Removing the CVT Off the Mini Rock Crawler Project - Part 15

Today we finally get to test drive this mini rock crawler build. We test out the flex of the suspension and the 4 wheel drive setup. For this project I'm using the Fox 2.0 Air shocks. These are air only shocks and can be made hard or soft just by adding more nitrogen pressure. The fox air shocks are super easy to adjust and really light weight, perfect for these smaller projects but they can also work well in jeeps and other light rock crawlers. King air shocks are also a great option if your build is like mine, but I feel like the Fox airs have a better factory valving setup. The Fox air shocks should go together really well with the mini rock bouncer as that's really what they were designed for.
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[@cuttersidwell]

Still blows me away you do all these projects by yourself. It's just insane how talented you are.

[@Bunkers101]

No kidding, i was thinking the same thing.

[@droberts573]

I enjoy watching your videos. It's nice to see someone not afraid to admit when something doesn't work out the way they thought it would. Trial and Error. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don't. Keep doing your what your doing...

[@flegory]

Everyone will always say "I told ya so" for any situation. The truth is you will never know until you do the experiment and learn for yourself, which is the only way to learn and grow in any respect. If one never tried something new because of the "told ya so" people, the world would never progress. So good on ya mate, continue to do your thing. Great channel and great content. Thank you for sharing your passion with the world.

[@MikeMac90]

I never liked the idea of the cvt on this build but I was also curious to see how it would perform since I've never seen this kind of a set up done before. I didn't think it was a good option for this type of build but I also don't know everything either so maybe I was wrong and had something to learn. You don't know unless you try it.

[@constant333]

love that last statement! :)

[@robertduvall7392]

Who gives a rip what people say? I don't. As a hardware designer I probably would have tried the same thing. It's called experimentation. Those who have already gone down this road might understand the outcome, but that does not automatically translate to having the right to give you shit. People need to think before opening their pie hole. Those who haven't learned the lesson learn from what you are doing and the outcome.

[@skipsterz]

There’s no mistakes, just a change of direction. More leg room too! The build is sick dude!! 💪💪

[@esqueue]

The point is that you tested and saw for yourself.

[@ronniewilliz153]

I'm the same way. an you learn a lot too

[@cskalle1213]

I forgot to check gearolie on my scooter soo 8 year old olie aint that good so i broke it! i did fix it and now it rides like a champ!!

[@Snugglez187]

Yup, that's correct. I'm just really looking forward to seeing it run without the CVT. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how good it feels and how much power it will put down.

[@brickcity9mm896]

What did he see tho?

[@woodroemitchell2848]

@@brickcity9mm896 He sees that he should’ve used chain and sprocket instead of cvt

[@chzmo]

Not listening is the most beautiful part of the project 😎

[@scoutsapp5624]

I’m glad you took the time to learn something you had a gut feeling about and were able to learn that you could apply it in a different application.

[@ToastyProductions.]

I was one of the guys who said the CVT wouldn't be much use in this platform, but I'm also one of those guys who can't build a machine from scratch, I'm so much happier that your using a jackshaft instead of the CVT, for a rock bouncer I'd suggest a motor that runs off a driveshaft rather than a chain

[@ianbuilds7712]

there are driveshafts where it counts...

[@mlindsay527]

I love how your are never afraid to improve things! I find that just as interesting as the initial build!

[@robertduvall7392]

The stink bug and the assassin bug are related. You did a service to the world.

[@danf4616]

Think I have a name for this project... Yep, you have to call it the "Stink Bug!" 😁😎

[@mrshaneyt4356]

I new nothing much about CVT’s before this project so whatever you ended up deciding it still lead me to look up and learn something new. So thank you for that 👍 . And you trying stuff and always changing and adapting is what i love about here . So easy to sit home and point out what people think is wrong

[@mlindsay527]

No sweat, Chris! Keep rocking on!

[@stevenclevenger3306]

I can't wait to c this amazing machine out crawling around some rocks. Exciting

[@erinboatguy]

13:12.....love the term "Faber-cabeled" together.

[@jeremycable51]

Caught something pretty cool about that jackshaft you just made where you have two different sprockets and they’re not drastically different in overall size you can switch that end to end to change the gearing quickly I’d say the difference would equat to around a 7-14% increase or decrease in overall speed depending on which way it is

[@foxtrotblueofficial9814]

How I wish I can own that rock crawler at a reasonable amount that includes everything, god bless and keep on building

[@melaniehazen3529]

this is Brent from Glendale Az. I have seen where they take a small front wheel drive engine and trans turn it sideways and build a rock bouncer around it. works great. keep up the good work.

[@saschakorner9317]

Thats why you troubleshooting....to find issues and wipe them out....then you got a fine piece of machine😁👍

[@TrippyTrev45]

That's why it's called a build trial and error build changes happen nice build

[@erict3870]

It’s all in you honor that you were able to modify and ajust to bring it were you wanted to be. Your fabrication skills are excellent. For what you want to do with it, maybe the hand clutch would have worked out well. Keep up the good work.

[@andrewjackson5437]

Test and retest you never know. Great job.

[@jimmydennis3405]

I absolutely love your content and your work ethic you are amazing at what you do just figure I would give credit where it’s due Anyways you should build projects for customers and definitely keep Dabbin’ in the electric ⚡️ stuff cause what you have done so far in a short time is awesome 👏 I’m just a fan and figured I would give you praise instead of hate like most due I’m sure take care and stay blessed saying hello from Connecticut 👋👍👏

[@leadgindairy3709]

CT here too, what up CT!!

[@kinkong1961]

YAY you listened to us you are right cvt for sand racing great but not for rock crawling or off roading or hill climbing no clutch control so glad you put a direct drive using the engines clutch which is what we were screaming at you to do in the first place ow its going to be AWESOME as you are an amazing engineer and fabricator your work is so good same as your videos.

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

I'm glad that you are younger than me because that means I get to watch this for the rest of my life. Keep doing what you do Chris. ✌

[@bananas401k]

in all seriousness, even though i knew the cvt wasnt gonna be good i still think its a cool idea, and i was very surprised it worked so well. I might try cvt+transmission on one of my own projects sometime

[@chrishorbatt3504]

I think its great you tryed the cvt, if something dont work out, you try a different direction. Like your doing. Makes sence to me!

[@kenjohnson5498]

This is my told you so comment and that's it, because after all it's your project your choice. Just glad to get good content to watch

[@brentheltsley7187]

Nice work Chris. For us rock crawlers 4L can never be low enough. If that was low range take off, you might want to gear it lower sir. I know slow is boring, totally agree with you, but burning up a clutch while crawling would suck worse. Great machine dood

[@1one3_Racing]

Yeah I think those first 2 were low range which is far too high. Needs a double reduction if he wants to do serious crawling.

[@michaelgoodman7975]

Your great and whatever you decide will be prime content for us. This build is Sweet

[@JoelArseneaultYouTube]

Hey man, you learn a lot more from doing something, than you do form hearing about why you shouldn't do it... I've never seen this done, and have always wondered about it.... so even though I didn't think it was a great idea, I love the fact that you did it. I think you are correct... the snappy throttle response from a direct drive, without the CVT, will be a lot better suited to rock crawling 👍

[@Rideaholic069]

No I told you so from me. It was a good idea and you learned it’s not the best for this application. 👍🏻👍🏻 2 thumbs up to you for trying it out. You keep doing what you want and never mind the negative comments.

[@bobbylee4247]

Chris... You are an inspiration! Must be a Scorpio? I love the fact that even your "hack" fixes are better than most people's ingenuity comprehends.. PURE GENIUS!

[@flintlock_glockTJR]

It'd be pretty boring if every project went exactly as planned. Props for trying something different, and then adjusting on the fly.

[@manoverbored5279]

Nice build. Looks like you're having fun too. Enjoy your monstrosity!

[@MrGOTJOE]

Well done, you are truly talented in your fabrications. Love All your projects.

[@BraxxJuventa]

Well done Chris. 👍😁

[@lordbunny2416]

Love the content, especially when ur lathing ur own parts!! Keep up the great work!!!!

[@jamescohen7548]

No “I told you so comment here”. I love that you’re experimenting and building cool shit along the way. Keep up the amazing videos

[@spyder7758]

Awesome! This thing will be a blast to run

[@earlcrump7858]

No matter what people say you built it from scratch how many people can say that. I personally love watching all your videos keep up the good work. 🤙👍✌️👌

[@jimmac521]

that thing is just beautiful... can't wait to hear what it's like on the trail.

[@daviddematos7470]

very good builder very Smart guy

[@TheAmericanUhate]

I think the cvt setup on a engine like that would be a great street setup for a on road only type of build

[@boltonky]

Enjoy the updates and changes cause that's what we all do to improve our rigs, i only have concern over your clutch as motorcycle clutches aren't really designed to slip so you will probably wear it out real quick that's what i have done on most of my buggies etc then again i may drive them a bit harder. Don't stop what your doing :)

[@AnotherUnsociableOne]

Experimentation is great. Now you have experience with the CVT and how to get it working.

[@richardwilkinson3594]

If you could find a Rekluse clutch for that engine, you'd be set!

[@janeblogs324]

They are for disabled Americans. You want control offroading

[@gowerski]

i dunno about that after seeing grind hard burn one up in colonel senders

[@cravenscreations3668]

Keep up the dope work my friend !!!

[@scotttod6954]

Most anticipated video of this build. Would have loved to see the transfer case moved over to eliminate the jack shaft. Figured all the space savings and simplicity of having it driven directly while still being able to swap gear ratios would have out weighed the work to move it over. Still enjoying this build to the fullest. For anything I build or work on I fully rely on the KISS method. Then again I am not in it to make content interesting.

[@EJ-74]

This isn't a I told ya so comment it's a Ya live and learn comment 😆 I love this build. Definitely one of my favorites. 🔥

[@gtone2003]

Gearbox+CVT is a great idea, and it does work, but it can only work in low gears, maybe only 1~2 gears. Medium and high gears will make the CVT act too fast and lose its effect. So, you have to lock the CVT after 2nd gear, or switch to the chain output (I recommend the latter) and you will get the effect you want. As a reminder, the CVT belt cannot be used as a clutch You still have to take the clutch pedal, unless you install an extra centrifugal clutch Hope these suggestions help you Anyway, you are the best, looking forward to your next video

[@mrshaneyt4356]

Have a great holiday 👍

[@joelrice990]

Hey, I am not a rock crawler myself, but I was watching Fab Rats and he mentioned having one foot on gas and one on brake when working certain obstacles. Leaving the clutch handle on where it was would give you the same control. Something to think about as you go out and experience what works for you and how serious you get with crawling.

[@cravenscreations3668]

Keep up your style my friend !!

[@miketoney1660]

i have been watching your videos for a while, i think the first one i watched was you building a metal lathe, as I've watched you hone your skills over the past while i see you getting better and better, you have a gift that allows you to see things that most people just simply cant, kind of like an artist or sculpture might see before the first brush stroke or chisel mark is made, because you have a you tube channel you feel obligated to your subscribers to keep cranking out the videos even when you aren't feeling it or haven't worked out all the fine details yet, and i hate to break to you but the world is full of haters, someone always got a negative comment to slide in, i hope that your vacation goes awesomely, you definitely need a break for a minute. please do me and the rest of your viewers a favor, any time you're going for a test ride no mater how short or slow you intend wear a helmet.

[@boazpowerwashing1247]

I am so ready to see this thing in action! One of my favorite builds so far!

[@redneckracing674.5]

you are an incredible fabricator!---I told you so...

[@ahmmadalsnyyan5143]

اهنيك من قلبي يا مهندس

[@phuque2ho]

12:58 weld a bolt on bottom or top on each side to ensure to not go down.. like chain tensioner on dirt bike rear drop out

[@aserta]

One way you could neaten up the jack shaft affair would be to chuck the shaft in a lathe and clean up the inside to accept the best size of needle bearing you can find. Then, you can use single arm supports, making it cleaner. Those arms can have slots to adjust, and by doubling them up for that, they'll be sufficiently strong, to suck up any abuse. You can throw in (on the inside, maybe) some plate to shore it up even more if you find this too wobbly, tho i doubt it. If you press the chain as high as it goes, the stiffness of the chain should become its own structure.

[@anthonyyates616]

You need to wrap that muffler it's close to your brake reservoirs awesome rig!!!

[@RC-fu6hg]

I’m not here to say I told you so. I’m here to say I was honestly hoping it would work for you. I thought it would be really interesting to see it work together. I guess it didn’t quite work out. But that happens with prototypes. It’s all a learning experience. 👍😎

[@scottnorman4285]

We can't always be right all of the time mate! Don't sweat it, just keep doing what you're doing! Love the content and appreciate your time and effort to produce what you do for our viewing pleasure! Keep up the great work mate and take no notice of the stupid comments!! 👍👌

[@dom_ination0013]

YOO MR. WELDING, WHY ARE YOU SO COOL 😎

[@tinkerne-round4079]

Crazy idea for chain adjustment. Maybe set it up on a cam. Rotate to tighten?

[@Kiera9977]

To me you don't have to excuse yourself about what you're doing 😉 This all one big lesson to you and us.

[@crazymtbrider]

That will give you a hell of a gear range to play with by just changing the no of teeth on the sprockets dial it in perfect 👍

[@johnnywilliams8432]

Went to the comments to find the I told you so comments 😂 love the vids your projects are your projects doesn’t matter if they where right at first or not 😂

[@briannthara9109]

I honestly can't wait for the next build. I have been building an avt with a klr650 but with a cvt just like yours except at the time I went straight to a sprocket except I used a really large sprocket and it didn't go anywhere. Now I want to see your gearing work so I get motivated to finish mine

[@danielridenour5398]

You should add a hand throttle with the foot throttle so you can be in all controls at the same time it will help when you are on a step incline on rocks so you don’t stall it out as much and you won’t have to slip the clutch as much

[@utahspreadsthelove8627]

What if you made a paddle like clutch lever behind the entire steering wheel? Use a bmx gyro for managing the cable and avoiding binding. That would free up your left foot for a brake pedal. Crazy but not more more so than a cvt behind a gearbox and clutch.

[@Fabrice1970]

Functionality before beauty Mate

[@Delete575]

Everyone is saying what you should have done but I don’t see anyone else building one from scratch! Tell them to pound it up there ass ! Your the best keep on building awesomeness

[@anthonyrapkins2745]

so much better

[@campziggyrzr14]

If u sloted the tensioner plates in both directions it would tensioner both chains equally. For example the fixed plate vertically sloted and the floating plate horizontally

[@InnocentMiscreant]

In a light weight machine the cvt over a manual trans will work great once tuned out

[@OzBull]

Nice job!

[@cinnamonrollypoly]

Lol, yep, those welds are definitely "I don't care anymore. As long as they hold, they can be ugly." type of welds. Most of mine look like a cross between boogers and melting icicles.

[@carsonhendee919]

Now that you have a foot pedal for the clutch, paddle shifters would be nice and would help so you don’t have to take a hand off the steering wheel

[@BrianJohnson-ih1hb]

I would love for you to make a set of blue prints and a material parts list for it, I like the hell out of the sucker

[@GregThompson-dn9eo]

I think paddle shifters would be nice.

[@bobmanzi7712]

great stuff thanks

[@getoutmecar2940]

manual is always the awnser

[@myturkishlife1777]

YEY it's RBW day ... :-) not at all, "I told you so" sometimes you have to make something to see how you are going to make it .. I would say the motorcycle clutch maybe a bit fragile for the on and off under load all the time , but maybe a remote clutch .. great video and job ...

[@spyder7758]

If you want full throttle all the time for a future build you should do a small rotary engine, wankels love constant high RPMs, and rebuilds are simple

[@matthewf1979]

Overdrive the CVT primary if you want to use it later. You have to make up for all the reductions in the motorcycle gearbox, CVT secondary gearbox and differentials.

[@DirtRoadBoyz2]

About to start spitn freestyle on these beats bro! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MRR-qv3bw]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE INSTALL A QUICK SHIFTER! It really will be a life saver and make it more enjoyable to drive!

[@MRR-qv3bw]

Really digging the pedal setup! Awesome job👍👍👍

[@nickkelless]

The last bit 😂😂😂

[@larrymunday7519]

The clutch cable will break where you have it pinched behind the bolt on the pedal. It needs to be able to rotate their much like it does on factory levers.

[@timon2wheels355]

This was my concern as well.

[@redbeardedpanda]

I'm glad to see that you would still rather b welding even if it's after you have already welded, tested, cut the old welds, ground smooth and re-welded. Might need to change the name to "rather B re-welding" if you change too much though. Lol 😆 keep up the good work!

[@hombredeacero3131]

Those that can do and those that can’t ridicule

[@page64]

Great job but, an important tip, consider using the brake with the left foot, as used in rally racing, to optimize traction and braking at the same time, you have the sequential gearbox of the bike which helps a lot and connect the clutch to the gear lever :-)

[@acurarl9929]

New that was coming right off. But hey I’m same way. I have to try shit to just know. If I don’t then I can’t sleep so I feel ya.

[@brianmcpeek651]

What about using tubing instead of the flat plate? You are a genius with tubing!

[@camyota]

THANK GOD!

[@Sev_Auk]

I think it was a good choice on the CVT mod Chris. One thing I noticed, but it was pretty hard to tell exactly what was going on from the video angles... You really want all three pedals to be controlled by the ball of your foot. That way, it brings your ankles into play for more fine tuning than just moving your whole leg via your knee. I could see you were basically clutching with your heel, but couldn't really tell if that was because of space limitations or choice :) Longer pedals (if there's room), might help? As always, thanks for posting. Cheers, Sev

[@newbornlog2789]

I didn't tell you anything ...haha just color me impressed!!