Question on FLM Hybrid bulks
 

First post here, I am interested in picking up a set of FLM Hybrid bulks. How is the quality on these? I have the TRX bulks and put in some cheap alloy diff cases and they fit like crap, they rattle between the bulks. Also, what 1/8 scale diffs fit in these? Thanks for any help!

-JB

I don't have them but a friend of mine have a set. It's nice but not as nice as my UE VBS :). Anyway, a hyper 7/8/8.5, Hot Bodies lightning/lightning pro diff will work.

I had them and loved them!! they are by FAR the best you can buy (and the most expensive) but you get what you pay for... here are one threads where you can see them on a build.

Gorilla Maxx thread
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11681

They are nice, but I had issues getting rpm arms to fit without a bit of sanding. They are strong, that is for sure. And pricey...

True!! I did have to fab mine for my Arms to fit too (it's in the thread) Hee..

Sorry forgot about that one point....

It’s the pictures in the 2nd post.

I highly disagree with the most expensive and the best you can buy part of your post. Take a look at the price of UE's VBS :whistle::party:.

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...re/10301T.html

:surprised: OMG... that's stupid money!.:tongue:..

But hay if you have the means GO FOR IT..:yipi::party:

and YES i was WRONG..:oops:

It's alright Shaun.

I could sell one of VBS sets so I can buy an Xray buggy :lol::lol::rofl:.

1/8 Buggy Diffs
 

Yea the FLM hybrid bulks with Buggy diffs are very cool. Personally I like the quality of the UE - VBS but for the money it was just not that irrisitable for me. The FLM hybrid bulks are just as good mechanically speaking. The diff gears and other internals are the real key here anyway. You can also purchase the Torsen or Fiorino diffs which are supposed to be the best. It all depends on how much money you want to sink into your project. One could easily pump $4K to $5K in one vehicle without purchsing every top of the line part there is. The FLM hybrid bulks will work just fine with a few different versions of the 1/8 buggy diffs installed. I got the Torsen diffs, and the Hot Boddies hardened gear diffs(with RCM aluminum cups) for my setups and they are pretty good quality. Beefy is the word that comes to mind for me. The Torsen diffs can run you from $100 to $160 assembled, and the Fiorino diffs will run you $250 to $300 each:lol:.

Good luck with your build.:yes:

Jerry, have you run those Torsen's yet? A friend of mine took them off of his supermaxx because of reliability and strength issues. Needless to say, he went back to using regular 8 spider 1/8 diffs.

Not Yet.
 

No I just got them in the mail last week and my stuff is not here yet. They were priced in the $150 range and I received a mail order offer that I did not want to pass up on from T/H. Anyway I have looked them over and they seem ok. I wanted to put their claims to the test about reversing the normal operation of the standard diff. As a mechanic I am curious as to how they did that. Anyway they are a little weird looking inside, and assembly is strainge as well, but we shall see I guess. From what everyone says the spider diffs are the same as the Hot Boddies (hardened gear) diffs at about half the price. So I will probably get some more of them for the projects that the boys will be working on with me. I just love building these things and trying out whatever options are out there to see what works best in regards to my own standards.

I like building trucks myself. I just retired my son's supermaxx since he likes driving the revo better. I'm trying to find a place here that does aluminum polishing so his truck could be polished for display only.

The torsen diffs are basically the scale version of 1:1 torque sensing diffs. Everything is the same. The gears are not hardened so that's one of the drawbacks. I drove my friend's truck a couple of times and to me, the diff action was more unpredictable compared to the regular diffs. I'm using 3K rear and 7K front Mugen diff oil on my predator and gmaxx.

I hope you have better experience with those Torsens and Fiorinis. The Fiorini is about $245 at the LHS.

Me Too.
 

Yea $245 is just too much money for a diff if you ask me. I may end up trying some one day, but only if I find a set for bargin pricing. The thing about the Torsen diffs is that you have to expect that they will do exactly the opposite from what we are used to. It is like the difference of driving the old school rear wheel drive autos, to driving the new front wheel drive. A lot of the old school guys still don't like driving front wheel drive. I am still partial to rear wheel drive cars, but all wheel drive is truly the way to go for ultimate traction. Thanks for the input, and I will share mine when I get to try them out as well.

The SuperMaxx is truly the golden egg of aftermarket Maxx trucks. It is too bad that Robin/UE has pretty much abandoned their support for the R/C hobby, but that is just the way business goes sometimes. He tried telling all of us that the profit margine compared to his expenses was just not worth it anymore. He just did not believe that anyone would pay what he needed to get for the Lightning chassis in order to make money on the deal, but we have seen those chassis selling on ebay now for $800 plus (used). I would like to think that I will never sell mine, but who knows what may happen in the next 5, 10, or even 15 years in this hobby? None of us does. Who would have imagined a diff selling for $150 two years ago? Not me...

Wow, this thread sat quiet for a while, then got pretty busy. Thanks for all of the advise and links. I ordered the FLM trans case and was happy with the fit and finish, so I went ahead and ordered the hybred bulks. I should have them next week sometime. Thanks again for al the help!

-JB

Happy To Help.
 

We are all happy to lend our experiences and info to anyone who needs the help. We hope that you are happy with the choices that you have made. Good luck with your project.:lol::yes:

I was installing my hybred bulks tonight and noticed that the 4 holes that the bash plates screw into are not threaqded correctly. Check yours before you start to install them. Between my t-maxx and savages, I have found many mistakes that FLM has made in several parts. I tried by phone and email to let them know about the problems, but it seems that they dont realy care. Very frusterating!!!

That's pretty lame on FLM support. I guess you get what you pay for.

Diplomacy...
 

Please make sure that you use diplomacy when trying to get assistance for a problem. If you just call or write to them and start bashing the product no one will want to answer your request for assistance. There are also many variables involved that one might not see, like if your email goes to the wrong address or gets dumped to Spam/Junk mail by accident. When I have a problem I write a nice email and give it a couple of days, before going back and trying again. Sometimes phonecalls can be more direct, but still use tact if you want help with a problem. Customer service is important to most businesses, but no one wants or has to put up with rudeness or disrespect of any kind. Just a thought..... Stay calm, be nice and be vigelant. Good luck with your issues.:lol:

My last 2 orders contain bad FLM finishing. The last order was FLM Hybrid bulk. the rear one ok but the front one has bad finishing (bearing size) so I can't close. Now I fix it by mechanic. he Digging the bearing house about 2mm to make my front FLM Hybrid bulk can close

Why???
 

Why go to all of that trouble. If you contact FLM, RCM, or wherever you purchsed them and explain the problem, 99% of the time they will make it right. Once you do any mods to their parts your stuck with it. Sure the quality level is not quite what UE puts out, but for the price it is pretty good stuff.

I know that but If I contact them they will tell me send them back and I'm from kuwait so It will cost me more than $50.

they (FLM and RCM) are not like towerhobbies.com becuase the tower will send you replacment for free without you send the bad parts.

I have contacted them, infact I live about 3 miles from them and have been to their warehouse. I have talked to Jamies wife several times and left messages on their machine shop phone(supposedily the best way to get ahold of him) and the only answer I have gotten is that "they have been making parts for 8 years and they know what thier doing."....yes, that is what I was told directly from his wife.

The reason I buy the stuff is that is GREAT product for a good price. I am not trying to bash them, just telling my experience. I will keep buying their products, just hate when you finaly get your parts in and all ready to finaly get your project done and then find something wring with the part.

Went thru the same kind of thing with a flm hybrid. One of the two was perfect, the other the hole for the pinion brg was 2mm bigger than the other - way sloppy fit. I got mine from RCM and email to Mike brought immed reaction from flm, who put new one in the mail (thanks Mike!) so didn't have to send mine in before they sent new one out.

Still its a disappointment to think, finally ready to build this thing only to get sidetracked with a prob! Life's full of disappointments.....Just got to move on.