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JeepnMike

My TRF801x Pics

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I thought you guys might like the see the buggy I am working on. I bought a stock of TRF801x stuff which consisted of a ebuggy roller and another almost complete NIB kit for spares. I kind of wanted to have a complete extra kit and not touch it for parts, so I stockpiled all commonly broken parts or wear items (control arms, rod ends, uprights, etc.) to use on the runner and maybe build the NIB for fun one day,we will see how that goes in time.

When I got the buggy it was in pretty good shape and I could tell a lot went into the E conversion and what went where. I wanted to freshen it up a bit so I replaced a few things and learned a bit along the way.

I wasn't totally fond of the battery tray so I decided to give an RC8Be battery tray a try because I liked the idea of the ESC tray moulded to the battery tray. When I got the tray I realized it was going to be even more holes in the chassis and it was a bit bulky and wasn't going to be as clean as I wanted which put me back to what was originally in the car with holes already drilled which is a basic Tekno tray. With just a bit of trimming it fits like a champ, I couldn't find anything that could possibly be an improvement. I talked to Mike from Monster RC and he was kind enough to offer to custom build a battery tray which would also cover the nitro engine mount holes, definitely something to consider but would require you to ship him your buggy.

Another thing that really bugged the snot out of me was the large holes in the chassis for the nitro motor mounts. I realize this is 1/8 scale and things are going to get dirty, I don't want to welcome in dirt right where my ESC sits though. So.. I happen to have a machine shop at my disposal so I made a template and had a really thin peice of stainless laser cut to cover the back area of the buggy and seal it all up and give a nice sweet spot to mount the ESC. It is strong, but light enough to not matter. Here is a pic before mounting it:

IMG_2348_zps712ca3da.jpg

About the only thing I could possibly find to improve on from what was already done with this buggy was the receiver box. It came with the small universal AE box and the servo horn rubbed a little. I found that the Tekno receiver box had a "step" to it leaving ample room for your servo horn and steering linkage, check this out:

IMG_2370_zpsc9297e64.jpg

My install turned out pretty clean. I wanted to get batteries (4s, 2050kv motor) that I could use bullet connectors with, but that wasn't in the cards and I am using SMC packs. Here is a shot with the electronics installed:

IMG_2368_zpsee6e7865.jpg

Here is a few more photos, one with my DB01RR as well. I got both of these bodies from a friend on RCTech, I have him to thank for the art! The TRF801 body had a couple of cracks that I used the old shoe goop with drywall tape trick in a couple of layers and it is really freaking strong now and should last a while.

Enjoy!

IMG_2359_zpsf4a7603f.jpg

IMG_2358_zpsfef7fe2d.jpg

IMG_2356_zpsebd3fb2b.jpg

Mike

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Great pics and artwork. Love those two cars to bits.

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Great looking cars.

I must admit I have just ordered a trf801 as the prices have dropped a lot.

159.99 euros at tamico

I will be fitting brushless.

Does anyone know how much power this chassis can take?

I have a mamba monster 2 with 2200kv that can run 6s, but not sure if the drive train will take the full 6s power

(esc and motor out of a traxxas, I prefure Tamiya if I am honest)

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I was just looking at TamiyaUSA prices for these as well and to my surprise they have dropped even lower... Even though I have an extra kit, it is almost too good to pass up if I had a little extra money. I thought I saw the buggy kit for $150 USD!! If you look at what is currently winning races (Kyosho and Losi) you will see they look identical to what I have built pictured above (in eBuggy configuration). They are pretty much identical and I can tell you mine handles like it is on rails and at this price, you are getting a world class buggy for a fraction of the cost and with better materials and lots of TRF goodness!

One HUGE word of advice.. You are buying these knowing they are phasing them out. Do yourself a favor and buy two kits.. The spare kit is the price of a few spare parts as it is. If you are like me and buy spares of typical break parts, you will quickly spend a lot more money (as I found out) sourcing spare parts than you would just buying another kit. I took mine to the track 8 times last year, beat the heck out of it (learning curve driving big cars), the only thing I ever broke was a rod-end on my steering adjuster - these are really dang tough buggies.

To answer your question, you can run whatever you want in terms of motor. Most common would be 1900kv - 2200kv on 4s. Mine is a Tekin 2050kv and it has GOBS of torque and I have no idea how it gets so much traction but it does. On the straightways mine is extremely fast, (as fast as I want to go). There is one buggy at our track that runs 2200 and he does pull me just a hair going down the straights. If I was starting anew again after a year in the 1/8 scene, I would still run exactly what I have at 2050kv on 4s. If I wanted to go faster I would consider at 2200kv on 4s, but anything faster is too fast which is saying a lot coming from me because I tend to over-power my cars. The folks running 2600kv motors are usually doing so on 3s. Nobody at my track runs that configuration so I can't say how it will go. I think if you stick with 4s and run 1900-2200kv you will really enjoy it.

Let us know what you decide!

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Thanks for the update JeepnMike.

I have ordered 2 kits as I knew these were a discontinued kit.

looks like I will be trying 4s on the 2200kv

I gather the pinion is MOD 1, and I am thinking of a 14 or 15 tooth pinion.

Have been running Traxxas emaxx cars and thought the mamba monster would work well in the trf801, and as its a Tamiya car, so much the better

Have ordered the Electric conversion kit from Monster.com, as I have seen other posts here on Tamiya club that recommend it.

edit (www.rc-monster.com)

Ahhh just realised that I have the trf801xt truggy kit coming not the buggy lol

I will need to sort some tires out, as not to sure if my other tyres/ wheels will fit

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Ah! A lot of truggies out there. This thread is a must-read for the guys running the truggy:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/nitro-off-road/235139-tamiya-trf801xt.html

Also, a good read about the truggy from our friend Speedy_w_Beans here:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=71892&hl=trf801xt

If you do read the RC Tech thread, you will see the stock control arms are the stickler and folks are learning to use other brands control arms on their Tamiya truggies.

I will say the Monster electric conversion kit is worth it's weight in gold.. The parts all fit so nice and the motor mount is just perfect, you will be pleased! Please post pics when you are done.

Since this thread is revived, I just took some pics of mine as it sits. I just got done refreshing my 1/10 race buggies in preparation for winter indoor racing so this one has been set aside for a good tear down and cleaning. It is hard to tell from the photos, but it is pretty dirty and the wing is headed for the garbage can. Also notice the wear on the front shock caps and tower. LOL

photo3_zps6622eb06.jpg

Got spare parts? Here is an extra buggy I take to the track with me with more extra sets of control arms, etc.

photo4_zps0e395c5b.jpg

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Thanks for the update JeepnMike.

I have ordered 2 kits as I did knew these were a discontinued kit.

looks like I will be trying 4s on the 2200kv

I gather the pinion is MOD 1, and I am thinking of a 14 or 15 tooth pinion.

Have been running Traxxas emaxx cars and thought the mamba monster would work well in the trf801, and as its a Tamiya car, so much the better

Have ordered the Electric conversion kit from Monster.com, as I have seen other posts here on Tamiya club that recommend it.

Ahhh just realised that I have the trf801xt truggy kit coming not the buggy lol

I will need to sort some tires out, as not to sure if my other tyres/ wheels will fit

Is monster.com (the jobs site) really the address?

I've got both the truggy and buggy and I'd like to try the electric conversion kit.

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Is monster.com (the jobs site) really the address?

I've got both the truggy and buggy and I'd like to try the electric conversion kit.

They don't make a kit for the buggy, just the truggy. You can use the RC Monster motor mount for the truggy on your buggy and fabricate the battery tray and ESC mount yourself. Alternately, the guys are RC Monster are willing to custom build you a battery and ESC tray for your buggy, you would just have to send them your chassis (at no additional cost to you).

They are here: http://www.rc-monster.com/

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Sorry Yonez I didn't put the correct address. :wacko:

JeepnMike has got the correct one :)

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That is awesome they have one for the buggy now! Mike from Monster must have finally gotten some bloke to send him a chassis for the buggy for him to measure and build off of :lol: . That saves you a huge headache... Some like the challenge, having a bolt-in option is so nice though. You will be very pleased with the quality for the money.

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Now I just need to ruin myself on motors, batteries, receivers and ESC's.

Oh, and get time to build.

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Just checked my order with rc-monster and I have the correct truggy conversion coming ;)

Modelsport are going to send me some proline 3.8 badland wheels and tyres

along with a few Mod 1 pinions and paint.

I have 2.4G traxxas radio gear and a savox sc1256tg servo for steering

castle Max mamba2 esc and 2200kv motor,

with pairs of 2s and 3s hobbyking Zippy lipos

Have I missed anything?

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Just checked my order with rc-monster and I have the correct truggy conversion coming ;)

Modelsport are going to send me some proline 3.8 badland wheels and tyres

along with a few Mod 1 pinions and paint.

I have 2.4G traxxas radio gear and a savox sc1256tg servo for steering

castle Max mamba2 esc and 2200kv motor,

with pairs of 2s and 3s hobbyking Zippy lipos

Have I missed anything?

Are you planning on running your 2s packs in series? A lot of folks do it that way and the benefit is that you can still use your 7.4v packs in your 1/10 cars if you have any.

Have fun and share pics!

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Yes I will run 2 batts in series for 4s power

I don't own any 4s batteries..........yet

Will post pics when stuff gets here

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I bought 4s SMC packs purely because I am paranoid. I was afraid if running 2s packs in series that voltage drop would be harder for the ESC to detect the cells for low voltage cut-off. I know a lot of folks run in series and I have never heard of a problem like that, and I think at the time I was wanting something different and new or something :)

I found these to be great affordable race packs:

6570-4S2PN-228x228.jpg

http://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=112

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I might have to build one of these (TRF801X) for myself... JeepNMike's rig sitting on his work bench is really making me want one...

I love my TRF801XT (truggy); it's so much fun bashing around with it. I think I need an 801X (buggy) for the local dirt track next spring...

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The RCTech thread Mike linked to is a great read, although the electric conversions don;t kick in until ca page 70 from what I remember. I've still got to install the motor/ESC in my XT and sort out the battery tray arrangement - it was sat as a rolling chassis for too long, at least i got the body painted in the last month :rolleyes:

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What's with the norwegian flag by the way?

I am a Norwegian American mate! (last name Thorson) :) I was born in America but my family stays pretty true to our Norwegian roots, all the way down to our Lefsa maker handed down from 4 generations. It is nice to express it here and there on my cars. Here is what my TB03 looks like:

TB03_Paint_Fix_zps9a67b630.png

$130?? :blink: Ordered!!! :wub:

For once I am a bad influence on speedy_w_beans!!!! :lol: :lol: He has led me to me to several purchases over the years. The question here is, how many kits did he buy? ;)

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For once I am a bad influence on speedy_w_beans!!!! :lol: :lol: He has led me to me to several purchases over the years. The question here is, how many kits did he buy? ;)

You know me too well! I snagged two - one to run, one for spares.

I'm stoked! I'll keep my NEXX8 for street bashing and speed runs. The TRF801X will be used at my LHS's dirt track next spring. So, what's your setup these days?

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You know me too well! I snagged two - one to run, one for spares.

I'm stoked! I'll keep my NEXX8 for street bashing and speed runs. The TRF801X will be used at my LHS's dirt track next spring. So, what's your setup these days?

A huge part of me wants to build my parts 801x just because I never had the experience of building a new one from the kit, you should have a blast when your new one arrives!

I built a setup sheet for you here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m5m8amh0qbpxj4m/Thorson_TRF801x_Setup.pdf

I have mine setup to where I think it is spot-on. The guy that had it before me raced as a "pro" and sponsored driver and his setup I didn't change too much. He had it WAY over-dampened for the track I race at which has to be rougher than what he was on which is why I changed the damper oils from 42.5 front, 40 rear, down to 37.5f front, 30 rear. It still takes big jumps without pan slapping, but can track straight as an arrow over rougher sections. I take no credit for the damper positions and camber link positions, spring selections, swaybar selections, etc. The guy that had it before me worked really hard on the setup and it is quite amazing. It drives great, but wow does it corner, even when traction is bad. I am running optional swaybars so the front is stiffer and the springs are optional as well in the rear.

Enjoy!

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After reading that thread on rctech

With the truggy version

the one main thing that pops out is that the front arms break.

how will I know which arms are in my kit, new short or old long?

I have never boiled plastic before, do you think it is worth doing the front arms?

JeepnMike build your spare kit, you know you want to

just buy another kit for spares :ph34r:

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