1/8 scale Arrma Raider XL

[SwampDawg]

This is not an 8th scale vehicle....it is a 10th scale vehicle:

Chassis may be 2.5" longer

Suspension arms are some 20mm longer

Id love to hear your input & experience with the Arrma Raider XL BXL model.

Thought i would edit this as it does require a little input regarding my outburst. This claims to be a 1/8 scale vehicle and it cannot even take the punishment of its own system being that of the brushless motor?? Parts are either poorly designed or perhaps not thought out for the use. Other parts are undersized to take the abuse of an 8th scale machine that delivers this amount of insanity aswel as sub standard crap imo. If you own a Raider you have an idea of which i speak. Example is how the tranny is mounted and how the bracing has been done. Right at the hingepins in the rear is a joke how it was executed! Mine kept popping out all because the capture screw & washer were insufficient. I could keep going but you get the idea.

lets do a break down of parts here:

10th scale parts:

All suspension components including shocks,lower arms at all four corners, upper a-arms up front, towers, knuckles, etc...

Transmission including the differential, housing, internal gears (even though they are metal which is nice but...), out-drives and bearings.

540 sized Brushless motor

ESC is very debatable?

8th scale parts:

Chassis....maybe....its questionable. Seems to me all Arrma has done here is lengthen the chassis?

Wheels & tires...again...this can be classified as 8th scale as they are on other 8th scalers.

...am i missing anything else??

Lmfao Arrma

Ive been really wanting a new RC for the past few months but wasnt sure really what i wanted til just these past few days. My eyes crossed this Arrma Raider XL and i started looking into it. From what i have seen...i am impressed for a brand unknown to me.

Shares TVP chassis as that of HPI genre.

Appears close to the 5b from HPI

Tough as nails out of the box.

Other features are sweet too such as the bottom loading battery tray using a pin through the chassis, all metal gear transmission, Brushless setup and other items that made me want it.

I was gonna wait to see what Axial had in mind (heard rumors that some new scx10 based platform was coming)?? But.... Whatever...
I have enough trail & crawler rigs for now. I need a speed fix RC!

LHS aint open til Tuesday... Ill post pics after i open the box lol


Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[Captain_Torquepants]

Did you get it?

I was just watching video of the Raider XL BLX today. Pretty quick on 2S. Silly fast on 3S. I love 2wd buggy crazy fun times. I had a Glamis Uno but it was a bit delicate and now it has been discontinued so I sold it. This looks a little meaner and seems a bit tougher from the videos I've seen of it. I've never owned an Arrma but their BLX models come with some pretty decent stuff. Maybe I will someday.

 

[SwampDawg]

Supposed to be here tommorrow? Im so stoked to get this thing. I havent had any RWD vehicle since the Stampede. Haha

But yea...thing is sick fast on 3s but i think ill be happy running 2s after gearing it to my liking along with some things in finding along the way such as;

Turnbuckles on rear mounted in wrong location from factory.

Shocks imo....ill change these as i think they look cheap.

Nylon locknuts needed at all 4 wheels. Standard 4mm nuts are what Arrma give you outta the box.

100k diff oil

Removing all faux light pods. Dont like em' lol

Changing out the tires. These are too hard a compound and i kinda want the traditional spiked type in the rear and narrow simple up front.

Ill be getting a new lexan too. Hate that green one....

Few other subtle changes and tweaks but ill post pics soon.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Just got home...
People at my LHS never came through for me, so i drove to Vancouver which is a 3+ hour drive in each direction. Haha

RC Pitstop in Langley BC saves my day. And if you can get to this hobby store...Do it!! Craziest one ive come across in my life. Lots of stuff in stock and the staff are awesome to deal with.

Heres the rundown....

Tore it down and fixed the rear turnbuckles location. These are installed from factory in an awkward position putting bad strain on the control arms and shocks.

Installed the HiTec waterproof servo that delivers 133oz-tq @ 6v

Then gettin my new Jconcept choppers tires on the rear.

If anyone wants to know the sizing as i couldnt find it for the love of GoD??

These are a SC wheel 3.0/2.2
As i couldnt find this spec anywhere before hand.

After installing the new waterproof HiTec servo HS-646WP into the front... Wow!! Very tight fitment.
Not much room and after removing x8 screws to get the top plate off to access this stuff. Lol

Now with lexan trimmed a touched and back together.

Relocated the on/off switch under roof for now...temporary...

Still havent got to the diff nor rear tires but i managed to break the rear wheel hex pin...ugh

Some dislikes i have run into;

ESC is difficult to navigate.
What a goofy controller... Just when i thought Traxxas ESCs sucked. With all the beeping and holding the button repeadidly makes it nearly impossible to verify what you just set?

On/Off switch
Location of the switch makes it difficult to power up.

Shocks are sub-hobby grade:
Shock bodies are normal.
Shafts arent anything special
Caps & lower collars are red in color making it look cheap.

Shock springs look toyish-like with the shiny silver look. Probably perform fine but.... Just my .02

Tires are like litterly hard plastic. Thank gawd i got some Jconcept choppers which are softer. These stock tires are very Toys R Us like in compound.

Getting to the differential is a chore. Not easy as i assumed but the job got done. As for the internals... Very nice!! All metal as stated by Arrma so im liking this option.

540can BXL brushless motor is impressive. You really dont need anything different in this field. Power at your finger tips and speed is on demand. Slap on the optional spur & pinion provided (which i wont be using) and im sure you could circle the orbit in no time flat. With this being said, i feel in this aspect only and because of the nature of this beast as it is....a bigger motor even in 8th scale is really not required imo.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

(below image) This is a set of 1/8 scale differential units. These are from an Apache C1. Now....this is what 8th scale should look like people!!!

**when i get my Raider XL differential out i will take another pic side by side. Now...i am aware this is not a Planetary as the XL Raider however, the size comparison for which makes an 8th scale an 8th scale**

Tore into this transmission and used Factory Team 100k diff fluid.


Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Took this out for a 10min test run this morning on flat grounds on my street..

Wow im impressed with this 2wd buggy. Power is there when i need it. Although i never ran this stock out of the box... The 100k diff oil does it job. Steering is spec on for a buggy. Smooth transition in suspension and...damn it looks good doing it too!!

I also updated my above posts to keep it more informative to those looking into this Arrma 1/8 scale 2WD desert buggy.

My overall outlook...
Im happy with it and recommend it to anyone. Just keep in mind it needs a touch of tweaking but worth the buy!

**^^this has changed^^**
After running this on a track moderatly for a few runs all to have it falling apart and trashing outdrives.... Im starting to question this buy on that case aswel as the whole 8th scale rubbish?

Read next post below for details.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Update II

***This is my 1st official run at a track***

Im already having serious issues with:

Turnbuckle keeps popping off allowing the dogbone to be lost!
...Getting sick of chasing dogbones!

Rear ball for the turnbuckles got ripped from the rear hub.
Again...throwing it off and the dogbone with it! Argh!

The hinge-pins kept coming out of their socket so i installed bigger washers. (Below image)

Now...Dogbones are bent!

Outdrive is also trashed badly!!! Wtf????

On the better side...
New King shocks at all 4 corners.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Update in review:

After further inspection, two things happened here...

A. Because of the new king shocks, the lower arms sit lower. I remedied this by inserting rubber bushings internally to the shock shaft. This brings the arms back to neutral where they should be.

B. This is where im baffled!!
Arrma decides to install dogbones barely big enough to grab the outdrives. They litterly thrash around inside the outdrive cups. Wierd??

Next good side....
Installed my new split-six wheels and jconcept tires.

Also started tuning both front & rear springs. They are messed up for this sort of setup.

Not shown in pic:
As of April 02 2016;
I am now running the King shocks with Axial yellow coils up front & Axial green on the rears. 15w oil keeps the dampening in check. Works awesome!!

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Final update:

Yet another trial run at my track comes to another FAIL????

8th scale buggy with 10th scale rear end????

What gives here....

Im already tired of this dogbone bullsh@@!!!!

Ill be contacting Arrma on monday regarding this damage due to poor design.

#1 what the eff??
The dogbone hardly rests in its own cup??

Thinking on this topic...
I cant figure out if this is due to one of or all of these reasons, why it is this is happening??

A. Dogbone is a touch too short?

B. Pins in dogbones are too short?

C. The outdrive cups are cut wrong and/or material is too thin?

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Ummmm...... This dont look right?? Outdrive shaft is completely mangled now.

Emailed Arrma regarding this plague of a problem. Now waiting to see what i can do about it. This was the most expensive weekend ive ever endured. 800.00 all in and 1 dead RC within 24hrs of ownership.

Wow Arrma....just speachless

Breakdown
*before Tax*

Arrma Raider XL 445.00
King shocks x4 110.00
Spare towers ???
Spare lower arms ???
Rear wheels & Tires 50.00
100k diff oil 5.00
15w shock oil 5.00
Yeti springs - Rear 11.00
Axial springs - Front n/a
Nylon locknuts - 4mm wheels 5.00

??? = no idea what i payed cuz i had the hobby store just throw in spares with my RTR Raider.

N/a = had these in my posession already.

...And hours of labor getting it where i wanted it.

24hours ago i had this (NIB) new in box.
-800.00 approx less then i had and 1 dead RC to show for this!!

Wtf!!

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

In detail;
Edited post by post.

I will be firing this thread at Arrma....they dont like it i dont give a rats a@@.

This is so i have all my eggs in 1 basket for assistance if its given?

Oh...here is a pic of the angle on which is given using my new King shocks installed using limiters inside.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[Captain_Torquepants]

That is somewhat disappointing. The 10th scale stuff in 8th scale size cars is not unheard of. My Glamis Uno was the same way. At least Arrma offers a 2 year warranty on their stuff. They will probably replace it even though it won't truly fix the problem. Besides the new drive cups, it looks like universals may be in order. Do they offer those as an upgrade?

 

[SwampDawg]

Not what i can see do they offer any upgrades worth considering?
Oh whoopie...
Red parts that already exist on the Raider in Silver. Nice to see they went full out here? Lmao

Even aftermarket doesnt really recognize Arrma in their search quarries??

From what ive done in respect to researching;

Member here (cannot remember the name) had a thread going using CVD universals. I PMd him for which he replied with the Part#. However... This is 1 other thing Arrma has done to justify a so-called 8th scale running from and off a true 10th scale platform Aka: Raider XL.
The part# he supplied me with was for the actual 10th scale Raider using a 61mm dogbone. Argh...

So... Arrma has lengthened the chassis and suspension arms. Damb did they ever go out of their way to make an 8th scale here! Bahaha

Im so frustrated right now and i am sick of being jerked around after spending a huge chunk of cash for something that never lasted the effing day!!!

Arrma stock parts involved for Raider XL:

Dogbone AR310401 80mm
Stub axle AR310400 4x5x44mm
Outdrive shaft AR310399

Booooo Arrma
Now im out for god who knows how long??

Team Durango parts:
TD310423 61mm
DEX8 94mm
DEX8T 142mm

These i cannot find specs for:

DEX410R
DEX210

Im sure they wont come to the 80mm i need.



Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Pic #1

So badly trashed i cant slide bearing off outdrive.

After a complete teardown & thourough cleaning of the diff internals i reassembled it so no parts are lost. No oil is in this differential at the time being.

I promised this pic awhile back when i get the Raider so-called 8th scale diff unit out with a side-by-side next to an actual 1/8 scale unit.

Unit from Apache C1

To compare even the outdrives haha

Whilst i have this diff torn down, does anyone know of any cross pins that i can use to turn this into a 4-spyder setup??

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Posted on Arrma forums with my disgust. I have this taste in my mouth....hmmm.....its called Arrmavomitt which is caused by an expensive RC built by clowns.

To add insult to injury...
Ive had Toys R us Radio contol vehicles last waaaaaaay longer then this crap and.... Cost me approx $345.00+ less too!!

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Cant just give up...
Figured i payed top dollar so ill keep at this. Hrmmm?

May flop but lets see where this goes?

Because these small pivot balls get ripped from the rear hub ive made something different.

8-32 thread rod
1/4" alloy tube
Traxxas rods & ballends
M3 capheads & nylon locknuts.



Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Electrics: Cleaning Arrmas mess!

Moving the On/Off switch & capacitor block

Opened up the battery tray to allow easier access to ESC. Used a rotary tool and grinding bit to carefully cut a portion out.
This is of a nylon or fiberglass which i wasnt aware of until i started cutting into the material.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Relocated power switch for real easy access.

Next... Capacitors need to be placed on chassis.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Capacitor moved to right side on top deck under faux foglamp. Little dremel work and a drill bit and... No interference underneath using the ziptie along a track i fabbed with the rotary bit.

Arrma Raider assault buggy

 

[SwampDawg]

Ill be damned.... But this will probably take some time to get all the parts needed for this conversion.

*i did not do the foot work in this one, only researching it via intranet*

CVD universal conversion for Raider XL

*************************

This is what i will order in morning from RC Pitstop.

x1 set asc7455 MIP CVDs
x1 RPM axle carrier set 70172
x1 crushtube asc7933
x1 bearing set asc7935
x1 sealed bearing set asc3977
x1 alloy locknut set asc9834(x6)
x2 alloy 12mm hex sets asc9955
x1 Hingepin set AR330144
************************

Arrma Raider assault buggy