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Mechanical tech This is for the mechanical parts of a model. Gear reductions, Axles, Transmissions, General drive line


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Old 05-21-2013, 05:01 PM
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Default locked differentials

Can anyone advice on the best way to lock differentials on Tamiya axles
Thanks
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Old 05-21-2013, 05:22 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

you can buy a RC4wd Spool or take apart your stock diff and place one of the sun gears inbetween the other 2. this will lock it up solid just like the RC4WD spool does. I suggest doing this on the rear rear axel for better traction. Its what I did to all 3 of my trucks. on a side note for the front diff you may want to pack it with super thick grease to reduce the wheel slip action of a open diff?


just my .02
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Old 05-21-2013, 08:28 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

A couple of members have used "shoe goo" for limited slip action.
Cheers, Neil.
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Old 05-22-2013, 08:45 AM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Thank you guys, all great advices!
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Old 05-23-2013, 08:26 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Just wondering if the turning circle changes much when locking the rear diffs? I've also been looking at the different options to lock the standards diffs but didn't really want to compromise steering.
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Old 05-23-2013, 08:56 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Bob tail, no...loaded, slightly.

But a lot of this has to do with the stock 5th wheel mounting location. I have seen many tamiya kits have the 5th wheel centered over the tandems or moved rearward to give the truck,trailer a longer appearance.

1:1 trucks often run with the 5th wheel 9" ahead of center. This puts more weight up front and also aids you when backing as you can cut harder.

I run my rear rear locked for better climbing ability, and put real thick grease in the forward diff. I can drive thru grass with a load on no problem and in my opinion it's one of the best mods I have done to my trucks..
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Old 05-23-2013, 11:47 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Awesome thanks for the info. I've got thick bearing grease in the axles but I think I'll lock my rear rear.
I also think I should change the tires asap as well, the standards are pretty miserable grip-wise, I think that's half my issue.
Is there a standard that people move the 5th wheel forward on the tamiya's? Mine is still centered from stock, what's the scale measurement to move it forward, if 9" forward of center is the 1:1 normal?

sorry for the hijack kaptain Jack.
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Old 05-24-2013, 02:51 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Its really your call on the 5th wheel placement. the further forward you go the more weight / traction will be up front and you get better backing ability. you however get less clearance between the frame and under side of the trailer when in the off road. I can measure mine but I run the stock 5th wheel plate and it locates over the tandems about mid way between the center of tandems and forward tandem. would say its about a scale 12" ahead of center. just like the real 1:1 trucks I can jack knife the truck/trailer going forward if I keep turning. backing is great


a scale 9" in 1/14 is .64" so anywhere from1/2" to 3/4 and you will look close to a 1:1 truck

I used a real thick grease and think I need something like tar to get it to not slip as easy. Locking the rear drive and better tires will do the truck wonders for traction

if you want even more traction for the off road remove your shocks and flip the spring mounting bolt/nut on the axles around so that the nuts dont hit the bottom of the frame. this gives you about another 1/4" of travel. just watch your inter axle drive shaft as it may start to bind on severe off roading.


stock Tamiya tires suck for any traction. I only run stock tamiya tires up front and on the trailer. My drives are RC4WD Roady tires as they look like more like a on/off road tire. there is a more aggressive tread from RC4WD but IMO it does not look as prototypical.
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Old 05-24-2013, 03:49 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

I'm glad,that more people and not just me interested in info.about locking diffs.
To add to the already mentioned options,I got reply from Tamiya Canada,where the tech. also suggests thick heavy grease for the front and PLASTICINE for the rear,it allows the locking but without ''heavy hand'' and risk of breaking.
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Old 05-24-2013, 08:31 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

On YouTube a guy used jb weld on the shafts to lock them. But how well does the shoe goo work? I like to have LSD instead of full lock.
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Old 05-25-2013, 12:07 AM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Jack:

Instead pf plasticine, which gets all melty when it gets warm, try that Plasti-Tak / Blu-Tak /Fun-Tak stuff... Blu-Tack on Wiki



We all remember it as the white or pale blue stuff the teachers used to stick sommat to the wall when they couldn't use tape or thumb-tacks. We used to pinch it as it was ~wonderful~ for pea-shooting ammo!

You can get no-name stuff in the Dollar Stores, and you can also use it for masking stuff before painting.

New-Guy, JB-Weld is a HARD Lock. Its a type of two-part epoxy. Shoe-Goo might cut loose... but I'd say the tires will slip before the Goo cuts loose, as this stuff is used for shoe-repair.

WhiteWolf

Last edited by WhiteWolf McBride; 05-25-2013 at 12:12 AM.
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Old 05-25-2013, 08:52 AM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Thanks, White Wolf.I will check it out.
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Old 05-25-2013, 11:30 AM
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Default Re: locked differentials

i did the move the star gear trick. it locks solid, can't mess up the internals. Also lock up the front set of duals for tightest turning range. i had the rear locked in my last truck and the locked axle seems to make itself the pivot point when turning.
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Old 05-25-2013, 11:35 AM
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Default Re: locked differentials

What's best to lock both axles or just the rear one?
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Old 06-08-2015, 08:30 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Quote:
Originally Posted by kaptain Jack View Post
Can anyone advice on the best way to lock differentials on Tamiya axles
Thanks
I know this thread is a little old but I've found that just using a hot glue gun and filling the space between the three gears will lock it up solid...plus pretty easy to clean out the dried glue if you want to put it back original.
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Old 06-09-2015, 08:38 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Threads are never too old! .

I purchased a set of spider gears on ebay for cheap. Added one gear in between the existing 3 and voila. Change your mind, remove gear. One set of gears locked the rear diffs on 3 of my trucks. Just my 2 cents....

I like the glue gun idea but don't forget, shoe goo works. Its tried and tested, also non permanent.
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Old 06-09-2015, 09:05 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoadFlyer View Post
I know this thread is a little old but I've found that just using a hot glue gun and filling the space between the three gears will lock it up solid...plus pretty easy to clean out the dried glue if you want to put it back original.
I use this method as well. It even has a bit of give to take the shock out of the assembly.
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Old 06-09-2015, 09:08 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

Regarding locking one or both axles

It depends how much off roading you want to do. My experience says when you go into soft dirt or gravel of any kind you need both locked in. I find that when you lock in just one axle you still will get stuck when that axles has no weight on it. The Tamiya Suspension is very poor for traction. The stock springs are way to soft to keep weight balanced across both axles. Most times if your truck has a trailer on back the trucks frame rails are touching the axle stops. this means that when the truck encounters bumps only the axle that is touching the frame has good traction. the other is just floating so to speak. If both axles are locked you at least always have solid traction from one axle when traveling over bumps. I have witnessed guys with only one locked axle in the dirt and they still spin out fairly easy.


Thats my .02
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Old 06-09-2015, 09:56 PM
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Default Re: locked differentials

I wish my KW had locking diffs!! had to get pulled out of a soft dirt job.
point is I just dumped 80,000 lbs of gravel and as I pulled away the wopper hopped
spun the wheel and buried me. I hate one wheel peelers
inter axle was locked in
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Old 05-31-2016, 01:19 AM
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Default Re: locked differentials

BigFord you don't have diff locks in your 1:1?
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