RCCrawler Forums

AdverseCity · 07-18-2009, 10:24 PM

Not sure if this belongs here on in the newbie section but here goes. I'm not new to crawling but quite new to these "complicated" radios, I'm used to the old FM's with barely any settings.

I have a DX3 and have used it successfully for the last 6 months with a front dig on the 3rd channel. Last time I crawled it was working fine, just like always but when I took it out recently it just goes full throttle forward. When I press full brake it slows down slightly so I assume it's sending a signal to the receiver. I tried re-binding it and it accepts the bind but when I try re-programming the ESC (rooster crawler) it won't program, as if it's not getting a signal from the transmitter. I tried using my DX2.0 and that binds and programs fine but has no 3rd channel so I don't want to use it. I tried resetting a model to factory defaults but that didn't do anything. I tried adjusting the settings (some of which I don't even know what they're for) but that didn't affect anything. I took it apart looking for corrosion or broken wires but there's nothing, looks brand new inside. It hasn't been modded for the toggle switch or anything either. As far as I can guess, it just stopped working. I'm thinking I may need to get a new radio but can't really afford one just yet. All the people I know can't figure it out, this is a last ditch effort to save me some coin because I know some (a lot) of you guys here have been using these radios for years and might be able to help.

If it matters I have a Berg with novak 55T's, front electronic dig, no BEC, a 1500 Mah Nimh, rooster crawler ESC and SR3000 receiver. Thanks for any help you guys might have, Cheers.......

sheedy126 · 07-18-2009, 11:46 PM

im new to the "complicated" radios as well.
something could have been cause to make the throttle trim go way up thats why if you press reverse it slows down.

hope it helps?

AdverseCity · 07-18-2009, 11:49 PM

I tried the trim, along with every other setting on the radio. Nothing makes a difference. It won't even send a signal to the receiver when I try to re-program the ESC which would negate any bad trim settings. Thanks anyway.....

clockworks · 07-19-2009, 12:38 AM

When you used the DX2, did you use the same receiver? if you did, it sounds like a faulty throttle potentiometer in the DX3. If you've got a multimeter, measure the resistance between the centre tab and one of the outside tabs on the throttle pot (remove the battery pack before opening the case).
As you move the throttle, the reading should change between about 1K ohm and 4K ohm.

AdverseCity · 07-19-2009, 09:33 AM

Yes, with the DX2 I used the same receiver and everything else, even the same transmitter batteries.
That explanation makes sense, I'll try it later today. We have a comp in about an hour so I'll just borrow a radio. Thanks for your help, I'll let you know when I test it.

ROCKETRON1969 · 07-19-2009, 05:43 PM

does your radio have a frame rate on it like the Dx3r if so if its set at 5.5 your dig wont work turn it up 11ms and it should work if you have this setting thats what happend to mine once i changed frame rate from 5.5ms to 11ms it worked fine

EeePee · 07-19-2009, 06:11 PM

I had a DX3 that did that. Turn it on, full throttle. I tried everything under the sun. Put up with it doing this at random, often at the worst times, and would even leave the radio on for the entire day so I knew it would work when I needed it to.

It is the radio. Not the receiver.

Never fixed it, bought a DX3R.

Narly1 · 07-19-2009, 07:40 PM

When you are performing the binding procedure, are you holding the trigger and wheel in the desired fail-safe positions (usually full brake and straight ahead) prior to powering up the transmitter?

Narly1

heyok · 07-20-2009, 09:41 AM

I'm wondering if the trouble might be a noisey throttle control. Think back to listening to an old radio and you turn up the volume slightly and you hear a lot of crackling/scratching etc until you move the volume control past the dirty spot. The throttle trigger moves a potentiometer that can go faulty in the same manner.
To help diagnose this, plug your steering servo into the throttle channel and plug the ESC into the BAT connector on the receiver. This will let the ESC's BEC power the receiver and the servo will operate when you move the throttle control. If the throttle control was working properly, you would expect the servo to be in roughly the middle of its range when the throttle control is at neutral and it should move smoothly away from the center as you move the trigger forward or backward.

If the servo moves in a rough manner, maybe it needs this pot cleaned or replaced.

07-18-2009, 10:24 PM	#1
AdverseCity Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Calgary Crawlers, Alberta, Canada Posts: 617	Weird problem with radio (DX3) Not sure if this belongs here on in the newbie section but here goes. I'm not new to crawling but quite new to these "complicated" radios, I'm used to the old FM's with barely any settings. I have a DX3 and have used it successfully for the last 6 months with a front dig on the 3rd channel. Last time I crawled it was working fine, just like always but when I took it out recently it just goes full throttle forward. When I press full brake it slows down slightly so I assume it's sending a signal to the receiver. I tried re-binding it and it accepts the bind but when I try re-programming the ESC (rooster crawler) it won't program, as if it's not getting a signal from the transmitter. I tried using my DX2.0 and that binds and programs fine but has no 3rd channel so I don't want to use it. I tried resetting a model to factory defaults but that didn't do anything. I tried adjusting the settings (some of which I don't even know what they're for) but that didn't affect anything. I took it apart looking for corrosion or broken wires but there's nothing, looks brand new inside. It hasn't been modded for the toggle switch or anything either. As far as I can guess, it just stopped working. I'm thinking I may need to get a new radio but can't really afford one just yet. All the people I know can't figure it out, this is a last ditch effort to save me some coin because I know some (a lot) of you guys here have been using these radios for years and might be able to help. If it matters I have a Berg with novak 55T's, front electronic dig, no BEC, a 1500 Mah Nimh, rooster crawler ESC and SR3000 receiver. Thanks for any help you guys might have, Cheers.......

07-18-2009, 11:46 PM	#2
sheedy126 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tri-Cities Posts: 309	im new to the "complicated" radios as well. something could have been cause to make the throttle trim go way up thats why if you press reverse it slows down. hope it helps?

07-18-2009, 11:49 PM	#3
AdverseCity Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Calgary Crawlers, Alberta, Canada Posts: 617	I tried the trim, along with every other setting on the radio. Nothing makes a difference. It won't even send a signal to the receiver when I try to re-program the ESC which would negate any bad trim settings. Thanks anyway.....

07-19-2009, 12:38 AM	#4
clockworks Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 818	When you used the DX2, did you use the same receiver? if you did, it sounds like a faulty throttle potentiometer in the DX3. If you've got a multimeter, measure the resistance between the centre tab and one of the outside tabs on the throttle pot (remove the battery pack before opening the case). As you move the throttle, the reading should change between about 1K ohm and 4K ohm.

07-19-2009, 09:33 AM	#5
AdverseCity Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Calgary Crawlers, Alberta, Canada Posts: 617	Yes, with the DX2 I used the same receiver and everything else, even the same transmitter batteries. That explanation makes sense, I'll try it later today. We have a comp in about an hour so I'll just borrow a radio. Thanks for your help, I'll let you know when I test it.

07-19-2009, 05:43 PM	#6
ROCKETRON1969 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mcgregor Posts: 18	does your radio have a frame rate on it like the Dx3r if so if its set at 5.5 your dig wont work turn it up 11ms and it should work if you have this setting thats what happend to mine once i changed frame rate from 5.5ms to 11ms it worked fine

07-19-2009, 06:11 PM	#7
EeePee MODERATOR™ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 18,928	I had a DX3 that did that. Turn it on, full throttle. I tried everything under the sun. Put up with it doing this at random, often at the worst times, and would even leave the radio on for the entire day so I knew it would work when I needed it to. It is the radio. Not the receiver. Never fixed it, bought a DX3R.

07-19-2009, 07:40 PM	#8
Narly1 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Erin, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 471	When you are performing the binding procedure, are you holding the trigger and wheel in the desired fail-safe positions (usually full brake and straight ahead) prior to powering up the transmitter? Narly1

07-20-2009, 09:41 AM	#9
heyok I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 2,379	I'm wondering if the trouble might be a noisey throttle control. Think back to listening to an old radio and you turn up the volume slightly and you hear a lot of crackling/scratching etc until you move the volume control past the dirty spot. The throttle trigger moves a potentiometer that can go faulty in the same manner. To help diagnose this, plug your steering servo into the throttle channel and plug the ESC into the BAT connector on the receiver. This will let the ESC's BEC power the receiver and the servo will operate when you move the throttle control. If the throttle control was working properly, you would expect the servo to be in roughly the middle of its range when the throttle control is at neutral and it should move smoothly away from the center as you move the trigger forward or backward. If the servo moves in a rough manner, maybe it needs this pot cleaned or replaced.

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