Sand Running Tips, General Modifications & Notes

Recommended Sand Running Upgrades, General Modifications & Notes

These are general options you can use to help protect your Baja when running in the sand. You can do as maney or as few of the segistions you find here. They will all help.

Tutorial donated by: http://formulabaja.com/

• Check all screw fixings and ensure they are all snug, particularly those associated with the exhaust, engine / carb / filter.
• Rear sand paddles, and ideally front sand ribs –  mounted up another set of rims so that you’re not forever changing beadlocks.
• TGN RedNeck Dual Stage Filter / Blue stock inner foam both suitably oiled with tacky foam filter oil, with Outerwears pre filter cover (drawstring type may be slightly easier to pull over assembly than the elastic type)
• Outerwears Pull start pre-filter
• Turtle Racing Steel Clutch bell
• Ideally an improved throttle Linkage set up, eg Yamadude style –
• If necessary modifications can be done to the stock throttle linkage –  a drill can be used to carefully increase the hole size in the black slider and decrease the chances of sticking due to grit /sand build up.  The insertion of two small metal eyelets in the increased holes, one at at each end of the slider, may also improve free movement.
• Grease the carb throttle shaft and place 4 x o-rings P4  (4 x 2mm clear #75070) as used in the  shocks, along its length. Grease again, and slip on a trimmed axle boot prior to screwing on the throttle arm. This will protect the shaft and dirt entering behind the e clip.
• Sand will stick to the surface of grease creating a natural barrier and prevent it from entering further and causing potential problems.
• Grease on ‘spring side’ throttle arm (Dieelectric grease, available from marine accessories suppliers etc)
• Shock covers, eg badhorsie.com for protecting the shocks / shafts / prevention of seal wear due to sand abrasion
• Smear grease onto the air filter sleeve face (#85444 / 1) ie where the foam filter meets the flat of the sleeve (or an even layer onto the end of the stock blue inner foam) to effectively form a seal to the ingress of dirt.
• Mesh mod   to engine intakes & pull starter grille
• Elcon clutch with a Bashproof plate or similar quality clutches such as Lauterbacher
• Clutch cover – options include, amongst others, Modified RC cover, Billet Enclosed Clutch Drum Carrier with integrated right rear engine mount, Ramtech billet enclosed clutch holder and Modified RC billet clutch cover used with Ramtech billet clutch bell carrier
• Pen spring mod – to caliper pins between brake pad to prevent binding
• Windscreen and side windows, body – first lines of defence, will help deflect much of the sand from your vitals
• Chassis side panels – flexible diy inserts or DTL rocker panels by dliguori25.
• When installing the missing bearing (B029) to the RTR gear case (drive gear shaft), it is probably a good idea to leave the rubber washer #86667(RTR) in place, with the new bearing pushed up against it to seal any gap and keep sand out of the bearing / box

Note that, given the nature of sand bashing (rolling, cartwheeling etc), pipes with baffles removed or short exhaust pipes such as the X-Can will have an increased chance of sand entering the engine and potentially causing serious damage. Of course all pipes will be at some risk to depending on driving style / conditions etc.