Maxxmasher's budget bomproof Wraith makeover

[MAXXMASHER]

I got my Wraith all pieced back together and was eager to get back on the rocks at Sam Lewis. Trouble is, I should've taken my own advice and taken out the VXL motor. I thought I could tame it enough by turning down the throttle travel to 35% and taking easier than I did last weekend. It lasted a bit longer, but my new universal axles didn't last 24 hours. I installed them Friday and broke the end on the longer side where it connects to the joint. LESSON LEARNED. I spend most of my time crawling around creeks, so I kept the VXL motor in it to keep the speed and waterproofness. Gonna have to shop for a brushed alternative that won't burn up. At least I got enough crawling in this time to snap some pics....

Tim scuffling up my hood

Testing out my sidewalls

Easssssyyyy.....

Me posing in the sun and Tim showing off his articulation

Crawling through a crevasse

Tim coming out of the crevasse

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[Bronco Bobby]

try a 21 turn Titan from Traxxas. Good for up to 4S and only about $20. I have been using on sucessfully on 3S and it is very similar to the stock motor in regards to speed, but hasn't gone up in smoke.

 

[MAXXMASHER]

I was considering one of those. Pretty sure I still have a usable one laying around. I did use one when I had may AX-10 set up as a rock racer. Nice cheap alternative that won't break my heart when it burns up....

 

[Soulo747]

I've been running one of these (cheapo traxxas titan) since I smoked my stock motor back in December with no problems.

 

[MAXXMASHER]

Well, I finally got around to piecing this thing back together. I've been busy with packing since we are moving out of our house tomorrow. I got in a set of the regular stock axles and a 35T Integy motor. I've had good luck with them in the past and got it for a decent price. Definitely down on the top speed, but still quick enough. Way more control over low end power, so it seems like it will work out fine. My next purchase will have to be a better servo. Right now I have a Traxxas 2075 and it's not quite up to snuff. The CKRC servo lasted about all of an hour and have been burning out all my back up servos until I get around to buying a premium one. A little at a time.....

About the only thing besides their tools that is worth a crap......

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[Sh0rtBus]

If you need to replace your servo, pick up a Hitec HS5995TG for $70 from Servo City. Plenty of torque for the Wraith.

 

[chappysfj40]

did you get the 180 or 90 degree version

If you need to replace your servo, pick up a Hitec HS5995TG for $70 from Servo City. Plenty of torque for the Wraith.

 

[MAXXMASHER]

I'm thinking a Hobbico CS170 from Tower perhaps. I had one on my AX-10 comp crawler and it worked pretty well. Now that its retired, that servo was moved to my FLM MMM E-Maxx. Even with 40 series Big Joe tires on there, it has no trouble. I'll probably add another trinket or two on the order (to get the total over a $100) and save ten bucks off when they have their special deals.

 

[MAXXMASHER]

Well, my steering troubles continue. I haven't ran this truck in quite awhile as I relocated to the other side of the state, bought a fixer-upper house and pretty much have spent every spare moment working on that. I finally got some free time and drove five hours to visit my brother and sister-in-law. Can't visit my bro without having something to crawl with! My AX-10 and Wraith got to make the trip. I didn't heed my own advice and again went the cheap route and got a stupid Tower Pro 995MG for my Wraith. I swear, they don't make 'em like they used to. They just don't have the power that they once did. At least I didn't break anything this time out. I was frustrated by the lack of turning power, so I suggested a bit of an earlier end to our crawling and we headed to Hobbytown. I looked at lot of servos and ended up with a Hobbico CS-150 MG for 40 bucks. Got everything pulled apart and also wanted to check out one of the knuckles because it seemed so sloppy. Totally disintegrated bearing! Luckily Tim had just the size I needed in his stash, so we can do a little running in the morning. Oh yeah, he found the best spot for crawling I have ever seen!!!

The view from the highway....

Pretty nice view from the top as well!

My Wraith in a poser shot

Eeeeasy......

Tim catching a little air...

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[FRENCHBLUE72]

How are those ckrc shafts holding uP/

 

[dieselmudder]

glad i'm not the only one trying to build on a budget. i'm liking this thread so far. ive been experimenting with making my own links and its working out well. ive done steering and front lower. plan on trying some bent rear lowers and longer rear uppers in the near future to get my pinion turned up a bit. interested to see how this new servo does for you. i run mine in similar conditions as yours but cant bring myself to spend the money on the high end servos. im running a stock ae-2 that ive decased and waterproofed, along with my receiver. and a titan 21 turn. its survived several full submersions so far.

 

[MAXXMASHER]

The shafts are holding up great. I've caught the front pin trying to work its way out a few times, but other than that, I'd say it's pretty tough. The new servo combined with a new bearing has made it a new truck. I have to get the CVD replaced, though. The servo wants to turn farther than the stock axle will allow. Fixable by decreasing the end points, but once you experience the turning radius with the cvd's, you get frustrated going back to stock. I honk I may just get a titan motor in here. I think I want to get paddles for it and run it in the snow. Perhaps my VXL system will find its way in here. Not good for hob grip situations, but it would be a ball of fun in the snow.....the possibilities are endless with this machine.....

 

[MAXXMASHER]

Well, I have a few updates. I had a 35T Integy motor in it, but it quit working. No dramatics or smoking. Just quit. I sprayed it out, checked the brushes, but no luck. Dead. So I threw the VXL motor back in there and it is always a blast.....for awhile. Now on to the latest breakage....one of my CKRC shafts lost a pin and the barrel nut. Called CKRC - no help. They don't sell a replacement and offered no support to get it fixed. Won't EVER buy from them again. I robbed a MIP shaft from my AX-10, and put a set of stock Wraith shafts on that. Of course, my steering troubles are continuing, too. I busted my new servo, so I stepped it up a bit with a Hobbico 333 oz. Ti geared servo. Works great.
My latest fun has been getting some paddles and new bead-locks for some winter running. We got dumped with snow, so I got it out and had a blast. Only problem is that I destroyed a bearing on the inner part of the knuckle. Second time I managed to do that. Here's some pics.....

I also decided to cut an old body up to give it that old Bronco look....

Can't understand why I keep breaking stuff....

Decisions, decisions......

Ready to rip!!

Pretty fun in the snow!

Donut madness!

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[tgh117]

Now you just need the 2spd trans and 7950. Looks good though, sucks about the driveshaft stuff, but maybe a MIP rebuild kit will fit it?

 

[MAXXMASHER]

Nah, the Axial, CKRC, and MIP are all different sizes. Just gotta find the right barrel nut. Gonna stick with the cs-170 for now. Putting the cs-150 on my EMaxx. Did you get a 7950? Wasn't sure what Santa was bringing you. I got my new bearings in and all is well with the Wraith for now. I've got a ton of parts on the way for various vehicles. What truck did you end up getting for the apprentice? BTW, when we were running the Maxx on 6S, at some point the front drive bone was lost!! No wonder it was a wheelie machine! I thought it seemed like it was pushing the front end too much! What a blast!!

 

[tgh117]

Yea I happened to get a 7950 and the rc4wd 2spd. I'm pretty impressed thus far. The BEC in the esc roasted on the inaugural run, so I'm waiting for the new one in the mail.

O got a wheelie king that has most of the crawler conversion. It fits savage bodies great and has performed pretty well so far. It's all waterproofed and it likes the snow.

 

[Steelfish]

dang!! I was about to order one of those c.k.rc hd driveshafts and just found your thread, too bad that they dont offer replacement parts for their own "brand" drive shafts, right now Mips are bit high $$ for me and still undecided on which driveshafts to get, I lost (literally) my stock rear shafts running my 3300kv 540 motor on the beach and never found it, so I cannot longer use the stocks while looking for a stronger ones, my Baja wraith is just getting dust on the garage waiting for me to get money for the MIPS or finding a "temporal" fix while getting the MIPS.

seems like the culprit of the majority of the aftermarket driveshafts is the inner pin..

 

[MAXXMASHER]

I took my MIP's off of my AX-10 and use one wraith shaft and the remaining CKRC shaft on that. I just had the wraith out this weekend and rounded out the front locker. One of the parts I did not upgrade in my build. Figures. Seems every time I have this truck out, I break something. Kind of frustrating. Buy more upgraded parts and see what breaks next....

FLM BL E-MAXX ~ BL E-4TEC Drifter ~ Pro-Trac Slash ~ FLM P2de ~ SCX-10 ~ AX-10 ~ Wraith ~ HPI Custom Nitro dragster ~ 3 Losi micro scalers

 

[karki]

i bought a set. IMO the MIPs are worth every penny. had the in my wraith for no more than two packs and they are junked. first the pin broke. then i demolished the joints. post picks later.

 

[MAXXMASHER]

Yeah, I just couldn't believe that they couldn't send me a replacement part. Totally worthless now. They basically just said "sorry, you can buy a new set of driveshafts." WT#&%¢£€!!!!Like I would buy another set! I deleted their site from my bookmarks and won't ever consider them as an option for parts again. Too bad for them. I'm not like some guys on here, but I easily spend $100 - $300 a month on RC stuff. I just built the 6-wheeler from scratch (mostly) and spent more than my average this month. I finally got around to ordering a Hot Racing Unibody for the Wraith. I also broke my six wheeler's tranny output shaft and my SCX-10's front bevel gears this past weekend. My Slash is also down. I ordered everything I needed and some upgrades for all my trucks. Sorry C*R*!! Congrats RCBoyz, RPP, Stormer, and EverythingRC!! Only my drifter and Micros are running right now!!! WTF!!! Even my EMaxx is a roller at the moment. I drive past piles of rocks and my eyes get misty.....come on postal service!!!!!

FLM BL E-MAXX ~ BL E-4TEC Drifter ~ Pro-Trac Slash ~ SCX-10 ~ Wraith ~Custom 6WD Crawler~ 3 Losi micro scalers