Element Build Ideas - Food For Thought

[MVRCA]

So let's pretend everyone here is interested as to how my Element Gatekeeper crawls so well, and just why it's all-around awesome on the trail. No one has asked, but let's just say they did.

Maybe someone is thinking of getting an Element and wanted a few ideas to work with, maybe taking a few clues for their own future build......

So under the hood, you'll notice a few things:

1. Flipped motor mount ( New Element Kit has this OEM )
2. Taller shock towers ( this is needed in that the Gatekeeper shocks are a bit long from the factory )
3. Weight moved forward
4. Small outrunner motor
5. Knuckle and axle weight.
6. Extended steering links.
7. Shocks laid back. ( New Element Kit has this OEM and even better ).
8. Rear link riser.
9. Aluminum chassis braces ( New Element Kit has this OEM and even better )
10. Extra weight removed where possible.
11. Forward mounted battery ( New Element Kit has room in that area for a little 3D printed tray )

Note: I'd much rather have rear links than trailing arms, but then it would be an Element Enduro rather than the Gatekeeper.

As much as I love this Gatekeeper, I think the new Enduro Comp Kit would kick it's stuffing in pretty handily. It's hard to beat portals, carbon chassis, and all that good Factory Team kit which comes with that machine.

 

[WoodiE]

Great looking build @MVRCA

 

[9x19]

Nice rig!

 

[MVRCA]

Ready to run weight..

s

 

[332_RC]

Very cool.

 

[Tunedfrog]

Awesome rig @MVRCA

 

[Doom!]

So, what makes your gatekeeper so capable? Dangit, I meant to ask this before you answered it!

 

[332_RC]

I see the SSD knuckles. Are the inner C hubs still stock composite or brass?

 

[MVRCA]

So, what makes your gatekeeper so capable? Dangit, I meant to ask this before you answered it!

Ha..! I think if I were building a new one, I would go with the Holmes Hobbies Revolver 540 S V3 and their Crawlmaster V3 ESC. We just ordered another set of this for a new build, and it's about perfect for power and light weight. The setup you see, Brood and Castle is also good, but it's about twice as heavy as the Holmes setup.

s

I see the SSD knuckles. Are the inner C hubs still stock composite or brass?

Aluminum

 

[332_RC]

Brass / Aluminum

What brand? Aluminum

 

[MVRCA]

What brand? Aluminum

I'm not sure. I can't remember where I got those from. I'm gonna guess they are SSD as well, since the other parts are SSD.

http://www.ssd-rc.com/pro-aluminum-c-hubs-for-enduro.html

 

[332_RC]

I'm not sure. I can't remember where I got those from. I'm gonna guess they are SSD as well, since the other parts are SSD.

http://www.ssd-rc.com/pro-aluminum-c-hubs-for-enduro.html

You prefer aluminum over brass?

 

[MVRCA]

You prefer aluminum over brass?

I think that at the time, I wanted to stick with SSD parts on this build, and they only had Alu at the that point. I think brass would also be fine on this part, but it's so small that I'm not sure there is much of a gain there. Aluminum is going to handle rock strikes better, and the Element C hub is sorta dainty, but I'm nit picking at this point.

 

[332_RC]

SSD parts on this build, and they only had Alu at the that point. I think brass would also be fine on this part, but it's so small that I'm not sure there is much of a gain there. Aluminum is going to handle rock strikes better, and the Element C hub is sorta dainty.

That makes sense. I'm a machinist & aluminum & brass are completely different in density & mass, & aluminum probably does slide better. Brass is very 'grabby' especially when you machine it.
Thanks man. I'm digging this crawler stuff.