Time to upgrade the steering servo

[cowboyona426]

My son and I were playing with my crawler yesterday and the servo was showing signs of giving up on life, it was clicking when trying to turn and clearly having a bad day. So, upgrade time... is the DS3218 still the recommended way to go? I see a PowerHD 20kg servo on Amazon for $25 which seems like a good option too. I'm just an occasional user so I don't need top end parts, but I'd rather spend a little more for a quality part than buy 2-3 cheap servos. Also, will I need to replace the horn with the servo? I currently have an Axial metal horn on my truck because the stock one stripped out within the first few times running the truck.

[rkj__]

Originally Posted by cowboyona426

My son and I were playing with my crawler yesterday and the servo was showing signs of giving up on life, it was clicking when trying to turn and clearly having a bad day. So, upgrade time... is the DS3218 still the recommended way to go? I see a PowerHD 20kg servo on Amazon for $25 which seems like a good option too. I'm just an occasional user so I don't need top end parts, but I'd rather spend a little more for a quality part than buy 2-3 cheap servos. Also, will I need to replace the horn with the servo? I currently have an Axial metal horn on my truck because the stock one stripped out within the first few times running the truck.

I went with the DS3218. The improved torque over stock is certainly noticeable. A nice perk is that they come with an alloy servo horn.

Beware that different servos have a different number of splines. So that Axial servo horn might not fit whatever new servo you buy.

I would not necessarily consider it in the category of quality parts that are expected to last a long time though. There are no shortage of reviews on them, so that should help you set your expectations.

I've had mine since July. The only time I ever had trouble with it was when it got hit with a couple big waves while playing on the lakeshore. It glitched out for a few minutes, so I suspect water got in it. A few minutes later though, it was fine, and has been fine since. I've read mixed reports on the waterproofness of them.

They are so cheap, and so easy to replace, so if mine does not last for years, I won't necessarily be too sad.

I have not really kept up on the latest and greatest for value servos, so hopefully more people can chime in.

[cowboyona426]

I have done a fair bit of reading on the 3218 servo, just looking for input on other options really. There is the 20kg PowerHD for about $25 or a 25kg Hexfly for a little less that seem to have really great reviews on Amazon, which are still both very affordable in my opinion. I would rather spend the $20-25 once than $15 2 or 3 times, if the extra cost is justified in durability of the servo.

[Natedog]

What's your servo budget? I bought one and installed in my TF2 and after couple runs it's getting sloppy and that's in a C1 truck, that made me decide not to waste time and money replacing servos, buy good quality that fits your budget and buy much less often.

Use Holmes HObbies bypass harness and a good BEC such as Castle Creations BEC (they now have a waterproof version if that matters, but can also put it in the rx box

https://holmeshobbies.com/electronic...s-adapter.html

Voltage Regulators

[Damond]

Power HD WP-23KG Waterproof High Torque Metal Gear Digital Servo 23KG/0.12S 6V for Buggy Crawler Truck RC Car https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBS18YZ..._u6imEbNZ46BPJ
I use this one in my Vaterra


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[Damond]

Here’s a video of it in action https://youtu.be/GH0YvX_XcWI


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[cowboyona426]

Originally Posted by Natedog

What's your servo budget? I bought one and installed in my TF2 and after couple runs it's getting sloppy and that's in a C1 truck, that made me decide not to waste time and money replacing servos, buy good quality that fits your budget and buy much less often.

Use Holmes HObbies bypass harness and a good BEC such as Castle Creations BEC (they now have a waterproof version if that matters, but can also put it in the rx box

https://holmeshobbies.com/electronic...s-adapter.html

Voltage Regulators

Didn't really have a budget in mind, there seem to be several good options under $30.

[Natedog]

IME, the hot cheap servos aren't worth the money, but opinions differ. Decide on what you can afford, research and buy.