Need Rod End Help

CSDominion · Apr 4, 2005

I bought these titanium turn buckles for my MT2:
HPI Titanium Turnbuckle Set

Every time I run the truck, I lose a ball cup. Its just been an annoyance until yesterday. I just replace the ball cup and off I go. This time though, it broke in a cart wheel and I couldnt tell where the dogbone went - burried in the sand somewhere I'm sure.

SO...

How can I keep these little plastic buggers on the titanium rod? I can't glue them, as that would negate the adjustability. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

jon2 · Apr 4, 2005

Instead of using ball cups you can get the ball inserts that go in the steering linkages for a savage or similar ones that ar used when mounting shocks to towers. The name eludes me but it held by a screw but has the ball for the same type movement. Someone help me out here. I am at work so I will try to get a name and Part Number for you.

sweetdiesel · Apr 4, 2005

I think it's called a ball link.

Mr T-Maxx · Apr 4, 2005

I'm not sure if this is "official" name....But I refer to them as Captured ball ends.

Mr T

sweetdiesel · Apr 4, 2005

You'd need a 4-40 size, I know dubro makes some, correct me if I'm wrong.

ok i think this is what you're looking for

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXD609&P=7

I add a #6 washer on the end to keep them from popping off.

jon2 · Apr 4, 2005

Thats what I was I referring to. Thanks SD!!!

sweetdiesel · Apr 4, 2005

jon2 said:
Thats what I was I referring to. Thanks SD!!!

you know I gotcha back....

CS, in case you need hardware, they also have a kit with screws and nuts.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXD610&P=7

Mr T-Maxx · Apr 4, 2005

Jon, Sweet D;

Great Stuff guys but.....

Go back and read the problem, I don't think the problem is the ball cups popping off the ball studs. I think the problem is the ball cups coming off the turnbuckles/tie rods/suspension links or whatever you wanna call them.

Still good stuff!

Mr T

CSDominion · Apr 4, 2005

yeah - so far they havent pop'd off the ball end - its the plastic either stripping, or breaking off the titanium rod. Every time its broke/came apart, the ball cup has still been on the ball, and the thread of the plastic is stripped or cracked. I can't give you a picture as I got ticked off and tossed the broken ball cap.

If I buy these: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX2549&P=7 I'll have spares - but now I'm afraid of losing more dog-bones.

olds97_lss · Apr 4, 2005

Get some better ball ends then. The RPM ones are pretty good. Du-Bro makes some heavy duty ones that are pretty nice.

Those AE ends your buying look brittle and pretty cheap. They aren't very fat where the tb screws in.

jon2 · Apr 4, 2005

Hmm ok well the best thing to do on those if you are just placing them on is to apply grease to the threads on the turnbuckle and in side the ball cup add a drop of medium glue. DO this only if you know the settings are permanent. I did that to my MGT turnbuckles once and it was great till I actually bent the whole thing.

CorradoPsi · Apr 4, 2005

just buy rpm ball ends from now on. better quality.

CSDominion · Apr 5, 2005

so these?
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRB06&P=ML

olds97_lss · Apr 5, 2005

Yeah, those would probably last longer.

These were super beafy on my maxx when I had it: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDEG8&P=0

But I don't know if you could use them because of clearance issues.

jon2 · Apr 5, 2005

Just test fit them at the shop. MY brother bought some for his old XXX-nt that has now become a shelf queen next to his MGT and LST..... anyways the Titanium turnbuckles he bought didn't fit the rod ends. They were Lunsford TB's and the ends were RPM. THe knucklehead at the shop sold him the pair and they didn't even mate. CHECK!!!

CSDominion · Apr 5, 2005

I've grown frustrated with the local shop. It seems my little $20 purchases here and there arent significant enough. I was in a few days ago for tires, asked at the counter if they had any in stock (after seraching the cluttered mess they call isles) and the guy told me yes, but didnt offer to help find them. I went home and ordered them from Tower

Just called to see if they had the ball ends in stock and the guy told me he only had (insert totally un-related, un-useable part number here) in stock. Its a 30 min drive to just walk in and look, then to not get help just iritates me.

They were happy to help me when I bought the G3 flight sim there (of course: it was $199) and they were happy to price match tower for the RTR kit (another $400 purchase) but I'm sick of having to fight just to get help on smaller things. Tower gets my money now it seems.

Thanks for the help. I ordered the RPM ball cups and will try them (they can't be worse than what I have now) AND they even come in purple

CSDominion · Apr 11, 2005

ok - RPM ball cups ROCK! Thanks for the advice - I even ordered them in purple! They held great in my last bash session at the BMX track. I only got about 6 feet air, but I'm still a noob

was a blast and my truck FINALLY didnt break from jumping

WOOT!

thanks again - you guys rock

greenwing7 · Apr 12, 2005

hey glad that you got those RPM ball ends, thats what I will have to do as I have the titanium ends and I have broken 2 ends already, i think the ones that come with it are not as good as the ones you could have, another thing that breaks are the piece that the ball end slides over, i got these now to hopefully fix that problem since when that little piece is left inside either the front shock tower or a C-hub, you have to replace the whole part
I got these at the LHS, http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL700&P=7, and have used them all up, went back to get more and got these http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL701&P=7
they are longer, haven't installed them yet, they said there may be a clearance issue, and if there was just bring them back and they will get the short ones for me

olds97_lss · Apr 12, 2005

The cool thing with the longer ones (if there isn't a clearance issue) is that you can drill the hole out so it just fits in there snug and put a nut on the backside to actually hold it. So if you snap one off, you can just push the remaining threaded part in the arm out without replacing the arm.

CSDominion · Apr 13, 2005

greenwing7 said:
hey glad that you got those RPM ball ends, thats what I will have to do as I have the titanium ends and I have broken 2 ends already, i think the ones that come with it are not as good as the ones you could have, another thing that breaks are the piece that the ball end slides over, i got these now to hopefully fix that problem since when that little piece is left inside either the front shock tower or a C-hub, you have to replace the whole part
I got these at the LHS, http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL700&P=7, and have used them all up, went back to get more and got these http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL701&P=7
they are longer, haven't installed them yet, they said there may be a clearance issue, and if there was just bring them back and they will get the short ones for me

I havent broke any ball ends yet - but if I do - I'll probably switch to these:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL701&P=7

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