I just got back from a 45 minute crawl on some pretty abusive rocks and not a hitch from the axle. I think I'll make another one, that way I'll have at least two SS shafts. Back to the shed tonight!!!

Today's longer crawl confirms that, indeed, there is abig difference having your battery right over the front axle. Not only does it help with the COG but it GREATLY reduces the left front wheel's inclination to lift off the rock due to torque twist.

what is that about? i always hear about someones rig pulling to one side or one tire raising more than others... in my tubes it was just a bad hack job of the links and bad geometry, but yours is perfect so was it just uneven weight distribution due to the servo?

Nope it has to do with the torquing of the motor. The motor turns in one direction and the torque force literally tries to twist the chassis/suspension. This twist pushes the right rear wheel down and also tries to lift the front left off the ground. One way to overcome this is to pre-load the rear right spring (add more spacers) to help stop the compression due to the torque force. I've pre-loaded my front left as well to help force that wheel down to the ground. I am also running a very heavy weight oil in the rears - too heavy I think as my shocks are too slow to respond.

The battery on the front axle helps too as the torque force now has to lift the battery as well.

Does this explain it?

Sean

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SeanD,

Here is a picture of my new stainless steel axles. The plastic ring around the shaft is a bearing retainer. The pin is made from a small hex key pounded into the hole in the shaft and rounded using a file.

nice work man!
yeah it does explain it perfect, how could i miss it! torque twist rotating mass inertia all that jazz, makes sense now, thanks

This may very well be my WK Update Swan Song. I keep checking back to this forum to see if any of the "old crowd" are still about but all I see is nasty posts by some individuals(in particular one who so incessantly bashes the WK without knowing its true potential)

Anyway, here is an update:

integy 55t motor
96/15 gears
Moped Esc
MG945 steering servo
Traxxas TQ3 RX and TX
WB stretched to 13"
Custom Shock mounts
custom front drive axles
Custom steering servo/battery mount (see image)
4 link system of polymer coated brakeline (see image)
dremeled tires
chopped body (see image)
chopped chassis
delrin skidplate in the front
steel skidplate on transmission
locked diffs using RCguy diff locks
lead weights epoxied into rims (see image)
extra springs on shocks (see image)

Proposed mods:

junfac beadlocks (on the way)
losi rock claws (on the way)
4WS (extra servos on the way)

Comments:

I am very happy with my current setup. This thing can really crawl now. I've noticed a big difference since I added the weight to the front rims. It really changed the COG and the rigs ability to clime much steeper inclines. The weight really helps with sidehilling too.

I've added small springs to the shocks to stiffen them without having to buy new shocks. The heavier "internal" springs I've added to the rear right shock have all but eliminated the torque twist. This coupled with the extra weight on the front rims has virtually stopped the rig's desire to raise its front left wheel. I took it out for a rigorous climb today and the improvement is incredible. The extra springs have decreased my flex but the elimination of torque twist and the marked increase in sidehill-ability are well worth it!!

I chopped my body as you can see from the images. I was getting a lot of body rub - but not anymore. That's rubber tubing around the edges.

I am eagerly awaiting my new rims and tires and once the steering servo shows up - its 4WS time!!!

Sorry for not posting any new mods. As I've said, this will probably be my last update. I guess I'm just happy to work in my own solitude and to make mods as I see fit.

Cheers and here are few images - sorry no vids.

Sean

dude... sick sick sick work on that body, SICK

like the spring in a spring too!

but wowzer, what a job on that danmed body, perfect, perfect, what tubing are you using at the cut points? cause i want to do the exact same thing man.

kudos on all of your work, and a big thanks for the pics ! ! ( specially the weighted rims )....

like your work as always......... gotta have us a "crawl-in" one of these years - out - at - your - place , cause I love the scenery..........

( I mean rocks )

see ya here or there (rcc) eventually

thanks guys - nice to see that someone still appreciates the ol' WK.

The tubing you see around the body is small windshield wiper fluid hose, slit down one side and epoxied on. My body cuts were already pretty neat but I wanted it to have a more "finished" look. Plus, I had some stress cracks on the "hood" and rear fender area that are benfiting greatly from the improved rigidity from the tubing. And the best thing is no body rub. Oh yea, I also dropped the body down about .75" by cutting the chassis and moving the body mounts. Sorry no pictures. This gives the truck a more squat looking stance instead of looking like its riding a mile high!

The weights in the rims are incredible. You really notice the shift drop in COG and increased traction.

I took her out for a good crawl the other day and the stiff suspension works perfect. Eventhough the extra springs are much stiffer, the added weight in the wheels still allows them to react rather quickly to changes in terrain. The added weight and stiff suspension combine for a bounce-free ride and the truck looks like a snake slithering acorss the rocks with no loss of wheel contact. Its pretty cool to watch. Can't weight to get my beadlocks and the Losi Rock Claws!! Same goes for the new servo so that I pop in the 4WS!!

phatchantz - I have to crawl by myself here all the time so any company would be greatly appreciated. The LHS sold another WK to some guy for the purpose of building a crawler but protection of privacy inhibits them from giving out the person's name. Still the owner said she would pass along my name/numer should this person ever come back into the shop. I am not hopeful at this point of finding him/her. I posted to the local 1:1 offroad forum and there was spurt of interest but these guys mostly have RC bashers!!

Here's a pretty lousy video showing how the CKS handles volleyball-sized rocks. My old digicam's video capabilities are pretty bad and it fails to show the details of this rock course. Sorry but its the best I can do !!!



Sean

Very good video SEAND…

I like your ((WHEELY-KING… Crawlin' King Snake))

It climbs like a champion…

The suspension of this crawler is very good.

I like it….

Thanks Tex.

You will see in a few places in the video how stiff the suspension can be - sometimes the wheels don't drop really quick to the ground. But I actually find this better as it allows the wheel to "float" across a drop that may otherwise catch the tire. Make sense?

Sean

quote:

Originally posted by SeanD:

phatchantz - I have to crawl by myself here all the time so any company would be greatly appreciated.

o.k. - now you've done it - I'm renting a tandem dump to come out there and bring some of that crawling country BACK HERE......... man am I jealous of your environ

your snake gets through that in good style ! !

it's a 24 hour "straight shot" from here to you - used to have a buddy that did it - ahhhhhhhh..

if only I was younger you would have company...

these days I'd be "bagged" for 2 days to get over the drive ( HA )

( red bull - - - red bull )

I'm building this pile from fieldstones I am finding around the woods. The poor quality of the vid really doesn't show the true "shape" of the course and the articulation/torque the crawler must have to traverse it.

Start driving!!!

Sean