Berg...Transition

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

I had a competition this weekend, so I had to do a quick build once I received my Berg axles last Tuesday. The long term plan is to build a linkless stick chassis similar to my Super Class Clod. For now, I basically stripped down my TLT comp rig and put the new Berg's underneath the chassis.

Some Spec's:

Berg axles
My chassis/links
Losi shocks
MaxAmps 3-cell 2000mah Lipo
Tekin FX-R
Integy 55t lathe motors
Hitec 645mg steering, Hitec 85mg for dig
10 tooth pinions
Rear motor cutoff (dig)
Wheels are currently undecided
Panther Cougar tires
HPI Bug body, I love how slammed it looks on the berg

Here are some pictures from yesterday's East TN competition.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/101_0178WTMK.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/101_0176WTMK.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/101_0180WTMK.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/101_0179WTMK.jpg


My Mayhem Engineering beadlocks put the track width too wide, so Greg (one of the local drivers) let me borrow a set of Proline beadlocks with Hammers mounted. They got the width down to 10 1/4" which was much easier to handle. There are so many different beadlocks out now that I can't decide what to go with. It's a wonderful problem to have so many choices. I'm trying to decide between Proline's, Mayhem's, or Erickson adjustable offsets.

Before the comp I had zero time on the rocks with this truck and I was very impressed by the durability of the axles. I hammered on it pretty good and didn't have any major issues. Had a Revo rod end pull out of a link, but a little CA fixed that pretty easily. I didn't even notice it came out until after the run. Best part is I got first place with it on it's first outing.

[Xtant3150c]

Looking Good Man!

These Berg's are going to have everyone turning their 2.2 shafties into Scale builds pretty soon!hehehe

A guy here also took first with his Berg in his first comp with it.

[Jason Maxamps.com]

Steven could you give every one a run down on how to wire two motor up and show how your dig works with this set-up? It would good valuable info for anyone looking into going this route.

Jason

[Chad Hargrove]

Congrats on your win Steven.

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

Steven could you give every one a run down on how to wire two motor up and show how your dig works with this set-up? It would good valuable info for anyone looking into going this route.

Jason

I have been using a single clothes drier switch and a small servo. It is fairly simple, just route one of the rear motor leads through the switch so that when pressed the connection is broken.
I will eventually get the thing mounted better and use 2 switches (one for front, one for rear dig), but for now this gets the job done.

Here are a couple pics of the setup:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/100_0745.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/100_0740.jpg

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

Got a little upgrade on the wheels and tires.
The Proline wheels didn't last more than 2 comps before the hexes were completely stripped. The berg axles are hard on stuff, so I found some Create-a-crawler wheels and haven't had any issues. I really like the way they look, but they still leave me fairly wide at 10.75". I have some Mayhem Berg Comp wheels on order, so that should bring me to an even 10" wide.

I'm now running Panther Cougar's stuffed with one NWtractech and one Losi foam in each wheel. Got to send a Big thanks to Jeff Williams for those and for mounting them up for me. It's kind of a pain to get both foams in there, but it is worth the effort. I cut the Losi foam in half and sandwiched the NWTT memory foam between them.

Here are some pictures from last weekends Battle Grounds competition in Fairborn, OH. I ended up with 7th place at the comp.

http://photos.alabamarockcrawlers.com/SVEN/pictures/Battle%20Grounds/100_0644a%20(Medium)WTMK.JPG

http://photos.alabamarockcrawlers.com/SVEN/pictures/Battle%20Grounds/100_0648a%20(Medium)WTMK.JPG

http://photos.alabamarockcrawlers.com/SVEN/pictures/Battle%20Grounds/100_0650a%20(Medium)WTMK.JPG

http://photos.alabamarockcrawlers.com/SVEN/pictures/Battle%20Grounds/100_0653a%20(Medium)WTMK.JPG

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

Thanks to Jeff at Kamikaze Kustoms, my rig is getting a much needed upgrade.

The chassis is a Zero 3.5 (made for 90mm shocks).

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00016.jpg

I will be using the Nomadio RX on this and my Super, so it has to be easily accessible. I put a washer between the Kamikaze Kustoms rear axle plate and the axle. This allows me to use a velcro strap without wrapping it around the axle. I added a vertical piece of 1/4" thick lexan to give the RX some protection from rogue hard objects (like random rocks).

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00107a.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00104A.jpg

The steering servo is lowered by leaving out the axle clamp standoffs. I placed two strips of lexan between the axle tube and the servo to allow clearance for the button head screws under the plate.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00114a.jpg

I put the lower steering link underneath the driver's side knuckle to prevent the tire from grabbing. I have not had any ripped tires since doing this.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00110a.jpg

I have a Kamikaze Kustoms steering link, but I have not been able to line it up properly since I lowered the servo. I will work on that some more after Crawlapalooza.

It's all wired up now, all I have left to do is install my lower links and reprogram my radio.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00118a.jpg

I love the look of the Create A Crawler Sinner wheels, but they were just too wide for these axles. I am now using some Mayhem Engineering Berg Comp wheels. They have steel balls that can be used to tune the weight. I am currently running full weight in the front and none in the rear. These put my width at 10 inches.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00129a.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/DSC00128a.jpg

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

The Zero chassis definitely impressed me at last weekend Midwest Championship (aka Crawlapalooza).
In it's maiden competition and first time on the rocks I placed 3rd, which is my best finish ever at a national competition. What really surprised me is I have never really been much of a 2.2 driver. Probably due to the fact I've always been driving some wacky experimental 2.2, rather than a proven winner.
I'm now really looking forward to next year's season to see what I can do with this truck.
Big thanks to MaxAmps for supplying the power! I also want to thank Jeff (kamikaze) for setting me straight with this chassis.

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/ok%2008/DSC01942bWTMK.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/ok%2008/DSC00405aWTMK.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/ok%2008/DSC01957cWTMK.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/ok%2008/DSC00390aWTMK.jpg

[Jeff Williams II]

Between the light weight power of the lipos and the light weight strength of an all delrin truck its hard to beat! Maxamps and KamikazeKustoms is a mean combo for sure. Also the 1550 3 cell lipos are a great fit for my chassis.

[rbgerrish]

Great looking ride! Kamikaze sure knows his stuff- I've heard nothing but good things about that chassis.

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

Great looking ride! Kamikaze sure knows his stuff- I've heard nothing but good things about that chassis.

Thanks! It definitely works for me.

Got my first win with the truck yesterday at the ETRC comp held at the Ocoee Whitewater area (East Coast Championship location).

SVEN...-9/0/9----- 0
sddill...-7/1/26---- 20
Greg...-8/1/28---- 21
Harvo...-2/16/18---- 32
Mitch...-6/5/33---- 32
Nick H...0/6/38---- 44
Rusty....3/17/26----- 46
Raptorman57...-4/27/35---- 58
Lunatik888...17/8/35---- 60
Fullthrottle...20/14/36---- 70
Big Ron...35/1/35---- 71
Taylor....33/16/37---- 86
David....32/24/32---- 88
Steven (Jr.)...35/18/35--- 88

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

And the Second win today at the SIRCC (Southern Indiana RC Crawlers) event held in Green River, KY.

Official results after 4 courses:

1. Sven 19
2. Redbaron 20
3. Pup 44
4. helhedded 132
5. bummer 132
6. tcabner 134
7. HomerJ 139
8. jcnally 146
9. JIA's Dad 170
10. James Carter 179

[Joey Floyd (RXcrawler)]

Also the 1550 3 cell lipos are a great fit for my chassis.

Thats good to know I won one in the raffle!!!

[Steven Kautz (SVEN)]

A few things have changed on this truck. I installed the Kamikaze Kustoms front steering tie rod and narrowed my tires. I am also going to try out some 35 turn motors to see how I like them. I have a comp tomorrow that I will be trying out some new foams and these motors. If it works well, I'll keep them on for the Midwest Indoor comp next weekend.

Just for the Midwest comp, I painted up a new body. I've been saving this bug for a while, since they are discontinued. I am not particularly fond of the bug look on a crawler, but there is no denying the rollover recovery potential of the bug. I stuck a MaxAmps sticker on the outside of the body and then painted the liquid mask on the inside tracing the sticker. Didn't turn out too bad. I still have a couple more stickers to add, but this is where it's at right now.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/tech/DSC00190.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/tech/DSC00180.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/tech/DSC00191.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/rc10sven/tech/DSC00179.jpg

[Jason Maxamps.com]

Looks good. Can't wait to see how it does in person next weekend. Say I'll have the new MaxAmps.com sticker sheets with next weekend as well and Gainey is bringing the new MaxAmps.com/TCS hats.

Jason