Kraton WTF is the secret?

[Kenyon]

Alright guys. I don't know what this thing is called, or why there is an O ring on it, but what is the secret of putting it back together? I have been at it for over an hour and every time the nut gets almost all the way in that damn O ring squirts off of there.

 

[Jimbobjr]

I don’t know what it’s called. Pillar/pillow ball retainer...the o ring keeps it from backing out which was a common problem for the other models prior to 2019. You could try a little bit of spit on the threads or a tiny bit of wd40. Whatever you put on you would want it to dry out so no grease. Another thing you could do is wrap a little plumbers tape on it to retain the o ring.

 

[RCBro80]

I literally just lost one so there goes that solution to solve the problem!

 

[Kenyon]

I don’t know what it’s called. Pillar/pillow ball retainer...the o ring keeps it from backing out which was a common problem for the other models prior to 2019. You could try a little bit of spit on the threads or a tiny bit of wd40. Whatever you put on you would want it to dry out so no grease. Another thing you could do is wrap a little plumbers tape on it to retain the o ring.

Oooh! I like that plumber's tape idea!! I tried shock oil and it failed miserably. Now I know that even if it had worked it would have been counter productive. I think I will try that plumber's tape thing!

 

[Mongoose]

Mine is at just the right spot if I run it in just to the point the o-ring starts pushing out and backing it off an eighth turn or until it pops back in. Any tighter than that the suspension doesn’t move freely.

 

[Kenyon]

Must be nice!

 

[olds97_lss]

Oooh! I like that plumber's tape idea!! I tried shock oil and it failed miserably. Now I know that even if it had worked it would have been counter productive. I think I will try that plumber's tape thing!

Been running that on my v2 outcast since shortly after I got it 2 years ago. It didn't have o-rings back then. The teflon tape works really well.

 

[slick2500]

Take and put some electrical tape on the end of the hex tool so the pillow ball retainer stays put.

 

[smokedstanley]

A hair before the o-ring wants to pop out as you are tightening the cap, take a tiny flat head screwdriver with smooth edges, or something similar and run it around the outside of the o-ring, gently pushing the o-ring into the groove to help it squeeze past the lip. A little lube will help, and don't drag the tool you are using so hard that you start stretching the o-ring and cause it to push out.

 

[crimsonfancy]

This is a fix and worth it. 86 the stock o-rings:
https://m2cracing.net/arrma/386-m2c-3055-arrma-pillar-ball-retainer-nut-kit.html

"The nuts are designed to allow you a very easy start to avoid cross threading.
The nuts will screw about 3/4 in and then start to trighten up. As it gets close the the bottom it will snug down so the nuts will not back out."

 

[Notorious J]

Alright guys. I don't know what this thing is called, or why there is an O ring on it, but what is the secret of putting it back together? I have been at it for over an hour and every time the nut gets almost all the way in that damn O ring squirts off of there.

My trick is the same as I would use for any threaded bolt. I use my hands and not a hex, and slowly turn it backwards until it seats. Then I slowly turn it forwards paying attention that it doesn't bind. If it does, you'll likely cross thread it. The thread is fine and easy to wreck if you don't do it gently. Make sure the thread on the nut and the plastic it screws into are both very clean. When all else fails, switch to Hot Racing hubs and be done with the dreaded plastic hubs for good.

 

[MrTitanium]

Because these inserts have fine threads, they must be started by hand or you risk cross threading. Adding a dab of 3M oil on the oring is also advised to reduce friction. Personally, I never had issues with these backing up on my Nero OEM caps and they don’t have orings.

Teflon tape seems like a nifty fix though.

 

[jondilly1974]

You gotta lick it, before we kick it.

 

[smokedstanley]

His question was about the o-ring popping out when it is almost all the way in, not how to start the nut.

 

[Kenyon]

His question was about the o-ring popping out when it is almost all the way in, not how to start the nut.

True, but I don't mind people sharing their expertise on other aspects that people have trouble with too.

 

[Mongoose]

Another option that some have chosen to do instead of thread tape is to drill and tap a hole perpendicular to the pivot ball nut hole and run a set screw in to lock the nut in place.

I think @olds97_lss has done this?

 

[bicketybam]

This is a fix and worth it. 86 the stock o-rings:
https://m2cracing.net/arrma/386-m2c-3055-arrma-pillar-ball-retainer-nut-kit.html

"The nuts are designed to allow you a very easy start to avoid cross threading.
The nuts will screw about 3/4 in and then start to trighten up. As it gets close the the bottom it will snug down so the nuts will not back out."

This^^^

These are really nice, easy to thread and they never back out.

 

[Kenyon]

Another option that some have chosen to do instead of thread tape is to drill and tap a hole perpendicular to the pivot ball nut hole and run a set screw in to lock the nut in place.

I think @olds97_lss has done this?

It seems like that would have been the best option from the factory. Using a rubber o-ring to nm prevent a nut from backing out doesn't even make sense to me.

 

[bicketybam]

It seems like that would have been the best option from the factory. Using a rubber o-ring to nm prevent a nut from backing out doesn't even make sense to me.

Just take it off and you have the V3 version ?

 

[Rons RC]

Another thing you could do is wrap a little plumbers tape on it to retain the o ring.

Why didn't I think of that?