RCCrawler Forums

TMXONR · 01-22-2006, 04:55 PM

Well it was rainy today, so I got to tinkering with my old TQ3 radio and found out that you can mod it for independant rear steer for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tools required:
Philips screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver
Dremel or some other rotary tool with a cutoff wheel
CA glue or Epoxy
1 zip-tie

Heres how you do it.

First take the crystal out, remove the batteries, and remove the 5 screws holding the radio together. and open it up.

Second, remove the 2 screws holding the 3rd channel switch in place and take out the switch.

Third, Press the tabs on the sides of the switch in to remove the mount.

Fourth, use a small flat head screwdriver to pry out the red rocker.

Fifth, Remove the spring and little metal ball out of the center of the red toggle.

Sixth, remove and clean the bent bridge out of the bottom of the switch and wipe off the grease.

Seventh, trim the un-notched side of the toggle, so both sides have a similar notch.

Eighth, To make this free, I used part of an old zip-tie, that was about the same size as the bent bridge that was removed from the bottom of the switch and CA glued it to the bottom of the toggle, you can use epoxy if you want a stronger hold.

Finally, put the bent bridge back into the bottom of the switch just like it came out, with it pivoting on the center of the switch. Put the toggle back in to the switch so that the part that was trimmed will be on the bottom when the whole thing is mounted back to the case. Put the mount back on, and then put the whole switch assembly back into place, remembering that the trimmed part goes twards the bottom of the radio. Put the 2 screws in that hold the switch in place, make sure all of the wires are back in place, and the rubber piece that keps the wires in place is still in its spot. but the back of the radio back on, put the batteries and crystal back in and you hafe succesfully modded your TQ3 for independant rear steer for FREE!!!!!!!

You will notice that you do not need a spring to move the switch back to center because as soon as you move the toggle slightly back twards center it stays and the servo automatically centers. You can even still use the trim adsust screw on the back of the radio do align the rear wheels.

Mods,this would make good sticky.

Cubman · 01-22-2006, 05:04 PM

Nice! What function does the section of zip-tie serve?

TMXONR · 01-22-2006, 05:05 PM

It presses the bridge down to make the electrical connection to tell the servo to move.

ILoveRCRockCrawlin · 01-22-2006, 05:34 PM

Thats pretty sweet. You could even add EPA pots but then it wouldn't be free.

TwistedCreations · 01-22-2006, 05:43 PM

9th - you could take some better pics

miniwheeler · 01-22-2006, 07:20 PM

Free is a very good price but a micro toggle is only 1$

E-Maxx Racer · 01-22-2006, 07:29 PM

Nice I got a extra tq3 laying around and I am gonna try this heck why not midus well.

TMXONR · 01-22-2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miniwheeler

Free is a very good price but a micro toggle is only 1$

Toggles are cheap, but they dont leave a nice clean finish, unless you want to take the time to fabricate something

JakeTheAlligatorMan · 01-22-2006, 11:11 PM

Great stuff!

xtremraptor · 01-23-2006, 02:46 AM

if only two month's ago......

ah well, excellent job and find......

goingvertical · 02-07-2006, 12:35 AM

damn

!!!! just gave my tq3 away thinking i don't need it any more. not free anymore if i need to get one.(just like a dumb ***, i must be made of money)

trevorcfvfd · 02-20-2006, 07:44 PM

Thats a pretty cool(and cheap!) way to mod your TQ3, but my third channel switch is a little different. I have a smal circuit board on the end of the switch, and when I remove the red switch cover its all sealed inside a black box? I dont see a spring, ball, or a metal plate. Anybody know the difference, if there is one? :?

Frakk · 02-20-2006, 08:18 PM

i have the same switch as well. you can desolder it from the board and take it apart, take the spring and the ball out, but you cant make it self centering like this.

FFRCJosh · 02-20-2006, 08:20 PM

I'm going to go hack into my TQ3 later tonight! Thanks for the set up!

Cubman · 07-21-2006, 07:21 PM

Are there multiple versions of the TQ3? My TQ3 transmitter looks different from yours. I do not see a ball, spring, or bent bridge in this switch.

TMXONR · 07-21-2006, 07:48 PM

Yea, I have heard this from a few people. Sometime ago traxxas went to a 3rd channel switch mounted on a little circut board like that. I'm not sure if that style switch can be opened up with out breaking it, I have never tried it with that style.

Unholy · 07-21-2006, 07:51 PM

I have 3 of those board style switches in my parts box... let me go take one apart and see what i get.

Unholy · 07-21-2006, 08:02 PM

Completely different switch internally.

There is a little V shapped peice of plastic inside that makes the switch sit to the left or right. No spring, totally different mechanism.

With the board there is no easy way to get inside the switch.

TMXONR · 07-21-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unholy

Completely different switch internally.

There is a little V shapped peice of plastic inside that makes the switch sit to the left or right. No spring, totally different mechanism.

With the board there is no easy way to get inside the switch.

Can you post pics of the inside of the newer style switch?
Maybe if you take the V shaped plastic piece out it will let the switch center up.

Unholy · 07-21-2006, 08:10 PM

The big part is there is no easy way to get into the switch without destroying it. I'm sure it coul be done, but an hour of my time is worth more than a $3 switch from radio shack! s far as making it look prettier... You can cut down the stck red switch and cover the hole if you like.

01-22-2006, 04:55 PM	#1
TMXONR Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bryant, AR Posts: 463	!!!! FREE rear steer mod for TQ3 !!!!! Well it was rainy today, so I got to tinkering with my old TQ3 radio and found out that you can mod it for independant rear steer for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tools required: Philips screwdriver Flat head screwdriver Dremel or some other rotary tool with a cutoff wheel CA glue or Epoxy 1 zip-tie Heres how you do it. First take the crystal out, remove the batteries, and remove the 5 screws holding the radio together. and open it up. Second, remove the 2 screws holding the 3rd channel switch in place and take out the switch. Third, Press the tabs on the sides of the switch in to remove the mount. Fourth, use a small flat head screwdriver to pry out the red rocker. Fifth, Remove the spring and little metal ball out of the center of the red toggle. Sixth, remove and clean the bent bridge out of the bottom of the switch and wipe off the grease. Seventh, trim the un-notched side of the toggle, so both sides have a similar notch. Eighth, To make this free, I used part of an old zip-tie, that was about the same size as the bent bridge that was removed from the bottom of the switch and CA glued it to the bottom of the toggle, you can use epoxy if you want a stronger hold. Finally, put the bent bridge back into the bottom of the switch just like it came out, with it pivoting on the center of the switch. Put the toggle back in to the switch so that the part that was trimmed will be on the bottom when the whole thing is mounted back to the case. Put the mount back on, and then put the whole switch assembly back into place, remembering that the trimmed part goes twards the bottom of the radio. Put the 2 screws in that hold the switch in place, make sure all of the wires are back in place, and the rubber piece that keps the wires in place is still in its spot. but the back of the radio back on, put the batteries and crystal back in and you hafe succesfully modded your TQ3 for independant rear steer for FREE!!!!!!! You will notice that you do not need a spring to move the switch back to center because as soon as you move the toggle slightly back twards center it stays and the servo automatically centers. You can even still use the trim adsust screw on the back of the radio do align the rear wheels. Mods,this would make good sticky. Last edited by TMXONR; 06-18-2006 at 09:43 AM.

02-07-2006, 12:35 AM	#11
goingvertical Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ov'a hea Posts: 351	damn!!!! just gave my tq3 away thinking i don't need it any more. not free anymore if i need to get one.(just like a dumb ***, i must be made of money)

07-21-2006, 07:21 PM	#15
Cubman Rock Crawler Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oak Ridge Posts: 590	Are there multiple versions of the TQ3? My TQ3 transmitter looks different from yours. I do not see a ball, spring, or bent bridge in this switch. Last edited by Cubman; 11-04-2006 at 04:27 PM.

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01-22-2006, 05:04 PM	#2
Cubman Rock Crawler Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oak Ridge Posts: 590	Nice! What function does the section of zip-tie serve?

01-22-2006, 05:05 PM	#3
TMXONR Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bryant, AR Posts: 463	It presses the bridge down to make the electrical connection to tell the servo to move.

01-22-2006, 05:34 PM	#4
ILoveRCRockCrawlin RCC Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,980	Thats pretty sweet. You could even add EPA pots but then it wouldn't be free.

01-22-2006, 05:43 PM	#5
TwistedCreations Colt Python/SR9c Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: out in the shop, reloading ammo! Posts: 8,626	9th - you could take some better pics

01-22-2006, 07:20 PM	#6
miniwheeler Rock Crawler Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: dallas Posts: 866	Free is a very good price but a micro toggle is only 1$

01-22-2006, 07:29 PM	#7
E-Maxx Racer Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: A City Posts: 28	Nice I got a extra tq3 laying around and I am gonna try this heck why not midus well.

01-22-2006, 11:11 PM	#9
JakeTheAlligatorMan Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: and OR. if . . . . Gone Fishin :p :b :p Posts: 501	Great stuff!

01-23-2006, 02:46 AM	#10
xtremraptor Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: fairfax Posts: 226	if only two month's ago...... ah well, excellent job and find......

02-20-2006, 07:44 PM	#12
trevorcfvfd Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 25	Thats a pretty cool(and cheap!) way to mod your TQ3, but my third channel switch is a little different. I have a smal circuit board on the end of the switch, and when I remove the red switch cover its all sealed inside a black box? I dont see a spring, ball, or a metal plate. Anybody know the difference, if there is one? :?

02-20-2006, 08:18 PM	#13
Frakk Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 171	i have the same switch as well. you can desolder it from the board and take it apart, take the spring and the ball out, but you cant make it self centering like this.

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02-20-2006, 08:20 PM	#14
FFRCJosh Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: over there Posts: 264	I'm going to go hack into my TQ3 later tonight! Thanks for the set up!

07-21-2006, 07:48 PM	#16
TMXONR Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bryant, AR Posts: 463	Yea, I have heard this from a few people. Sometime ago traxxas went to a 3rd channel switch mounted on a little circut board like that. I'm not sure if that style switch can be opened up with out breaking it, I have never tried it with that style.

07-21-2006, 07:51 PM	#17
Unholy I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: One Legend. Posts: 2,134	I have 3 of those board style switches in my parts box... let me go take one apart and see what i get.

07-21-2006, 08:02 PM	#18
Unholy I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: One Legend. Posts: 2,134	Completely different switch internally. There is a little V shapped peice of plastic inside that makes the switch sit to the left or right. No spring, totally different mechanism. With the board there is no easy way to get inside the switch.

07-21-2006, 08:10 PM	#20
Unholy I wanna be Dave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: One Legend. Posts: 2,134	The big part is there is no easy way to get into the switch without destroying it. I'm sure it coul be done, but an hour of my time is worth more than a $3 switch from radio shack! s far as making it look prettier... You can cut down the stck red switch and cover the hole if you like.

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Thread: !!!! FREE rear steer mod for TQ3 !!!!!