Custom Crawler Links

[Jerold]

I managed to bend a link on the SCX10 and need to replace it.

I've got a few choices.
1. Go with stock links. Inexpensive, easy, but will probably bend again - but that might save me an axle housing too.
2. Buy better links. Easy enough assuming they are correct, and high clearance options. But is more expensive.
3. Get custom links. Way more expensive, not sure about quality, toughness, or fit. But I could extend the wheel base a bit, custom materials
4. Build links. Pain in the butt to build. Probably more expensive after I buy all the crap to do it. But I've done a thing.
5. Titanium. Very light, very strong, very expensive.

Then there are materials
Plastic - light weight, inexpensive, but its plastic.
Aluminum - light weight, fairly durable.
Steel - A bit more weight, very durable but more expensive.
Brass - Much more weight, not sure about durable, expensive.

Making the links sounds like fun, but I know it's going to be fiddly and expensive. So I'm leaning towards aluminum links.

Any thoughts here?

 

[TeknoJ]

I have always wanted to make my own links for various crawlers. It's the threading part that seems like a lathe would work wonders for. I am talking about a solid rod then turning threads on it. The threaded rod covered with brass tube works, and that looks like the cheapest option.
There are several really good instructional vids on youtube.
In the end, I just buy them. Injora or RCLions have always had the best price. If you make them yourself there would be a sense of satisfaction and pride.

 

[WickedFog]

Building custom links isn't just extend the uppers and lowers by a few millimeters. You have to pay attention to your pinion angles and trig it out. But yeah, custom ones are fun to build. I've only done it once, but it was pretty easy since I used 3d printed tubes and screwed long set screws in to screw the rod ends onto. They were just for a 16th scale though.

I am pretty confident that if compared to the cost of aftermarket links, custom links will be about twice the money by the time you buy all the materials. And that's not including the tooling needed if you don't have it, like a tap and drill bit, or reamer if you buy tubing.

 

[Chubaka]

My custom budget links are all thread cut to size and an aluminum tube that slides over tge althread like a sleeve. But since you said titanium i vote that.

 

[Mike4xdriver]

I'm about to order these to build my own links. About $35 to do 8 links, not sure about bending the lowers for high clearance, but I'd bet it's not too difficult

 

[Tunedfrog]

Looks like a fun project.

 

[Jerold]

You have to pay attention to your pinion angles and trig it out.

Good point. I totally forgot about that.

I'm about to order these to build my own links. About $35 to do 8 links, not sure about bending the lowers for high clearance, but I'd bet it's not too difficult

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Basically what I was thinking. Tap a hole and run a threaded thing down there.

Bending can be done with a tubing bender, but I have little to no experience with them. Which means figuring which bender is the right one and do overs.

 

[Guest D]

Jigs.

 

[Doom!]

If it's an SCX10III Club 5 has them for the wrangler and gladiator. Beefy high clearance. I have a set on one of my Element crawlers.