Taiyo/Tyco Baja Bandit Rebuild

[Pintopower]

Hey all, I am starting the rebuild and customization of my childhood Tyco Bandit. I happen to have two of them, both which I got used from friends as a kid. One is a complete disaster and the other is just a bit worn. My first issue is disassembly of the transmission. I My Nikko has the same set up and was wondering how the heck you take appart the rear end if the wheels have no obvious way of removal. The trans in my more destroyed one is trashed so I mean I could cut the thing open and see but I know I am not the only human out here that would like to do this so I thought I would ask the community. Has anyone done this on any toy grade RC? I did find this thread but my Bandit has a diff, the one they are talking about has a spool. 

http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164140

Any help would be wonderful. 

[Hibernaculum]

As the last commenter on that other thread wrote: "You have to get a hammer and a screwdriver or awl and pound the axle out of the hex nut."

To my knowledge, that's the only way, as the nut is pressed onto the axle. I haven't done this myself - you'll need a sharp awl, and a hammer, to try gently getting the pieces apart. I know people have done it.

However. Before you go customizing this car... is there not an option here for you to simply swap the whole gearbox over? This will be easier than taking the rear wheels off and pulling apart the transmission.

Note also that the Tyco/Taiyo Baja Bandit is one of the most collectible vintage models from Tyco. I have seen new in box examples fetch upwards of US$500. Used ones are always in demand also. If it's your childhood car, perhaps keeping it as original as you can, but replacing a few bits with donor cars would be a rewarding way to go.

[Pintopower]

Yes I was just a little concerned at damaging the wheel on the car. 

The reason I would like to take this one apart is to gain access to the gears in particular as something is broken in there. I would like to print new gears for it as I have a complete line of replacement parts coming out for the Bandit. As you mention, these cars are fetching a fortune and people I know with rather ratty ones are left a bit out of luck. 

As both of my orginals were used when I got them, they are in terrifying shape so what I did was buy a mint one, took it apart and completely remade the parts I needed as well as upgrades. I have no concern altering these cars because of the mods I made to them as a kid simply to keep them running. For example, both cars use rubber erasers as the shocks. There were no rear springs on either car and one (the better one) is missing the entire front shock tower. I simply have no clue how their original owners did that to these cars in such little time. I will take some pictures of my youthful creativity. Here is a shot of the front bumper that will prevent many Bandit owners from paying far too much on an original: