Eman77

So I lucked out and got a Tamiya TRF 801XT 1/8 nitro truggy NIB from TamiyaUSA's scratch n' dent area. The kit was completely unassembled, fully complete and new in box - just some box damage supposedly - so Tamiya was selling them at a heavy discount to the tune of $200 shipped. That's ludicrous. Big thanks to LB for tipping me off, and I snatched one immediately.

They quickly sold out, so no more at that price are around right now.

Anyhow, it arrived the other day - I was expecting to see some major box damage, but I barely saw anything wrong. Really had to look to see a very mildly bumped corner here or there. All the stuff seems to be there, so onward with the build!

I hope that others can learn from this build thread, as well as add input and tips/suggestions for others. I know I'll have some questions as I build it out, and am looking forward to getting advice, and giving it too when possible.

Without further ado, here's a pic of the manual.

Eman77

My intention was never to run it as a nitro though, as I'm an electric guy. So I promptly ordered a conversion kit from these guys:
http://rcproductdesigns.com/index.ph...roducts_id=326

I already have a medusa 36-60-2200kv 4 pole brushless motor lying around from a previous project, along with an EZRun 80A (big honkin') ESC. I figure those will fit in nicely here.

The conversion kit is being machined currently, so it'll take a couple weeks to get it. No rush, as I'll take my time with this build.

Eman77

So first on the build list is the differentials, of course. The TRF 801XT comes with sealed diffs, so you can fill with diff fluid to your desire. Being a newbie at truggy building and sealed diffs (and just a basher), I'll just slap in the supplied Tamiya silicone diff fluid and be fine with that.

Here's a pic of the parts to go into the diff build, and a few as I built it. Notice the spiral-cut ring gear. Nice and durable!

Eman77

In the next pic, you can see the diff gasket ready to go, next to the diff fluid and half-built differential. The second lousy pic is a blurry rendition of the fluid inside the differential housing. And finally, the completed differential.

Not pictured is the fact that Tamiya has you put a rubber o-ring around the part of the diff cup that goes inside the diff, and then a pin through the shaft. The mid-sized gears inside the diff then sits upon that. Tamiya also provides a grub screw in the side of the differential cup, for you to drain fluid from (and insert one of the above pins easily!).

I would have snapped a pic of that, but I just thought of it. Tough nuggets.

Eman77

And here we go putting the differential inside the housing. The input pinion has a spiral cut gear of course, to match the ring gear. The diff housing will clamp together with one rear screw, and a ring clamp that goes over the "nose" of the housing. You'll see pics of that later, once I get to it.

The Tamiya manual called for grease (ceramic, I inferred, since that's the only grease they supplied) between the ring gear and pinion. That doesn't make sense to me, as ceramic is for plastic/plastic really. Molybdenum is typically for metal to metal contact, so I might use some of that I have around.

For now, it's getting a bit late, so I'll continue in a day or two with the build, and this thread.

TTFN!

The Collector1

My Feedback: (2)

They have the conversion kits available? i was told another week[:@]

Eman77

Nah, I meant that they could make them if desired. I heard that it would be a week or two, they might be making mine at the same time as yours, since I hopped on right after your order. Don't worry, I won't get mine before you.

The Collector1

My Feedback: (2)

I thought you had it already, I was looking for that ESC but I ended up with a MMM and a 2150 motor. I have another ESC combo on the way but we have to get our conversions first

DarkFire989

Awesome. Subscribed!

[]TEX[]

Damn you, now I have to get one just for the diff drive.

redfisher1974

Good work, Pics are nice and clear.

Eman77

Hehe - you should, Tex! Good to see you around.

Eman77

Thanks. I still feel I can do better, but my "workshop" is really a reasonbly-sized workbench inside what amounts to be a closet in my basement. It has a big florescent light above it, and it fine for working. But the lighting is really poor for pictures, and I don't feel like dragging stuff out to better lighting for every step. :P

So I do the best I can with my weak camera knowledge, and here it is. At least they came out ok.

DarkFire989

Are you using the Macro option for close ups?

Eman77

Yep, and that's what's saving me. I use the macro setting with aperture priority, and snap a few pics with different ISO settings. I then load them on the PC and see which ISO worked best.

I should probably write down which one works best for my setup to reduce all that overhead.

Eman77

So before I got this kit, Collector (I think) told me to buy a couple of quality longer button head screws (the 25mm long ones) for the bulkhead part of the build. I figured "meh", and proceeded w/out ordering any.

Of course, I got to the bulkhead, forgot to grease the screw end to start, and ended up stripping both long screws from the kit. D'oh! New screws should arrive today, and more build pics in the next day or 2.

On the plus side, it's nice that the 801XT comes with hex head screws.

The Collector1

My Feedback: (2)

Did you order the Losi bladders too? The ones that come with the 801xt are a tad too small so the shocks do not seal. Mine were leaky when I got it so I rebuilt them using the 15mm bladders and the leaking stopped.

I will post a pic when I find my camera

Eman77

Not yet. I better do that.

And if you could, providing a link would be much appreciated by me and other potential builders.

The Collector1

My Feedback: (2)

This is where I got mine, http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ock-Bladders-4

Also they do sell alot of parts for the 801XT

Eman77

Thanks - I know you posted that link in the Lounge, but posting it here saves me a few minutes, and more importantly helps others. [8D]

Also, these TRF shocks are massive. I've never built a 1/8 before. Can't wait to take a comparison pic of the 801xt shock vs. the TRF shock on the DT02-MS.

Lunchboxer

Looking good, Eman!! [sm=thumbup.gif]

lee172

nice! wouldnt mind one of these myself....

Casper06

*GRR* [:@]

I see what you did there Mr. Lee!

Casper06

Erman this looks great. I can't wait to see it completed with the conversion kit. [&:]

Eman77

Right, so I got a bit more done tonight. Here's a pic of the differential with a ring clamp down on it to hold it in place.