Savage XL-E

...Janezki...Agrre with you on the direct drive / center diff...MUCH better feel...

...how do you like those tires? How do THEY like the power you are ruinning through them? Do they balloon much?

[Janezki]

Stock tires are decent, even though they balloon like crazy with full throttle.
I haven't been able to run my truck on grippy surface at all, hopefully the snow melts in about months time.
I was considering ProLine Badlands, but they are so "small" - I wish there was an easy way to put Baja wheels & tyres on Savage.

[Savage03]

If you want bigger next best thing to baja size is LST tires what I use and love em, do very well on all surfaces.

[Janezki]

Noted - I'm open to suggestions on wheel & tyre combos, preferrably with 17mm hex. Offroad thread ofcourse, this truck is not meant for pavement use.

[tklemin]

Nice build Janezki. I like the changes made over the first version. What is the drive shaft set up using the direct drive in reverse? Did you have to use a different length turnbuckle on the steering bellcrank with tha FLM servo plate? I noticed that you were using the left servo slot. I'm thinking of doing a setup like yours with a nice electrics box.

[Unsullied_Spy]

I like the stock tires on my Muggy. They are kinda like a 40 series crimefighter but a harder compound for better life. Not the best traction ever but they do pretty well. You'll need 17mm wheels for it though, the stock Muggy wheels use a 20mm hex. Not bad tires, not sure how they compare to the LST tires.

[Savage03]

I bought a new set of maximizer 17mm beadlocks and new lst meats for them, wont be disappointed been using the lst tires since it came out and use them on my clodbuster.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...e/e6c05d84.jpg

[Janezki]

tklemin: Thanks! Sharp eye you got there - servo placement was determined by the motor, with XL-sized motor I couldn't fit the servo on it's original place. Also had to make longer "turnbuckle" from parts that I had available (....ssshh Traxxas...).
With that KB45 I don't have the problem because the can is a tad shorter, but didn't bother to change servo position back to it's orginal place.
I received two different lenght dogbones with Kershaw, both of them used with reversed setup. Also had to make new flat spot to the "main axle" for output gear because of changed position of transmission.

Unsullied_Spy: Thanks for the suggestion.

Savage03: That looks nice! Aftermarket beadlock rings?

[Savage03]

No their made by maximizer, they give you 2 different designs as well and few colors choices. The rims come in 1/2 offset and 0 offset also.

...Janezki the new Savage 5T will have alloy adaptors that will fit the XL axles AND have a 24mm hex so you can use the Baja rims and tires..Those puppies are TOO heavy IMO though...More damage than giggles i reckon...

...FYI Savage 5T is only slated for release here in Japan...

[Janezki]

Oh, only in Japan!? Well maybe I'll have to order those adapters from there then.
I'd very much like to put these ProLine Badlands on my Savage. Stock XL tires are pretty heavy too, so I think it shouldn't be too big of a problem.

[scarletboa]

i have a baja 5b clone and the tires are MUCH MUCH heavier than any 1/8 scale tire. they weight about 2-3 times more than the savage xl tires. they would make your diffs shred within minutes. i think the GST would stand it better. still though, you would burn through dogbones really fast. an on-power landing would be devastating to the entire drivetrain. besides, all the baja tires i've seen are in the 6 inch diameter range. the terrapins are still taller yet lighter than baja tires. those terrapins are perfect for what you are doing if you don't mind the ballooning. GST tires might be your best bet if you want bigger, badder tires.

[Janezki]

Recent updates: 49t plastic spur, E-Maxx receiver box and a stand for the esc.







Had a little test drive and the plastic spur seemed to hold up pretty well compared to steel pinion against hardened steel spur.

[Joey]

So cool, love it! Out of curiosity, how well balanced were the tires from the factory?

[Joram]

Why a plastic spurgear?????

I stripped mine in a second, nothing left of it....

Greetz,
Joram