Hornet. How to set steering?

[Nobbi1977]

Hi

New to this world. I have a Hornet that is new but built by a previous owner.

It goes well, a bit too well, but I cannot get it to consistently drive in a straight line. I have set the tracking up so the wheels are parallel but when I set the trim it goes straight for a while but later the trim is out again and it goes in circles.

Any idea what I need to do?

[dutch_rc]

First of all - welcome.

Kinda sounds like an issue with the servo (tie rods won't be getting longer or shorter)...

Are you sure the servo saver has been put on correctly and is not slipping?

[KEV THE REV]

As said above ,check the splines on the servo / saver and that the servo gears are not slipping , if all ok then turn on the transmitter and receiver whilst you set the servo saver back on to the servo , set tx steering trim lever to middle before you screw it on ( be careful not to knock the throttle lever - or better still ,raise the car off the ground)

[Butler]

I have had this recently on 2 cars. Both were fitted with towerpro 996r servos. Swapped for some cheap hitecs and fixed.

[Nobbi1977]

Ok

Sounds like some good advice but what is a servo saver?

[dutch_rc]

It's the white attachment that you put on the servo to connect the steering rods with.

[Nobbi1977]

It's the white attachment that you put on the servo to connect the steering rods with.

Thanks. Seems like an odd name for it. I will take it off tomorrow and see

[dutch_rc]

The name comes from the fact that it is designed to have flexibilty and absorb the impact that is forwarded from the wheels to the servo, hopefully saving it from breakage. Often they have some sort of spring inside (although the one from the Hornet hasn't).

[GregM]

The front wheels need to be set up with a slight toe-in angle for better straight line stability. If you need the manual, you can find it for download at tamiyausa.com

[Nobbi1977]

The front wheels need to be set up with a slight toe-in angle for better straight line stability. If you need the manual, you can find it for download at tamiyausa.com

RTFM? To be honest I had not thought of that and it should have been the first thing I did.

I will download and have a read, I might learn something about the rest of the car.

I am starting to get slightly addicted to playing about with this new toy now. New touring car wheels on the way to try and get some grip on the hall floor at work.

[Nobbi1977]

I have popped the servo out and it is a hitec hs 311.

Is this a factory fit one?

When the handset it turned off the servo is twitching and it looks like it does not always reset to the same place.

The Hitec looks like it is about £7 on eBay, should I just get another one of the same?

[dutch_rc]

As far as I know, Hitec servos have an odd amount of teeth on the spline.

For which the basic Hornet servo parts do not provide a correct fit.

So the servo would be alright in itself - but it might be easiest to get a Futaba or Sanwa (compatible).

[Nobbi1977]

As far as I know, Hitec servos have an odd amount of teeth on the spline.

For which the basic Hornet servo parts do not provide a correct fit.

So the servo would be alright in itself - but it might be easiest to get a Futaba or Sanwa (compatible).

Like this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Futaba-S3003-Servo-Standard-Car-Boat-Plane-/381019070503

[taliesin]

I use Futaba 3003 servos all the time. Cheap & reliable - they rarely let me down, and they are perfect for a Hornet. I think this is what comes as standard equipment on the XB or RTR models.

If the servo is twitching when the transmitter is on, or if the servo doesn't return to center smoothly, then it is probably shot and time to replace it.

[GregM]

+1 on the Futaba S3003. I had so many other entry level servos, and all of them were imprecise or made annoying noise even in neutral position. Once I tried the S3003, it became the standard for all my 2WD buggys, apart from large wheeled models.

The Hitecs are really no use in Tamiya cars unless you can get your hands on dedicated Hitec servo savers.

[Nobbi1977]

On order.

I have ordered a lunchbox axel kit and wheels as well so I can use the car on the grass in my garden.

[Nobbi1977]

+1 on the Futaba S3003. I had so many other entry level servos, and all of them were imprecise or made annoying noise even in neutral position. Once I tried the S3003, it became the standard for all my 2WD buggys, apart from large wheeled models.

The Hitecs are really no use in Tamiya cars unless you can get your hands on dedicated Hitec servo savers.

Looks like I have been sold a counterfeit servo

It is vibrating and twitching like a crack addict in the methadone queue and is very slow.

I have contacted the seller but do not hold out much hope to be honest.

[GregM]

Ah that's too bad. Could you please post a photo of your servo? Many thanks in advance.

[Nobbi1977]

Ah that's too bad. Could you please post a photo of your servo? Many thanks in advance.

There is a website showing a tear down of a fake. Apparently real ones have closed fixing holes

[GregM]

I got mine from Modellbau Seidel. And as you said, the mounting holes on the genuine S3003 servos are a non-open design, indeed. The molding also looks a lot better than on the fake shown on the pictures.