RCCrawler Forums

Laurentides · 11-24-2007, 09:01 AM

Hi all , I've been lurking here for a while and the fun you guys are having convinced me to get a WK , I locked both axles with epoxy and I must say I was impressed by the little truck , except for the ESC that overheats even at freezing temperature = yes I am in Canada

it crawls pretty good in almost stock form , can't wait to stretch it and get a torquier motor .

here's my problem

ran around in the first snow of the season and after drying ,my WK stopped responding to commands , it beeps and wheels engage every second without any input from me , I probably got snow/water somewhere I shouldn't have .

I would like to know how to troubleshoot the thing so I can buy replacement parts to go break it again ;)

thanks in advance

4u2nv · 11-24-2007, 09:19 AM

You can check the motor first by connecting it directly to the battery. If that works out... check the esc it's most likely this that got damaged from the melting snow.

Laurentides · 11-24-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4u2nv

You can check the motor first by connecting it directly to the battery. If that works out... check the esc it's most likely this that got damaged from the melting snow.

thanks 4u2nv , but yes motor works since wheels engage in an out of control way .

how do I test the esc ?

4u2nv · 11-24-2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurentides

thanks 4u2nv , but yes motor works since wheels engage in an out of control way .

how do I test the esc ?

I'm not quite sure how to test it... I would switch it with another and see of that does it. Do you have a spare? Make sure the crystal isn't loose in the receiver also.

karlos · 11-24-2007, 09:33 AM

Give it a chance to dry out completely before you turn it on again. You may get lucky and it work correctly once it's dry.

Laurentides · 11-24-2007, 10:27 AM

thanks karlos , I dried it well I think with a blowdryer .

I'll try to be more precise about what it does now ,

I turn on the remote only and even if WK's switch is off I hear a constant chirping from (I think) motor area .

if I turn WK ON , then beeping and turning of wheels in a once every second tempo , beep beep / 1 sec /beep beep

no response from remote .

if I disconnect either one of the motor wires , chirping stops .

karlos · 11-24-2007, 10:38 AM

Have you tried fresh batteries in your radio? When I first got my Wheely King I actually had a problem with the radio itself. It was doing wierd glitchy stuff like you are describing. I borrowed a buddy's radio and switched out the cristals to verify that it was the radio. Once I replaced the radio I didn't have any more problems. If you can, try a different radio. It may help you eliminate any radio problems. If the same problems occur it's probably time to get a better ESC.

Kranberry · 11-24-2007, 12:13 PM

if you want to waste your time and check the esc you can take a volt meter and put the leads on motor connections and give it throttle if you get voltage then it should be just fine. if you don't your fried. ide recommend just getting a new better esc

edman87k5 · 11-24-2007, 01:14 PM

I am far from an rc expert, but that sounds like a problem with the transmitter or reciever to me. Mostly the receiver since you say it got wet or frozen. Check the connections and cristal on the reciever.
Does it attempt to steer when powered on and ypu turn the wheel on the transmitter?

Laurentides · 11-24-2007, 01:51 PM

thanks edman87k5 I checked the connections on the receiver , seems OK , how can I tell if the cristal is still good ?

I did like cjkranwinkle@cableone.net said and put a volt meter to the ESC

don't know much about electronics or volt meters but it acted weird , didn't take any input from transmitter and peaked up and down .

so the ESC was crap anyway , what should I put in that would give my WK some precision and maybe better braking ?

as long as I will be driving down to my lhs might as well get a motor too , was thinking a 55 T for crawling .

any input apreciated

Usmc8541 · 11-24-2007, 02:25 PM

Mamba max, from Holmes Hobbies.

And a Dominator motor. Or if money is no object, the colbalt motor.

Laurentides · 11-25-2007, 05:52 AM

thanks for the advice

that Mamba Max looks good but kinda pricey, is there any ESC that would be precise and have good braking for less $$ ?

SeanD · 11-26-2007, 06:27 AM

The WK stock ESC will beep beep (pause) beep beep (pause) when it is not receiving a signal from the transmitter

duleonar · 11-26-2007, 12:44 PM

A few weeks ago I posted a similar thread pertaining to the beep beep of the motor. Turned out to be the ESC had bit the dust. I went to the "vendors" section of the site and found a guy selling a pretty good ESC $30 shipped. It is a Moped 16...something. Here is a link to his thread if you are interested.

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58265

Laurentides · 11-27-2007, 08:14 AM

thanks SeanD , it does that ; beep beep (pause) beep beep (pause) and also engages the motor for some reason .

thanks for the tip for that budget ESC duleonar , I'll look it up .

still unsure if it's my ESC , receiver or both that fried .

I would like to test if the receiver is getting my transmitter , so I guess I need to

power the receiver = question - can it handle direct current from the 7.2 volts battery or is the ESC sending less voltage/amps the way of the receiver and I'm just going to fry it connecting it direct to the battery ?

because right now the receiver is getting power through the ESC and if that is busted than I won't know for sure if the receiver is working . I did some testing using the plug on the receiver that goes to the steering servo with my volt meter and I get no difference in voltage when switching on or using the transmitter for turning the wheels .

I'm thinking if the receiver is working than it must be the ESC right ?

so my question is how do I test the receiver without having it connected to the ESC .

thanks in advance

Mike in Canada

duleonar · 11-27-2007, 10:02 AM

One option is to take it the the LHS, and see if they will let you hook it up to working equipment for a quick test. They may also know of other ways to test them, or have equipment for that sort of thing.

Laurentides · 11-27-2007, 12:35 PM

of course the lhs could help ($$) but the idea is for me to learn and be able to diagnose/fix things on my own

John82601 · 12-01-2007, 12:14 AM

My recommendation would be to take the case off of both the esc and the receiver and wash them with some electrical cleaner to get any residue off of them. Then rig up a 4.5-6v power source (4AA's in a holder). Unplug the esc from the receiver and plug the power source into the battery slot on the receiver. If you have steering then your receiver is probably fine and the esc is the culprit.

Laurentides · 12-01-2007, 09:22 AM

thanks John82601 , it was the ESC allright , thanks all for helping

got a tazer 15T , that's all the lhs had , it's weak on the servo , going to have to order another anyway , at least I can run it now in the meantime

they had a brushless combo novac goat or some such but they were asking 215$ plus tax

I better buy online it's going to be much cheaper

I also bought rod ends and went to the hardware store to get me some allthread to stretch it , can't wait .

on a side note I'm a sucker for cute little trucks and they had the Micro Desert truck in stock , couldn't resist , 90$ + taxes , little sucker is a lot of fun indoors , runs well and fast as hell , works for like 8 minutes , here's a few pics .

11-24-2007, 09:01 AM	#1
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	WK not responding ; what fried ? Hi all , I've been lurking here for a while and the fun you guys are having convinced me to get a WK , I locked both axles with epoxy and I must say I was impressed by the little truck , except for the ESC that overheats even at freezing temperature = yes I am in Canada it crawls pretty good in almost stock form , can't wait to stretch it and get a torquier motor . here's my problem ran around in the first snow of the season and after drying ,my WK stopped responding to commands , it beeps and wheels engage every second without any input from me , I probably got snow/water somewhere I shouldn't have . I would like to know how to troubleshoot the thing so I can buy replacement parts to go break it again ;) thanks in advance

11-24-2007, 09:19 AM	#2
4u2nv RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,516	You can check the motor first by connecting it directly to the battery. If that works out... check the esc it's most likely this that got damaged from the melting snow.

11-24-2007, 09:33 AM	#5
karlos Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bridgeport Posts: 589	Give it a chance to dry out completely before you turn it on again. You may get lucky and it work correctly once it's dry.

11-24-2007, 10:27 AM	#6
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	thanks karlos , I dried it well I think with a blowdryer . I'll try to be more precise about what it does now , I turn on the remote only and even if WK's switch is off I hear a constant chirping from (I think) motor area . if I turn WK ON , then beeping and turning of wheels in a once every second tempo , beep beep / 1 sec /beep beep no response from remote . if I disconnect either one of the motor wires , chirping stops .

11-24-2007, 10:38 AM	#7
karlos Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bridgeport Posts: 589	Have you tried fresh batteries in your radio? When I first got my Wheely King I actually had a problem with the radio itself. It was doing wierd glitchy stuff like you are describing. I borrowed a buddy's radio and switched out the cristals to verify that it was the radio. Once I replaced the radio I didn't have any more problems. If you can, try a different radio. It may help you eliminate any radio problems. If the same problems occur it's probably time to get a better ESC.

11-24-2007, 12:13 PM	#8
Kranberry RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ****, SL,UT Posts: 1,610	if you want to waste your time and check the esc you can take a volt meter and put the leads on motor connections and give it throttle if you get voltage then it should be just fine. if you don't your fried. ide recommend just getting a new better esc

11-24-2007, 01:14 PM	#9
edman87k5 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 34	I am far from an rc expert, but that sounds like a problem with the transmitter or reciever to me. Mostly the receiver since you say it got wet or frozen. Check the connections and cristal on the reciever. Does it attempt to steer when powered on and ypu turn the wheel on the transmitter?

11-24-2007, 01:51 PM	#10
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	thanks edman87k5 I checked the connections on the receiver , seems OK , how can I tell if the cristal is still good ? I did like cjkranwinkle@cableone.net said and put a volt meter to the ESC don't know much about electronics or volt meters but it acted weird , didn't take any input from transmitter and peaked up and down . so the ESC was crap anyway , what should I put in that would give my WK some precision and maybe better braking ? as long as I will be driving down to my lhs might as well get a motor too , was thinking a 55 T for crawling . any input apreciated

11-24-2007, 02:25 PM	#11
Usmc8541 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Del mar Posts: 411	Mamba max, from Holmes Hobbies. And a Dominator motor. Or if money is no object, the colbalt motor.

11-25-2007, 05:52 AM	#12
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	thanks for the advice that Mamba Max looks good but kinda pricey, is there any ESC that would be precise and have good braking for less $$ ?

11-26-2007, 06:27 AM	#13
SeanD Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St. John's Posts: 548	The WK stock ESC will beep beep (pause) beep beep (pause) when it is not receiving a signal from the transmitter

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11-26-2007, 12:44 PM	#14
duleonar Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 96	A few weeks ago I posted a similar thread pertaining to the beep beep of the motor. Turned out to be the ESC had bit the dust. I went to the "vendors" section of the site and found a guy selling a pretty good ESC $30 shipped. It is a Moped 16...something. Here is a link to his thread if you are interested. http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58265

11-27-2007, 08:14 AM	#15
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	thanks SeanD , it does that ; beep beep (pause) beep beep (pause) and also engages the motor for some reason . thanks for the tip for that budget ESC duleonar , I'll look it up . still unsure if it's my ESC , receiver or both that fried . I would like to test if the receiver is getting my transmitter , so I guess I need to power the receiver = question - can it handle direct current from the 7.2 volts battery or is the ESC sending less voltage/amps the way of the receiver and I'm just going to fry it connecting it direct to the battery ? because right now the receiver is getting power through the ESC and if that is busted than I won't know for sure if the receiver is working . I did some testing using the plug on the receiver that goes to the steering servo with my volt meter and I get no difference in voltage when switching on or using the transmitter for turning the wheels . I'm thinking if the receiver is working than it must be the ESC right ? so my question is how do I test the receiver without having it connected to the ESC . thanks in advance Mike in Canada

11-27-2007, 10:02 AM	#16
duleonar Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 96	One option is to take it the the LHS, and see if they will let you hook it up to working equipment for a quick test. They may also know of other ways to test them, or have equipment for that sort of thing.

11-27-2007, 12:35 PM	#17
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	of course the lhs could help ($$) but the idea is for me to learn and be able to diagnose/fix things on my own

12-01-2007, 12:14 AM	#18
John82601 Rock Crawler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Casper, WY Posts: 540	My recommendation would be to take the case off of both the esc and the receiver and wash them with some electrical cleaner to get any residue off of them. Then rig up a 4.5-6v power source (4AA's in a holder). Unplug the esc from the receiver and plug the power source into the battery slot on the receiver. If you have steering then your receiver is probably fine and the esc is the culprit.

12-01-2007, 09:22 AM	#19
Laurentides Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Quebec Posts: 25	thanks John82601 , it was the ESC allright , thanks all for helping got a tazer 15T , that's all the lhs had , it's weak on the servo , going to have to order another anyway , at least I can run it now in the meantime they had a brushless combo novac goat or some such but they were asking 215$ plus tax I better buy online it's going to be much cheaper I also bought rod ends and went to the hardware store to get me some allthread to stretch it , can't wait . on a side note I'm a sucker for cute little trucks and they had the Micro Desert truck in stock , couldn't resist , 90$ + taxes , little sucker is a lot of fun indoors , runs well and fast as hell , works for like 8 minutes , here's a few pics .

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Thread: WK not responding ; what fried ?