Go Back   RCCrawler Forums > Scale Rigs Brand Specific Tech > RC4WD Trail Finder 2
Loading

Notices

Thread: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-18-2014, 05:14 PM   #1
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Purchased my TF2 kit from Tower Hobbies on Sept 18, along with a Tekin 35t and FX-R ESC.

Right out of the box the front differential was missing the inner pinion shaft bearing. Contacted RC4WD and they sent me replacement. All was good. And then....

I got the kit assembled and everything dialed in perfectly, and took it outside for its maiden run this past Saturday. Within 5 minutes of sidewalk cruising and fine tuning, shifted to 2nd gear, hit the throttle, and the truck slowed to a crawl, eventually coming to a full stop. Motor revved, but truck sat still.

Took it back inside and disassembled it. Found that the 2nd gear in the transmission had literally SNAPPED where it's pressed into the drum. !! This happened on the truck's very first run! Didn't even make it to the TRAIL.

Anyone but me ever experience this? I contacted RC4WD customer service and received a reply from "Tanecia" saying that they'd look into it, and get back to me. That was a week ago. Nothing. I should have a replacement gear by now.

Frustrated, and disappointed in this truck so far. I sold a perfectly good running Tamiya Ford F-350 High Lift to finance this build.

Mike F.

[IMG][/IMG]
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 10-18-2014, 05:40 PM   #2
Quarry Creeper
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: West Alabama
Posts: 420
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Rc4wd has had a similar issue with some ring gears failing by slipping on the locker.

Never seen any gear failures in the trans but that crack could point to weak batch of output gears, or the tolerances on that press joint were out of spec and that caused it to crack.
nharkey85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2014, 05:41 PM   #3
I wanna be Dave
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,254
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

I haven't had this issue with my relatively new TF2. I've had a few warranty type issues with RC4WD on other things (e.g., missing mirror and cracked sunroof in my Gelande, missing screw in a set of wheels, etc), and they've always done the right thing. There were one or two cases where I had to send a follow-up email to remind them after not hearing back for a few days, but they have always stepped up.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
new2rocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2014, 06:05 PM   #4
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Hmmmmm....very interesting about the ring gear failures. Similar situation.

I've sent a total of three emails since last weekend. Two to customer service, and one to 'Rock', as suggested by a buddy of mine. So far, nothing....

Mike
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2014, 06:21 PM   #5
Quarry Creeper
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: West Alabama
Posts: 420
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

I romp on mine pretty rough. Ive had zero issues.

The ring gear failure i saw was on here. I want to say it was a brand new helical cut set that didnt last 10 minutes
nharkey85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2014, 07:23 PM   #6
Jus
I wanna be Dave
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vermont
Posts: 2,016
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Their customer service can be slow sometimes, but they will make it right. I've dealt with them twice adn they were very helpful and even warrantied a part of my front suspension that I bought more than a year ago, when it broke during a fall.
Jus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2014, 08:58 PM   #7
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 630
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Wow, first time seeing something like that from RC4WD. I've had a few small issues along with everyone else and they've always stepped up to the plate with replacing things. This may be more wide spread and they are gathering info. on how many issues and what to do to fix the problem. I'm sure they will certainly take care of your problem though. I can imagine that would be a PITA though.
tokdl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2014, 09:21 PM   #8
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by tokdl View Post
Wow, first time seeing something like that from RC4WD. I've had a few small issues along with everyone else and they've always stepped up to the plate with replacing things. This may be more wide spread and they are gathering info. on how many issues and what to do to fix the problem. I'm sure they will certainly take care of your problem though. I can imagine that would be a PITA though.
I've always heard GREAT things about RC4WD and their customer service. Literally EVERYONE I've ever known to have an issue, said that they're the best.

So, I finally heard back from them tonight....I suspect that it's Rock, or someone intimately involved in the company, not just a customer service rep....looks like they're sending me a complete gear assembly for the R3 transmission. NOW I'm feeling better about this. And yes, it has been a PITA. A $400 kit, and to have to go through this sort of crap just to get the truck off of the bench! I would have never believed it. Needless to say, I'm anxious to bring this to a close, and get my TF2 out on the trail once and for all.

Mike
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2014, 09:27 PM   #9
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 630
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

That's great to hear! I'll admit I'd have felt the same way if that were my first TF2 kit. Glad they resolved your issues!
tokdl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2014, 09:42 PM   #10
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

If this is a manufacturing issue, I'm sure that they'll nail down the source of the problem. I worked for General Motors for 11 years, and I've been involved in problem shooting sessions. I know how frustrating this can be for a manufacturer. Many, many others may have bad tranny gears as well, and time will tell, but I'm feeling like the odd man out right now.

Mike F.
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 05:43 AM   #11
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 24
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

I just finished emailing them.

My rear locker/ring gear is smoked. I got the kit on the 14th and I was driving it around in my driveway while waiting for body paint to dry.
After a few mins I got that horrible clicking/grinding and the truck locked up. After pulling the diff cover I noticed that there is a lot of left to right movement in the axles. This is allowed because of the races are to wide on each side of the ring gear outputs(Or something else, who knows). The ring gear moves off the pinion on left turns causing the mesh to slip.

I will let you know what they say....
CTRC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 06:12 AM   #12
I wanna be Dave
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,254
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by CTRC View Post
I just finished emailing them.



My rear locker/ring gear is smoked. I got the kit on the 14th and I was driving it around in my driveway while waiting for body paint to dry.

After a few mins I got that horrible clicking/grinding and the truck locked up. After pulling the diff cover I noticed that there is a lot of left to right movement in the axles. This is allowed because of the races are to wide on each side of the ring gear outputs(Or something else, who knows). The ring gear moves off the pinion on left turns causing the mesh to slip.

I noticed the side-to-side play in the ring gear in my front axle also, so I added a few shims on either side to tighten it up (but not too much). Since replacing the ring and pinion (and adjusting the shims on the pinion at the same time), it seems to be fine now. This seems to be a pattern on the Yota axles. The Yota 2s in my Gelande were fine out of the box with no shims. Once you get your replacements and it's running again, I'd suggest spending some time shimming the ring and pinions on both axles so the problem doesn't repeat.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
new2rocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 06:49 AM   #13
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by CTRC View Post
I just finished emailing them.

My rear locker/ring gear is smoked. I got the kit on the 14th and I was driving it around in my driveway while waiting for body paint to dry.
After a few mins I got that horrible clicking/grinding and the truck locked up. After pulling the diff cover I noticed that there is a lot of left to right movement in the axles. This is allowed because of the races are to wide on each side of the ring gear outputs(Or something else, who knows). The ring gear moves off the pinion on left turns causing the mesh to slip.

I will let you know what they say....
Wow. Well hopefully they'll respond quickly and get your replacement gears out to you pronto. Meanwhile, I'm going to double check my ring and pinion mesh before buttoning this thing up. As you may have read in my post, MY Trail Finder 2 kit was missing an entire BEARING on the pinion shaft on the front diff. !! They sent me two entire packages of bearings to make up for it, which I thought was very cool of them, but still.....what the heck is going on at RC4WD?? These kits aren't cheap....they're considered top shelf. At least that's what I THOUGHT prior to purchasing mine.

Mike F.
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 01:11 PM   #14
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: bel air
Posts: 577
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Manufacturing is a tricky game of "get it done and on the shelf cheap vs. don't kill the brand with faulty products", I think your kit was a fluke. I have had minimal teething issues with mine and you know I'm not one to baby the toys. I'd also hold towers feet to the fire on this since they took your money for it.. Heck, tell them you want the parts or you're going to return it
stevem50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 02:45 PM   #15
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by stevem50 View Post
Manufacturing is a tricky game of "get it done and on the shelf cheap vs. don't kill the brand with faulty products", I think your kit was a fluke. I have had minimal teething issues with mine and you know I'm not one to baby the toys. I'd also hold towers feet to the fire on this since they took your money for it.. Heck, tell them you want the parts or you're going to return it
I think you're right, Steve. I got the dud of the batch. Anyway, they've mailed my gear(s), and I should have them by the end of the week.....they sent tracking yesterday. I guess what frustrates me the most is (other than the fact that this is the SECOND very significant issue I've had with the kit....the first issue being the missing front diff pinion bearing), is that an entire week went by before they responded to my inquiries, and when they DID respond, they had no idea what I was emailing about.....it seems they didn't even take the time to read my detailed emails, complete with photos of the busted gear. A real head scratcher.

Ready to move on, and get my truck out on the trail.

Mike
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 04:01 PM   #16
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: bel air
Posts: 577
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

I'm usually the first to rip someone a new one, but I know a bunch of guys with tf's, they all have issues with random crap, but it's usually as simple as reshimming gears or greasing stuff. You're the 1st I know with missing parts.. But I guess shit happens. Sorry it hit your fan.. Haha , you can borrow the trans outta mine if need be
stevem50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 04:07 PM   #17
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 49
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Yup, my dumb luck, Steve. I've been all over the 'net, and I have YET to find an instance of a TF2 missing a bearing. And there are only a few instances of gear issues, ALL of which were diff related, not tranny like mine. Go figure.

Mike
Bluzboy66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 04:12 PM   #18
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: bel air
Posts: 577
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Yup.. I usually get mad as hell at these things on day one,by day two and three I'm usually calm and rethought the situation and figured out how to fix it usually you can laugh it off at that point. Now you can look back on it and know you found the weak point and already fixed it
stevem50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 05:42 PM   #19
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 24
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by new2rocks View Post
I noticed the side-to-side play in the ring gear in my front axle also, so I added a few shims on either side to tighten it up (but not too much). Since replacing the ring and pinion (and adjusting the shims on the pinion at the same time), it seems to be fine now. This seems to be a pattern on the Yota axles. The Yota 2s in my Gelande were fine out of the box with no shims. Once you get your replacements and it's running again, I'd suggest spending some time shimming the ring and pinions on both axles so the problem doesn't repeat.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Good advice, thank you.

What did you use? I was thinking of a small washer or maybe even fab a sleeve to fit a little tighter between the inner berrings and the c-clips.

P.S. Sorry to hijack the thread here.
CTRC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2014, 05:47 PM   #20
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 24
Default Re: Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluzboy66 View Post
Wow. Well hopefully they'll respond quickly and get your replacement gears out to you pronto. Meanwhile, I'm going to double check my ring and pinion mesh before buttoning this thing up. As you may have read in my post, MY Trail Finder 2 kit was missing an entire BEARING on the pinion shaft on the front diff. !! They sent me two entire packages of bearings to make up for it, which I thought was very cool of them, but still.....what the heck is going on at RC4WD?? These kits aren't cheap....they're considered top shelf. At least that's what I THOUGHT prior to purchasing mine.

Mike F.
I would give it a look. Mine had moved so much that the ring teeth removed the paint from the forward most edge of the cover clearence channel.

I will post pics of my fix if I come up with a good one.

Keep me posted on what you find.
CTRC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Brand New RC4WD Trail Finder 2 w/BROKEN TRANSMISSION GEAR - Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Trail Finder 2 Bad Shifting Transmission fadi.join Newbie General 3 05-10-2014 08:22 AM
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.
Copyright 2004-2014 RCCrawler.com