Build Thread Littlemotor’s Tekno NB48 2.2 Build Thread! 😈

[Littlemotor]

It’s astounding to me that you have all those parts and know exactly how to put them together. And it’ll come out as a masterpiece too. You’re a gifted fella. It looks confusing to me but great at the same time. Do you have everything you need for the build?

It’s not that bad-just nuts and bolts brothaman! I can do ‘em with my eyes closed just because I’ve been building them for so long lol… That being said-Tekno has the best, and most user friendly manual in the business.. It’s literally step by step, and guys with ZERO mechanical aptitude, and no experience what so ever, put ‘em together all the time. I have my own little tricks, and particular way of doing certain things-and of course there is a cornucopia of aftermarket parts taking place of many of the stock (and more than plenty capable enough) parts just to make it my own, or because I want it to behave a certain way for my driving style, and my track-but just “box stock” produces one of the most capable, durable, reliable, and easy to drive vehicles available.

So this one is a little over the top compared to most, but don’t let that scare you off. It’s absolutely CAKE to toss it together. It also makes you a helluva lot more in tune with your vehicle when you’re actually driving it, because you know exactly what’s going on. The best “upgrade” or “hop-up” for ANY RC vehicle IMHO is to sit down, and build it yourself. It’s seriously invaluable.

Yessir-this is everything. I’ve got a few other things going on RC wise atm, and gathering items for other builds, but I’m just about to FINALLY sit down, and focus on this one. I’ll absolutely document the full build with plenty of photards, as well as a bunch of my endless yammerin’ along the way.. I’ll explain why I’m changing this or that, why I’m prepping this part-rather than just bolting it on, etc.. I like to document my stuff for fun, but more so because I like to help others have something they can check out if they hit a snag with their own build-regardless of brand, or model. I do my best to give back to the hobby, and this is one of the best, and easiest ways I know how to contribute..

Also-thanks so much for the kind words-I sincerely appreciate it!

 

[WickedFog]

It's gonna be a sick build. As per usual.

 

[Littlemotor]

It's gonna be a sick build. As per usual.

I appreciate it brother! Thank ya kindly for the vote of confidence! I know you’re very particular, and anal about your stuff too-so that means a lot!

 

[Doom!]

Cripes, You've got half a hobby shop on your bench!

Yep, another awesome build in the making, I guaraaanteeee it!

 

[Littlemotor]

Cripes, You've got half a hobby shop on your bench!

Yep, another awesome build in the making, I guaraaanteeee it!

Ha! The other half is on the pegboard to the right!

I kid, I kid.. I appreciate it bigdog! Been sitting on this one for a long time now, and been massively looking forward to having time to sit down and get to work..

 

[CertifiedMike]

Alright, alriiiiiiiiiiight…. I’ll stop holding out like your prom date did years ago…

Just your run of the mill, box stock buggy build…. nothing to see here..

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[Littlemotor]

Finally…

 

[Littlemotor]

Kit bearings out, and Avid RC Hybrid bearings in. Throwing a bit of CMD (if you know, you know ) in the outdrive channels. You don’t wanna use o-ring grease here. It’ll cook it, and seize up on ya.

Run of the mill silicone diff oil is more than acceptable for your o-rings, but I’ve been using Team Associated “Green Slime” for decades with success, so I’ll keep doing it. I’ve got tubes for dayyyys, so I’m not wasting any money on it.. The entire goal is just to not tear the o-ring. For the love of god-please don’t be that guy that uses white lithium on your diff o-rings.

I’m doing VERY close to kit setup (even with the plethora of aftermarket trinkets), as Tekno does a helluva job with getting their vehicles capable right out of the manual setup.. Don’t ever listen to the guys that run Maifield, or Wiggins’ setup.. There’s not an average Joe alive that can drive that close to the ragged edge. Best bet is to build it to kit specs, and make SMALL changes, one at a time, with further testing in between to be able to see how it reacts to you, and you react to it.. Nice to be able to just use the kit fluids in the diffs, and save my good silicones for dialing it in over time to my track conditions, and driving..

Good habit to be in-mark those diffs… Easy to forget, and easy to mix em up.. Sure you MAY be able to figure it out, but it’s nice not to HAVE TO..

Diffs are ready to rock.. I change out the kit hardware with my Tony’s Screws stuff as I get to a new bag of parts, and hardware. Whatever I don’t run-wether it’s bearings, screws, nuts, turnbuckles, whatever; gets put aside, and kept up with for spares, or future tuning depending on the part.

 

[Littlemotor]

Center diff stand, brakes, etc..

Kit hardware on the left, Tony’s 12.9 stuff on the right. Like I said-I go fishing with each new bag of goodies, match ‘em all up, then take the stuff I’m replacing, and toss it to the side.. I keep a sandwich size ziploc open, and toss all hardware, and bearings in there until the build is done, and I sort through it for a more permanent home after it’s all divvied up.. Kit parts replaced with upgrades, modified, or simply blingtastic stuff, just goes in a pile off to the side until the build is complete-then it gets the same procedure as the hardware, bearings, etc..

This billet center diff top plate from J&T Bearing Co. is a very nice piece imo. I waited FOREVERRRRR for this thing to be released.. Tekno has hands down the best plastics of any other 1/8 vehicle I’ve ever run-from Kyosho, to Mugen, to Xray, and everything in between.. One thing you don’t want flexing EVER is your diff stand. Brakes, gear mesh, etc.. It’s a big deal, and the billet aluminum J&T plate does a better job. Plus it just look tiiiiits… Also uses bearings for the brake cams, where the kit part is just single piece of Tekno plastic. It’ll get the job done better than most, but the J&T can’t be beat for this duty IMO..

Annnnnd wha-laaa… Pimptastical. Katt Williams called me a minute ago, and approves. Just trust me on this..

These brakes will put you through the windshield.. No pad dragging here either.. Very nice setup. Simple, consistent, and highly effective..

I’ll come back, and trim the excess from the linkage after I setup my transmitter, throw, deadband, bias, etc.. Believe me-I’m a stickler for that..

 

[Littlemotor]

Chassis time already… I love Tekno kits.. They are an absolute joy, and they just flat out MAKE SENSE.. Primo mill work on this hard anodized 7075 piece..

Also-before anyone gets all nervous-when done properly, this milling lightens the chassis, and also MAKES IT STRONGER than a chassis that has NOT seen this level of properly executed machine work. There are a few tool, and die guys on this forum-ask ‘em.

The lower half of the diff stand has locating pins that lock into the chassis before screwing it down.. It’s things like this at every turn that set them apart from the majority..

 

[Littlemotor]

Front diff case assembly. A lot of you old heads will recognize this as the front “bulkhead”… In the iconic words of Bullet Tooth Tony, “You can call me Susan if it makes you happy, Avi.”… Call it whatcha want-we all likely know what eachother are referring to..

Glimpse at the easy-peasy assembly manual.. This ain’t your 1986 Kyosho, or Gold Tub OG RC10, lol.. Not that there’s anything wrong with those-this just ain’t that..

Swapping out the button heads for the shock standoffs in favor of flat heads, longer, and m4 aluminum countersunk washers, courtesy of Ultimate Racing.. MUCH stronger, and FAR easier to service, or make adjustments. Ask those Arrma guys about button heads, and Loctite..

To the surplus baggie..

More CMD.. I’ve used everything from RC proprietary shiit, to Lucas Red n’ Tacky. I’ve had success with many, but I absolutely prefer the CMD “Extreme Pressure Lube”.. This stuff is unmatched in MANY area’s, and many trades.. An absolute STAPLE around machine shops, farming, heavy equipment, industrial maintenance, and engine builders of the highest levels of Motorsports for DECADES.

I can’t count how many times I’ve seen folks go WAY overboard here… I guess whatever gets ‘em to sleep at night, but with the correct product-this is ALL you need, and want. More doesn’t make it BETTER, it just makes a MESS.

Front diff case complete, with front shock tower.. Slowly but surely.. God I love this stuff..

 

[Littlemotor]

One more…

On to the next.. Same shiit, but you guessed it-for the rear..

More “extra parts”… That baggie, and pile just keeps growing.. I’m a definite fan of spare parts…

The eagle eye’s among you (or the anally retentive **raises hand to be recognized**) will note that I only swapped out the upper wing mount nuts with fancy pants blue aluminum flanged nyloc’s.. I MAY modify the flange on a couple to do them all, but I honestly don’t mind having a couple real deal steel nyloc’s on half of the wing mount fasteners.. We’ll see how much sleep over it.. May bust out the jewelers files, or the dremel.. I don’t believe it looks like trash either way..

Mmmmm…. YUM…

 

[Littlemotor]

That’s it for tonight/this morning.. Thanks for following along with this horrible financial decision, and long-winded novel of a thread.. I appreciate all you guys!

 

[Doom!]

Your movin' pretty quick, that's the difference between knowing what you are doing and not. Lovin' the build and explanations. nice clean photos too.

 

[A Big Kid]

Is that SILICONE on the ring & pinon ? Bad bad bad .... Metal on metal silicone is garbage !!!! At least use some Lucas Red-N-Sticky on the R&P

 

[WickedFog]

Is that SILICONE on the ring & pinon ? Bad bad bad .... Metal on metal silicone is garbage !!!! At least use some Lucas Red-N-Sticky on the R&P

Littlemotor has been building and racing RC's for a minute

 

[A Big Kid]

Littlemotor has been building and racing RC's for a minute

O' I get that .... just because you have done the same same for years does not necessarily make it correct.
Old dogs can learn new tricks.
What stated is a 100% provable statement ... look it up if doubting ?

As a Retired commercial mechanic & machinist not my first rodeo either

Sadly if in person a conversation that would have more texture, inflection of context etc ....
I'm not trying to sound like a know it all or being an butthead .... trying to share a snippet of very useful & relative information

 

[Littlemotor]

Is that SILICONE on the ring & pinon ? Bad bad bad .... Metal on metal silicone is garbage !!!! At least use some Lucas Red-N-Sticky on the R&P

It would help if you’d READ along… Absolutely NOT silicone… Also as I stated while taking the time to type, and explain literally every step of the way-I’m more than familiar with Lucas’s stuff, and have used it with success in the past. I do however, prefer CMD. By a long shot. Just works far better in this particular application especially. I also explained which folks/tradesmen are likely to have used it..

No harm no foul, but if you’re gonna “school” someone, at least read what they took the time to share, rather than simply assume they’re an idiot lol..

 

[Littlemotor]

O' I get that .... just because you have done the same same for years does not necessarily make it correct.
Old dogs can learn new tricks.
What stated is a 100% provable statement ... look it up if doubting ?

As a Retired commercial mechanic & machinist not my first rodeo either

Sadly if in person a conversation that would have more texture, inflection of context etc ....
I'm not trying to sound like a know it all or being an butthead .... trying to share a snippet of very useful & relative information

I understand what you’re saying about coming across as a diick over text.. I didn’t take it that way at all just uninformed is all due to not reading along WITH the many photos.. I do a fairly decent job of explaining WHAT I’m doing, and WHY I’m doing it. The lubricant in question is no exception.

I appreciate your input either way, and now that we are all on the same page; back to our build at hand.

 

[Littlemotor]

Your movin' pretty quick, that's the difference between knowing what you are doing and not. Lovin' the build and explanations. nice clean photos too.

Thank you bro! I actually had some unfortunate stuff going on last night due to a substantial dosage increase of my thyroid meds last night, and only managed to get done roughly 20% of what I’d typically gotten done in the time allotted.. Kept having to get up, and walk away/walk around to make sure my freaking heart wasn’t about to quit.. skipping beats, doubling-tripling beats, dropping out altogether, it took my breath away more than a few times.. Fun stuff..hopefully the worst is behind me-but it’s plenty scary..

Blah, blah, blah… My fault-not tying to spill my guts, was just a rough one.. I DO appreciate the kind words, and while I do love to document build just for muhseff, and for fun-I do hope others can take away something and apply it to theirs, or help them with a snag they may be having..