Creepy Crawler

Well, after some modification, it's time I start my own build thread to share my idea's and progress with others. I have owned my 1:10 scale new bright FJ cruiser for almost 3 years now and have only recently began to modify it. I started by doing what many other's have done on this site by modifiying the chasis to allow for more articulation, followed by longer shock rods made from threaded rod covered with shrink tube and different springs. My spring rods are topped with 2 nuts tightened to each other for easy removal and the bottom perches have been modified as well. I have not converted over to oil shocks and I don't plan to because I want to keep this budget. I also made limiting straps from braided picture wire to keep the axles from traveling under the body.

Creepy Crawler

My axles have been modifed by shaving the pumpkins and removing the extra plastic. For the steering, I removed the center return spring and modifed the steering links by removing the stock plastic connecting link and built new ones out of threaded rod with traxxas rod ends and pillow balls to allow for it to pivot. The steering was also modifed by changing the sloppy steering "servo" horn to a solid piece of steel that has no slack what so ever and the steering knuckles were shaved to allow for more steering deflection. As far as tires go, I wanted something better than stock and really didn't want to cut on these stock vinyl ones for eternity. I found some Po-Lne 2.2 flat irons for $20 bucks on eBay and bought those but the look just wasn't right so I bought some 5.5 inch Imex Rubicons and they absolutely rock. One picture that you won't see is of the inside of my rims, but to explain how I got the tire on the rim, there is an inner ring and an outer ring that had 4 pieces of plastic between there that had to be removed to get the bead of the tire in the right place. I'm also running 3 ounces per tire up front and none in the back, not yet anyways. Unfortunatly, I will have to take some different pics because my camera was on macro for some of my up close photos of the axle mods and I can only upload 6000kb max.

Creepy Crawler

I also wanted a skid plate, so I bought some 22 gauge steel and found a way to bend it with out a sheetmetal brake. Here's a link: http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuild...out-brake.aspx I also placed some velcro on the skid plate and the chasis and did some modifying with the chasis and battery plate and battery retaining clip to get the skid plate as high as possible. You can also see the old Flat Irons below and in some of my other photos' as well.

KE4QPF

Very nice work. This came out very good.

Creepy Crawler

Another project that took me some time and was covered in a different post( http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8653076/tm.htm ) is my "dig unit". I wanted to be able to cut off the power to my rear motor to allow for a tighter turn radius. Over all, it works okay, but since it's on the truck and not remotely controlled, it's not as good as it could be. Once again though, I'm keeping with my budget them. Here are a few pics of what the install looks like.

texx

Creepy Crawler ..

Very good work on these skid/plate.. and the idea of Velcro, is very good ..

Good job ..[sm=thumbup.gif]

yaleforscale

love the skidd plate also that velcro is a good idea first class ..[8D][8D]

Creepy Crawler

For the body, it's still curently a work in progress. I liked some of the other ideas on here about having a removable body so I used plastic coat hanger and some fuel line from the garage to keep the body from sliding down the post. I also drilled a small hole thru the tops for some retainer clips with some zip tie grabs on them. Looking back, I should have used some velcro and brackets to attach the body instead. I was excited and going too fast thru this part and punched a big hole in the hood of the truck. I have sanded the body, but we haven't had any consistent weather here yet so I can't get a good paint job on it just yet. I have painted the underside with some left over spray-on bed liner from the garage to cut down on the yellow from underneath. The next thing on my list of stuff to do is figure out what color I want to paint it and a name for this crawler. My kids call it "Trucky" but I don't think it fits very well, so I'm open to sugestions for names and colors.

texx

Creepy Crawler ..

Some ideas for paint and accessories ..

Creepy Crawler

Inspired by texx, I set out to build a "budget winch" and here is what I came up with. I had a broken black and decker bit driver in the garage that was just laying around and I was actually looking for new motors when I found it. I cracked it open to check out the internals but realized I needed 2 if I was going to match the axles. I set it aside for awhile until texx inspired me so I went to work. I reduced the handle to just be able to hold the motor. I attached a pic so you know what I'm talking about before I cut one up. The gearing in these things are bad azz. A sun and planetary set up with a LOT of torque. I fabricated a bracket to house this machine by using the bending sheet metal without a brake tecnique that I talked about earlier. I used some green spider wire fishing line from, you guessed it, the garage as my line along with a hose clamp, some washers, an eye bolt and a U bolt rounding out the hardware. A trip to the hardware store and I picked up a 6 foot thermostat wire (not wired yet) a 3 position switch and some blade connectors. I have short wires on it right now. I also reused the rechargeable nihm batterys from the bit driver itself and it is actually a stand alone system. My only gripe, it's way too heavy. I'm eventually going to get rid of some of the extra metal on the bracket to lighten it up. If anyone does this, follow texx's advice and use a momentary 3 position switch instead of an click type that keeps the motor on when your not holding it in the on position. I also bought some thicker line today and just need to wind it on.

texx

Creepy Crawler .. WOW .. [X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(]

I am not the only engineer/inventor on this forum ..

Very good work on this home / made / switch ..

Thank for pics .. [sm=thumbup.gif]

Creepy Crawler

I realize that texx, believe me. RCnoobie was the one that got me started on all this and cobra69's gear research is amazing. KE4QPF and yaleforscale as well as others are equally inspiring. Here's what I picked up today. The open pulley is from awhile back and the new one in the package seems to be more scale to what I'm doing. I'm going to make a snatch block out of it. More to come.

cobra69

Sharp looking Rig C.C...Love the homegrown engineering [sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif]
keep up the good work [8D]

texx

Creepy Crawler ..

You made a good job on your ((UNIVERSE-CRAWLER)) .. [8D][8D]

Your winch must have a good torque .. [X(]

Do you intend to improve the torque of your crawler ?..

Lowered the pinion ?

... or installed the system of 4 th gear ? .... (As YELLOW-CRAWLER))



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBGGmmDLMio[/youtube]

YELLOW-CRAWLER 4 th gear ..










COBRA69 4 th gear ..

Creepy Crawler

I do indeed texx, just waiting for the right gears to turn up. I also need to make a video of the winch in action and upload it for others to see. It is very strong.

texx

Watch this video to your winch in action, will be a great pleasure ..

yaleforscale

creepy crawler thats a great idea using a power screw driver very inventive .. also so nice fabrication work there .. first class work ..[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D]

yacos

Creepy Crawler wanted to ask you as removed expert about the round parate that exists under the axes and if it does not affect to the pine nut kernels thank you

Creepy Crawler

No offense yacos but your translation isn't the greatest. If you mean does shaving the bottom of the axles affect the gears, no it doesn't. You have to be very careful to not remove too much but it adds about 1/2 inch of clearance or more. I used a belt sander for quick and flat results, then glued some styrene to the bottoms and sanded them smooth.

yaleforscale

yes i was wondering what he said to .lol. thanks for clearing that up creepy crawler no offence yacos ..

yacos

pardon is that my English is very bad and my translator also is a villain jeje

texx

YACOS ..
Myself, I work with a translator .. It is not always easy ..[8D][8D]

adrians3109

WOW man!!! i just saw your thread since i wasnt in here for a bit. Really love all the work you did, especially the axle shave and the steering mod... i'm really interested in these mods and might insert them in my mods list as well. Even the winch is an ingenious idea and that is surely powerful enough.

WELL DONE MATE!!!! GREAT WORK!!!!

KE4QPF

I think I'll have to look over my stuff and see how I can get away with this as well. The only problem I'll have is that my brush guards cover the holes I put in the bell housings for lubricating the gears.

Creepy Crawler

Thanks for all the positive feedback. I have brought this build up to date and there hasn't been a lot of work on it as of late but I will post more pics and a video or 2 once I get it put back together. Thanks all once again.