Ah damn. All parts NLA.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
07/30/2020 at 22:24 • Filed to: RC

For Father’s Day, not only did my wife buy me a Traxxas Teton, but she also got me a couple of batteries for my old Losi Mini LST that’s been shelved for like a decade.

It’s been fun, but last week it started not moving well. It was clear that a diff had blown. Tonight I finally found the problem.

One of the gears inside the front diff isn’t much of a gear anymore.

This is an upgraded MIP differential. Nobody makes anything for these anymore. It is 15 years old after all. I’m tempted to just fill the center section with CY. Kind of an RC Lincoln-locker.

Otherwise my choices are strip it and sell the parts to some other fool who wants to get one of these going (if there are any). Or I can put it back together and put it back on the shelf to rot.

DISCUSSION (38)

BaconSandwich is tasty. > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 22:40

I don't suppose a 3D printed replacement would work?

facw > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 22:41

Seems like this sort of stuff would be a great application for 3D printing, though I don’t know consumer-grade stuff is capable of printing features that fine or having them be strong enough.

shop-teacher > facw
07/30/2020 at 22:52

I have two 3D printers sitting right next to me, but the parts would break in a heartbeat.

shop-teacher > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/30/2020 at 22:53

Way too weak. Unfortunately. I have two 3D printers sitting next to me, but they can’t handle this one.

MM54 > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 22:55

There may be aftermarket differentials available for that chassis, or ones close-enough to make them fit. It’s up to you if it’s worth it

(Source: I used to be pretty into RC cars, still have a couple but never get t hem out)

promoted by the color red > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 22:55

Nothing from McMaster-Carr or any of the major suppliers?

pip bip - choose Corrour > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 22:57

Anything on eBay or amazon?

shop-teacher > MM54
07/30/2020 at 22:58

This one is aftermarket, but this particular vehicle is so old (and wasn’t really that popular), that there’s just nothing out there.

MM54 > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 22:58

Time to make a new bulkhead to hold an available diff!

shop-teacher > promoted by the color red
07/30/2020 at 22:59

Nope.

shop-teacher > pip bip - choose Corrour
07/30/2020 at 22:59

Not a thing. There is one ol d listing for exactly what I need, but it’s sold out.

shop-teacher > MM54
07/30/2020 at 23:00

Oh man, that would be a TON of work! I’ll think about it, but I’m probably way too lazy for that.

SmugAardvark > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:03

Here you can use some parts from my RC race car...

Kinja'd!!!

Seriously though, it’s something I’ve always wanted to get into. But I already have too many expensive hobbies and projects. I feel every time I add to the list of things I start building, my relationship becomes slightly more tenuous.

facw > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:08

shop-teacher > SmugAardvark
07/30/2020 at 23:08

Yeah, probably best to stay away from the RC hobby then. It snowballs really quickly.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:12

If you find any parts for my Big Bear please let me know. Or the 959. Or the Super Shot. Or the OG Rc10. Tossed the Ninja because it threw NLA axles like a toddler throws cheerios.

And I hope whomever stole my Bruiser from my moms estate gets cancer too.

At least my Team Associated Rebel does nearly 100kmh. ...a nd will front flip dozens of times if I jam on the brakes. Which is terrifying for a 20lb piece of metal and plastic. But still fun.

ClassicDatsunDebate > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:17

Do you know someone with a later scanner, solid works and a 3D printer?

shop-teacher > ClassicDatsunDebate
07/30/2020 at 23:19

I have a 3D printer, but the parts would break in a heartbeat.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:27

Nylon. I can print Nylon if you can’t...

ClassicDatsunDebate > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:27

It would have to be a metal printer, or an expensive engineered plastic like Kynar or ryton or something

shop-teacher > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
07/30/2020 at 23:34

Nope, just PLA for me.

Are you offering to print it if I can model it?

Jim Spanfeller > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:38

If the diff is a lost cause without the gear, wouldn’t it be better to lock it than just let the car sit on a shelf? Sure, it’d only be good on dirt, but dirt’s better than nothing right?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > shop-teacher
07/30/2020 at 23:57

Now you’ve got a reason to justify a desktop CNC mill and lathe . :P

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > shop-teacher
07/31/2020 at 00:03

Are both dif fs the same, can you swap the parts rear to front and spool the rear diff?

shop-teacher > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
07/31/2020 at 00:13

They are the same. That's a good idea!

shop-teacher > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/31/2020 at 00:13

Lol! I wish!

shop-teacher > Jim Spanfeller
07/31/2020 at 00:14

Yeah, good point.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > shop-teacher
07/31/2020 at 00:24

I look forward to hearing how it turns out, good luck!

shop-teacher > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
07/31/2020 at 00:30

Thanks!

NKato > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
07/31/2020 at 00:35

I’m pretty sure Team Associated still makes replacement parts for the original RC10. They’ve been selling a “re-release” of the RC10 lately.

19JRC99 > shop-teacher
07/31/2020 at 02:23

This is exactly why I quit using my R/C. Loved it when it worked but seemed like I couldn’t take it out without it breaking something, and I’ve got real cars that could use the money better.

Then again, the real cars develop another problem every time I look at them so....

shop-teacher > 19JRC99
07/31/2020 at 08:35

Breakage is definitely an issue. The real problem for me, in this case, is that the parts are unobtainium.

Jayvincent > shop-teacher
07/31/2020 at 11:13

I like the suggestions ahead of me for swapping front/rear etc... but have you considered making yourself a new gear? You are “shop-teacher” after all , this could be a whole new hobby! I see two options: reverse engineer your good gear to make a CAD model and find someone to 3D print you a replacement, or use your good gear to make a silicone mold, use that to make a sand mold and cast your own aluminum replacement! Instructions available on the u-tube and the cost is practically nothing provided you have some leftover pop/soda/beer cans at your disposal. Coul d be fun, right?

shop-teacher > Jayvincent
07/31/2020 at 11:35

These are good ideas. I’m not sure if I actually want to spend that much time on this project, but you make a good point. I could make some interesting videos on this, if we have to go to remote learning this year.

I need to pull the other differential apart, so see if that gear is actually still good. That diff isn’t blown, but it may not be far behind. The center diff was in tough shape too, I just thankfully had the parts on hand to fix that one.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > shop-teacher
07/31/2020 at 15:58

Yes I am offering. Can you do PETG? It's not quite Nylon, but it has it in spades over PLA. (PLA actually has quite high tensile strength, it's just brittle...)

shop-teacher > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/01/2020 at 16:01

I pulled the other diff apart, and that gear is still good. Do you think this is 3D printable? It definitely isn’t on my equipment. It’s about 12mm in diameter, with a lot of fine detail.

Kinja'd!!!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > shop-teacher
08/08/2020 at 09:07

Thats pretty small... I do have a 0.2mm nozzle., but i've never tried printing Nylon with it.... I have been super busy this summer and actually have a backlog of 3d prints i offered to do for people :/ i'm willing to give it a try but it may take some time

shop-teacher > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
08/08/2020 at 09:42

Ok. I will try to model it then. This is frankly above my current 3D modeling skill- set, so drawing it will take me some time anyways.

Can you send me an email to woodshop 00@gmail.com? That way I’ll be able to get the model to you once it’s done.

Thanks!