Team Associated CR12 Truck Build

[OldSchoolRC1 1074]

This is such a cool little project.  Mechanical issues aside, it certainly looks the part no matter what body is on it. 

Associated just released the Element Enduro 12 and it's apparently a newer version of the CR12. On the crawler forums, the CR12 is known for it's gearbox issues even with brushed crawler setups. Apparently, Associated was listening so they redesigned the gearbox and skid completely to a more conventional setup. Should just drop in since it's the same chassis, and looks to my eye like it uses the same gears so it looks like all you'd need is the plastic transmission parts for the upgrade (PN 41124). Might be helpful. 

New Transmission 

Parts

[Nikko85 3774]

3 hours ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

This is such a cool little project.  Mechanical issues aside, it certainly looks the part no matter what body is on it. 

Associated just released the Element Enduro 12 and it's apparently a newer version of the CR12. On the crawler forums, the CR12 is known for it's gearbox issues even with brushed crawler setups. Apparently, Associated was listening so they redesigned the gearbox and skid completely to a more conventional setup. Should just drop in since it's the same chassis, and looks to my eye like it uses the same gears so it looks like all you'd need is the plastic transmission parts for the upgrade (PN 41124). Might be helpful. 

New Transmission 

Parts

Thanks so much,

I've just seen pictures of the chassis, and I'm not sure they are the same, however the gears do look identical (and same gear ratio etc.), and some of the parts are identical too,  It certainly might be worth finding out, although I'd love to see a video with a CR12 and this and compare, although it's "only" £20 or so. Output drive to shafts looks the same.

I think the CR12 gearbox has issues (although mostly people said the GPM gears fixed it, so I surprised when mine got shredded) with any luck this will be a better solution!.

[Nikko85 3774]

@Pintopower I was wondering if you would be able to shed any light on these gearboxes please? I saw from your (very excellent channel) you've been playing with the Enduro12 but also had the CR12 - do you think I could swap them over? 

[Nikko85 3774]

On 2/29/2024 at 1:42 PM, OldSchoolRC1 said:

This is such a cool little project.  Mechanical issues aside, it certainly looks the part no matter what body is on it. 

Associated just released the Element Enduro 12 and it's apparently a newer version of the CR12. On the crawler forums, the CR12 is known for it's gearbox issues even with brushed crawler setups. Apparently, Associated was listening so they redesigned the gearbox and skid completely to a more conventional setup. Should just drop in since it's the same chassis, and looks to my eye like it uses the same gears so it looks like all you'd need is the plastic transmission parts for the upgrade (PN 41124). Might be helpful. 

New Transmission 

Parts

Many thanks @OldSchoolRC1 I took a punt and the new gearbox does in fact fit perfectly. I need to order a few new 2.5 mm screws but overall it went in without issue.

It seems more sturdy and doesn't have the design flaws of the first generation

The mesh is much easier to check and adjust.

The very large distance between pinion and spur is reduced, meaning more motors will work.

All in all great news. Looking forward to my next steps with this truck again, might even reopen brushless ideas. Thanks again for the idea, that would have totally passed me by.

 

[OldSchoolRC1 1074]

Glad it worked out! 

[Nikko85 3774]

A quick update on this, but first a recap as it's changed around a bit

This started as the Thunder Tiger PUBG 4x4 which is the same as the Team Associated CR12. I added a Proline Chevy body and GF01 115 mm wheels + tires to make a monster truck. I added a 390 motor, but that slowed it down. I then decided to shorten it to fit a Pumpkin body by trimming the links and drive shaft. I added steel bevel gears in the axles, metal gears in the gearbox and a brushless motor, but the brushless motor destroyed the steel gears, due to a bad gearbox design. That was the last time it really ran.

I decided to almost call it quits, when @OldSchoolRC1 suggested the new Enduro 12 is very similar and the gearbox might work. And it does! The new gearbox seems a more standard arrangement. It's pretty much drop in, although I did need to drill out a couple of threaded holes, but super straight forward to install. All the original parts and bearings fit perfectly.

The new gearbox sounds much nicer and overall it seems an upgrade. 

It's a much better set up. The huge distance between motor and pinion is much reduced, meaning I can use other motors if needed. You can adjust the mesh just by taking offer the cover, which is a huge advantage, and overall it seems sturdier. The CR12 got a lot of criticism for shredded gears, so I hope this helps.

I will have to fabricate a new battery plate, as the old one no longer fits with the new motor, but that should be easy to do.

So, what's the new plan? Running with a hardbody just throws the weight off this too much, it's such a light truck that the weight up top makes suspension, motor heat and handling suffer, so I will stick with a lexan body. This also means I can keep the brushed 370 motor, at least for the time being. With this in mind I want to make a 1/16 scale Bigfoot #18, to match the QD Bigfoot #1 I've just completed. I like the idea of a vintage and modern monster truck running together.

This is starting point

Compared to the Quick Drive:

They are actually not bad to scale. The Bigfoot #18 was pretty massive, and in reality my QD bigfoot is using a slightly smaller Ford than the original!

If it also looks familiar it's because the Agrios was also based on the Bigfoot #18.

So the plan now is to paint, sticker and vinyl. I think I am going to go for this kind of livery

 

Printing my own stickers. It won't be a full match of course - it's a rough approximation of the body shell (it's a generic Traxxas) but I hope it looks good enough when all done.

[Nikko85 3774]

To preface the post I am a little embarrassed at how many iterations this truck has had, but I think I may have finally found a nice long term solution.

I took the brushless monster truck out for a drive and I broke the servo after a tumble in minutes, then went home. I've realised whilst the lockdown-child-free Nikko85 could regularly head to the park, full-time-job-with-toddler Nikko85 wants something that can hit the garden and living room quietly.

With that in mind I went back to the original crawler idea. I picked up a set of 98 mm crawler tires and went back to the Pumpkin Body and 390 motor. 

Body posts need a trim, but hopefully you get the idea.

At the moment this is using the body I had for the MF01x Pumpkin.

So I may get a new body and do it in classic  pumpkin livery and paint the wheels orange, or keep as is and get something new for the MF01x.

It is a shame not to run it is a monster truck, but I had got a few monster trucks and no real crawlers, so it is nice to have variety.

It's not got locked diffs and it's very top heavy so I it is not a great performer, but for scooting round the garden it is fine. Locking the diffs and adding wheel weights could be an option but I would lose turning radius and make it slower.

At the moment there is a 12T pinion, which is reduced from the stock 15T, but I am going to see if I can go lower.

 

 

[Nikko85 3774]

Little play outside and in and this is great. It will happily crawl over pillows and toddler toys. A little tippy with the relative narrow stance and heavy body but it is really nice to drive.

Need to work on a front bumper next and trim some body posts!

[Nikko85 3774]

It looks like the SCA-1E diffs are also the same if anyone needs a metal tooth option. Annoyingly they come with a diff locker, but I really want open diffs.

I've just picked up a Funtek CR12 which seems to be based on a similar platform with worse electronics and better axles, so we will see how it goes!

 

[Grumpy pants 5263]

On 7/26/2024 at 11:41 PM, Nikko85 said:

To preface the post I am a little embarrassed at how many iterations this truck has had, but I think I may have finally found a nice long term solution.

I took the brushless monster truck out for a drive and I broke the servo after a tumble in minutes, then went home. I've realised whilst the lockdown-child-free Nikko85 could regularly head to the park, full-time-job-with-toddler Nikko85 wants something that can hit the garden and living room quietly.

With that in mind I went back to the original crawler idea. I picked up a set of 98 mm crawler tires and went back to the Pumpkin Body and 390 motor. 

Body posts need a trim, but hopefully you get the idea.

At the moment this is using the body I had for the MF01x Pumpkin.

So I may get a new body and do it in classic  pumpkin livery and paint the wheels orange, or keep as is and get something new for the MF01x.

It is a shame not to run it is a monster truck, but I had got a few monster trucks and no real crawlers, so it is nice to have variety.

It's not got locked diffs and it's very top heavy so I it is not a great performer, but for scooting round the garden it is fine. Locking the diffs and adding wheel weights could be an option but I would lose turning radius and make it slower.

At the moment there is a 12T pinion, which is reduced from the stock 15T, but I am going to see if I can go lower.

 

 

Is it worth considering a lexan Pumpkin bodyshell? 

[Nikko85 3774]

39 minutes ago, Grumpy pants said:

Is it worth considering a lexan Pumpkin bodyshell? 

Yes. I would love one, but cant seem to find on in the UK for good money. I heard Parma are back so I may see if that is a route. For now the heavy  body adds realism and it is just for fun and a trail truck.