Rustler R1E Project

[WickedFog]

Thanks, Kevin. Chassis is veteran of two seasons bracket class in RC drag racing, '05-'06. Placed 21st in national standings 2006. Brought her out of retirement for this project.

Staging opposite one of my frequent competitors back then, he said "I'm gonna build a slow car like yours so I can always leave first. . ." I just grinned and then took the win light (again). HeHe. Fun times. 'AC'

Lol. That's funny. I wish I had gotten into RC drag racing a long time ago. Never thought I would enjoy it so much.

 

[ahr43]

Installed the RPM Motor Protector using the Traxxas wheelie bar bracket as a mount. Had to fabricate a thickening shim for the bottom of the chassis from G10. R1E CF chassis plate is thinner than the TRX composite chassis.

Motor protection is probably not vital on this 17.5T install but have a 10.5T/4,000Kv coming. With the hoped-for increase in speed comes the unhoped-for crash and attendant protection.

Cheers. 'AC'

 

[WickedFog]

Installed the RPM Motor Protector using the Traxxas wheelie bar bracket as a mount. Had to fabricate a thickening shim for the bottom of the chassis from G10. R1E CF chassis plate is thinner than the TRX composite chassis.

Motor protection is probably not vital on this 17.5T install but have a 10.5T/4,000Kv coming. With the hoped-for increase in speed comes the unhoped-for crash and attendant protection.

Cheers. 'AC'

We put the RPM wheelie bar mount on our Slash, and it was a world of difference over the Traxxas mount.

 

[ahr43]

We put the RPM wheelie bar mount on our Slash, and it was a world of difference over the Traxxas mount.

I'll keep that in mind, Kevin. Thanks. Funny, my daily driver Rustler has the RPM bracket and RR bumper. The TRX bracket just used for the install of the motor protector on the R1E came off that truck.

I'm already liking this install. It gives me a reliable thumb grip for lifting and spotting the truck. An unexpected bonus. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[WickedFog]

I'll keep that in mind, Kevin. Thanks. Funny, my daily driver Rustler has the RPM bracket and RR bumper. The TRX bracket just used for the install of the motor protector on the R1E came off that truck.

I'm already liking this install. It gives me a reliable thumb grip for lifting and spotting the truck. An unexpected bonus. Cheers. 'AC'

Yeah, I kept seeing people saying the stock mount would peel off on one side when debris hit the bottom of the car. The RPM one is a lot more solid.

 

[ahr43]

Did the install on a pair of TRX Aluminum RR Stub Axle Carriers. They displaced a pair of RPM 11x5's that will find a new home.

Instead of using the TRX supplied sealed bearings, substituted four ProTek 11x5 "Speed" shielded bearings. Might offer slightly less rolling resistance for speed runs over the sealed bearings. Less drag. A drop of Rem Oil for lube and then use the #2 pencil to hold the bearing while turning it through to distribute the oil inside the shields.

Final install shows good view of the 1in narrowed rear axle assembly when the R1E was drag racing. Would like to go CVD shafts over the nylon torque tube's, but would have to go back to wider rear track. Leaving like it is for now.

Thanks for looking in. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[WickedFog]

How fast you think it'll go?

 

[ahr43]

How fast you think it'll go?

Hey, Kevin. Aiming to exceed an 80Kph (50mph) threshold. Now that the chassis is sorted, have a 10.5T/4000kv ready for install. Settle for somewhere between 50-60mph with this project. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[ahr43]

Caught a break today with nothing on the 'Honey Do' list but the laundry. Took advantage and did the install and test of the newly acquired 10.5T HW Justock FT motor. Matching it to the already installed Maclan/Pico 100A 2S ESC. Gearing set at 22/46 with a 23-tooth pinion on back order. ESC power set at 80% for the first series of runs. Tested on-idle o.k. out front of the house. Ready now for a speed session on the long track.

Last time running a 10.5 brush motor manage to strip all the teeth off the nylon diff gear. All steel gears in this RPM tranny case. That and with speed runs can 'sneak up' on peak torque, whereas back then with drag racing shock load on the tranny was immediate. Thanks for looking. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[WickedFog]

Which diff did you put in this?

 

[ahr43]

Which diff did you put in this?

TRX Diff case with steel ring gear. Removed the planetary gears and filled the cavity with J*B Weld, locking the diff. Along with a TRX steel idler gear. For some reason did not capture an image, so below is a link to the part. Not convinced a locker rear diff is needed on a speed run car. May build a replacement full gear diff in the future. Hope this answers the mail. Cheers. 'AC'

Rustler steel ring gear diff case

 

[WickedFog]

TRX Diff case with steel ring gear. Removed the planetary gears and filled the cavity with J*B Weld, locking the diff. Along with a TRX steel idler gear. For some reason did not capture an image, so below is a link to the part. Not convinced a locker rear diff is needed on a speed run car. May build a replacement full gear diff in the future. Hope this answers the mail. Cheers. 'AC'

Rustler steel ring gear diff case

Ok, that is the one I have in our Mustang. I thought about buying the Hot Racing one, but have seen reviews saying it leaks.

 

[ahr43]

Ok, that is the one I have in our Mustang. I thought about buying the Hot Racing one, but have seen reviews saying it leaks.

What are you using for tranny grease, Kevin? Valvoline full synthetic gets the call here. 'AC'

 

[WickedFog]

What are you using for tranny grease, Kevin? Valvoline full synthetic gets the call here. 'AC'

Mobil1 synthetic. It's probably about the same as the Valvoline.

 

[ahr43]

R1E is a going concern again after blowing the rear tires off yesterday. Was going to glue the P-L Prime's this time. Yeah, they weren't glued the first time. Senior moment. Playing that card a lot these days. Anyway, opted instead to use a pair of Gmade split rims. See how that works out. Prime's have a tendency to balloon a bit. Thinking a tighter grip on the bead might be worth a try.

Me and Maclan have parted ways. Their 100A ESC has been acting strange of late. Never felt confident with it in the truck. Then yesterday after the tire blowing incident, it began its 'cogging' thing [again]. Not sure if it was the ESC or I had damaged the motor as part of blowing the tires off. Anyway, swapped in a HW XR10 Stock Spec out of the basher stash. It's rated at 80A and [borderline] suitable for a 10.5. Hopefully it will be match enough ESC for the Justock fixed timing 10.5.

Weary of doing an install and having to fight issues, this time did a power system bench test before installing it on the chassis. A.O.K. Did a couple of test passes out front of the house after completing the install. Works like it should and have my confidence back in the ESC to pull full throttle again. Thanks for looking in. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[ahr43]

Took the morning to clean up three minor things on the project.

Changed out the SS screws on the outer bead lock rings to carbon steel. Replaced the steel flat washer stack under the heads of the spur gear screws for neater looking purple bling aluminum spacers. Installed a set of shielded "speed" low-drag FR hub bearings replacing the sealed ones.

 

[ahr43]

She's ready for her next prom. Spent the day dressing down and polishing out the gouges and scrapes from yesterday's run session. Fit a front air dam. It's actually a Rustler spoiler out of the basher stash-inverted and turned backwards. Hopefully it will force the nose down and prevent the body from grabbing air like yesterday. Probably scrub off speed too. Guess we'll see how this works out. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[ahr43]

Still experiencing front end lift in yesterday's runs after installing the new air dam. Helped, but still getting upset suspension and handling once the lifting begins 50+mph.

Came home with a different plan of attack. Adding front end weight. Cut a 3 1/4in (~82mm) length of 1/2in keystock-solid steel. Tipped the scale at 3.25oz (~92gm). Attached the weight to the FR bulkhead with M4 x 25mm steel screws-and, of course, the obligatory purple washers for bling. Hopefully sufficient weight to hold the front end down without having to gear down to push the added weight.

Also thinking getting some rear squat at speed after dropping the RR shock to Losi 35wt instead of 40wt. Going now to 50wt. Relocating the shock for added rake puts more angle on the driveline than I'd like. Slowing the squat with heavier oil may do the deed.

Thanks for looking in. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[ahr43]

Greetings RCers.

Last time out R1E spent a lot of run time on its roof. This update is more garage than project. Attached a pair of 2" Pro-Line Lid Skids to the roof. Layout was easy. Just mounted them over the skid marks. Lexan spoiler got torn off, so subbed on a carbon fiber cut from scrap. Made two. One spare for the inevitable. Attached it with three steel button heads from the basher stash for now. Have titanium flat head screws and aluminum countersunk washers in the mail for upgrade and a bit less weight in the rear.

Traxxas offers a pair of 2.2 wheels licensed after the Method Racing Wheels Forged Beadlock [corrected] 105's. Rings sell separately from the wheels. Selected a set of anodized satins. Wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with the wheels. They are for the TRX-4 and a bit small on a ST. But, what the hey, liked 'em. Dismounted a pair of Anaconda's from a bad set of wheels and re-mounted them to the Method's for the R1E (again).

Thanks for looking in and following along. Cheers. 'AC'

 

[WickedFog]

Lookin great. Love that spoiler!