Catweasel's Groundpounder

[Catweasel]

My other half ordered my Gp as a Christmas present for me.It got assembled, then put away for a while whilst I developed my Bully crawler. The first job was to get rid of the standard radio. A: I don't like wheels and B: I use 2.4 Ghz. My TX is a DX6i with modified sticks. I use the right for rear steer, with the travel reduced to 50%. The front is on the left stick at full travel.Throttle is also on the left.Stripped the axles to have a look at the diff with a view to locking them, but not enough room to shift a pinion. Pity that, as the alternative is to use JB WELD or similar,hence permanent.I've fitted a gearbox brace, reversed the battery tray and gearbox and loosened up the shocks. Mine were stiff as they all seem to be, but attacking the valves sorted that. I'm using a 30 weight oil in mine. The next step will be wheels. I've got TXT's on at the moment, with adapters and it's very wide. 14mm hex's are on their way and a set of RC4WD beadlocks will join them soon. I also intend to get a Bolink body shell sent over (see gallery for mock up). Lipo's are also on the cards,3 cell. so the ESC will be going. One thing I've noticed is that as things progress there are less and less of those pesky Phillips screws!

 

[Brian34]

I think the B & H Clodbuster racing tires from RC4WD, the ones myself and TXT 2.0 have on our trucks, would be a very welcome addition to your truck.

 

[bpare207]

So what's the alternative wheel choice to TXT wheels that everyone seems to be looking at now? It seems that the offset of the clod/txt wheels makes it so you have to use the wideners or else they will rub...

 

[Brian34]

So what's the alternative wheel choice to TXT wheels that everyone seems to be looking at now? It seems that the offset of the clod/txt wheels makes it so you have to use the wideners or else they will rub...

I don't think it's the offset.
It's the fact that the factory Ground Pounder wheels are of a larger diameter then the Clodbuster wheels.
So, the spacers are to keep the wheels from rubbing against the hubs, particularly in turns.

 

[bpare207]

Ah gotcha, everyone wants the scale MT look of clod/txt wheels. Eh, I like the way Tad's trucks look with the e/t maxx wheels. They don't look abnormally wide to me

 

[Catweasel]

Just ordered all the bits from Brett. I'm a bit unhappy about the TXT wheels and spacers on the GP. I think that it may put to much strain on the hubs, so I'm going back to the stock wheels for now. I've remade the Tad bar. The first one I did was 6mm Delrin rod. About as strong as a length of spaghetti! New one is a TXT thick wall spacer. As for bracing the motor, I thought of a piece of 6mm Delrin sheet. If I drill a hole in it to take the rear bearing of the can, then bolt it to the chassis, it should be OK. Bit like the front motor mount really. Haven't got the bits yet for the axle braces, but looking at the damaged axle photo's I think I will solve that one. Next step will be stronger servo's, 3 cell Lipo's then brushless. Takes time, but I'm getting there.

 

[Catweasel]

Finally got the suspension of my GP to behave properly. Very soft and fluid. Rides the bumps like a dream.Stock shocks,but tweaked. I drilled the holes out 2.5mm,set the collars down 1/4" removed the small O ring and filled with a 30 weight oil. Just like a crawler now.Bit of squat on take off, dive on brakes but no sign of torque steer.Now I've got the bits I'll strip and do a full rebuild,incorporating the axle braces etc. I've also got on order an EZ-Run
60A ESC with a 13.5 motor, as well as a couple of 3 cell, 3000 Mah Lipo's. Wonder what will happen then.

 

[Catweasel]

:laughJust finished rebuilding the suspension and drive train of the GP. Thought I'd try the drop test first. From 1ft, OK. All the way to 3 ft.Nothing broke. OK, try something else. Drove it off the kitchen table! onto a tile floor. Nothing broke . Next trick was I drove it down a flight of stairs. Not slowly either. Nothing broke. I'm happy. Roll on brushless and Lipo.

 

[bpare207]

EZ-Run 60A ESC with a 13.5 motor, as well as a couple of 3 cell, 3000 Mah Lipo's. Wonder what will happen then.

I believe Mazda said it best, "zoom zoom" lol :tmb

 

[Catweasel]

STill waiting for the BL system to arrive. Mail to UK is a pain at the moment. Got the batteries though.3 cell Lipo, 5000mAh, 30C jobs. Should do the job I hope. What run time I'll have I haven't a clue. Got to fit Deans so I'll break out the big 100 watt iron for that. The Lipo leads are 12 swg.

 

[Catweasel]

:tmb Hi folks. I.ve now got the BL system for my GP, but I do have a question for you. Dire warnings are given re. using the fan on high voltage. As I'm using 3 cell Lipo, I need to plug the fan into the receiver. But which port? I have also got the body shell on its way to me and that may also give me fun. They never said it was easy did they. I may have to reverse everything I've done so far. Yes folks, this is one Ground Pounder that will spend most of it's time in reverse! I think I can guarantee a unique GP as regards bodyshell.

 

[Brian34]

:tmb Hi folks. I.ve now got the BL system for my GP, but I do have a question for you. Dire warnings are given re. using the fan on high voltage. As I'm using 3 cell Lipo, I need to plug the fan into the reciever. But which port? I have also got the body shell on its way to me and that may also give me fun. They never said it was easy did they. I may have to reverse everything I've done so far. Yes folks, this is one Ground Pounder that will spend most of it's time in reverse! I think I can guarantee a unique GP as regards bodyshell.

I think you may have to find a separate power source for the fan, but don't hold me to that. As for reversing things, did you switch your battery tray, and transmission around ? You can either plug the motor into the esc in reverse polarity, or you can take your axle assemblies out and open them and flip the differentials around. Or, just put the body on backwards lol.

 

[Catweasel]

Battery tray, reversed. Tad brace, made. Mod 1 gears, fitted. Cat braces on axles, made and fitted. Steering rod fitted. The body will be a coupe style, long bonnet, short back and NOT of USA origin. Therefore the chassis may have to fit backwards due to design of both chassis and bodyshell. All will be revealed in the fullness of time.

 

[Brian34]

Are you running an MG roadster body ??

 

[Catweasel]

Nope.Bit bigger than that. I did say coupe.

 

[Catweasel]

Well, I got the body shell today and guess what. It wouldn't fit! Too short for the chassis. Back to square one. Fitted the EZRun BL system. 60Amp ESC and 13.5 turn motor. Another problem reared it's head. I've got the alloy drive shafts on it and the motor was spinning the 'shafts apart. Threadlocked the sleeves now. So far so good.

 

[Catweasel]

I have a question re. the Mod 1 spur gear. When fitted on the shaft, it runs off true. The bore seems a little to big for the shaft. Does anyone else have this problem. You can imagine how difficult it is to set up a mesh.

 

[Brian34]

I have a question re. the Mod 1 spur gear. When fitted on the shaft, it runs off true. The bore seems a little to big for the shaft. Does anyone else have this problem. You can imagine how difficult it is to set up a mesh.

I'm running the Mod 1 spur also. I did go through one already. However, I believe that was because I didn't do my due diligence and verify the gears were aligned properly & I had not yet made and installed a tad brace at the time.
But I never the issue you seem to be having. Where did you get your Mod 1 spur from ?

 

[Catweasel]

I got the gears direct from CPE. I have got the brace and the gears are in line. It seems though that the bore of the Mod1 spur is slightly oversize. It would be better, in my opinion, to supplly the gears slightly undersize to allow for production tolerances.

 

[cpe mt]

I just checked about a half dozen of the Mod1 spurs we have here and the id of these gears is the same as the id of the stock 48P spur gear.

You're using the small steel shim that needs to go inside either of the spurs, correct? I'm guessing yes or you'll have all kinds of issues.