Tekno ET410 Build – Part 2 – Front Bulkhead | CompetitionX

The next step in our Tekno ET410 build is the steering system and front bulkhead assembly. The ET410 uses a dual bellcrank steering setup that rides on a full set of bearings. The bulkheads are designed to completely encapsulate the diff, using molded plates on the bottom to seal everything up.

Build Notes:
Pay special attention to Step 3; make sure the steering rack bushings are pressed COMPLETELY into the plastic steering bellcrank arms. If not, they could twist when tightening down the screw that feeds into them and strip out the plastic arms.

Step 1:

Attach the three ballends to the steering rack. Note that the two 8mm ballends attach on the same side; the 6mm ballend faces the opposite direction.

Step 2:

Press the bearings into the steering rack.

Step 3:

Slide the steering rack bushings into the bellcrank arms, making sure they press ALL THE WAY into place (see Build Notes). Use the M3x8mm screws to attach the bellcrank arms to the rack. A drop of the blue threadlocker is suggested here.

Step 4:

Press the bearings into the bulkhead, then insert the output gear into place. Slide the outdrive cup onto the output gear and secure with the M4x4mm set screw. Blue threadlocker is suggested here.

Tech Note: You want the outdrive cup to be as close to the bearing as possible without touching it; a teeny weenie gap is all you need.

Step 5:

Attach the steering assembly to the bulkhead as shown. Do not overtighten; you don’t want any bind in the steering system.

The steering standoff posts require a 5.5mm driver to install; I happened to have one (of a couple hundred that I have) of my handy-dandy Tamiya wrenches sitting right by and used that.

Step 6:

Grab your front diff (you did mark which diff is the front one, right?) and slide a 10×15 bearing on each side, the set that assembly into place within the diff housing. Apply a small bead of black grease to the gears. Capture it with the diff cap, held on by four of the M3x8mm screws.

Note the direction of the diff.

Step 7:

The final step is to attach the lower bulkhead cap, held in place with two M2.5x6mm screws.

Simple, easy step. We’ll see a similar process in the next step; the rear bulkhead.