Ummm...

[durok]

Some serious drive-time today...

1.5 battery packs - 3 hours of non-stop wheelin' in some new terrain.

I went into the park proper, as the temps finally warmed up to the upper 60s and it dried up a bit.

Started out at the creek running up a long hill-climb that was tacky in some spots and a little muddy in others...

Then I just drove along the mountain bike path until it was so dark I could hardly see - I was following a huge loop and didn't want to backtrack, so I stayed out longer than planned.

The Holmes 550 21t on stock spur & 16t pinion never even got warm and the first 3200mAh 3S Venom LiPo lasted almost exactly 2 hours!

As I was not yet back to the car I swapped batteries to the 2nd identical LiPo and kept going.

It ran like a top the whole time, all I noticed is that the foams are definitely too soft - now that I have some additional weight and have moved all electronics to the front they want to roll off the front rims badly when turning.

I think I'll order a new rear cage to match the new cab that I am painting, so I can easily swap the old cab/cage combo back on when I'm likely to be rougher on the vehicle.

More pics:

 

[durok]

Went out for a long sessions today and got almost immediately cut short - lost front wheel drive. Gotta poke around and see what happened... It spins the front when held off the ground, and if I carefully spin the front wheels by grasping both tires and slowly spinning them the rears engage - but if I grab one at a time or twist too hard, something lets go internally...

And.... (EDIT!)

I feel silly - I could have fixed that in the field, but instead I went home and dozed off in front of the computer...

All that was needed was the grub screws on the driveshaft coupler being tightened - they were very loose.

Works fine now, and it's dark outside.

Shoot!

And... (EDIT #2)

I noticed I broke the Shapeways RULR from JC Auto Design on one side as well... I had ordered it in the "Premium" upgraded material and had been uncertain that I in fact received such an item in my order, as the material seemed identical to the other 2 items i ordered from other ShapeWays vendors at the same time. I have sent an email to them regarding the issue - we will see how that goes...

 

[M1tch]

That driveshaft problem is the same that I had. I drilled the output shaft on the trans 2.5mm to take Axial drive pins I am using Junfac driveshafts though, don't know what you are using. I think the problem with the Junfac's is the grub screw doesn't sit on the flat spot on the output shaft, so will spin after a while.

 

[durok]

All stock drive shafts here... I may be trying Boom Racing Voodoo driveshafts or the JunFacs for my Bomber build - see if I like them, if so - maybe get a set for the Ascender. I'm not expecting too much trouble out of the stockers now that I know what to keep an eye on... I'll clean them up and use ThreadLocker whenever I get the RULR fixed and my new body painted, custom bed panel for the new cage made, and new wheels /tires mounted... Regarding the new cage - I am thinking I'll leave the spare off the new one and cut a new panel that covers the area where it sits so I can get some other scale stuff to install there. Toolbox, Hi-lift jack, etc... Also, the new cage will likely be cut in the lower rear - I think I can tell how Rich modded his to allow the bed to be lowered along with the cab. With the 1.7" wheels, it'll be much nicer lowered - and the COG change will be most beneficial with the smaller OD tires... ramble on

 

[Natedog]

My stock driveshaft grub screws have been fine after really degreasing the threaded holes, more blue Loctite and good to go. The RC4WD 1.7 Goodyear MTRs are 4.19" tall x 1.58" wide, very nice size and looks great with his lowered K10 body! Looks like he cut off lower rear part of cage that interconnects the two pieces that have body pins and the part that rests on top of rear crossmember, then lowered it and drilled new body pin holes, one set above the chassis mounts (to maintain height) and one set below to keep it from coming off while crawling, very nice! Nicely trimmed up front bumper too.

 

[durok]

Yep - I was pretty sure I spotted where the cuts should be made, just not where the drilling took place. I can tell how far down to go by where the top of the fuel cell is in relation to the cage...

Gotta say, JC Auto Design already responded to my RULR breakage email... they suggest ShapeWays should be contacted for possible replacement. Hmmm...

I may try out what I was toying with initially - using the floating battery tray support mounts flipped around and installed on the other end of the skid as RULRs.

Will need to check for interference.

 

[CODYBOY]

Yep - I was pretty sure I spotted where the cuts should be made, just not where the drilling took place. I can tell how far down to go by where the top of the fuel cell is in relation to the cage...

Gotta say, JC Auto Design already responded to my RULR breakage email... they suggest ShapeWays should be contacted for possible replacement. Hmmm...

I may try out what I was toying with initially - using the floating battery tray support mounts flipped around and installed on the other end of the skid as RULRs.

Will need to check for interference.

They will work out nicely as Link risers! "thumbsup"
Ernie

 

[durok]

They will work out nicely as Link risers! "thumbsup"
Ernie

Good to know - do you remember if they foul the spur & pinion cover?

I seem to remember when I was setting them next to the chassis and thinking about it it seemed that I'd have to trim away some plastic - and I hate doing that...

 

[Natedog]

I just double checked and on WB2, 3 and 4, they will not foul the pinion/spur gear cover.

 

[durok]

I just double checked and on WB2, 3 and 4, they will not foul the pinion/spur gear cover.

You da MAN!

Muchly appreciated... will do some disassembly tonight after work. "thumbsup"

 

[Shinchu]

or just... forward motor mount to remove that possibility.
pretty sure that's what my truck uses for RULR. but i'd have to ask the expert who assembled it...

cant wait to see how your truck does with all of these improvements!

i need to find a good spot to really put mine through the wringer and see how it does on 1.55 with dirt grabbers. those things are TINY! your spot sounds great. and seems like you need lights!

 

[Browneye]

How do these work on the chassis? Any pics of them installed? And are they a worthy addition?

 

[durok]

Chris, that's what I installed and cracked one side in half... I even ordered the premium material version. I'm going to be contacting ShapeWays about replacing them... They key into the chassis past the skid towards the rear, you attach the upper link ends to them... There should be a pic in one of my recent posts... I'm at work and using my cell, not able to get too detailed at the moment.

Edit : post 57, 2nd pic shows them installed...

 

[M1tch]

Reversed battery tray mounts as RULR's

 

[Shinchu]

OH MY GOD WHERE IS YOUR SPUR GEAR COVER??!?! :shock:

:ror:

just messin with ya. looks good! should hold up better than 3D printed stuff.
now what to do about your battery? maybe rubber bands from the back side of the tray, wrapped up and over the front shock tower brace?
rubber bands are tiny truck approved, so says Chris at GCM lol "thumbsup"

 

[M1tch]

Cut two 3mm slots and used the original Vaterra strap.

The spur gear cover that came with this truck had some of the top cut off to fit the TF2 body it had on. Cant seem to get one separately, only with the motor mount I think.

 

[PoorManRC]

........ Just found this, I had been wanting to see your Ascender!! First, it's good to see my two newest friends on this Thread!! ;-)
Second, and I may say this often.... I LOVE TRUGGYS!!!! 8) On top of that, the reason I came back to RC almost two years ago, was Ascender Videos!! I also say often.... I want an Ascender so badly it hurts!!! I'm still hoping it will happen. I always try to be an optimist, it sure beats the alternative. :ror: LOL

Your Rig looks REALLY good! And it's pretty cool that you can find some nice Crawling spots, AND what looks like some sticky stuff too. You're also making a great argument for this Old Fart to bite the bullet and at least try Lipos!!! The cost is still prohibitive for me, because it's not just the Batteries, but also a Lipo Charger with balance ports. $$$$ Only the future knows I guess.
Can't WAIT to see the new Cab and Paint!!

EDIT: Those Boom Racing Voodoos!!!!! :shock: WOW! That just went on my dream list.

 

[PoorManRC]

OH...... And I'm glad I finally figured out by the end of the Thread, what the F#@% a RULR was!!! :shock: I was really starting to feel like a N00b!!

 

[PoorManRC]

or just... forward motor mount to remove that possibility.
pretty sure that's what my truck uses for RULR. but i'd have to ask the expert who assembled it...

cant wait to see how your truck does with all of these improvements!
i need to find a good spot to really put mine through the wringer and see how it does on 1.55 with dirt grabbers. those things are TINY! your spot sounds great. and seems like you need lights!

NOW, I gotta try to find YOUR Ascender..... so I can feel fully jealous!!! :lmao:
I see that we also have front mounted Motors in common. For me, it's all about room for full Interiors! ;-)

 

[durok]

Yep, I'm about to feel as if my handle here should be similar to yours... got notified that my contract is about to be ended with the gov't... (hint: I work tech support for the people that take care of people that have served in the military - like you and I)

Previously I have just hopped over to the new contractor when this occurred, but for some reason the new one isn't taking any of us on. I'll be pinching pennies from here on until I get something new lined up!

I have a little more stuff already on order, for the Ascender and my Bomber build (which should be really over the top, as I have got upgrades for practically everything except the cage) - and I have a few things for the Bomber that I bought and decided against using, so I will be selling them off in the classifieds.

The Ascender was somewhat of an impulse buy, as I was procrastinating so badly on the Bomber build that I felt I needed an RTR to get me out and crawling to increase my motivation! Very glad I got it, it is so much fun to drive.

I am in process of making it more scale, which will make it more for technical driving - as the wheel/tire package is being downsized to a realistic size. This will make for more skill being required to crawl successfully over obstacles.

The Bomber will be much faster and have 2.2" wheels & tires, allowing it to roll over nearly everything in it's path with a blip of the throttle...

Anyways, I am up bright and shiny - heading out to work. My fingers hurt from last night's work (RC4WD Goodyear MT/R 4.19" tires mounted on RC4WD Raceline 1.7" wheels - All those tiny screws!):