering link ends with black spares I had. The plastic balls in the links were so worn they fell out when I took the screws out of the knuckle and servo arm. Less and less blue...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Steering link sans blue

dd6805893220241e9ce2f59565c995c0.jpg


I also moved the front upper links to the lower hole on the skid plate because the PO split the top mounting hole. Any suspension gurus know how this will affect handling/ride/stance, etc?

17134986304846fdc3746e5768cef555.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I also picked up a ZOP Power 3500mah battery and iMax B6-AC charger to charge it and the various other lipos that seem to be collecting around the house as the kids get into rc stuff.

The battery specs say it is 135x44x31. I didn't measure the length, but my calipers say it is 43mm tall and 31.3mm thick, as it sits in the tray. And it is a tight fit in both of those directions. Length is just right, too.

51d78914bb4d14a1c2d7b14819342696.jpg


5c35a8c16607a79093f0aecf454142b7.jpg


This battery is a brick!

c976e55e637b106f3254106508ceeabd.jpg


My existing 3S for comparison.

01b2623efbe232ff4fdc14f49eb36a8f.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
That truss is on the list...eventually. I will need to figure out what is needed for the steering linkage and how it affects the suspension links first. And I would love to see one in person to see how it all fits together. For the life of me, my brain cannot comprehend how the servo goes behind the axle and doesn't interfere with any other parts.
 
Starting to get my tire situation worked out. Everyone says how huge the proline foams that come with the Hyrax are, but my CI foams are much larger. I have the 6.0 DD comp cut/mediums.

With tuning ring:
6bcfe6ad0f4308d33a34b883c49bb386.jpg


8fae80de9f78de4bfcb4f132c2d06872.jpg


Without tuning ring:
38b288b8aace18e18d99ae4996aa3ec8.jpg


92b70ae1303957e97b91317d486db1c3.jpg


I can't wait to get these installed!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Gosh, I love his Bomber! He has me looking at the SSD axles, which I have sworn I will not buy until my stockers break. :twisted: I was >< this close to getting the soft outers, but I just picked up a 4s battery and I figured that the extra firmness would be needed. The stock foams and tires offer zero directional stability, even on 3s. I went with the 6.0 because, as near as I can tell, the only difference between the 5.5 and the 6.0 is the included tuning ring.
 
the only difference between the 5.5 and the 6.0 is the included tuning ring.

Yes, i understand like you !

Perhaps, with tuning ring, you have more smooth !?

I love his Bomber!
Thanks "thumbsup"

He has me looking at the SSD axles, which I have sworn I will not buy until my stockers break. :twisted:

Don't sworn :roll: ! SSD axles are awesome and they have a very nice look . But don't forget to buy skid !
 
Did a little crawling and more bashing around yesterday. It was the maiden voyage of the ZOP Power 3500mah 4s battery. I noticed a few things while reviewing the slomo: the factory baja's and stock foams do neither a good job of conforming to rocks or withstanding a heavy hit. Plus we all know how they roll over like a politician anytime the wheels are anything but straight. My sway bar is too stiff. I need to soften it up. Finally, these things take a POUNDING. Honestly, I don't know how they hold together.

Pardon the image quality, these are screen captures from video.

Stiff on the rocks
de2ad00aefce8cb48b03c6046bf10a47.jpg


But goes smoosh-flat on landings
29c742dda957dbdec738f970fd590852.jpg


Swaybar too stiff. I am going up the curb in reverse, slowly. Right rear tire has not reached the curb yet.
daa9e6c02a3188e297bbce36235ad4af.jpg


General beatings
dbc6a23a033d8d99f4c8583fe1af662b.jpg

31b6d25113df7b8d8092dc9097660524.jpg

0e4e89b7fa29019963f814a3ba7a059c.jpg

1a74b66c69b538ad9db7d6534153b524.jpg

68ed0ec1469f700006f3ad9d64ca5c59.jpg

dfcb236b1e8cafb95db52bbeb1e64d0b.jpg





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Weighed the bomber yesterday, also. With stock tires and 4s battery. It'll be interesting how much difference the Hyrax tires and additional mods make.

Scale was zero'd with the stand on it before weighing.
c5459868a97234a7c109053db305fc81.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
When are you getting the CIs installed? It should be like night and day comparisons.

I really hope so! Cross my fingers hoping for this weekend. I am installing the Hyrax and CI's on some Axial Method wheels. I would really like to paint the wheels before I assemble everything. But we'll see. I have a set of Gmade XD 103's that I want to get installed this weekend, too.
 
Well, didn't get them mounted, but I did get them vented. I put 3 2.5mm vent holes in each Hyrax with a leather punch.

a2e66ae6d2c61c817cfac9f8da49fb0c.jpg


I want to paint the wheels before I mount them, but finding the right color is taking longer than I thought it would. Got the wife to agree to let me use some of her sparkly red nail polish, but my test spot had too much pink in it. Going to look for some other stuff as time permits.

Also, after some bashing around this weekend, my servo is glitching out at times. I am pretty sure it is a short in the wiring because I can reach in and jiggle the wires near the plugs (not near the servo itself) and it works again for a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
I've been busy the last few weeks so I haven't had a chance to update. The glitchy servo turned out to be loose pin tension on the servo connection to the BEC. I tightened that up and she is back at it. I still haven't mounted the Hyrax because I haven't had time to paint the wheels. I did, however, mount the 103mm GMade XD shocks, bringing the level of awful faded light blue down to just the BEC wrapper and the rear sway link ends! 2000UZJ got them cleaned up and I put them on with whatever springs they came with. Pretty sure they are mediums. I have yet to crawl with them, but they seem more robust than the factory shocks. The bomber feels more planted when, well, bombing. I also found a deal I could not pass up on an SSD Diamond rear axle!!! And I have a few bits of dodads and whatnots to put on. Time to update my build sheet...

And then, last week, I was driving it around and it just cut off. Dead. Nothing. No power, no noise, no lights, nada. The main power wire from the battery to the ESC came off where it attaches to the ESC. So, now I get to tear it all back down again and resolder it before I can drive it anymore. :(
 
Gmade's installed

40d23770628bd56c49732874ac5559ca.jpg


Current weight with 4s battery, in ounces. Looks like I picked up about an ounce and a half by switching to the Gmades.

1a077e2caa32ff0cb91a57f4e2cbff7f.jpg


Power wire separated from ESC. The previous owner had a Novak capacitor dangling from the power wires for who knows how long and I think that may have had something to do with the failure.

08828b1d7435932d2fd4c25302d4550a.jpg


Like father, like daughter. She can roll (over) with the best of them.

7638586fb2419c681b56e2641e1a8cc1.jpg


In the last week, the a/c went out on my Forester, the control panel on our oven exploded and the alternator on the wife's Odyssey kaputzed. So I've been wrenching, just not on the Bomber. This is the back of the oven control panel. On a positive note, I verified that the Pb charging mode on the knockoff B6AC charger I bought works. I used it to charge the battery on the van while I was installing the alternator. It would barely make the dead-battery clicky noise before the charge. Afterwards, it fired right up. Score!

0a33db35057488d97ca2fe5b4820445e.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Back
Top