Buying a wraith... newb questions here...

[Famous112]

Ill be picking up a rtr PS Wraith here in the next few days...
I've been watching videos and all that lately about it. But I still have a few questions.

What is really needed to upgrade outta the box, if any?
I know by looking at the floor model at my hobbyshop I need to replace the steering linkages.. very flexable.

I have a spare 200+ oz servo going in for now.

Motor and esc will stay stock for alittle.
I May replace with a 55 turn or something later. Plan for brushless will be a rs gen 2 and a 17.5 gen two.

But currently I'm looking for problems that will cause breakages outta the box.
Also. Another question...
I don't know what kindof beadlocks I need. But I would like to find a set that vanquish has... but I don't know what hubs I need...

I'm clueless when it comes to crawling so help a brother out.

This will be a trail/ back yard truck.

Something fun to take with me pretty much anywhere.

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[SkaldidDog]

Drive it until something fails then spend your hard earned money on that part only. No part fails first on everyone. Once you have a failed part research upgrades and do the cost/benefit for yourself. This process will make sure you don't spend $ on some pretty parts and then have no $ for the parts that are actually broken. Have fun. You are your best tester of what parts to upgrade. Now go break something.

J

[Famous112]

Originally Posted by SkaldidDog

Drive it until something fails then spend your hard earned money on that part only. No part fails first on everyone. Once you have a failed part research upgrades and do the cost/benefit for yourself. This process will make sure you don't spend $ on some pretty parts and then have no $ for the parts that are actually broken. Have fun. You are your best tester of what parts to upgrade. Now go break something.

J

I like that answer. Thanks.

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[Harley]

Regear before you even drive it. You'll get a lot of run time out of the stock motor if you do that. Don't drive it even once with the stock gearing.

Then add a BEC.

Lastly, read the stickies at the top of the forum.

[Famous112]

Originally Posted by Harley

Regear before you even drive it. You'll get a lot of run time out of the stock motor if you do that. Don't drive it even once with the stock gearing.

Then add a BEC.

Lastly, read the stickies at the top of the forum.

I already have read some of it.
What gearing should I use with the stock 20turn?

A bec is on my list cause i want to be able to run 3s

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[Billy D]

Read Harley's sticky about gearing. Reading Harley's stuff is always best first. It has saved me a ton of $ so far and it is a great guide for all of us. New or old to rc, it helps.

[k7zpj]

Originally Posted by Famous112

I already have read some of it.
What gearing should I use with the stock 20turn?

A bec is on my list cause i want to be able to run 3s

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A gear ratio of 5.25:1 is a good starting point or the stock motor. That would be a 80/15

Read the gearing section of this thread for more details.
Choosing a motor and ESC for your Wraith - Gearing Added!

[Famous112]

Originally Posted by Billy D

Read Harley's sticky about gearing. Reading Harley's stuff is always best first. It has saved me a ton of $ so far and it is a great guide for all of us. New or old to rc, it helps.

Thanks. I plan on reading that stuff tonight.
I just placed the order.

Will be watching his 50 dollar a week video series tonight

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[arcanecrawler89]

Harley knos his stuff if I woulda read it when I got mine I wouldn't have bought 3 motors after burning em up in mine and thats not even exaggerated eather! Like alota people say axial builds there products to be upgraded bottom line!

[cguit]

Here is my 2cents

Run the motor until it dies then get a good crawler motor

upgrade the steering links, they plastic ones suck ass, and its an inexpensive upgrade.

upgrade the lower links, again plastic, and they bow.

Eventually your plastic drive shafts will start to twist and look like a piece of licorice, upgrade those when u notice it, jun fac or mip, or on the cheap u can hack up some traxxas revo shafts.

The stock shocks on a wraith rtr are meh. When u can change them to good alum ones, everyone I know has bent the stock ones.

[evan03]

Great replies

[Famous112]

Quick update.
My wraith shipped!!!!!!!
What I've been doing the last few days:
I've ready through most of the posts and all of harleys stickies.
I also watched his 50 dollar weekly PS build.

I've placed an order with Harley for one of his screw kits.
I'm very excited to get it. I have a
Xp1313 servo going in from the moment I get it. Its not ideal. But its better then stock.
I have a plan for the esc/ motor. But for now it stays stock.

Thank you for your replys guys. I really appreciate it.

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[Awesome!]

Buy a bag of miscellaneous bolts/ nuts. I got mine from Harley Design. There are other options as well. This relatively inexpensive investment will save running to the LHS or hardware store.

[Famous112]

Originally Posted by Awesome!

Buy a bag of miscellaneous bolts/ nuts. I got mine from Harley Design. There are other options as well. This relatively inexpensive investment will save running to the LHS or hardware store.

I have purchased Harleys HD hardware kit... i think ill be fine with hardware for along time with that kit. LOL,

it arrives tomorrow... so excited.

[SkaldidDog]

Originally Posted by SkaldidDog

Drive it until something fails then spend your hard earned money on that part only. No part fails first on everyone. Once you have a failed part research upgrades and do the cost/benefit for yourself. This process will make sure you don't spend $ on some pretty parts and then have no $ for the parts that are actually broken. Have fun. You are your best tester of what parts to upgrade. Now go break something.

J

Note that I did the exact opposite of what I suggested (see Buck Nasty build). I replaced everything but the cage, rear axle and maybe a tranny gear before it hit the ground. VP makes wicked bad arse upgrades FYI. Either method and any in between will be fun and a learning process...which adds to the fun.

Have fun. These rigs are a blast.

J

[realsickclown]

steering linkage is weak and has a lot of flex

[meatmonkey]

It's worth noting that pinion gears smaller than 17 tooth won't reach an 80 tooth spur, you have to bump up to an 87 tooth spur. I'm running 16/87 with the Axial 27 turn and the motors barely keeps from overheating, I'd suggest between 13 and 15 tooth pinion gear for the best crawlibility and motor life.

In my experience, the Wraith is really hard on servos. Anything less than 300 oz/in is going to struggle in the rocks and likely not last long. I've literally spent hundreds trying to find a servo that isn't prematurely destroyed in the Wraith.

Be sure to disassemble your RTR to add loc tite to the transmission output shaft bolts, and also disassemble the axles to check the ring gear bolt torque. Ignoring these procedures will cause you headaches down the road as things loosen up.

Replace as many of those darn self tapping screws in the axles and suspension with 3mmx.5 machine thread bolts. That alone makes the truck hold up much better. Use 3mm nylocks anywhere you can so your not just relying on the threads in the plastic.

[im gunna crawl]

What meatmonkey said about using machine screws is very true. In a stock truck (rtr) these screws fall out, they WILL loosen. If I get a new truck the first thing I do is take it apart and re lube everything ! With Mobil 1 grease . Use machine screws on all bolts with tapered /self tapping threads. Just tighten them tight in the plastic holes they will strip/cut their new threads. As long as you don't over tighten them they will be good. They won't back off.
As far as gearing 12 /87 or 12/90 would be good with the stock motor. When it burns up go with a holmes hobbies and the waterproof speed control from holmes. Get the good 75 dollar ish motor of your turn choosing.
Use mip drive shafts when the driveshafts blow apart!
Go with vanquish lower and upper links, with their steering linkages. Use a robotronics steering linkage. Get a bec for your servo right off the bat. Sorry for spending all you money ....... Good luck. You made a good choice.

[evan03]

Servo arm

CNC Alloy Servo Arm Short (Futaba) (USA Warehouse)

Get a battery or 2 while your at it
Turnigy 5000mAh 2S 40C Lipo Pack (USA Warehouse)

[Famous112]

Originally Posted by evan03

Servo arm

CNC Alloy Servo Arm Short (Futaba) (USA Warehouse)

Get a battery or 2 while your at it
Turnigy 5000mAh 2S 40C Lipo Pack (USA Warehouse)

I have batteries covered.
As well I have two alum servo horns on there way.
But the package should be at my house

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