Turnbuckles - to fix or not to fix

[lykan]

Ok I posted about my ghetto-bash turnbuckles being a safer alternative to Ti turnbucklesHERE

I've since bought some turnbuckles. Here's my fear. I'm not a great driver. I cartwheel at least once during a run, I nose dive, smack tires on railroad ties etc..I'm afraid if I put on the stiff turnbuckles that when I smack a curb/etc. that I will rip apart a steering knuckle, or a crack and A-arm..

So.. with stock turnbuckles, A-arms, and stock steering knuckles. Say I cartwheel a good one. what are the chances of a turnbuckle breaking a steering knuckle or a bulkhead?

Can I expect to cartwheel a few times, and not break anything? So far bashing the maxx (I'm not nice to it) I havent broken a BH, steering knuckle or A-arm. I'm afraid with stronger turnbuckles evertime I cartwheel I'll break some plastic.

Should I toss in my new turnbuckles or stay with nice soft all-thread? the only downside to the all thread is if I take a really hard hit it bends..then I have to bend it back or replace it.

 

[El Pirata]

Hell, I've never busted a turnbuckle and have done some awesome cartwheels.

 

[lykan]

Haave you ever broken any plastic connected to the turnbuckles?

 

[akmadmaxx]

I have broken the plastic ends more then i can count. Thats why i have about 20 spares in my toolbox. I have broken everything stock and upgraded to all aluminium and now i am bending aluminium bulkheads and a-arms, so there is no answer that i know of.

 

[gutterboy]

More than likely all you should break is the ends on the turnbuckles. Like El, I too have had some spectacular cartwheels and just either bent the turnbuckle or ripped it out of the end piece.

 

[Domination]

the turnbuckles them selfs shouldnt cause anything to break but if you do break something it needed to be replaced anyway

 

[SkyMaxx]

I run Titanium turnbuckles by Lunsford on both my soon-to-be sold T-Maxx and my Savage. The worst damage I have had from a spectacularly poor landing was a snapped rod end.

I, personally, think a good set of Lunsford titanium turnbuckles are a must for any basher.

 

[30%NitroBoy]

Hey Lykan,

From my exeperience......

The stock Turnbuckles don't snap but they can bend with just 4foot jumps and good landings. You can bend the stock Turnbuckles back but their integrity will be compromised and they will bend much easier athe next time. I cartwheel like crazy and kinda enjoy it to be honest...ha. The stock Maxx Turnbuckle ball ends are crap and I've broken plenty of them. I run the Lunsford 1/8th scale Ti Maxx turnbuckles with beffy Lunsford ballends and I've never broken one with even extreme bashing. The ballends have bent some and cause the "pivot ball" inside the plastic end to bind some and they make a good alwful squeaking noise @ times.

FYI....I've never broken any Ti turbuckles personally but I have friends who have. Ti will just shear before it bends. It has great anit-friction properties and it's strong as hell but it's not a magical metal.

I'd reco you run the 1/8th Lunsford Ti's that I run or get yourself some nice ballends for the stock turnbuckles and your more likely to bend the turnbuckles but not break the ballends which will cause more down time. Also, don't ever run Metal Axle Carriers/Knuckles as you'll just increase your chances of breaking other chit like Turnbuckes and ballends.

 

[lykan]

Ok thanks, good to know.

The home made .75 cent ones I run now I know for sure are safe. They are hard to bend the first time, but after that they bend at every cartwheel/bad landing.

They are cheap, and easy to make in a jam

Now that I know the stock/Ti turnbuckles will break before the plastic I'll throw them on and run 'em. With the secturity of knowing they won't tear up the rest of my Maxx.

Well, for all you guys(like me) who spend your R/C budget on pay day, and then go break the only part you didn't buy lol. You know how to make .75 cent turnbuckles to last you the rest of the month.