Yokomo YZ-10 Super Dog Fighter

[Dangeruss]

In 1994 Yokomo produced for the American market the YZ-10 Super Dog Fighter, their third version of the YZ-10 4wd electric off-road buggy. Previous to this the Super Dog Fighter moniker had only been applied to Yokomo's Japanese market YZ-870c upon which the YZ-10 was based. The American Super Dog Fighter, while more advanced than the original YZ-10, suffered from significant cost cutting measures compared to the World Championship Special (YZ-WCS) from the previous year, itself an exact replica of Masimi Hirosaka's IFMAR winning car that was only available in limited quantities. In contrast to the previous YZ-10 however the new Super Dog Fighter sported a graphite plate chassis with unique 5-degree front kickup, six battery slots with fiberglass hold downs, and a fiberglass upper stiffening plate that connected the new plastic front and rear bulkheads together. Attached to the bulkheads was a revamped 4-wheel independent suspension that utilized longer and beefier lower control arms with threaded camber rods out back and adjustable upper a-arms in the front. The bellcrank steering with built in servo saver was carried over, though fitted with threaded rods instead of turnbuckles. Black anodized aluminum coilover shocks with teflon pistons and clip on spring preload adjusters were held inboard of the fiberglass front and rear shock towers. Updates to the mid-motor drivetrain were a balance of cost reduction and improved efficiency with the inclusion of only a direct drive for full-time 4wd and elimination of the slipper clutch from the pinion and spur primary drive. Twin belts with a new tension adjusting tie rod ran to smaller and lighter differentials before making their way to the hardened steel universal drive shafts routed through molded plastic hub carriers. New aluminum hubs secured each wheel with two additional screws and a full set of Hot Laps spiked rubber tires providing traction. A much more aggressive clear lexan body with molded nylon wing, a 15-turn brushed motor, and full bearings were included with the kit, which was sold without other electronics or radio: