All the things you wish you had known...

[DarkShadowMastr]

Ok guys....I have just made the jump from racing Short Course trucks. I love racing but was getting really tired of having to buy the next new motor and tires to keep up with everybody else. Plus tires, entry fees, driving to races, and more tires was just too dang expensive.

I literally got my Scx10 Jeep Rubicon RTR in from Tower like 2 hours ago. I've driven it all of 5 mins before it started storming here. But I already have a full light kit with advanced controller coming, have my Airtronics MT-4 that I'll be installing, and will be upgrading to aluminum links ASAP. What I am hoping to gain from this thread is to have all the seasoned guys give me some wisdom that I lack. Tell me all the things you had to learn the hard way, or the simple things that you learned to do in an easier way.

Look forward to all your replies and I'm super excited to be joining the ranks of scalers/crawlers. I'm definitely more into the scale side of things, but will be crawling when I can with a big group from down here in Florida.

[crawlhog]

all of your answers are here
Scale Rigs Brand Specific Tech - Axial SCX-10 at RCCrawler.com

[Poserx]

If an old guy driving a windowless van pulls up to you on the street and offers you candy while he rubs his nipples DON'T GET IN!

Oh, and get a BEC.

[ironheadtmb]

Yep get a bec

[DarkShadowMastr]

Ok so I had to go lookup what a BEC is and found that it delegates the battery power to servos and radio more precisely than a ESC. But why is that a need in a scale/crawler rig?? I understand why the airplane guys use it because it ensures they can land even if they run their battery down....

[johnnyh66]

Running a big servo without a bec will lead to brown outs...

[johnnyh66]

and you will want a big servo (300oz or above) to toss the wheels around in the dirt, mud and rocks.

[DarkShadowMastr]

I understand that. I will be upgrading to something much heavier for sure. But first I gotta get the steering linkage that's aluminum cuz the stock RTR one is flexible junk. Also I have already picked out a set of aluminum wheels from Integy that I want. So that will require more turning power too. Are there good waterproof servos that are high capacity and mg, or do you have to buy a good one and waterproof it afterward?

[Olle P]

For servo questions, look here.

[jp823]

Originally Posted by DarkShadowMastr

But first I gotta get the steering linkage that's aluminum cuz the stock RTR one is flexible junk.

You can always make your own aluminum links. Not sure if the Rubicon RTR comes with the 4 link or 3 link suspension setup, but you can make those links as well.

[Robotron]

-If you dropped a screw & can't find it anywhere, it's probably stuck to the side of your motor..


-use a lil dab of dish soap on your tire beads if you're trouble seating your beadlocks.



-Don't keep breaking body mounts, use glue sticks for posts.

[klampykixx]

Originally Posted by Robotron

-


-Don't keep breaking body mounts, use glue sticks for posts.

this is the BEST tip ive ever heard!! ive been holding off getting a pair of body posts due to fear of getting the wrong size. read this like, get out of town.

heat up the very end with a lighter and jam it on in there, mount body, trim to length. and still left with enough for two more sets!

epic win!

[Gravebane525]

the problem with replacing the stock flexable steering linkage is it will cause the underpowered stock motor to die faster. that flex helps to asorb some of the movement when a wheel is stuck or gets jammed or bumped fairly hard. least thats what I think.

[1tonscout]

heavy duty links can be made cheap with threaded rod, break line and traxxas rod ends

[MAXXMASHER]

You don't want to save the underpowered servo with flexible links, you want to upgrade the servo and get stiffer links. You can pretty much get any servo and line the seams, output, and screw holes with waterproof grease. I haven't heard much about the Integy bead-locks, but pretty much everything else (except for tools) they make is junk. I'd spend a bit more and get quality wheels from RC4WD through RPP.

FLM BL E-MAXX ~ BL E-4TEC Drifter ~ Pro-Trac Slash ~ SCX-10 ~ Wraith ~Custom 6WD Crawler~ 3 Losi micro scalers

[Grizzly4x4]

If you want to keep things simple stick with a nice 35T brushed motor.
Brushless motors, especially 4 pole ones, will cause you to have to replace everything in your driveline with stronger parts.

Hitec servos are waterproof and work great. I use the 7955 in most of my rigs because it is reliable, relatively inexpensive, and it has plenty of torque for all but the heaviest rigs (12 lbs).
Hitec HS-7955TG Robot Servo - Ultra High Torque - The Crawlers Store LLC

Stay away from Integy.

[jboehler04]

I would steer clear of aluminum steering links. I made my own and tend to bend them pretty easy. I've gone to pretty thick walled aluminum and working so far but id look into stainless steel or if you have the money VP makes a whole set of all your links. Suspension and steering in titanium. I think they run about $100 or so.

[k7zpj]

Go slow with the upgrades and do them one at a time so that you learn what the upgrade does and if it works right. Go out and use your rig so you find out problems caused by how you drive and the terrain that you are running over. Then replace the parts as they break. You will learn a lot more about your rig and save money on upgrades that you might not need.

[redsawacs]

unless you spend 85$ or more on a replacement servo, you are simply tossing that money away! Servos are rated using "Stall strength" not "working strength"...dont be fooled by cheap cost and high #s!!! I'm sure there are exceptions to this but I have yet to learn that lesson - LOL

Upgrading stock axle links to aluminum has little gain unless you get high clearance aluminum links

Mods are something you cut and grind in the garage.....Upgrades involves buying what someone else made stronger

Stock sealed can motors are only good for stock unmodded/unupgraded rigs - they go, get a higher quality motor


"Wrenching" is more managable AFTER a few....


I wasted THOUSANDS of dollars on Traxxas cars last year....then I found Axial! All that money is now gone

[jboehler04]

Yea I agree run ur rig and see what you "think" needs upgraded. The best to do with links is go buy some tubing and some all thread and rod ends and a tube bender and I even got a small tube cutter. Cut bend place run what you've done and once you like it go to stronger tubing and cut it to what you have already done and jus play around. And I dont know how the other axial rigs are but replace ur screws in ur knuckles first. Nothing more annoying then losing a screw 15 mins into a run and have to find another and lose half to full day crawling. Yea some people never lost theirs but most have. Simple easy fix.