sperera's baja experience begins

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nice, ill try the local mob.

ran 2 tanks on sat at carrum downs. engine still running quite well so i was quite happy.

moved locations to where we had the vols meeting. i was jumping it pretty big, had it about head height a few times and then the steel spur moved on the layshaft and destroyed my pinion gear. don't know what other damage its done but im going to start a full strip clean tonight. i had a few hard nose landings which im think caused the gear to move.

spur gear is still fine but pinion is rooted, hopefully ive got a spare somewhere! ill take some pics of the rebuild and post up here.

plan to check the v-stack tonight and see how the addition of grease went. will let you guys know.
 
Looks like my 4wd is going to be out of action for a while.

Decided to start a rebuild since I had to take the engine out to fix my spur gear problem anyway and have found a few issues.

Here's a pic of the spur gear that moved (not sure what caused this yet, think its a case of the grub screws coming loose. Weird coz I always use more than enough loctite. As you can see the pinion gear is rooted.

BrokenPinionSmall.webp
 
thats how I found there was a problem BTB, it was revving and not going anywhere, closer look saw this so i stopped it for the day. ive been concertating on the drive train so haven't had a chance yet to find out what went wrong but ill keep you posted.

ok so after I got the engine out I put it aside and dicided to start the strip down, i reliased very quickly things arnt looking good!

when you can see this much dirt and crap after removed the front plate you know there's going to be some problems LOL.
Rebuild1Small.webp

started the strip down on monday, haven't had much time to do anything but I managed to get it from fully running down to a chassis in about 45 mins, might be a new record for me!
Rebuild2Small.webp

ive never had this much dirt/mud under the belt system.
Rebuild4Small.webp

i don't think im going to bash with the 4WD in wet muddy conditions again, ill leave the 2wd for that.
Rebuild3Small.webp
 
once I got the running gear apart I found on rear diff a small section of the diff casing has come apart, hoping I can just buy half the diff casing instead of a complete diff.

this diff has never been opened (i don't know what im doing when it comes to diffs) and has done over 70 tanks so i cant/shouldnt complain, just hope it wont be too expensive getting it going again. you can see the broken section still stuck on the outdrive. small plastic bit that sticks out, shown on the LHS but not on the RHS.

BrokenDiffSmall.webp

Also found that all four pulley bearings for the belt have seized (again!) but the pulleys are fine, glad I upgraded to alloy pulley, think i might upgrade to rubber sealed bearings now! This is the 3rd or fourth time these bearings have seized.
 
Wonder if ceramic bearing would be better. Way more money but at least they wont rust shut. When I drive in wet conditions I find any of my models will have bearing issues after they sit for a period. Ask TFE, he will be able to get you a better idea of what bearing to choose.
 
no worries and thanks, who's TFE?

ive upgraded a few bearings to the rubber sealed ones and haven't had an issue but haven't been running them for long.

the belt system while smooth and reliable needs allot of maintenence, wet conditions and muddy conditions don't suit this set up, the MCD/Nutech shaft drive system is much better matched.
 
LOL have you seen my alloy beast james? :D

nah the 4WD stays plastic for lightness as its going to be raced very soon.

ill search the net on TFE and see what I find. as for the alloy upgrade I don't believe thats an option, i don't believe FG make alloy diff cases for their 4WD model.
 
Ok here is the list of parts I need to get it back to accepted running condition in my opinion:
16 tooth steel pinion gear
2 washers (one for clutch bell shaft and one for layshaft)
Half of the diff casing (side the steel ring gear sits on)
4 rubber sealed bearings that sit on the pulley shafts at the front just behind rear diff (one pulley is smooth the other is toothed)
4 rubber sealed bearings that sit on the front and rear diffs, large bearings next to the outdrives. (call me if this doesn’t make sense)
1 bottle 2 stroke oil
2 bottles 2,000wt shock oil
and some loctite

Looks like colin (CFR) is going to get a call :D
 
got my order and spent some time on it over the weekend.

must admit I was a little worried taking the diff gears and transfering them to the new carrier as its something ive never done before but once I got it apart couldnt belive how easity it was. 4 gears held together by one pin! piss easy!

So got the new diff housing all set up, got all the belt system and diff housing etc back on the chassis yeasterday looking clean and neat with new bearings (couldnt get the rubber sealed ones as werent in stock so will upgrade to them next time). Notice that the rubber sealed bearing I used for the tensioner, which gets more abuse than any bearings anywhere else, are still perfectly smooth so def. worth the upgrade. next time I have it apart im going to use rubber sealed bearings for the front pulleys as these cop allot of abuse too and have failed many time.

Also got the new pinion gear and switch the spur and pinion around, only needed one shim for the spur and 2 for the pinion and they align perfectly. ill get some pics up tommorow.

Looking foward to finishing it and giving it a run :D
 
ok did some more work on the 4WD last night. managed to get the engine in, radio tray in, fuel tank in shocks back in. Not much left now, just my throttle linkages and roll cage, then I can start finding out whats wrong with the beast!

Here's a pic of the way im running my spur and pinion gears, ive flipped them 180degrees. now the gap between gear and carrier is nothing, so the gears have less room to move around and hopefully stop me destroying another pinion.

cant wait to get it dirty!

GearSetupSmall.webp
 
atom, certainly have, did it off the chassis only thought, having god my dog bones and outdrives back in yet, once I do I will again check full rotation to make sure all ok.

can you see a problem I have missed?
 
almost finished the 4WD off last night, got the throttle and brake linkages set, roll cage went back in, rear dog bones and uprights back on.

i modded the roll cage last night. at rear of roll cage around air filter area there are 4 nuts and bolts that secure the roll cage to the rear suspension mount. i drilled the holes out slightly so I can now get these bolts in and out without having to remove the pipe, and as some of you know id rather kiss the mother in law that take a pipe on/off, just hate it.

so the mod worked well and I got the cage on, no worries. just got to fit the bumpers tonight, get the wheels on and start it up to make sure all is ok.

I tunred the drivetrain over by hand last night. Have to say its the smoothest its been since new. No worries with the new spur and pinion gear set up, smooth all the way through.
 
because of my pipe its impossible to get to the two lhs bolts, nuts are ok. so now I just push the bolts in, hold it with allen key and then tighten the nuts, with any other pipe I don't think its an issue, just the JP ive got which I plan to change before I race anyway, want to buy a VRC
 
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