Kyosho Lazer ZX project

[stickboy007]

Adding to my vintage 4wd collection is this Lazer ZX I picked up a few weeks ago. Overall, it is in very good condition and just needs some cleaning, although I do plan on several upgrades. I noticed that the previous owner gave this one aluminum rear hub carriers, which are quite nice...

Items I've ordered so far:
1.) ARP aluminum front C-hubs
2.) Pargu alloy front and rear arm bracket set (based on my prior experience with Pargu, these should show up in the mail any time between tomorrow and forever).

To run ball diffs front and rear:
3.) LA1 ball diff pulley (2x)
4.) WBD-5 ball diff set (2x)
5.) WBD04 diff rings (2 pair, can get these from A-Main as they are also used on the ZX5, apparently).
6.) 3/32" carbide balls (duh).

Items I plan on ordering:
1.) Fibre-Lyte bling (of course) --> KYZX01 through KYZX06. I don't really see the point in KYZX07. Unless I am mistaken, that part connects to the motor plate as some kind of offset piece, and you'll get better thermal conductivity with the stock metal unit. (**edit** that's the servo plate...nevermind. Maybe I'll get it...)

2.) Replacement belts. I believe I ordered a set from tough-racing, but they haven't showed up yet after several weeks. I want to order more, at a better price, from a local timing belt supplier. My understanding is that LA12 and LA13, are respectively, 3M with 59 teeth and 179 teeth, 4mm wide at the rear and 3.5mm wide at the front. I could not find that information on this site, but did run across that info on another site. Can somebody here please confirm? Replacing the belts is more of an operation on the Lazer ZX than on other vintage chassis, like the YZ10, and I don't want to tear the whole thing apart just to count teeth if I don't have to.

I have thought about getting the arms repro'd in delrin, but I'm not sure that's entirely necessary here - Kyosho arms are pretty beefy. In time, I'll put a brushless/lipo system in here...

[naushad]

That's a nice looking zx...have you got a shell yet?

[stickboy007]

Thanks. The previous owner included a few shells with the chassis, but they're all a bit beaten up. I have a big order for TBG shells for several vintage projects I have going on, but I don't expect to put it in too soon, since I want to get the chassis done first.

[Bormac]

This car looks more like a ZXR to me. You won't be disappointed mate, they drive GREAT!

[bully]

jealous mate very nice

[stickboy007]

Thanks.

@ J.M., didn't the ZXR come with carbon fiber upper and lower decks, and ball diffs? This has gear diffs, fiberglass decks, and aluminum shock towers. It also came with the original box, which says ZX Curious to know what stands out to you a ZXR-like, though...

I remember reading something about a weak spot on this chassis being the part of the rear assembly where the rear shock tower mounts onto. Have you noticed this to be a problem?

[Bormac]

The ZX and ZXR share the same lower chassis plate. The ZX has a two piece top deck (which I think I just spyed) and yes the ZX has geared diffs. The car has ZXR wheels and tyres plus steering drag link I am sure. The ZXR didn't come with Carbon Fibre as far as I knew. Does this car have the ZXR slipper or the ZX top diff?

Maybe this car is a bitza...?

[stickboy007]

Indeed this one has a two pice upper deck. It appears to have the center diff from the ZX. My guess is that this is a ZX with a small amount of ZXR pieces, like the wheels.

[Bormac]

My mistake (sorry). Are you going to change the layshaft arrangement?

[stickboy007]

To a ZXR layshaft with a slipper? At the moment, I don't plan to. I'd like to try out the center diff and see how it holds up. My Tamiya Avante (2011) has a similar arrangement, where there is no slipper but instead a center diff. I run a 10.5 in that and it works just fine. Do you have a preference as far as the ZX/ZXR layshaft arrangement?

[Bormac]

ZXR slipper for me but even better might be the HYPER CLUTCH from the ZXRR and ZXS cars. You can however lock up the top shaft but I am yet to see someone make the top diff work well.

I have a complete ZXR slipper assembly if you ever go looking for one.
Cheers-Jason

[stickboy007]

Thanks, I appreciate that. I will give some more thought as to whether to run the diff or slipper on this chassis. The layshaft assembly on this is pretty complex, at least compared to others like the CAT 2000 and YZ10. Any thoughts on why the center diff doesn't work so well? Just from looking at the instruction manual, there are four wave washers which act as the diff "spring," and my guess is that these do not offer the same range of adjustability as a standard spring or even the disk springs that Tamiya use in their center diff in the Avante. Or is it something else?

[Bormac]

I'm not all that fluent with the layshaft diff on this car. I know there are members here who can offer you more advise when using this diff.

[Welshy40]

The Paragu items are slightly narrower and are not an exact copy of the original and also he isnt a very trustworthy chap. Be warned.

[stickboy007]

I'll do some research on this center diff...

I have dealt with Pargu before. I also saw the complaint thread about them on this site, and the conclusion there (from what I recall) was that they guy just has poor English. I have never had an item not eventually arrive from them, although their delivery times vary wildly.