Rs4 Mt

[Mark Wood]

My ever-patient wife got me the Baja Bug version of this E-powered 4WD buggy for Christmas. I just finished the build and am waiting for a Kyosho Endoplasma (16 turn) to power it with.
Anyone driving one of these kits around?

I have to say that this was one VERY complete kit that went together without a hitch and was a joy to build. Hope it runs as good as it looks. :)

[jake&mike]

Hey groundloop I have a HPI RS4 Mt. A nice off-road car. Can take a lot of abuse. Only thing is the car has a tendency to lose dogbones. I have put many hop-ups on my car. Like boca ball bearing, foam inserts, carbon-fiber front brace, universal dogbones, a high performance 16T motor, waterproofed the electronics. Haven't used the car in long time in very good condition though. Looking to sell it because I got into RC planes more.

[Mark Wood]

Seems the "chrome" on the wheels is junk. Started flaking off after a couple of days of use. :( Anyone else have the same problem?
What do the universal dogbones do that the stock ones don't?

[Tachikaze]

I also had the problem with loosing the front dogbones, mostly under highspeed turning. Using several O-rings on the universal shafts helped a lot.
The universal dog bones connect directly to the differential. You have less slop in the drive and you get better power transfer and less likely to have the dog bones come out of the unit.
Make sure you ball bearing the entire vehicle, it sure makes a difference in your drive time.:p

[Mark Wood]

Took the RS4MT out to a local track built in a fellow's back yard that's accessible to everyyone last weekend and had a blast with it. Most cars of course were of the wet fuel variety and when I ran that little Endoplasma-powered critter out onto the track and started whipping up on everyone it was pretty entertaining. Lots of "Hey, buddy. What kinda car IS that??" questions especially from the adults present. The youngsters were more "Geez. Did you see that?". I put some ProLine paddles on all four corners and took it to the beach too where it got even more comments.
The ball bearings are not too far in the future and definitely on my things to do to it list as is the universal dogbones. I shimmed the dogbones early on though when I ID'd the problem and really haven't had any more trouble with them since. I'm primarily an E-pilot of RC planes but the car has been a lot of fun when I can't get to the field. :)

[Tachikaze]

I am going to have to go with the CVD universals. I am still having trouble with the front dog bones popping out under stress. If I dive into a turn that has an uneven surface I am pretty well assured that I will loose one. I have tried sticking a couple O-rings in there and they look fine on the table and work OK on the roads, but anything that resembles a track and I am off on the side with a wheel flopping in the air.
We are just starting to get a track and racing going after 10 years of no racing in this area. Right now the main emphasis is on nitro monsters, but there is a small group of us that are keeping the electric track racers going. Right now there are about a dozen of the HPI Savage, Traxxis T Maxx running.
We have three of the HPI MT's and two Kyosho Ultima and two Tamiya TAO2 running. We get more track time than the notro guys because they can never get all of their trucks up and running at the same time to race.:D

[Mark Wood]

Tachi:

What I did was take one of those little black plastic circles that comes on the parts tree and drop one of the thinner ones under the dogbone. They press fit in there very nicely and so far have kept the DB where it's supposed to be. Kind of a semi-permanent shim without wearing out easily like an O-ring. :)

[Tachikaze]

Good idea will give that a try this weekend:p

[Tachikaze]

Hey, does anyone besides HPI produce bodies for the MT?

[Mark Wood]

Not sure but it seems that there are a lot of parallels in parts between Associated, HPI and others. I would think that it wouldn't be too hard to fit a 1/10th body from one model to another but this is coming from an old fart that's been playing with RC cars since this last Christmas. :o

[Mark Wood]

To resurrect this thread a little, I need a recommendation on a motor for this car. The Endo is fast but too hot for the application I think. Anyone?

mw

[peanutcluster73]

Hey, I was thinking about getting this car but I just wanted to check it out. I read that you have 16-turn motor in it. How fast can you get it going beacuse I was thinking like a 14 turn double?

[Mark Wood]

I've since dropped to a 17t and the stock gearing. It seems to be just as fast but the motor isn't suffering like it was before.

mw

[305997]

I would think the Novak SS system would do nicely. I plan to convert a Nitro MT to electric since it has a stronger drivetrain.

[auger_alot]

i also have the mt and would like to go brushless
its just stiil to much cash

[Mark Wood]

Aveox has a nice BL system that would work but I still invest most of my hobby $$ in aircraft. One of these days though... ;)

mw

[auger_alot]

i think bl will eat nitro soon.
also we will be converting nitro's to bl someday.
probly on these forums

[kreidell]

i just finished an mt and i have a huge problem. the spur gear just spins on the drive shaft though, what have i done wrong

[McGrrr]

Did you use locktite?

[kreidell]

yeah my bad, used a longer screw by the rear gear....

[auger_alot]

i just got a novak bl sys for my mt