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Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:14 pm
by LosiXXkid
In line with my observation that things are a little quiet at the moment, I thought I'd share some photo's of my Losi Junior/ X2 5-Link hybrid. I've had most of these parts for a while so I decided to do something with them (even though I haven't finished a couple of other projects yet.... :oops: ).
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I think the goal of this right now is for it to be a runner fitted out with some modern electrics.....not sure how long it's going to take as I sold off the vast majority of my RC gear many years ago :(

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:38 am
by DerbyDan
Looks great.... all the parts look new!

Have I inspired you to build a runner with the photos of my cars from the weekend? I must admit it was interesting running the JRX2 back-to-back with the XX.... the XX really feels more resolved, the suspension soaking up all the bumps making it more compliant & easier to drive, yet at the same time it turned better & hence more nimble... the JRX2 has so much traction & despite being SWB understeers more, you can also sense the 'spring' from the flat graphite chassis which seems to make it less consistant? That said I probably enjoyed running the X2 more?

With the above in mind it makes me wonder how a 5-link car on a moulded chassis will handle? ....Quite nicely I would imagine! Swept front wishbones should help keep the understeer in check too! 8)

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:50 am
by Jirka
This is going to nice when done. LRM case from same material as Retrofit transmission (and XX proto transmissions, see 1993 worlds and Joel's car) is cool.

Jirka

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:11 am
by LosiXXkid
DerbyDan wrote:Looks great.... all the parts look new!

Have I inspired you to build a runner with the photos of my cars from the weekend? I must admit it was interesting running the JRX2 back-to-back with the XX.... the XX really feels more resolved, the suspension soaking up all the bumps making it more compliant & easier to drive, yet at the same time it turned better & hence more nimble... the JRX2 has so much traction & despite being SWB understeers more, you can also sense the 'spring' from the flat graphite chassis which seems to make it less consistant? That said I probably enjoyed running the X2 more?

With the above in mind it makes me wonder how a 5-link car on a moulded chassis will handle? ....Quite nicely I would imagine! Swept front wishbones should help keep the understeer in check too! 8)
Dan,

All the parts are new!

Yes.....! I'm pretty sure your entire thread was the inspiration for this build which has been ongoing for some time while searching out and collecting all the necessary parts. I'm waiting on a shipment from the USA which includes the suspension links for the other side.

The gear box outdrives are from the LXT sliders, the outdrive gears are the nylon machined ones from Thorp, the three diff gears are the aluminium ones from Thorp, the thrust assembly is the HD version from MIP (uses 3/32 carbide balls). The top shaft pinion is the nylon machined one from Thorp (which needed modifying as you discovered), and the diff uses dual 1/8" bearings. The slipper clutch will be the Team Associated VTS version. Basically I want the transmission to be as bullet proof as possible but it hasn't been cheap!

I'm also looking at making some repro shock towers from 3mm black G10/ FR4 as the original ones are hard to come by and flex just a bit too much...IMO.

On a side note, one of my colleagues has offered to produce some drawings of the original shock towers which could then be sent to one of our suppliers to have them machine cut. Depending on the cost involved, I may look at having a limited run produced but for now I'm going to make a set by hand....

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:00 pm
by FasterLouder
The 5 link mounts on the Junior chassis are there for a reason!
Killer.

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:50 pm
by LosiXXkid
One more piece of the puzzle that I feel extremely lucky to have bagged!
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Losi A-5001 NIP
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Losi A-5001 NIP
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Losi A-5001 No longer NIP!
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Losi A-5001 No longer NIP!
Losi A-5001 No longer NIP!
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Early thin black shock collars, original X2 shock cartridges, 5-Link lower shock mounts and the original upper shock mounts!

Sometimes lady-luck just happens to be lookin' out for ya!

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:54 am
by DerbyDan
Its the thin collers that are so rare! - Lucky sod lol!

I wouldn't even attempt to build your shocks with those cartridges - unless you are building them dry for show purposes!... They leaked Bitd - I doubt they'd be any better today!

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:40 am
by LosiXXkid
DerbyDan wrote:Its the thin collers that are so rare! - Lucky sod lol!

I wouldn't even attempt to build your shocks with those cartridges - unless you are building them dry for show purposes!... They leaked Bitd - I doubt they'd be any better today!
I'm not going to use the original shock cartridges for that very reason! I might put them in the BST though as someone may want them for a shelfer or resto project...

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:09 am
by LosiXXkid
Well, time for brief update. The drawing is done so this is going to happen...
Losi JRX2 Rear Shock Tower
Losi JRX2 Rear Shock Tower

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:14 am
by oldrc
Looks really nice, what is the benefit of the 5 link over h-arms?

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:30 am
by DerbyDan
oldrc wrote:Looks really nice, what is the benefit of the 5 link over h-arms?
The 5-link gives you loads of rear end traction - especially in loose/low grip conditions compares with a more conventional H-Arm set-up... unfortunately this also means a 5-link car is more prone to 'push-on' in the corners (understeer)...

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 11:05 am
by oldrc
I see. I don't think I would like any more understeer than what I used to get with my SE to be honest. Still, it's an interesting concept to mix and match on different tracks.

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:39 pm
by Bottom Feeder
I had done the same conversion a long time ago. I had a few higher-spec JRX and RC10s at the time but I bought a Junior-2 out of boredom. The 'Losi Link' rear suspension was pretty much outdated even by then but it sure did look cool as hell. As the OP's pics show, it just happened to look even better on a Junior-2 molded chassis!

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 1:35 pm
by LosiXXkid
DerbyDan wrote:
oldrc wrote:Looks really nice, what is the benefit of the 5 link over h-arms?
The 5-link gives you loads of rear end traction - especially in loose/low grip conditions compares with a more conventional H-Arm set-up... unfortunately this also means a 5-link car is more prone to 'push-on' in the corners (understeer)...
It also gives you a massive headache when trying to find/ locate parts for your build.... :x

Re: Losi Junior X2 5-Link Hybrid

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:41 pm
by LosiXXkid
Some more progress with the Jr./JRX2 hybrid...
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Side)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Side)
Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Side)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Top)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Top)
Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Top)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Rear)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Rear)
Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Rear)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Trans Rear)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Trans Rear)
Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Trans Rear)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Left Side Trans)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Left Side Trans)
Losi 5-Link Hybrid (Left Side Trans)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (VTS Slipper)
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Losi 5-Link Hybrid (VTS Slipper)
Losi 5-Link Hybrid (VTS Slipper)
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Thanks go to Aaron for helping out with the suspension links that I needed and to eBay for the A-5001 Rear Shocks w/ Springs, Collars & Ends!