Reinforcing Clod wheels?

[Frostman]

Hey all,

New to RCMT but not new to the hobby. I built a Wraith Barbarian and love it, but I keep breaking Clod wheels. Is there any way to reinforce them to make them stronger so I am not breaking them constantly? I have broken 2 in the last 2 weeks. The first one I was able to fix with some CA, sheet steel, and shoe goo. But the most recent one isn't going to be fixed so easily. It looks to me like TXT wheels are a little sturdier, but are they? Plus they are hard to come by.

So really two questions.

1. Is there a way to reinforce stock clod wheels?

2. If TXT wheels are a better option is there anywhere where I can get my hands on some easily?

Thanks!

Until I figure out something better I threw on some 17mm adapters and Badlands, they are going to be **** on the drivelines! lol

With Clod tires:

Current State:

 

[HawnMT]

TXT wheels are stronger. There's a seller in Japan, JR-RC, that sells them the cheapest (even with the higher shipping costs) but he sells out of them relatively fast.

As far as reinforcing Clod wheels, it depends on how you're breaking them. If you're shearing the drive nubs off, then a easy fix is to drill them out and run 4mm bolts or screws through them and the plastic adapter to make them one unit. If you're straight cracking the wheel apart, then the first thing I would do is soften up your suspension if possible and it might be too stiff, putting all the stress on the wheels.

 

[SixtysGuy]

Just another idea to folllow on from HawnMT in relation to the suspension, a few 1/8 holes drilled in the wheels to allow a little more cushion when it lands could help too. Are the wheels old? Could be a case of old brittle plastic too.

 

[JKRacing37]

Nothing technical to add just wanted to say great looking barbarian and welcome to RCMT!

 

[william g]

Nothing technical to add just wanted to say great looking barbarian and welcome to RCMT!

Ditto, welcome aboard.

 

[Frostman]

TXT wheels are stronger. There's a seller in Japan, JR-RC, that sells them the cheapest (even with the higher shipping costs) but he sells out of them relatively fast.

As far as reinforcing Clod wheels, it depends on how you're breaking them. If you're shearing the drive nubs off, then a easy fix is to drill them out and run 4mm bolts or screws through them and the plastic adapter to make them one unit. If you're straight cracking the wheel apart, then the first thing I would do is soften up your suspension if possible and it might be too stiff, putting all the stress on the wheels.

I've been breaking the hub area out:

Thanks! I will have to check out JR-RC to see what I can find. I will try drilling out the nubs and running screws through them. I have a brand new set of wheels waiting but I wanted to find out what I could do first. And I will try working on the suspension too. The springs are too stiff right now and that probably isn't helping the matter.

Just another idea to folllow on from HawnMT in relation to the suspension, a few 1/8 holes drilled in the wheels to allow a little more cushion when it lands could help too. Are the wheels old? Could be a case of old brittle plastic too.

The wheels were already vented. So thats been done. I do not know how old they are so that could play in as well. I got them second hand for $35. And the tires are darn near brand new, very few runs on them if any when I got them. The wheels may be older though.

Nothing technical to add just wanted to say great looking barbarian and welcome to RCMT!

Ditto, welcome aboard.

Thanks guys! Its a fun truck. I am going to be doing a Bigfoot body (I know, really original) after I get everything else ironed out. Just love the old school Bigfoot that I remember watching on TV when I was a kid!!

Another question, I saw that you can get OFNA 17mm 3.2" wheels and stretch the stock tires over them. Has anyone else done this? It would give me another option if I can't get my hands on some TXT wheels.

 

[william g]

are you running a plastic widener hub??

I'm betting you are, it flexes and the wheel breaks. You need either the stiff tamiya hub, or an aluminum hub.

No offense to anyone but the ''printed'' hubs just don't cut it. The plastic printed stuff has mini gaps and for a hub that's bad.

 

[Frostman]

are you running a plastic widener hub??

I'm betting you are, it flexes and the wheel breaks. You need either the stiff tamiya hub, or an aluminum hub.

No offense to anyone but the ''printed'' hubs just don't cut it. The plastic printed stuff has mini gaps and for a hub that's bad.

And probably doesn't help as well, thank you William.

 

[Dukk]

You could also try the 2.2 wheel mod where you shoo goo a 2.2 stadium truck wheel inside the clod wheel. It slides in perfect, eliminates the need for a widener, has a 12mm hex, and you bolt up the whole thing on with the 2.2 wheel which is generally stronger than the clod wheel. I have done this (I used RPM Revolvers) and it works great. The only downer is you have to drill a hole in the clod wheel big enough to get a wheel wrench in.

PLUS - you could even re-use that busted wheel above and just cover the broken center with a coke bottle lid mock planetary

 

[ERIC-TC]

I would slap on an ofna monster pirate rim on your traxxas 17mm hub adaptor, install the clod tires and call it a day. This way you eliminate all the parts that break: no abs plastic wheel, no hex, no tamiya adaptors, no wideners, no barrell nuts, no wheels loosening up, no having to glue the clod tires either.

ERIC-TC

 

[Frostman]

Thanks for all the input guys! I really appreciate it. I'm going to try some TXT wheels and see how that works first. Along with softening the suspension I hope that will do the trick. If not I'll probably go with the ofna wheels.

 

[SixtysGuy]

Just to throw another idea into the mix....... You can salvage those wheels by doing William G's EQR mod (do a search for it). Then you can ditch the widener.