› Tekno EB410
Tekno’s first-ever 1/10 4WD buggy is a high-traction hit
One of the hottest segments in racing today is the 4WD 13.5-turn class, so much so that many of the top manufacturers have catered to this class, stepping up their 4WD game with new models, including Tekno with its new EB410. The EB410 is special because it’s Tekno’s first offering in the 1/10-scale buggy world, and if you think this buggy is just a scaled-down version of one of its 1/8-scale buggies, you would be wrong; the EB410 is brand new from the ground up. The suspension is all new and features 13mm aluminum big-bore shocks, monocoque-style suspension arms, and plastic pill inner hingepin mount system to dial in the arms’ toe and kick-up. A 3mm milled-aluminum chassis features a weight-forward design, which Tekno engineers tailored to today’s high-grip tracks, placing all the electronics forward. A low-friction drivetrain has front/center/rear oil-filled gear differentials and uses a mix of steel and aluminum throughout to keep the rotating mass down. The EB410’S list of features spells success in any racer’s book, so let’s see how it does on the track.
Reverse-bellcrank Steering System
EB410’S flipped-steering bellcranks are a first for a 1/10 4WD buggy, and the design frees up a lot of chassis space compared to conventional forward-facing bellcranks. This allows the steering servo, battery, and speed control to be moved further toward the nose of the car to allow the forward-weight bias Tekno engineers were aiming for. The steering system also allows you to fully adjust Ackerman as well as bump-steer and toe-in.
3mm Milled-aluminum Chassis
The EB410 isn’t unique for having a milled chassis, but it does set itself apart with the placement of the electronics. Taking into consideration the high traction available at today’s tracks, most of the weight is placed forward for a balanced feel. Up top, you’ll find a pair of rear chassis braces; you can use one or both to fine-tune rear flex. The front brace stiffens up the front flex, but you can remove screws to increase or decrease flex. The motor is held securely in place with an aluminum slider–type motor mount that’s easily accessible and allows you to set the gear mesh quickly and accurately.
Low-friction Shaft Drivetrain
Friction and drag from a drivetrain is a car’s worst enemy, especially when running 17.5 and 13.5 stock motors. Tekno adopted center driveshaft tech from its 1/8 vehicles and integrated it into the EB410. The driveshafts that run from the center differential to the front and rear gearboxes are perfectly in line, which dramatically reduces the amount of drag compared to other cars with angled driveshafts. The rest of the drivetrain uses front, center, and rear gear oilfilled differentials. Steel CV driveshafts are used to deliver the power to the wheels, while aluminum center driveshafts are used to reduce rotating mass. Rubber-shielded ball bearings are used throughout to keep everything rolling free.
Race-ready Suspension
Most off-road vehicles have suspension arms that are molded with open spaces between their ribs and gussets, but Tekno’s arms have no openings other than the holes for the hingepins and droop screws. Threaded-aluminum 13mm big-bore shocks allow for easy ride-height changes. Locking spring perches keep the shock springs locked firmly in place and prevent the spring perch from being lost. Changing the toe or kick-up adjustment on the arms is quickly done thanks to user-friendly aluminum inner hingepin mounts that use plastic inserts to dial in settings.