[ddmckee54]

OK, I've found out that I'm going to have to revisit my chassis design a little. So far I've been sticking to the measurements taken off the Bruder MAN mixer, but that's gonna have to change a little. I'm going to have to modify the axle spacing/locations a little. I cannot find an off the shelf axle that will fit the existing center axle to rear axle spacing. I currently have an absolute minimum drive shaft length of 42mm. When you add in the 7mm I need to be able collapse the drive shaft to take it out. then I need a drive shaft that has a minimum length of 35mm. I was able to find drive shafts in the 30-36mm range, but they only had a 2mm ID with a 6mm OD. Nope, that ain't happenin'. I did find a Lesu drive shaft with a 5mm bore in the 45-50mm range, and have one headed my way. It costs 3 times as much as any of the other drive shafts, but none of them can be made to fit.

My current plan is to add 5mm to the spacing between the center and rear axle, and play with their locations a little so I don't mess up the drive shafts coming off the transfer case. By adding the 5mm to the axle to axle spacing, I SHOULD get into the middle of the range of motion for the Lesu drive shaft. Unfortunately it also means that the drive shaft and the axle have to be installed/removed as a unit.