FLM Bulkheads- oh dear, oh dear....
 

So, my FLM bulkheads finally arrived from 2coolrc- yippee! But then I opened the parcel and..... whoever is in charge of quality control should be shot. Look at this:-

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...xx/gmaxx25.jpg
rear outside face

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...xx/gmaxx26.jpg
rear inside face

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...xx/gmaxx23.jpg
front outside face

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...xx/gmaxx24.jpg
front inside face

They are absolutely covered in machining marks, and the screw holes were filled with swarf which I had to clean out with my M3 tap thingy. And the worst bit is the hole made by the cnc cutter as it cut the groove which lets you tighten up the output cup. It went to deep and went right through to the hinge pin hole/ channel. This is seriously poor craftmans ship, and the fact the little bag the parts came in still had bits of swarf flaoting around in it makes me wander if the parts are just taken from the cnc and put in a bag for sale without any checks being done.

2coolrc also made me mad by sending some generic 14mm alloy hexes which arent integy, since integy ones have there logo printed onto them, and no pins were included either- I have to buy some from ebay.... Not a happy bunny.

FLM's work is usually not like that. You can contact them, and I'm sure they'll make it right for ya.

I would do but being in the UK makes it difficult, and all they will say is to return them for an exchange, or that if I pay a small amount under their 'break-it-and-get-a-replacement' scheme i can have some new ones again. If they were really bad I would, but the amount of time and hassle it has already caused to get them.... well, Im just glad to have them at all. Just wanted people to see- maybe 2coolrc sent me out some dodgy ones for complaining. Nevermind eh.

You should have bought them from Mike! You live outside the US? One more reason to go with RC-Monster! You can get everything you need for your Maxx here, and when you don't see it in the shop, just email Mike.

Daf

The machine marks are normal for FLM, i have had 2 of their bulkless and 1 normal bulk; all had the machining marks in the deeper slots.

I wasn't too keen with it either, since i am quite anal.. :p

Think of them as ''character'' marks. Each one has its own individual, one of a kind appearance. Kinda like a fingerprint.:p

The swarf (as you call it) is quite sketchy IMO. They should at least have a de-burring tool and an air hose taken to them before they go in the bag.

I just looked back at a few pics of the bulkless; they look pretty much the same, if not worse..

If you want to see them, i can post them.

I have always had machin marks on mine in the pockets area I didnt care since it was for bashing....

Hmm, I suppose its a case of how fussy you are really; I like everything to look clean and smooth (nudge nudge, wink wink), but then again if its for bashing and not a show truck then its not that important really. I had a stab at polishing them but it seems brasso and a dremel with polishing attachment isnt really up to the job, never mind though as Im happy enough with how they look on the truck. I have some new pics in my gmaxx thread for everyone to gawk at if you're interested.

My hybrids i have weren't quite that bad, but i think you'll like the quality of them vs integy! LOL kinda comparing apples to oranges there, but I think in the end you should be happy....

all stuff i ordered from FLM (2x chassis, hybrids, 3 skids) needed bit care with M3 tap and even dremel. they really need better quality control.
but it holds very well

I'll second that, but strength wise they are great- Integy stuff seems to be made from alloy which isnt 'treated' to make it super tough- shiney though....

Integy is not made from billet material. FLM is billet and milled

I suspected as much- hence why its so smooth and has near zero machune machining marks; its all cast alloy stuff ( I think? ). The way I drive (baddly at WOT all the time) I need the stuff to hold up well- looks arent really that important at the end of the day (though try telling girls that).

Sounds like a good reason NOT to get FLM bulkheads. I know the shock towers look pretty nice.

7075 GA's bulk's might do the trick if they weren't out of stock. :010:

I think you are mistaken, FLM are the way to go as they are NOT molded like the integy.

Definately- if looks are important get the GAs (when instock next), though the FLMs can always be polished up with some elbow-grease and a free afternoon.....

FLMs bulks are very good it might just be a bad batch the GA's bulks are actually made by FLM or vise versa

I have the combo bulks, and aside from the machine marks in the deeper crevaces I could not be more pleased with them. I only bash, so machine marks are fine by me, it will all get scratched and dinged eventually.

i have the GA 7075 bulks and diff cases, and they sure were pretty when they were brand new. there were machining marks, but not as bad as suicidenell's. however, after bashing with them for nearly a year, they now no longer look so good. there are... black marks? i don't know how else to describe it, but they will only come out with some serious polishing. other misc. scuffs that just occur from wear, too.

they are nice, however. so are the 2mm ti skids i got from them. dave is great with customer service, too... but then again so is jamie at FLM.

The only problem I've had with FLM is that my chassis antenna mount hole wasn't tapped deep enough. I had to finish tapping the hole, otherwise, my antenna mount would've been on the bottom. LOL

This thread scares the crap out of me lol! I just order a FLM bulk set and I don't have a tap or a drimmel!!! This thread is months old HOPEFULLY they have dealt with all issues! eek!

My bulks turned out fine! love em. Only had to grind the chassis for a second to make them fit. No problem.

I had issyes getting the hybrid bulks to fit rpm arms... I had to sand the arms where the pin goes thru on both sides (so 4 sides per arm) to make them fit without binding. That was a shit load of work. Then I made lst cases fit the stock maxx bulks... Maybe I will sell my hybrid bulks...

Havent had an issue with my FLM bulks
 

I have been running the FLM's bulks for some time in the EMAXX with MMM and 4S and they are holding up great to my sons incredible abuse. they dont have the super smooth machining however they make the stuff out of 7075 billet and i found the fit to be perfect.
going back over the pieces to polish out cosmetic machining marks takes time and money.

2 years old in fact; necroposting ftw...:wink: