Build Thread A little Tekno nitro buggy work this evening..🤘

[Littlemotor]

only 1 extra screw this time!!! and 2 plastic thingies.. got the motor swapped tho lolol...
seriously no idea where that came from, only remember removing 2 with nuts and their back on ???

View attachment 256943

Don’t get me to lyin’! The last thing I know anything at all about is a little bitty crawler, my dood!

 

[Littlemotor]

Just screwing around a bit really as I’m waiting a few days for parts..

Gonna “deflower” my new Ultrasonic on this dude’s whip I suppose. Unbelievably-I haven’t used it on any of my own garbage ..

Also been plugging away at the typical BS that arises with someone else’s maintenance (or lack there of); stripped screw heads, cross-threaded fasteners, SEIZED fasteners due to using 9gal of liquid threadlocker-or freaking RED .. Some folks grew up without a dad, and it shows lol.. ANYwho; not bitching about the owner, but the dude he got it from that “regularly maintained” it, and is a knowledgeable racer for many years.. Mkay..

The stuff I’m doing includes all new steering components, and that covers the rack/bellcrank assembly-buttttttttt… BECAUSE this is a 2.1 buggy, this was prior to Tekno screwing us with composite rack bushings, so I didn’t have him order any aluminum ones.. Of course the screw heads are stripped, so I KNOW there’s a metric F-ton of threadlocker inside as well..

I’m not big on “slotting” my stripped fasteners with a cutoff wheel, and doing more damage to an otherwise good part-even if it’s being replaced. Rather just commit 100%, and do it correctly..

You don’t even need a $27 bit most of the time, provided you take care of it with cutting fluid, and know how to use your drill properly.. Slow is smooth-smooth is fast.. If you’re not producing nice chips; you’re doing it wrong.

Stop and verify I’m still on track.. I don’t want to ruin a $20 steering rack.

Add more cutting fluid (even SAE 30 will work fine for this)..

Stop, clean, and verify again.. Spot on.

I’ve had this dude since 1986.

annnnnnd, Yahtzee!

Good enough for government work..

Zero damage.

Fastener #2.. Same dealio; verbatim.

Run of the mill, garbage home improvement store bit.. Looks exactly the same as it did before the job. Bueno.

Quality chips.

I have a much more suitable pair of Vise-Grips for this than these needle nose units, but these were close by, and I wasn’t the least bit worried they weren’t up to the task.

Primo-reamo.. Saved $20 on the aluminum rack bushings (or close to it), 4days for shipping-being it’s Saturday night, and another $20 minimum for the rack I didn’t ruin, or leave looking like homemade shoes, by slotting it, and hoping a flat blade driver would remove them.. IMO this is the way.

I suppose I’ll get the rest of these parts into the Ultrasonic, and disassemble the shocks so that those parts can be soaking in a Naphtha bath overnight..

 

[Spksh]

That's some quality machining there . There's something really satisfying about this kind of rebuild. Love it.

 

[Littlemotor]

That's some quality machining there . There's something really satisfying about this kind of rebuild. Love it.

Thanks buddy, I sure appreciate the kind words!

 

[CertifiedMike]

Cross threading is the sign of a racer who is willing to do ANYTHING for the win!

Nice save!

 

[Littlemotor]

Continuing on with some further teardown, parts cleaning, and began a bit of prep work. Waiting on parts, but still have plenty to stay moderately busy with tedious stuff. I prefer to have everything ready to go for assembly, and not have to go backward to go forward, once I get moving..

Gave the ultrasonic a whirl for the composites, and a few hardened steel parts.
30min batches, and checked at the finish each time to monitor how well it was doing..

1st was 60c and water alone.
2nd was 60c and 80% water 20% SG
3rd same..

I like to sneak up on it lol.. Been using Simple Green in 1/8 off-road for 3 decades now, and know what it takes ratio wise to be in the sweet spot when using a heated pressure washer. Too much, and I’m just wasting SG.

With the Ultrasonic, I wanna see how well the frequency actually works, THEN increase the solution content. 20% did phenomenal, and didn’t suck the oil from the composite-which is what I was after. Definitely happy with it. Now I just need to get used to a solid result, withOUT all the time & elbow grease.

On the grimier batch (diff cases, etc.), I bumped the content up to 40%. Happy with that.

These were all ugly AF, and was the 20% batch. Came out great IMO, after two 30min sesh’s..

I’ve got more stuff running through it currently, so piktardz of those tomorrow. While I was waiting on the composites, I rescued the diff parts from the Naphtha bath.

Tore down the shocks to find some good news.. Ti-Ni shafts, and VRP 20-hole pistons. ‘bout time something worked out to this dude’s advantage.. The only thing that kinda sucks is that it’s setup with black valves both front & rear.. -and of course the new owner doesn’t have a valve kit.. Still gonna take it as a win, and he can grab those from VRP no problemo.. In the meantime; he did grab a set of 6-hole MIP bypass pistons, as well as Ti-Ni shafts, and a shock cartridge parts assortment. I’ll get with him later today, and we will decide the best route. likely the MIP’s for now (which work great anyhow), and he can grab the valve kit from VRP at his leisure..

Amazingly enough; the boots are in excellent shape. I had him covered if they were not, but definitely another small victory..

Fresh Naphtha bath, and back to the ultrasonic to see how we’re making out on the rest of the composites & steels..

These bodies, caps, and cartridge nuts are looking TREMENDOUS after only about 10min, and a few Lilmotah “swirlies”..

 

[Warby]

Continuing on with some further teardown, parts cleaning, and began a bit of prep work. Waiting on parts, but still have plenty to stay moderately busy with tedious stuff. I prefer to have everything ready to go for assembly, and not have to go backward to go forward, once I get moving..

Gave the ultrasonic a whirl for the composites, and a few hardened steel parts.
30min batches, and checked at the finish each time to monitor how well it was doing..

1st was 60c and water alone.
2nd was 60c and 80% water 20% SG
3rd same..

I like to sneak up on it lol.. Been using Simple Green in 1/8 off-road for 3 decades now, and know what it takes ratio wise to be in the sweet spot when using a heated pressure washer. Too much, and I’m just wasting SG.

With the Ultrasonic, I wanna see how well the frequency actually works, THEN increase the solution content. 20% did phenomenal, and didn’t suck the oil from the composite-which is what I was after. Definitely happy with it. Now I just need to get used to a solid result, withOUT all the time & elbow grease.

View attachment 257086

On the grimier batch (diff cases, etc.), I bumped the content up to 40%. Happy with that.

View attachment 257087

These were all ugly AF, and was the 20% batch. Came out great IMO, after two 30min sesh’s..

View attachment 257088View attachment 257089

I’ve got more stuff running through it currently, so piktardz of those tomorrow. While I was waiting on the composites, I rescued the diff parts from the Naphtha bath.

View attachment 257090

Tore down the shocks to find some good news.. Ti-Ni shafts, and VRP 20-hole pistons. ‘bout time something worked out to this dude’s advantage.. The only thing that kinda sucks is that it’s setup with black valves both front & rear.. -and of course the new owner doesn’t have a valve kit.. Still gonna take it as a win, and he can grab those from VRP no problemo.. In the meantime; he did grab a set of 6-hole MIP bypass pistons, as well as Ti-Ni shafts, and a shock cartridge parts assortment. I’ll get with him later today, and we will decide the best route. likely the MIP’s for now (which work great anyhow), and he can grab the valve kit from VRP at his leisure..

View attachment 257091

Amazingly enough; the boots are in excellent shape. I had him covered if they were not, but definitely another small victory..

View attachment 257092

Fresh Naphtha bath, and back to the ultrasonic to see how we’re making out on the rest of the composites & steels..

View attachment 257093

These bodies, caps, and cartridge nuts are looking TREMENDOUS after only about 10min, and a few Lilmotah “swirlies”..

View attachment 257094

View attachment 257096

It all looks to be in good condition, in these photos at least.

 

[Littlemotor]

It all looks to be in good condition, in these photos at least.

I helped him out on some things that were less than ideal, and we couldn’t have foreseen.. So yes-for the most part; they all are now..

 

[Littlemotor]

annnnnnnnd, we’re live…

Touched base with the customer to go over the parts left over after teardown/inspection/evaluation..

The shitpile:

Smoked Fasteners junkpile:

The rest are useable spares, even a handful of possible upgrades to his early 2.0 chassis E-buggy..

This is what he decided to keep. Ti-Ni Tekno shafts, and VRP 20-hole bypass pistons.

And this was deemed “trashcan worthy”.. I like your style, sir..

This is what is remaining from the previous setup (and a handful of my own stuff I donated to help the guy out-he was having some piss luck for a hot minute, and I do what I can) to continue further in the new build/upgrades:

 

[Littlemotor]

So now….

And most of y’all know exactly what that means…

 

[Warby]

Start building already, ffs

 

[Littlemotor]

Start building already, ffs

 

[Littlemotor]

But I have to get set up first…

Littlemotor needs a bigger shop..

 

[CertifiedMike]

annnnnnnnd, we’re live…

Touched base with the customer to go over the parts left over after teardown/inspection/evaluation..

The shitpile:

View attachment 257450

Smoked Fasteners junkpile:

View attachment 257451

The rest are useable spares, even a handful of possible upgrades to his early 2.0 chassis E-buggy..

View attachment 257452

This is what he decided to keep. Ti-Ni Tekno shafts, and VRP 20-hole bypass pistons.

View attachment 257453

And this was deemed “trashcan worthy”.. I like your style, sir..

View attachment 257454

This is what is remaining from the previous setup (and a handful of my own stuff I donated to help the guy out-he was having some piss luck for a hot minute, and I do what I can) to continue further in the new build/upgrades:

View attachment 257455View attachment 257456View attachment 257457

Seems like the cleaver would be a more fitting tool during THIS part of the process! Right Wally?

You should start saving all the 'junk' parts to assemble into whole cars for ebay 'just like new' auctions!

Your resto makes me feel better about mine! Ooooohhhhhh see Dee!!!

Its what needs to be done if the build is going to be 'perfect'!

 

[MJT1212]

So just an estimate.....obviously not your first rodeo...how many hrs do you have in a complete teardown and then rebuild...if your not waiting on something

 

[Littlemotor]

So just an estimate.....obviously not your first rodeo...how many hrs do you have in a complete teardown and then rebuild...if your not waiting on something

Roughly 8hrs at the bench.

 

[Spksh]

But I have to get set up first…

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Yes, this is very good.

 

[Littlemotor]

Yes, this is very good.
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I see you…

After hours..

 

[Spksh]

Man, I need to up my game!

 

[Littlemotor]

Man, I need to up my game!

I preciate it buddy! -Nah-I just need my head examined..