Monster Beetle

[Boothy]

Hello all,

I should start by saying that many years ago when I was about nine or ten I was given a monster beetle for christmas, I had been waiting since what felt like forever and that christmas me and my dad built it together and I had many happy days playing with it. When I was about fifteen I sold it on to a friend of mine as I had stopped playing with it and had lost interest, anyway last year I asked him about it and he said it was still up in his loft somewhere and he would have a look for it, he now lives in London and I am near Manchester so I had heard nothing when out of the blue this christmas he gave it me back

My plan is to try and re build it, not as a shelf queen but so it looks good but can be played with. Now onto the problems...

First thing I have found is that the front wheels have fallen apart around the ball races so just wobble about, so it needs new wheels. I have had a look about and beetle wheels are thin on the ground but I did find some new super blackfoot wheels, would these work? I think I would need some kind of adapter for the rear?

The second thing is the front shock tower moves forwards and backwards, not by much but as I have not yet started to strip it down I am not sure of the cause? is that going to be caused by something obvious?

Thirdly my mate fitted some kind of hop up motor, he said a technigold or techniplus?? I am not sure, however he said that later on he started to have problems with the gears being forced apart. His dads friend has put some washers in the gearbox I believe, to stop it happening but my friend said this is making it slower. I have done a search and it seems this is quite common, would you guys just reccomend a new set of gears? which ones would I need to buy? do I need new gearbox sides?

Other bits and bobs are that sadly it no longer has a beetle shell so I need to buy one these look pretty expensive these days too. there is some random paint on the chassis I need to try and get off and I think it could do with some new front shocks, the rears are schumacher metal ones I got after the old ones blew when I did a big jump once. Any suggestions for front shocks?

Also do you guys have any hints and tips before I start to try and do this? is it an idea to get new screw bags? anything I will need? The last time I did this I was nine

I have managed to download and print off a pdf of the instructions which should be a big help. I'll try to get a couple of photos of my rather sad looking bug to show you what I am starting with.

Andy

[Live Steam Mad]

Thirdly my mate fitted some kind of hop up motor, he said a technigold or techniplus?? I am not sure, however he said that later on he started to have problems with the gears being forced apart. His dads friend has put some washers in the gearbox I believe, to stop it happening but my friend said this is making it slower. I have done a search and it seems this is quite common, would you guys just reccomend a new set of gears? which ones would I need to buy? do I need new gearbox sides?

Hi Andy, looks like you need to do OldFrogShot 's " Screw Mod ", a very famous fix here on TC for Monster Beetle, BlackFoot, Frog, Mud Blaster, Subaru Brat, etc.. ;-

http://tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?c...74&sid=3142

BTW there is a motor called Technigold which was a Tamiya hop up motor and is valuable now in nice condition. Techniplus would be an Acoms MK3 and above radio set... I should know, I'm a real sucker for vintage radios, especially Acoms MK1 to 4

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Boothy]

Hi Alistair,

Thanks for your reply, I have a lot to learn I'll take a look at the thread for the gearbox mod, I have just been having a look and it looks like the suspension mount is moving as there are some screws missing.

I have taken some photos, you can see the bodyshell with tastefull paint I think its probably good for the bin as it has a crack in it (not sure what its off, its hard plastic though). I have also tried to show the missing screws at the fron and the motor. It has no markings and is silver in colour, if I remember back to the time technigolds were gold? The radio gear is vintace Acoms techniplus (thats where I got that from then) sadly missing the front sticker. I might get something more up to date.

I cant even test it as the battery has had spade clips fitted and the charger is so badly bashed it wont fit into the plug, I'll go and get a new one with proper tamiya connectors.

Andy

[gozone]

Looks like a pretty easy fix-up-job, and you have surely come to the right site for help. Whatever your issues might be, or whatever bits and bobs you might be missing, someone here is bound to have the bits AND the expertise to help you further in the process.

For the missing screws, check the manual online to get the right dimensions, and also, remember to check the plastic-parts for any breaks, which may have led to the vanishing screws.

Blackfoot rims ought to do fine, as far as i know.

For electronics, you may want to replace the Techni-something-motor for a standard silvercan motor, and if so, the TEU-101-BK electronic speed control will be a good starting point for throttle control, as it is cheap, and easy to use. Also, look for a replacement pinion-gear, (the little gear on the motor-output shaft) as it has probably worn down quite a bit. As for the gearbox, you should have no big problem finding replacement gears either here or on ebay, if needed..

Good luck with your Monster Beetle.

Oh, and the shell is from a Marui Big Bear. Might be useful to someone here on the site.. Perhaps you can trade for some gears or other bits you might need in your MB...

Cheers..

Michael

[Boothy]

Hi Micheal,

I am just about to start pulling her to bits I have noticed that some of the screws are incorrect that must be replacing missing screws from over the years. Hopefully the incorrect screws wont have damaged where they tap into. The screws that are shown in the last picture through the upper wishbone (at least that what I guess you would call it) are wrong and should have bigger heads.

I have also found that where the rear shocks mount to the trailing arms both sides are cracked so I think I need new trailing arms.

The wheels I have seen are Tamiya 9335116 from the super blackfoot, do we think those should be ok?

Do we have any tips for cleaning off the paint from the plastic? I am guessing that when I was about 11 scrawling ANDI on the front seemed like a good idea, 20 years on and I have to wonder why... oh and why I used an I and not a Y possibly cool at the time?

There is also paint on the front shocks I dont think will come off so I want to replace them. I am going to try Gunk to clean the greese off

cheers

Andy

[Boothy]

Well there's no turning back now!

Sadly it looks like the incorrect screws have caused some damage, not alot as most of the screws seem to be ok but one of the rear trailing arm covers was held on using three incorrect screws, the bottom one was too big and has caused this damage...

What would be the best way to repair this kind of damage? also hopefully so the correct type screw will fit again. I guess I now need to trace these three screws and see which screw bag they are from. Would they be available separately without buying a full bag of ebay?

The below picture shows the trailing arm shock mount damage, both sides are the same...

New arms required?

Now then, on both sides at the front the upper wishbone bolts were replaced with standard bolts, this has the problem that you cant tighten it up because it causes the wishbone to go tight. Are these something you can buy? The picture hopefully shows what I mean...

I also thought I would show a picture of the motor again to see if anyone knows what it is?

back to it......

Andy

[mongoose1983]

That's a very nice project, Andy.

I am dealing with my own Monster Beetle restoration nowadays. Unfortunately, the weakest point of all of the ORV is the gearbox. By my own experience, the best you can do when a problem appears is change it completely. It won't be too expensive, and there are new replacements available in many internet places. As for the rest, you can wash the parts, or just use some old toothbrush to get dirt off the parts. The chassis looks to be in good shape, and that little break there will not affect the car, so don't worry about that. Now, VW shells are not hard to find, but with re-release of Tamiya's 1979 Sand Scorcher VW sometime in the next two months, I guess you will be able to get something nice for not too much. Keep an eye on eBay for them. There's always the Kamtec LEXAN VW shell, too, if yuo can understand a lexan shell. They are very good for bashing, and not too expensive. Oh, and that one looks like a technigold motor. I'm sure with a new gearbox that motor will sure pull a nice Off-road ride!

Best of luck with the project!

EB

--

[terry.sc]

Luckily the spares you need are parts shared with the Frog and Brat, so the rear arms and front suspension pivot bolts and wishbones are available new, the part numbers are:

C parts (rear arms) 0005161

H parts (front wishbones) 0005162

Pivot bolts in screw bag D 9465665

Tapping screws in bag A 9465662

Diff gears 9440510

You can order them through any Tamiya stockist or find them on ebay.

You can try fixing the broken screw point on the chassis by gluing it with epoxy or trying to heat it and weld it together, but as you then have to try and put a screw in it afterwards it won't be too successful. There are still MB chassis available on ebay if you really want to replace it, as well as the Frog chassis which is identical but grey.

Super Blackfoot wheels will fit on, but you will need either a pair of Tamiya 53913 Frog hex adapters or the HPI wheel adapters which are long discontinued but still available from Tower

As for the motor, the silver can and lack of shunt wires on the brushes identify it as a Technipower.

[Ian_Gsi16V]

Looks like you have a nice project there. I restored one in the summer and loved it.

Had mine out today, great fun to drive

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

Not much I can add to whats already been said, other than well done getting your truck back... and have fun restoring and driving it once again!

... the damage where the screw goes through the chassis is common. even tamiya knew that would be a weak spot and included 3 larger screws with the kit; to use once the threads had worn the plastic:

[Amitooold?]

Other bits and bobs are that sadly it no longer has a beetle shell so I need to buy one these look pretty expensive these days too.

Andy

Google for Kamtec dude... there are some beetle shells on there... He used to do Tamiya "copies", but some kind soul grassed him up to Tamiya I hear!!! However, he stocks some shells in ABS and Lexan that will look good.... look at the Kamtec "street rod" shell for starters!!

[terry.sc]

He used to do Tamiya "copies", but some kind soul grassed him up to Tamiya I hear!!!

The real reason is he started reproing the Durga shell, so taking business off Tamiya. Not a sensible business practice. Tamiya never had a problem with him reproing old bodies.

No one needed to 'grass him up', Tamiyas employees do read these and other forums and ebay so the only way he would have gotten away with it would be to never advertise it.

For a lexan Monster Beetle shell there's the Parma Beetle, the exact same shell Kamtec copied. If you want a hard body like the original wait a couple of months and it will be available again from Tamiya as a spare part.

[Boothy]

Thanks guys I will look into all the bits and bobs and get ordering hopefully tonight as its probably not worth doing the gear box untill I have new gears. Do we know the best place to get the tamiya adapters for the wheels?

Last night I fully stripped the chassis, de greesed and cleaned it all up and put it back together, these photos show as it is now (today I had to work )

[Boothy]

Diff gears 9440510

With regards to this part number, there were non on e-bay but I did turn up

Tamiya 9805167 Hotshot Super Shot Small Bevel Gear 3pc

and

Tamiya 9805060 Blackfoot Monster Beetle Bevel Gear Bag

Are these the same thing but sold separately?

EDIT<<< looking on the web its cheaper to buy the set than separate, I am guessing the Frog bevel gear ratios are the same as the Beetle?

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

EDIT<<< looking on the web its cheaper to buy the set than separate, I am guessing the Frog bevel gear ratios are the same as the Beetle?

The die cast metal differential gears are exactly the same parts

[Boothy]

The die cast metal differential gears are exactly the same parts

Fantastic Sorry I am full of questions but as the Frog screw bags dont tally with the MB bags in my instructions will I get the back nuts and washers?

My instructions seem to suggest I need screw bags B and C, as the tapping screws and pivots are in B but the nuts are in C, Also I am missing one screw BB5, will that be in the Frog bag? Its a very short tapper fror the front bumper.

I have also found that one of my adjusters BR2, has seen better days, is that a standard part??

Can you tell I am new at this?? Well thats if you dont count twenty years ago watching my Dad do it

[Boothy]

Eeek I just remembered I am missing two BA5's which go into the gearbox from the chassis, these machine screws are all in bag A on mine, I am guessing there is a Frog bag for these too?

Edit to add, I think its probably going to be worth while changing the gearbox sides because my frinds mate is supposed to of used washers to stop the gears coming apart I am guessing the force of this may have warped the sides?

I guess that these are available new too? Is there somewhere I can get the information from regarding the frog part codes to stop me asking so many questions

Edit x2 Ok I think I found the pressed parts bag but have found some from a brat on e-bay which are cheaper if correct. One thing I have just found is that as suggested above the pinion gear looks like it has seen much better days, is that a standard part?

Thanks again for everyones help.

[Live Steam Mad]

Eeek I just remembered I am missing two BA5's which go into the gearbox from the chassis, these machine screws are all in bag A on mine, I am guessing there is a Frog bag for these too?

Edit to add, I think its probably going to be worth while changing the gearbox sides because my frinds mate is supposed to of used washers to stop the gears coming apart I am guessing the force of this may have warped the sides?

I guess that these are available new too? Is there somewhere I can get the information from regarding the frog part codes to stop me asking so many questions

Re-re Frog manual linky ;-

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58354

Cheers,

ARG

[Boothy]

Re-re Frog manual linky ;-

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58354

Cheers,

ARG

Thanks

[Boothy]

Ok I just ordered all my Frog bit from Goldstar (hopefully they are ok?) and have also ordered some gearbox sides off e-bay.

I also ordered the frog wheel adapters so I can get some different wheels as I'll have to wait for some monster beetle ones to come up.

[KEV THE REV]

Ok I just ordered all my Frog bit from Goldstar (hopefully they are ok?) and have also ordered some gearbox sides off e-bay.

I also ordered the frog wheel adapters so I can get some different wheels as I'll have to wait for some monster beetle ones to come up.

Blackfoot & Mudblaster rims will fit straight on ,( Renken2000 has new rear gold rims ) or try a search on the sales / wanteds on the home page for M/Beetle rims . How about a CRP chassis brace ? .Also a good idea to buy full screw bags for lots of spares for your next project 'cos after this you will be hooked to the hobby again and want more cars - oh yes

[Boothy]

Blackfoot & Mudblaster rims will fit straight on ,( Renken2000 has new rear gold rims ) or try a search on the sales / wanteds on the home page for M/Beetle rims . How about a CRP chassis brace ? .Also a good idea to buy full screw bags for lots of spares for your next project 'cos after this you will be hooked to the hobby again and want more cars - oh yes

Hi Kev, Its getting expensive already Today I got 3 screw bags, the parts with the rear arms, a metal pressed parts bag, the wheel adapters, some Super blackfoot wheels and a set of tyres... £80 gone, I have now figured out I need the top brace between the mounting points I really want new shocks as my fromt ones have paint on them and because I am fussy I really would like a new front suspension mount and a servo cover (I have spotted the modified one off the later blackfoot).

I also quite fancy new radio gear and an ESC but I am unsure which speed control I would need to go with my motor. Things are kind of at a halt now until more bits come in

[Boothy]

Does anyone know if the two battery end caps and the on/off switch mount come up very often? Mine are a mess and after trying to clean them up I just made them worse I have seen they come as part of the chassis which is about £30, other than that I can get the Brat ones for just over a tenner but being anal they are not the same colour.

I have had a look on e-bay and in the classifieds but I cant find anything.

cheers

Andy

[Live Steam Mad]

I really want new shocks as my fromt ones have paint on them

I also quite fancy new radio gear and an ESC but I am unsure which speed control I would need to go with my motor. Things are kind of at a halt now until more bits come in

You can get the paint off the shocks (if they are Nylon-66) with a little White Spirit (Mineral Spirits) and fingernails etc.

With the ESC I would recommend a controller that has good brakes. This is a heavy model and you're not going to stop it quickly with the cheap Tamiya TEU101BK ESC. You need something with a better braking circuit. If you are happy with a forwards only controller, try a Novak GT7 like mine, it has great brakes. If you want reverse as well, the Futaba MC330CR is good, the Tamiya TEU302 is a little better than the Futaba, and both have substantially better brakes than the Tamiya 101, but they operate in the same way (double tap... pull back once for brakes, return to neutral, pull back for reverse).

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Boothy]

You can get the paint off the shocks (if they are Nylon-66) with a little White Spirit (Mineral Spirits) and fingernails etc.

With the ESC I would recommend a controller that has good brakes. This is a heavy model and you're not going to stop it quickly with the cheap Tamiya TEU101BK ESC. You need something with a better braking circuit. If you are happy with a forwards only controller, try a Novak GT7 like mine, it has great brakes. If you want reverse as well, the Futaba MC330CR is good, the Tamiya TEU302 is a little better than the Futaba, and both have substantially better brakes than the Tamiya 101, but they operate in the same way (double tap... pull back once for brakes, return to neutral, pull back for reverse).

Cheers,

Alistair G.

My front shocks with paint on are the yellow ones, I was a little scared to try as last night like a fool I tried nail polish remover (not mine ) on the battery end caps and on/off switch mount and it reacted with the plastic which has just cost me a new A parts section (£22.50 ) Obviously nail polish remover is more aggressive than I thought. I'll pic some white spirit up as I think we have run out but I figured as it looks like acrylic paint NPR would have worked better, I'll remember that for next time. Still I suppose I have a spare chassis now.