TXT basic modifications?

[rhenbelz]

I just got a TXT. The plan is to use it for general low speed bashing and some crawling/hillclimbs. It's stock but has bearings and some alloy parts.

I plan to use a pair of stock silvercans for power as these seem to have the right mix of torque and speed for my purposes; the ESC will be an EVX jumpered for 7.2v. Steering will be front only with a stock servo, most likely, though I may put in a better saver at some point. I'd like to use the stock wheels and tires, and overall not put more than another $50 into the truck.

The question is, what are the basic tips to improve the TXT from stock. I am assuming I need to cut the bottom part of the chassis off for more center clearance. What else?

Thanks in advance!

[yfz450racer]

I basically have the same set up on my TXT-1 as far as electronic set sup although I run it at 14.4 volts with 3300 packs, plenty of speed and rum time. I can think of a couple of cheap mods. (1) Lock the axles-JB weld or Hot glue. Not sure how the hot glue would hold up on the TXT-1 but so far has held up on my TLT-1. (2) Replace the drive shafts with T-MAXX Sliders, these are much more durable and won't slop like the stock shafts. Might have to dremel out some material from the trans case to clear them as they are bigger in diameter. (3) Foam inserts in the tires then glue them onto the rims, unless for rock crawling-no foam, tires will grab better. (4) High torque servo, a bit pricey but this rig needs it, along with a good saver (Kimbrough or Ofna makes decent ones). (5) Not sure about your chassis mod unless you have a way of remounting the trans, then that would increase driveline angles. Thats all I can come up with for now. Have fun with the truck. How's the weather in AK. ?

[mobias]

Unless your TXT-1 is going to be a mega serious crawler only truck I wouldn't saw off the bottom of the chassis, if you do you'll have to make other serious mods elsewhere to get everything to fit. I know people do this conversion but like I said its only for really serious crawlers and I certianly wouldn't do it to a brand new kit I'd never used in stock form before. Build your TXT chassis as it should be and see how you like it and only then go hacking it apart if you feel you must.

 Personally I've never had any problem with the TXT's drive shafts if you're on a budget spend your money on improvements elsewhere. Be warned though the TXT does have a nifty knack of eating a whole in your wallet right from the word go.

 

A 4 wheel steering set up is an absolute must have in my opinion especially if you're not going for a high speed set up. The TXT's turning radius is like that of a super tanker with only 2 wheel steering. High torque servos needn't be hugely expensive, Futaba do fairly cheap ones, and its not essential to go for metal gears either.

Enjoy your truck its great fun to build and run 

 

 

[InetRC]

Then there are always the hop-ups that are not for the faint of heart....

http://www.inetrc.com/store/index.cfm?acti...&Category=6

Sorry... couldn't help myself.

-Alex

 

[Mad Ax]

As I've just built and ran my stock TXT as a general climber / basher over the last month, I thought I'd add my thoughts:

1)

The stock TXT is slow, ungainly, and hard to control.  ESC and

hi-torque servos are a MUST - driving with standard servos is

near-impossible as it just has a mind of its own.

2) It will lose

grip easily when climbing if you don't lock the diffs, and be forever

stuck half-way up a hill or on a pile of rocks.  Lock the diffs!

3)

If you expect your TXT to be a larger version of Tamiya's monster

trucks, you will probably be disappointed.  The stock TXT is slow,

ungainly and hard to handle - however, if you alter your expectations

and stick to what it's good at, you'll really enjoy the new slant that

the TXT puts on your RC experience (esp. if you've never done any

proper crawling before)

4) Slow and steady is the key to climbing with a TXT.

5)

It's a surprisingly tough old beastie.  I have barrel-rolled my

TXT down several 15-foot rocky and muddy inclines, and thus far haven't

broken anything - although I do continually have prop-shafts popping

out of their UJs, which is rather annoying, as the UJ takes a special

size hex wrench and I don't always have one with me...

[rhenbelz]

Thanks all!

[mobias]

Just to add to what Mad Ax said. Locking the diffs will improve crawling capabilities but its another thing I wouldn't do right from the word go, even though its a pain to get into the gear boxes later. Personally I'd build the truck with 4 wheel steering (with high torque servos) and a ESC but other than that build it as stock and see how you get on with running it. I've never locked the diffs in mine because I don't use my TXT as a dedicated crawler and I don't want my handling impaired. Glue the tyres and if you like put a couple of Tamiya BZ or RZ motors in it, it'll give you a ton of fun what ever you do.

 ps Mad Ax you must have something wrong with your universals mate, I've never had mine come off on me even though one is only held on by one grub screw ( i lost it the day I built the truck, i think the cat ate it)

 

[Mad Ax]

ps Mad Ax you must have something wrong with

your universals mate, I've never had mine come off on me even though

one is only held on by one grub screw ( i lost it the day I built the

truck, i think the cat ate it)

I don't know what I've

done wrong.  I think I didn't use threadlock during the first

build, and one popped out on the first run (an hours drive away, and I

forgot the special hex wrench).  I refitted it, and the following

weekend the rear one popped out.  Then I threadlocked them, but

still had trouble with one of them coming loose.

I definately

haven't done them up too loose to begin with, because last time I

removed the rear axle I couldn't get the propshaft out of the universal

- the flat end of the shaft had pressed outwards with the pressure from

the grub!

However, it might be because I regularly barrel-roll it

down 20-foot rocky inclines after misjudging a climb and flipping over

backwards []

[groundhogdirtplugger]

Hi

excuse me for hitching another question on this thread.[Y] Thanks to 'rhenbelz' for opening this one !![Y][Y][Y]

Noting the words of the  'Mad Ax'....

"1) The stock TXT is slow, ungainly, and hard to control.  ESC and hi-torque servos are a MUST - driving with standard servos is near-impossible as it just has a mind of its own."

Would the tendency for the TXT to torque-sway its way around the place be cure by the torsion sway bar by New Era? I notice that can be fitted on the front and/or back. 

Oh and er.......The hop ups rather cheekily pasted by "Inetrc" are truly awesome. They are not really hop ups but more akin to leap up as far as Alpha Centuri. 

"Mobias"..words are so wise...."Be warned though the TXT does have a nifty knack of eating a whole in your wallet right from the word go."

regards

'groundhogdirtplugger'

"he gave up cocaine - but was gripped by a monster that was bigger than all"

 that was bigger than all"