Angry Axial Rant...

[MR2Quick]

So I am posting this in the Bomber forum simply because it was the biggest disappointment of the weekend...

My brother and I got a Bomber RTR for my father for christmas. My brother unboxed it, checked all the screws, made sure it moved, and boxed it back up.

Father was stoked about it when he opened it and we went out to do some trail riding using a 2S pack. Nothing crazy, no bashing, just some small crawling and ripping around on packed dirt. Half hour later, not able to turn. Thinking the one plastic gear in that **** servo stripped. He's now dead set on packing it back up and returning it because he thinks it's garbage. We're trying to convince him otherwise but the rest of the story for the weekend doesn't help:

1) Yeti (existing condition) - couldn't run because I haven't fixed the servo turnbuckle.

2) SCX10 (new condition) - couldn't run because the servo just spins to the right. I found this out after it powered up. Was working a week ago...

3) SCX10 (new condition) - couldn't run because the motor is fried. Brothers SCX10, didn't know till he powered it up. (different SCX10 than #2)

4) AX10 (existing condition) - Radio will not pair with the ESC and my brother has been trying to figure out why.

5) AX10 (bone stock) - Got this for my wife and it has run like a champ since day 1.

6) Bomber (brand spankin' new) - Well, we know why this is on the list...

So out of the 6 Axial products that were run this weekend, 2 had existing conditions, 3 broke during that day, and the 1 remaining operational vehicle is the oldest out of the bunch.

If there is one thing I've learned about Axial it is this: get the kit and build it the right way. RTR's are way too much of a gamble for the price to see if you got one that is quality or crap.


On a positive note: if he remains stubborn in his desire to return it, I'm going add it to my collection because that thing looks awesome, did great the few minutes we were tinkering, and definitely has potential to be one hell of a rock racer!

 

[svt923]

While it sucks when it happens, Hobbico's support is great about making things right. Your dad could have a new servo with little more than a 15 minute phone call (and 12 of those minutes will probably be spent on hold). Of course that doesn't fix the fact the Tactic servo is completely inadequate for the Bomber.

 

[maslin]

He can call and get a brand new servo to throw in the trash. That will show them!

If you were building a kit would you install a $12 servo? Probably not, so why bother running one in a RTR.

 

[svt923]

The stock servo is perfectly useful, as a 2 speed shift servo. "thumbsup"

 

[onebullet]

I can somewhat understand his thoughts on it.

You could try and explain that its a hobby grade product made with the intention of upgrades and that the electronics that come on it are basically to "test" it. If/when you buy a new servo for it/them it sounds like you might want to pick up some backups too!

Hopefully your next session will go better.

 

[Delbert]

i changed out the servo first thing and used a good quality metal servo horn. i had a buddy who stripped the servo horn in 5 minutes. i saved mine for a 2 speed shift servo. his just stripped the actual horn so the servo had no damage. we put a new horn on it and it runs fine. these rtr's do need some upgrades right out of the box but over all i am very satisfied with The bomber!

 

[Crazysammi87]

My girlfriend bought me the bomber for Christmas. I ran 3 battery packs threw it on 3s an I been rock bouncing it hill climbs rolling it down hills several times. Ran it threw water several times. Rock crawled with it. An still holding up good. I thought I would of blew he plastic servo horn out with in mins but it's still holding strong. I guess the ones you got were made on a Friday. Sry to hear about your luck.

 

[Joshs4x4toyz]

Sorry to hear about your weekend luck. Sounds like you have the right head on your shoulders. The hobby has ups and downs for sure. Seems mine go bad in droves also but then all run forever lol. Hope he keeps it too, great looking rigs. Most people just shoot axial down as junk, and while they cant be bashed like a Traxxas or raced like a Losi (most times;-)) they make up for that in their appearance to the right crowd. Most rants are more like someones mad their Exo Buggy breaks more than their slash ever did.:mrgreen:

Hope it all works out, sounds like a good fleet"thumbsup"

 

[YeeP]

I broke the same plastic gear on my first run with it. I ended up using that as a good reason to step up to a "real" servo. My son has not stripped that gear yet, but he did strip the factory servo horn. So I upgraded his servo horn and got a replacement gear for the servo that is metal.
Axial Metal Gear Upgrade for The Tactic TSX45 Servo | eBay
Yes the servo is still in the "not great" even with that in it, but for 9.99 I will call it insurance until he gets to the point where he can outdrive what the vehicle is capable of.

The axial servo horn was 14.99 at my local hobby store, so for $25 bucks total, he (your dad) can do some minor upgrades and be ready to break something else.

 

[CamaroTom]

Out of all those vehicles, why can't you rob a servo from one to throw in the bomber? At least get Dad running on Christmas.

I feel your pain on RTR electronics though.

 

[Wade]

Yep frustrating to say the least. I get that these are made to be upgraded and such.....But, when spending $300 on something you would expect it to last a little longer then 30 minutes. Now the bomber was the second RTR I have, the first was a deadbolt for my son, and all the rest are kits. I just couldn't wait on the kit for this one. And even though Traxxas takes heat all the time for their products they sure do take a beating. Yes it's a hobby, but you shouldn't have to spend 500 plus to make it last, which I have on occasion lol :mrgreen:


Cheers,
Wade

 

[WHITE-TRASH]

Ready To Replace isn't a joke. There is a good reason there is always a steady supply of brand new rtr electronics in the classifieds.

 

[84yoda]

You are definitely not the first nor last person to go on a rant about axial but honestly what other company isnt the same? Axial has the best line up so you will continue to shop axial and they will make there money and more badass stuff. Its all part of the hobby, yes breaking that servo that quick sucks but again its a stock plastic rc. Either get a free servo from axial or upgrade now so that problem is over with and he can continue to have fun (which he will and will forget about stock servo stripping). Just remember this isnt the older days where shit was built here in USA and would last but at a much higher cost.

 

[GLHS592]

It didn't take me long to see that the Tactic TSX45 is a terrible servo choice for the Bomber. However, mine is still going strong...in my SCX10 Trail Honcho. I stripped the servo horn twice and the plastic gear while it was still in the Bomber. I had a gear from a burned out servo. I decided that I would just buy a Savox for the Bomber.

Other than the servo, I find nothing wrong with a stock RR10. It is fast enough for creek crawling. It takes a beating. I don't know why anyone wouldn't like their RR10.

 

[relay1]

Yeah the axial rtr servo is literally a joke. The axial website says of the Tactic TSX45 that " The included Tactic TSX45 metal gear servo is rated at 151 oz-in of torque for massive turning power and dual ball bearings provide smooth and precise movement for the metal gear train."

What a joke!! I'm telling you the guys in marketing over there are just laughing their behinds off.

On the other hand they make some really amazing RCs as long as you know your way around upgrading their RTRs or if you go with their kits.

I've had a Losi 22sct RTR, ESC blew on the third pack. Arrma kraton the esc literally exploded once, and caught on fire another time. Honestly the only 2 RTRs I had that ran really well for really long were my slash 4x4 and redcat rampage 1/5 electric rally. Go figure.

 

[Wade]

Also remember the servo is not an axial brand, it is a tactic. Their transmitters are decent as well as the 65 series servo, which happens to be discontinued.......maybe because that one lasted and had more torque, makes sense right? Sounds fishy to me.

Cheers,
Wade

 

[Wade]

Anyone else picturing a Christmas vacation rant?

 

[2EZ]

I have 3 RTR'S and one kit from Axial love all SCX10 RTR upgraded stearing and links Wrath RTR upgraded stearing only SCX10 kit up grade stearing servo esc motor reciver axel bumpers, RR10 stock all are fun and I would do it again! Only had minor problems after very hard usage mostly screws loose in plastic parts on the first RTR all but kit has stock servo but I replaced servo arms and stearing links on every thing. Time and budget will control other changes. IMHO Axial rocks!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[tuner]

Welcome to rc crawling! You are going to break stuff and then upgrade no matter what so buy some tools Snd some parts and get busy wrenching because it's half the fun.

 

[adonis_mp]

I ran mine for about 30min around the living room and the servo didn't have enough power to turn the wheels while standing still and the motor got really hot and was smoking on 3s. Putting cheap electronic on a $400 rig is a mistake, specially since it wouldn't cost the company much more since they buy in bulk. For those of use that have been doing this for a while and know the deal, we expect it, but for those starting off, this may discourage them from from the hobby.