RC car advice...

[blazinjake]

Well I've got a traxxas rustler xl-5 electric 1/10 scale on the way... i'll update after i get it...

[mlemorie]

Solid starting point. I dont believe that the XL5 has programmable lipo cutoff, so you will need to get an external one and wire it in if you plan on lipos. If it is using those goofy 2.8 wheels, I would swap them out for some 2.2s pretty quick as there are a lot more tire options if you decide you want to try racing.

[Drain Bamaged]

the 2.8 sc wheels have just bout as many tire options and the xl-5 does NOT have the cutoff

[blazinjake]

how bad is it to get one and install?

[Drain Bamaged]

i would make the jump to brushless this is programble with the ability to tune it with a computer i am not sure if anyone makes a external voltage control i know they make alarms but not a cut off i could wrong http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...le-1406-5700kV

[S10dude]

nice set-up w/lipo.........

[mlemorie]

Novak used to make lipo cutoffs, I used them on my cars before I could program a cutoff, and my older BL system still has it on there. Im not sure whether or not they still make them since programmable cutoffs are pretty much standard now.

Drain, when you say the 2.8 sc wheels, are you talking about the combination 2.2/3.0 wheels on short course trucks? I havent seen many, if any, race tires for the 2.8 traxxas wheels. Not to say they arent out there, I have never looked as all of my stuff is 2.2, but my local hobby shops havent stocked anything in that size.

[blazinjake]

So... if i went to a brushless motor i wouldn't need to worry about getting the lipo cutoff?

Also... with the RTR truck will i need to break in the new motor before i run it??

[scrapin_low]

Stay away from aluminium a arms and parts that may tend to bend. The composit plastices will flex where the metal ones will bend. Any good R/C'er knows this.

And as for cleaning an rc car. Buy the cheapist break clean you can and spray off the chassis and supension with it. Wont leave any residue and is electronics safe as long as you dont soak the ESC and motor down .

[Speedy2222]

Quote: Originally Posted by scrapin_low

Stay away from aluminium a arms and parts that may tend to bend. The composit plastices will flex where the metal ones will bend. Any good R/C'er knows this.

.

also, INTEGY IS GARBAGE

[Drain Bamaged]

Quote: Originally Posted by Speedy2222

also, INTEGY IS GARBAGE

they do have a bad rap. but they do copy others designs. but they aint all bad. i do have the front brakes for the 5B SS and they work great. you have to pick and chose that you get from them. they offer a saving that some cant afford otherwise. they do have there good and bad. but i will go and for the good stuff when i can. but when you can save well over 50% over the real kit. they do make there own stuff and they do steal from good people that i know and respect. so you have to pick and chose.

[Speedy2222]

all of those are good points, but the reason i hate them is they use cast aluminum to make their parts, not billet like many people think.

[Drain Bamaged]

another point where they are cheaper

[mlemorie]

They are hit and miss with stuff. Their aluminum clodbuster axle tubes and knuckles are great for the money. No way in hell would I shell out the cash for the JSP ones lol. Im sticking with plastic ones though, Id rather break a tube or a knuckle than tear my trans case apart.

I would take the first run or two a bit easier to make sure everything is seated, and spray it out after each run (good to do anyways). I have seen people take the rtr motors and run them on a four cell battery under water to break them in. It works well and power output over the life of the motor is improved, but at the cost of motor longevity. Lipo cutoff depends on the brushless system you get. Most new ones from any of the name brands should have it but check the specs first just to make sure.

[blazinjake]

well i got the truck today... was pissed because fedex didn't bother knockin on the door or anything like ussual so i dunno how long it was sitting outside... ofcourse me being in law enforcement i'm paranoid about a few of my neighbors... even though my Lt. lives across the street and a Police Sgt. next to him...

Anyway, i'll have pics up later.. I've got one run done on the truck and am happy to say, considering my extremely amateur driving there are only a few scratches on the shell...

btw.. my wife got to drive it for about 15 seconds because she run it down the road, made a right turn into the grass and if it weren't for tall ass weeds at the top of a dropoff, she would have run it into a 6 ft deep creek.... yikes!

[blazinjake]

Btw... my xl-5 does have the lipo cutoff... traxxas advised that the newer ones are coming with them now...

[blazinjake]

Ok here yall go...

Like i said it's got a few scuffs already... but it's being used for what I bought it for... havin fun!

It kinda surprised me that this thing will stand on end rather easily...

[mlemorie]

6ft deep creek as in 6 ft of water depth or a 6ft dropoff? I dont know whether or not yours is one of the water proof ones or not, but I think it should be. If its water proof than you have nothing to worry about either way, Ive done 15ft+ drops and jumps with my old stampede and its just fine lol.