Axial SWX Crawler reviewed in RRCi - CML Distribution
Axial SWX Crawler reviewed in RRCi - CML Distribution
Axial SWX Crawler reviewed in RRCi - CML Distribution
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AxIAl sWx 2.2" ROCk CRAWlER ChAssIs<br />
Left: Hardened diff<br />
lockers take anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
you throw at them<br />
Above: CDV’s give<br />
tighter turn<strong>in</strong>g circle<br />
without b<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g at<br />
full lock<br />
Right: The <strong>SWX</strong><br />
chassis kit <strong>in</strong> all its<br />
dark glory has taken<br />
Brad 4 years to<br />
develop<br />
Left: RC4WD<br />
axle hous<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />
super slippery<br />
Delr<strong>in</strong>, note<br />
rear requires no<br />
lockouts<br />
Right: Sub<br />
assemblies and<br />
‘Punisher’ drive<br />
shafts built to<br />
take abuse<br />
With all these po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d, and a new <strong>SWX</strong> Bender chassis <strong>in</strong> my<br />
hands, I started to collect all the components required to make a<br />
serious competition rig for the 2009 nationals and local competitions.<br />
My first stop was <strong>CML</strong> <strong>Distribution</strong> who had also supplied me the<br />
chassis to review. I first upgraded the standard <strong>Axial</strong> diff lockers to the<br />
comp spec <strong>Axial</strong> hardened items. Next I swapped the standard front<br />
axle <strong>in</strong>ternals for <strong>Axial</strong> CVDs, allow<strong>in</strong>g a better steer<strong>in</strong>g angle without<br />
any b<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the drivel<strong>in</strong>e, and I added hardened spool and p<strong>in</strong>ion<br />
gears to each diff. I wanted a black on black look for the rig to match<br />
the chassis so chose the new Pro-L<strong>in</strong>e Spider crawler shell and pla<strong>in</strong><br />
black Fastrax pa<strong>in</strong>t.<br />
Add<strong>in</strong>g to the stealth look, I chose black Pro-L<strong>in</strong>e Eight Shooter 2.2<br />
beadlock wheels, Pro-L<strong>in</strong>e memory foam <strong>in</strong>serts and the M3 soft<br />
compound Pro-L<strong>in</strong>e Badlands 2.2 crawler tyres. I kept the slipper<br />
clutch assembly but replaced the slipper pads and spur gear that has<br />
lasted a year of crawl<strong>in</strong>g, as I wanted to start fresh! I lastly added a<br />
Novak Rooster <strong>Crawler</strong> Edition ESC and the new Venom 50T <strong>Crawler</strong><br />
Spec motor, giv<strong>in</strong>g me slightly more wheel speed than a 55 or 60<br />
turn motor and the amaz<strong>in</strong>g drag brakes that have made this ESC my<br />
favourite choice for any crawler build.<br />
I then travelled north to visit K<strong>in</strong>g Cobra to see their new range of<br />
RC4WD <strong>Axial</strong> hop ups. I wanted to make this rig as bullet proof as<br />
possible across the whole drive-l<strong>in</strong>e so I chose a new alum<strong>in</strong>ium<br />
transmission case and hardened steel <strong>in</strong>ternal gears, clock-able<br />
alum<strong>in</strong>ium ‘C’ hubs and steer<strong>in</strong>g knuckles. I also used the RC4WD<br />
‘Punisher’ steel driveshafts especially made to fit the <strong>Axial</strong>. I also<br />
added the new Delr<strong>in</strong> axle hous<strong>in</strong>gs for a smooth and slippery surface<br />
to help avoid hang<strong>in</strong>g up on rocks.<br />
My f<strong>in</strong>al addition was a set of the Losi 2.2 100 mm crawler spec<br />
shocks. These have fast become the shock of choice <strong>in</strong> serious<br />
competition and are ideal for the <strong>SWX</strong>. With a threaded cartridge<br />
design, they are easy to assemble, fill and bleed. With Titanium Nitride<br />
64 WWW.RADIORACECAR.COM 02/09<br />
coated shafts, they are perfect for crawl<strong>in</strong>g and smooth <strong>in</strong> operation<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g the supplied soft white spr<strong>in</strong>gs. These have been used by Brad<br />
himself <strong>in</strong> his own <strong>SWX</strong> builds, though he designed the chassis to also<br />
use the standard 120 mm <strong>Axial</strong> shocks mounted <strong>in</strong> different holes or<br />
<strong>in</strong>deed your own shocks of choice. That’s the great th<strong>in</strong>g about a comp<br />
build, you choose everyth<strong>in</strong>g that you want to bolt on and build to<br />
whatever spec, you want.<br />
ClEANED, luBED, AND READy tO AssEMBlE<br />
The donor parts from the orig<strong>in</strong>al rig were the bear<strong>in</strong>gs, the diff spools<br />
and rear drive shafts. I thoroughly cleaned and lubed the bear<strong>in</strong>gs by<br />
leav<strong>in</strong>g them soak<strong>in</strong>g overnight <strong>in</strong> oil. I also replaced all bolts, washers<br />
and nylock nuts on everyth<strong>in</strong>g except the transmission case, as a year<br />
of wear and tear had taken its toll on the orig<strong>in</strong>al rig’s hardware with<br />
some bolt heads almost worn half away!<br />
When rebuild<strong>in</strong>g the diffs with hardened gears and lockers, I made<br />
sure the cases were packed with quality LM grease. This also goes for<br />
the new transmission cases and hardened gears; I want longevity from<br />
this build with the usual <strong>RRCi</strong> philosophy of ‘Fit and Forget’. Once built<br />
correctly these sub assemblies should last a season or two and still be<br />
ready for more. My orig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>Axial</strong> items have performed perfectly, and<br />
show m<strong>in</strong>imal wear <strong>in</strong>ternally, but the lower plastic diff cas<strong>in</strong>gs have<br />
taken a real beat<strong>in</strong>g so I thought it was time to give the Delr<strong>in</strong> RC4WD<br />
items ‘a day <strong>in</strong> court’.<br />
When both axles were f<strong>in</strong>ished I connected each built sub assembly<br />
to a cordless drill us<strong>in</strong>g a flexible extension and turned them slowly to<br />
check everyth<strong>in</strong>g ran smoothly and bed the r<strong>in</strong>g gear to the p<strong>in</strong>ion. The<br />
RC4WD Delr<strong>in</strong> cases do not need ‘lock outs’ on the rear assembly, as<br />
they are a straight mould<strong>in</strong>g that captures the bear<strong>in</strong>gs for the output<br />
shafts <strong>in</strong>ternally. This will not allow you to fit 4WS as you can with the<br />
orig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>Axial</strong> items, but as current 2.2 comp rules do not allow 4WS, it<br />
didn’t bother me.