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I fount the turbo optima manual so confusing. Worse manual I've come across to date...

I might have both chain guard parts.

Send me your address via pm and if I have them I'll send them to you free of charge.

That's strange, I've built several Optimas/Turbo Optimas following the manual and I found it clear throughout. It's a complex build, of course. The only part that can be easily overlooked is the chain orientation, but that's the builder's fault as even that is clearly specified in the manual. From an English-speaking builder's perspective of a translated Japanese manual, I have no criticism of the manual at all.

The Turbo Optima Mid SE's description of how to adjust the ball diff, however, is another story. The Engrish used in that section of the manual is VERY confusing.

naushad wrote:I fount the turbo optima manual so confusing. Worse manual I've come across to date...

I might have both chain guard parts.

Send me your address via pm and if I have them I'll send them to you free of charge.

pm sent.

As my first time going through the Optima instructions, I find myself having to re-read some of the steps several times. For example:
Visually, there's just a lot going on in that picture! And step 16 is listed twice, etc.
But other parts are ok.

Looking good! Just a tip on the shock collars: they're exactly the same as the ones used on the "friction shocks" on zillions of Raiders, Cosmos, and Pegasuses (Pegasi?). And for some reason those are less frequently broken. Snag one of those from ebay (or a local garage sale or Craigslist) for cheap, steal the shock collars off it, and re-sell the rest or use it as a "let the neighborhood kids play with it" car.

Love to see so many Optimas being restored. They deserve it.

DennisM wrote:If You mount the transversed alloy "pipe" between the gearbox mount plates, I think it all falls into place?

That was it. Thanks for the tip! With that front joint collar installed, there is enough clearance for the chain guide.

But the joint collar won't fit unless the M3x45 screws in the gear base and plates are loosened quite a bit.

And of course, with the joint collar installed, you can't access the chain guide end-cover screws
But just the act of loosening the M3x45 screws lets the chain guide slide in. Writing all this down makes it seem more complicated that it really is - it's not. I just think it's funny.



Success

markbt73 wrote:Looking good! Just a tip on the shock collars: they're exactly the same as the ones used on the "friction shocks" on zillions of Raiders, Cosmos, and Pegasuses (Pegasi?)....

I felt compelled to google this and see that there are 8,490 pages discussing that topic.

Making some progress (not Kyosho Progress, of course).

I attempted repairs to the shock spring collars, and the plastic weld seems to be holding so far.



I colored over the glue with a red marker:



Installed:



Would it hold up to constant use or racing? Likely not. But it will do just fine as a looker.

Other progress: