NZRC's budget SMT10 "build"

[nzrc]

Picked up a Max D SMT10 for my 6 year Son and I to bash a few weeks ago. Only NZ$249 (US$177). My Son loves Monster Jam and Max D and Gravedigger are his favourites so it worked out well

Goal is to upgrade parts on the cheap before they break and keep it running for regular weekend bashing.

Living in New Zealand, parts are EXPENSIVE. Mostly due to shipping charges and the strength of our dollar vs the $US.

Also, a lot of places don't ship directly to NZ (but I can use a freight forwarder if I really need to). Therefore, a lot of the parts I buy will be Chinese and I can provide feedback on their quality and durability if anyone's interested.

[nzrc]

First thing I did out of the box was go through and ensure all the screws were tight. One of the lower link screws wasn't going into the link mount at all. Also, the ESC was just dangling by its wires.

I'd heard of people losing lower spring perches so I cabled tied all those.

[nzrc]

First upgrades are to the drive line in preparation for some brushless power down the track.

No Name Aluminium transmission case

Incision SCX10 Transmission Gear Set

Axial Heavy Duty Bevel Gear Set - 38T/13T AX30395 x 2

[nzrc]

Next upgrade was to Hot Racing metal driveshafts. The same seller also sells Hot Racing steering links so I got a set of those as well.

SYET37 Heavy Duty Steel Drive Shafts with U-Joints 134-159 - Axial Yeti

Hot Racing WRA49E01 Black Aluminum Fix Link Steering Rod

[nzrc]

So during a bashing session on the weekend just been, the stock servo gave out and now only goes in one direction. I had anticipated this happening so had ordered a couple of no name servos off Ali Express a while back. Only NZ $20 each including shipping so I won't hold out too much hope for their longevity Will install sometime this week.

DS3218MG 20KG Waterproof Servo

[durok]

Those DS3218 servos work GREAT on smaller-tired rigs, mine has been working for 8 months on an Ascender - but I won't guarantee long life on those tires.

Can't beat the price!

(and the free servo horns...)

[FormallySkullking]

Those axial servo savers are hit and miss. Also the steering links you added are gonna make corner impacts harder on your servo. I'm running a HR servo saver and stock steering linkage. I've went on a tree doing back flips and cartwheels. No breakage, the stock plastic steering linkage allows for some give. You need to keep weak points somewhere. Also you need beeftubes....especially cause of all the upgrades you are doing.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[nzrc]

Originally Posted by FormallySkullking

Those axial servo savers are hit and miss. Also the steering links you added are gonna make corner impacts harder on your servo. I'm running a HR servo saver and stock steering linkage. I've went on a tree doing back flips and cartwheels. No breakage, the stock plastic steering linkage allows for some give. You need to keep weak points somewhere. Also you need beeftubes....especially cause of all the upgrades you are doing.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

The weak point will be the $20 servo

Yep, will be adding Beef Tubes and maybe Xtra Speed alloy housings at some stage.

[nzrc]

Ok, servo is installed and has survived one bashing session so far

[nzrc]

Well, the stock Tactic TR325 receiver has died on me so we're off the road until I get the FlySky Rx\Tx I ordered. If you want quality, don't buy Axial

Have got some other parts coming as well so watch this space

[Mongol Pete]

Thanks for the build thread nzrc,

I'll be building up an SMT10 soon, and I live in Mongolia, so I'll be watching to see which of those Chinese parts hold up.

MP

[nzrc]

Ok, got sick of waiting for the Flysky off Ali Express so I brought a 2nd hand Turnigy GTX3 off a local FB group and we're back in business.

Speaking of 2nd hand, I got these bads boys off FB as well. JConcepts Tributes and Firestorms. Unused and unglued.



Glued then up and put them on



The same seller was also selling an unused Grave Digger body so I got that as well and mounted using the spare posts that come with the Max D





More parts on their way

[nzrc]

New sponsor plates

[nzrc]

Onto the broken stuff. After a 2 hour or so bashing session on Saturday, I had a couple of issues.

First up, the pinion came loose on the motor shaft and somehow slightly bent the slipper clutch input shaft. I had my tools with me so I just tightened it and set the mesh as best I could. Have a Vanquish replacement on order.

Next casualty was the cheap servo. I'm actually surprised it lasted as long as it did. I installed the spare I bought along with the stock Axial servo saver to give it a fighting chance. I've ordered a better servo saver and also another cheap servo to try out. These servos are probably fine for a crawler but it's asking a bit much for this setup

[Stray]

Im have the same servo saver issues, very keen to see how yours comes along!

[sawback]

Nice Smt-10 unit! smart idea to start with the max d then make into a grave dig, it ended up looking really cool that way.

I have a nice smt-10 grave digger too. I have all the bling, tires and tricks, about $750 into it. Looking to move onto something else, now I cant seem sell it for just about anything

The rc hobby stuff has no resale value at least where im at

[nzrc]

Originally Posted by sawback

Nice Smt-10 unit! smart idea to start with the max d then make into a grave dig, it ended up looking really cool that way.

I have a nice smt-10 grave digger too. I have all the bling, tires and tricks, about $750 into it. Looking to move onto something else, now I cant seem sell it for just about anything

The rc hobby stuff has no resale value at least where im at

Yeah, like any hobby it can be a bit of a money pit

[Zac_F71]

Get a Kimbrough 124 servo saver.. it's 1 of 2 of the best servo savers made.

There is very little return in the RC world, unless you have a vintage kit.. hard to make money on a used truck, plus if it's still a Grave Digger or Max D it will not have much demand.. gotta be custom to get good money

[nzrc]

Originally Posted by Zac_F71

Get a Kimbrough 124 servo saver.. it's 1 of 2 of the best servo savers made.

I've ordered a hot bodies one to try already. If that sucks, I might look at this or the Pro-Line Big Hit

[nzrc]

Update time. Have done a few things since my last post but hadn't got round to posting.

First up, I installed some Locked Up RC rear axle shafts. I had noticed one of my rear wheels wobbling so I bought these. Turns out it was the tyre itself but hey...I was planning to upgrade these at some stage



Next up, I got my hands on some Freestsyle RC swaybars 2nd hand off FB






Replaced the bent input shaft. I had ordered Vanquish ones but the seller only had Axial so refunded me the difference. Got 2 of them 'cause why not. I also ordered a GPM steel spur gear.






Installed the Hot Bodies server saver along with the Power HD LW-20MG