Twin "Outlaw" Maxx update (Pics!)

[Lessen]

stockers right now. I've spent so much money on this thing it's rediculous, but it's been fun. I needa start watchin my money. Basicallly, the diffs are stock except for the spur (ring) and pinion, and shimming the outdrives. I wonder how long they'll last. So, I've decided to go ahead and threadlock everything today, I'm just gonna put the sliding center drives in just so I can break in the engines. I'll replace 'em with my good ones when they arrive.

but a question... exactly how do the diffs wear out? like what parts and how does a better drive cup make a diff stronger. Like where the outdrives slide through the cup and ring gear?

 

[olds97_lss]

I'd have to think your going to have problems pretty quick. There are a few things that happens on the maxx diffs.
1. The diff case itself flexes under extreme torque(which your going to have) and it messes up the gear mesh inside.
2. The tiny screws that hold the inner diff cup onto the ring gear get sheared off under high loads.
3. The little rails that hold the pin of the spider gears inside the inner diff cup get big grooves in them which torches gear mesh.
4. The inner diff cup wears realtively quickly where the outdrive pinion gears sticks out.

The aluminum diff cups help all of this but #1. You need aluminum diff cases to help with this one. For #2, the aluminum diff cups use larger screws, longer and bigger in diameter. #3, it's aluminum, so it takes longer to wear but handles the stress better. #4, again, it's aluminum, so it takes longer to wear, but it does wear as I'm finding out.

 

[Lessen]

okie dokie, all makes sense to me. guess it's just a matter of time then huh...heh the RRP kit also came with replacement drive cup screws. I don't know that they are any stronger than stock but I put them on anyways. They are the same size as stockers though. i realize that they won't hold up for a significant amount of time, but I am curious to see how long they do last. It's a quarter till 9:00 and I just finished the front end. Finally installed those MIP cvds.. they look mighty nice in there. Time for the rear end....

 

[Lessen]

finished my fuel system today. And when I say 'system', that's exactly what I mean. There enough fuel line on this thing to hang dry my clothes. But, it's all neat and tidy AND it runs.. both of 'em... kinda. I heat cycled both engines today. The one did just fine but the other one wants to cut out when I remove the glow ignitor. I'll figure it out when I have more time... hmmm... dunno when that is. poop. Anyways, still gotta fab a battery and receiver box. My center drive line will probably be here later this week. Then it's done... damn, been a long time comin. A whole freakin summer of wrenchin and no playin. My firs summer in this hobby too. what a shame, oh well. I'll try to get some pics up in a few days of the progress. stay tuned....

 

[olds97_lss]

No pics??? man, I feel robbed!

At least your working on it and getting it going. Pretty soon it will be ready to put on that shelf and wait until next summer. It will probably be the longest lasting dual engine maxx in existance.

 

[Lessen]

I think it'll last... as soon as I get those UE diffs. those extra planetary gears will take a hell of a lot of load off. But that probably won't be until next year lol. no seriously, I think I'm goin down to W.V. next weekend.... good place to test an MT. I'll go to the store tomorrow and pick up some film so you can see all the footage of fuel line I got.

 

[Lessen]

More Pictures!!!!!

Here ya go guys. I took as many angles as I could think of so you could really see how much fuel line there is. I thought it was gonna cause problems but I've heat cycled both engines and havn't noticed any problemsas of yet. I havn't actually had them both running at the same time yet, probably won't untill there dialed in. I did away with the idea of mounting them between the bumper supports for reasons of even LONGER fuel lines. I have to say I think it turned out pretty nice lookin. Better than I expected honestly. The only problem is that the trays are made of plexiglass, which could be good or bad depending. it's only 2mm thick so it gives alot. I used 20mm screws with fuel line as spacers to mount them. I didn't tighten the screws down very much at all, just enough so they didn't freely bounce around. They are only tight enough for them to flex some. You can see the outside corners of the trays are unsupported. This could be good or bad but I dunno yet. The way it's set up I can push the fuel tanks (the bottom ones) all the up toward the chassis until they touch w/out any signs of overstressing the plexiglass, plus the fuel line spacers give so theres not as much stress at the mounting points. It was a lot of fun making those... seein my ideas come to life. wish I had access to bigger and better tools. someday...

here some more...

 

[Lessen]

hey, how bout some feedback fellas?? Good idea, bad idea? anything?

 

[Mr T-Maxx]

How about this for feedback...WOW.

If I read correctly, you state this is your first summer in R/C. That's an impressive build for a rookie R/C'er. Keep up the good work. I just started this summer also, but haven't gone more than a couple days without firing up one of the crew. I admire your patience, having such a killer toy all summer idle would kill me.

Where in WV will you be next week? I live in Parkersburg, which is just accross the OH border on I77. Ugly, Ugly flooding going on here after Ivan came through. The track where I race is under 6-8 feet of water at the moment.

If you're close and not finished with your project....I help you get a nitro fix.


Mr T

 

[Lessen]

Actually, I'm not sure if I'm goin down there or not. Work between the wife and myself keeps one of us busy all the time it seems. But Frametown is where her parents live. Beautiful down there. Her parents have 200+ acres....fun fun fun! Thanks for the comment. yeah, it kinda sux to have it jus sittin there all the time. The only thing I need is my center drive shafts and it's done. Just a few more days...

 

[olds97_lss]

I appreciate all the hard work you've put into it... but I would have tried to find an alternative way or place for the fuel tanks.

It looks really nice though. The overall look is nice and cleanly done. Looks like a lot of time and effort.

The tanks look like they will be prone to damage (obvious), and they also look like they will be a pain to fill.

Other than that, it's a really cool looking rig. I'll just sit over here being envious...

 

[Lessen]

Yeah, I figure if I ever do any serious bashing those mounting plates will break pretty fast. I posted a thread a while back about where to find some CF but it did't get any replies. I think it would take a really weird hit to break if the plates were CF...just cuz of the placement. The suspension would take most of the shock from the bottom. I figure breakage would occur from some sort of side impact.

Filling definately isn't as easy as in regular tanks but it's still not a total pain. Just a minor hassle but worth it for me. All 4 pick-ups are positioned toward the rear of the tanks. I just have to tip the truck forward until it's vert facing down (this will bring the pick-ups out of the fuel) and fill. Also, I have to let it idle out in this position so the remaining fuel in the last segment of lines don't flood the carb. I think I'mma do some internet searching for a little bit of CF. Thanks for your input Olds... glad to see a few people are watching still

 

[Lessen]

lmao, those plates are already broken... and Ihavn't even run it yet. They cracked when I belted down the tanks... well 1 part did. but anyways...

I got my CF plate a couple days ago and I'm starting to refab those fuel tank plates out of it.. holy crap is CF a PITA to work with. I'm also fabbing permanent battery cases for both of my batteries. Also on the list is a custom radio box/tray. I'm making the battery boxes and radio box out of the same plexiglass, assembling with CA glue. works pretty good...sturdy enough for these applications I think. it's noon here and I'm really hoping to have most of these projects done today as my wife is workin all day... guess Talladega is gonna be heard and not seen...ugh! I'm gonna be takin pictures of the process on all these little projects so stay tuned... If I bust my ass I might even get 'em up tonight sometime but that may be pushin it.. ok, off to work...

 

[olds97_lss]

What do you use to cut CF?

I guess it's better they break now than when your out the first time running it.

 

[Lessen]

I'm doin it the same way I did the plexiglass. just drillin holes around the perimeters. then I run my dremel with a router attachments through them. then just a sander on the dremal to clean it up. It's takin a crapload of time but it looks hella nice, and it's not gonna crack when I tighten down the zip ties around the tanks.. I wouldn't go as far to say it's bashworthy but it's a hell of a lot better. So far I've finished the long bottom piece and the small pice atop the upper tank. One more to go but it's gonna have to wait until after Talladega... yeah, I'm THAT addicted. Go #42!

 

[RX7Maxx]

If you can`t find any cf maybe try lexan. it`s alittle stronger than plexiglass. :idea:

 

[olds97_lss]

Why didn't you just go with aluminum? Piss on stuff that breaks! CF may not hold up for what your doing either. Hope it does though.

 

[Lessen]

I don't really have the tools to work with alluminum. Even the CF is killin my drill bit. All the work I've done has been with a cheap hand drill and a dremel. I wish I had more stuff to work with but gotta work with what I got. I don't really bash anyways, this'll definatley hold up for the driving I generall do (on the ground) If I ever get together for one of these RCNT bashes though that'll be a different story, but I'll probably have something else more practical by then anyways.

ok, the fuel tank trays are done... looks pretty good. I made one battery box last week but didn't take pictures of the process. not brain surgery anyways. Just gotta finish the radio box and tray and get the film up

 

[olds97_lss]

Actually, aluminum isn't that hard to work with. Especially in sheet form like your trying to do. I live in an apartment, so I know the feeling of wishing for a garage to really have tools in. I use a recipricating hand saw to cut out the general shape, then I use a drill and dremel as well. You can get a decent recipricating saw for under $50. It would really help you with what your trying to do. And for any future projects...

Carbon fiber will be harder on a drill bit than aluminum would be as well. Hell, you might as well be grinding your drill bit with your dremel and a carbon disk!

 

[Lessen]

yeah, no doubt. I didn't realize how hard this CF is to drill through. It's .155 thick, pretty hefty stuff. The only thing I've done to alluminum is countersink some screw holes (the ones that hold up the fuel trays). Now that I think about it that wasn't very hard to drill at all... hmm, now Iknow I guess. Well, overall I'm confident in it's rigidry for the kind of driving I do.. plus it looks nice and not ghetto thrown together, that's been a big concern of mine throughout this whole project. I like it lookin organized. Honestly, I've been having so much fun with this that I'm actually considering taking some machining classes at the local college... maybe get my own mill/lathe/drill combo someday