Setting steering travel on radio above 100%... good/bad?

[nutsoap]

Hey all. Is setting the steering travel above 100% on a radio bad for the servo? I ask because I just had a 7955TG burn up on me when testing out the steering on my Wraith. I had set the steering to about 140% and it was driving fine for a while until I hit a medium sized rock at about 40% throttle and the servo just went dead.

I got another 7955TG and am now reluctant to set the steering travel higher than 100% even though the Wraith (with steel steering links, VP knuckles chubs) can mechanically still turn further.

Was the first 7955TG I had just set up too high or possibly a defective model and is it ok to set the steering travel up on my new servo incremently so that I can maximize my turning radius?

[DudeWalker]

Yes, you can turn your EPAs up past 100% on the radio as long as you're are not pushing it past the mechanical limits of your steering setup or the servo itself (test it not hooked up to the crawler). Servos have a stop in one of the gears to prevent the output shaft from rotating 360 degrees. I would not think 140% would push it beyond the stop. Also need to ensure there is no binding anywhere in the swing of the wheels from lock to lock. Don't Hitecs have lifetime replacement?

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by DudeWalker

Don't Hitecs have lifetime replacement?

Not quite, but they tend to take good care of customers unless it's an obvious beaten servo.

[losikid]

To be safe stay under 125%

If you really want more throw, get a longer servo horn

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by losikid

To be safe stay under 125%

If you really want more throw, get a longer servo horn

+1.....or, a shorter arm/new mounting hole on the knuckle.

[ik632]

When I see EPA that high it weirds me out because I'm running a Hitec 5995 that is factory programmed for 180 degrees rotation so my EPA is set to 35% for both directions for my Wraith. My 7954SH is set to 75% I think on my XR10 and that pushes the steering as far as it will go. I'd almost feel better putting a longer arm on the servo and let the torque do it's work. I'm actually running the stock aluminum arm on both.

[nutsoap]

I think I just had it up too high originally. I set it to 118% now and it is pretty much at its maximum travel before binding.

I am running my wheels wider than stock so that's why I am able to have the steering go a bit farther than normal. I am going to try it out with the front wheels not as offset tonight.

[DudeWalker]

Originally Posted by nutsoap

I think I just had it up too high originally. I set it to 118% now and it is pretty much at its maximum travel before binding.

I am running my wheels wider than stock so that's why I am able to have the steering go a bit farther than normal. I am going to try it out with the front wheels not as offset tonight.

Ah, there you go. Thanks for telling us how the story ended. (Don't you hate it when someone asks for help, it's given and you never hear if it worked?)

If your servo is buzzing at full lock, your EPA is set too high.

[tocsin]

I've ran 150% before with no issues with a short arm for more torque. As long as it's not buzzing at lock, you won't hurt anything. The pin is in the gear to keep the pot from cranking beyond it's limit. If you hit the pin, you'll hear it.

[nutsoap]

Originally Posted by DudeWalker

Ah, there you go. Thanks for telling us how the story ended. (Don't you hate it when someone asks for help, it's given and you never hear if it worked?)

If your servo is buzzing at full lock, your EPA is set too high.

It actually was buzzing at full lock... when I get home I'm going to play around with it a bit more... Thanks for the advice.