New Zealand bulldog build

[philipat]

Where's the finished product? 

In reviewing your build on RCU, what OD and gauge of springs did you use and cut down to stiffen the struts?  I'm looking at 3/8" (OD) springs but the 19 gauge seems too stiff and the 22 gauge seems too soft.  Unfortunately, my dad's shop doesn't have the ones in between to test.

Also, the stock springs have the ends flattened with a coil that lays flat instead of continuing to bend upward or downward.  Has cutting the spring in the middle caused any additional wear on your struts?  Or did you try to bend the last coil where the cut was made to flatten it a bit?  I ask because it seems that without a flat coil the spring would tend to bend or twist a little to one side.

[fv432]

phil
the springs are cut down and flats ground on using a bench grinder this works but not brilliantly

heavy duty springs from the pz3 upgrade set work a treat but not fitted them to mine

with all the weight suspension (or lack off) is still an issue with my dog as it now has twin batts chargin circuit and loads off ally bracing
plus the odd bit of brass and im still not sure on the metal tracks as they weigh it down even more so i may re-think the tracks or suspension soon as it really wallows around on the ass end

[philipat]

hmm...don't know about the grinder part...don't have one.  I may have to go with brute strength to "flatten" the end of the spring.

After some further comparisons of your photo and looking up the gauge measurements, I grabbed a couple of 19-gauge springs.  Turns out the stock ones are about 21-gauge.  Yours look like 19 gauge.  Did I guess it right?

[fv432]

yes they are sorry phil ommitted that part ::)

you could get away with a dremel?

[philipat]

Sweet!  Guessed right. 

Ahhh...a Dremel...should've thought of that.  And I even got one for Christmas!  ::)

[fv432]

quick update

the revised brass idlers (adjustable) seem to be holding well

the metal tracks are off and the original plastics are back on

the metal tracks played havoc with the suspension due to all the extra metal on the dog i ended up with little or no suspension travel

[tiger205]

hi rob, could you not put stronger springs in, so you could put youre metal tracks back on?

                  Tony

[fv432]

done that mate but it still squats  >:( >:(

have also killed a box as well  ::) ::)

[tiger205]

bummer, mind you i'm sure there is a solution. is there room for double springs?, not having a bulldog, i wouldnt know if there is enough room

                  Tony

[fv432]

the big problem with the Dog is it needs a better suspension have thought of the PZ3 metal shocks and this maybe a way forward

going to try on my spare chassis to build a type of torsion bar setup at least for the front and rear arms as these take the most bashing

the next issue is no metal arms so im relying on plastic and i reckon these might be the next weak spot

so for now the plastic tracks are staying