New Ascender RTR out of the box checklist

[Android]

Hi guys!
I don't want to make a new thread on such a small matter, so I'll ask here, if you don't mind.
I have an RTR k5 coming my way, and I'd like to know what spares would you suggest I get - I know the ascender is nicely engineered, but anything breaks at some point.
As the shipping to my corner usually takes 2-3 weeks, I wouldn't want to put the blazer on the shelf while waiting for replacements - so what are the parts that are most prone to breaking?

I'm also planning on doing some upgrades - maybe even a full interior build with motor relocation to the front, cantilever rear shock mod and so on - the time will show, but at the moment I just want to be sure I don't have to wait another 3 weeks if I break something.

Thanks!

 

[M1tch]

Front CVd as they can be fragile. (VTR232076). Most of the rest is ok. If its recent it should have HD pinion and diff gears. I haven't had anything else break except the CVD's

 

[Natedog]

CVDs, spur gears, that should cover it until you're ready to upgrade steering servo.

 

[Android]

Front CVd as they can be fragile. (VTR232076). Most of the rest is ok. If its recent it should have HD pinion and diff gears. I haven't had anything else break except the CVD's

Thanks, M1tch!
Ordered one spare set.

The first thing I'm planning to do is to make some positive caster, do the stock shocks mod and lower the body. I also have ordered Axial interior and exterior accessories set, so it will be the mirrors and wipers, and I'm thinking about repainting the body - I'll go with the matt green camo military style.

Ok, now it's time to study more stuff here on RCC and wait for the Mr.Postman to bring me the blazer. I think I'll make my own build thread once I start something interesting.

 

[rag6]

Interested to see how the accessories match up to the big blazer body 8)

 

[sd38-2]

I recently purchased my first RC truck and it was the vaterra ascender k5 blazer too. I did a lot of reading on this forum before and after I bought it. I ended up lowering the body, tucking in the bumpers and sliders, and a little trimming to the body. I also adjusted the shock travel like others said but I hated the torque twist the k5 has, so I ended up buying the GCM rear leaf spring conversion and a set of rc4wd tf2 black leaf springs. I'm happy with the conversion. It doesn't have the travel of the stock 4 link but I like the way it rides now and no torque twist. I'm very happy with my ascender, I might change the body to the Jeep FC. I will eventually upgrade other parts of the truck.

 

[rag6]

Those leaf conversions look killer. Sometimes having a little less travel than stock can really help settle the truck. What shocks did you use(and what oil), and which version of the gcm kit did ya get?
Eventually I will consider leafing mine for the coolnes factor...

 

[sd38-2]

Those leaf conversions look killer. Sometimes having a little less travel than stock can really help settle the truck. What shocks did you use(and what oil), and which version of the gcm kit did ya get?
Eventually I will consider leafing mine for the coolnes factor...

I currently have the stock shocks on it, I will change them at some point. I ended up doing the stage 1 conversion. The truck looks good with the leaf springs.

 

[Android]

Found out about the RC4WD Blazer body... spent weekend drooling over it on youtube...
Here in my corner it costs 175$ shipped :roll: ... i don't need it.. i don't need it.. I NEED IT!!!

Damn..

 

[Yeti.stealth]

Also one other free thing to do is set your throttle and steering End Point Adjustments (epa) on the stock radio to make sure you are getting full power to the motor and full steering angle in both directions.

Here is how i do it-

RTR radio switched off, steering dual rate knob turned all the way up. Throttle and steering trims turn fully counter clockwise.

Power up truck and set it on the ground upside down, make sure its not gunna go anywhere, cause the radio is off!

Hold the trigger in full reverse while switching radio on, green light starts flashing. ADDITIONAL INFO! Some later model RTR radios need the steering held full right and throttle trigger held in full reverse to get into epa set up mode!!!

Release trigger, the radio is now in EPA mode. Throttle and steering trims are now EPA adjustment knobs to be used in next few steps. Wheels on truck probably running cause the throttle trim is turned, thats why its upside down!

Hold throttle trigger at full forward speed, while holding down trigger turn throttle trim knob to set your desired maximum forward speed, then release throttle trigger. ( ignore what the wheels on your truck are doing after you release trigger because the throttle trim knob is turned up) forward EPA is now set. Wait a second or two for radio to record new setting.

Hold full reverse speed and adjust throttle trim knob again to set desired reverse max. speed. Release trigger and reverse EPA is now set. Wait two seconds again.

Turn throttle trim knob to the middle to stop wheels turning on upsidedown truck.

Turn and hold steering control fully to the right, while holding adjust steering trim knob to set maximum desired steering angle, release steering control to center, right steering EPA is now set. Wait two seconds.

Turn and hold steering to the left, adjust steering trim knob to desired maximum left steering angle then release steering control to center, left EPA is now set. Wait a couple seconds.

Now center the trim knobs and switch off the truck and radio, job done.
Now you can enjoy the full steering angle available on the ascenders, mine was set at a reduced angle out of the box.

Here is a little bit of helpful info, I have a new RTR Bronco now and I could not get the radio to go into end point adjustment mode by just holding full reverse when powering up radio, but I did discover that if you also add full right steering and full reverse the later model radios will go into adjust mode with green light flashing.

Edited original post to include this info. Hope it helps all the Bronco and K10 owners out there.