I'm 99.99% sure it came standard on the Turbo Optima. (I'm not sure about the first Optima though) When I took mine apart I realized it had it, too. I've never tried it though. I've only ran mine once, and I kept both pulleys on the same sprocket.Lonestar wrote: front overdrive as standard option - nice. Didn't recall the optima had that... was prolly a $50 kyosho option
Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
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Re: Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
- ROH73
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Re: Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
The 18/19 front diff was standard on all the Optimas and Javelin. The belt drive conversion does not have something similar, however.
- Coelacanth
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Re: Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
What he said.ROH73 wrote:The 18/19 front diff was standard on all the Optimas and Javelin. The belt drive conversion does not have something similar, however.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
- sgirouard
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Re: Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
Well I didn't take pictures of the rear tear down, but I will add some before the rebuild. Unfortunately, the final pinion isn't hardened, but it's still in good shape so no complaints.
One thing I forgot was how much fun these were to tear down and rebuild. I like it so much better than my JRX2 or any of the flat chassis cookie cutter design buggies.
One thing I forgot was how much fun these were to tear down and rebuild. I like it so much better than my JRX2 or any of the flat chassis cookie cutter design buggies.
- sgirouard
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Re: Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
Okay so Marc was kind enough to provide me with a new chain and 2 dogbones for the Beagle and here's the rebuild.
Had it all laid out and I actually have to give Great Vigor some credit. I just finished rebuilding a Turbo Optima and I'm not a big fan of the kyosho black screws, but I love the buggy. A couple of the components on the Beagle were definitely cheaper, such as the top radio deck (like a circuit board material) and the rear motor guard (thinner gage metal) BUT most of the other components, I found to be a higher quality material than Kyosho's, specifically the screws and how well the chassis rails went together.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5673994213_03b07c84da.jpg)
The rear came together fairly well but I'm not 100% happy with the drive train. It doesn't feel smooth enough. When I used to race the optima, I had it where you could give the chain a tug and the wheels would spin for close to a minute. This one, not some much. Might have to tear it down again, but I wanted to get this build back up to post the pics.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5673994451_c824c134b1.jpg)
Here it is coming along.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5674562730_48dc164804.jpg)
Like I said, I was really impressed with the chassis rails. They're a much brighter finish and frankly they feel stronger but not heavier than the Optima's. I was tempted on switching them, but I gotta keep the parts on the right buggy LOL.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5674563218_8600fa0088.jpg)
Sorry for the clarity, my camera isn't great on close ups but here's what I meant about quality. Hardened Brass steering components versus the weaker aluminum on Kyosho's
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5673995421_1b6d9583b4.jpg)
Here she is put back together with a topless pic. The shocks are exact copies of Kyosho red but in silver...BUT again, the issue of going one step beyond Kyosho, notice the progressive springs on the rear.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5673996277_9a4c3b89c3.jpg)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5674565048_82937027bc.jpg)
Previous owner had a mechanical speed control and obviously had heat issues
but the radio plate is still in good shape except for the cigarette burn
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5673997391_03955d191f.jpg)
Definitely a "Unique" body. Kinda grows on you, like a fungus.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5673997925_ae2487d22e.jpg)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5674566318_1a4baf6c2a.jpg)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5309/5674566032_88fc7b5023.jpg)
Now the decision. Do I keep her or let her go LOL.
Had it all laid out and I actually have to give Great Vigor some credit. I just finished rebuilding a Turbo Optima and I'm not a big fan of the kyosho black screws, but I love the buggy. A couple of the components on the Beagle were definitely cheaper, such as the top radio deck (like a circuit board material) and the rear motor guard (thinner gage metal) BUT most of the other components, I found to be a higher quality material than Kyosho's, specifically the screws and how well the chassis rails went together.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5673994213_03b07c84da.jpg)
The rear came together fairly well but I'm not 100% happy with the drive train. It doesn't feel smooth enough. When I used to race the optima, I had it where you could give the chain a tug and the wheels would spin for close to a minute. This one, not some much. Might have to tear it down again, but I wanted to get this build back up to post the pics.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5673994451_c824c134b1.jpg)
Here it is coming along.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5674562730_48dc164804.jpg)
Like I said, I was really impressed with the chassis rails. They're a much brighter finish and frankly they feel stronger but not heavier than the Optima's. I was tempted on switching them, but I gotta keep the parts on the right buggy LOL.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5674563218_8600fa0088.jpg)
Sorry for the clarity, my camera isn't great on close ups but here's what I meant about quality. Hardened Brass steering components versus the weaker aluminum on Kyosho's
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5673995421_1b6d9583b4.jpg)
Here she is put back together with a topless pic. The shocks are exact copies of Kyosho red but in silver...BUT again, the issue of going one step beyond Kyosho, notice the progressive springs on the rear.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5673996277_9a4c3b89c3.jpg)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5674565048_82937027bc.jpg)
Previous owner had a mechanical speed control and obviously had heat issues
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5673997391_03955d191f.jpg)
Definitely a "Unique" body. Kinda grows on you, like a fungus.
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5673997925_ae2487d22e.jpg)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5674566318_1a4baf6c2a.jpg)
![Image](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5309/5674566032_88fc7b5023.jpg)
Now the decision. Do I keep her or let her go LOL.
- Coelacanth
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Re: Great Vigor Beagle-Optima Clone ebay find
Looking good so far, Scott!
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
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