RC Hobby Unlimited

- My Traxxas Stampede r/c car runs below par and is incredibly slow and screeches, how do i fix it?
whenever i start my r/c car and try to run it, it will make a screeching noise and will not cease. The car also will move at a very slow rate, and is sometimes unresponsive to my controller. Ok, so I want to try to tighten the slipper clutch, but how do I do that?

A It could be several things that are causing problems. Here are a few possibilities: The screeching could be caused by the slipper clutch the disk might be dirty, worn out or adjusted too loose. Try adjusting it 1st & if that doesn't work you can take it apart & clean the disk by scraping it gently with a razor blade until the shiny appearance is gone. It could also be a radio problem with interference being caused by mounting the receiver too close to another electrical part or routing the antenna too close as well. Your battery might also be discharging or shorted & not producing the proper voltage to run the vehicle. There could also be something binding the gears, check to make sure a piece of gravel or anything hasn't gotten caught in the drive-line anywhere like between the pinion & spur gear or dogbones/drive axles. The brushes on your motor might be worn down too low & causing insufficient contact with the commutator causing it to run slowly if at all as well as arching & radio glitches. You can buy replacement brushes for your motor at the rc hobby shops. You tighten the slipper clutch by removing the cap on the gear box cover & accessing the nut that compresses the spring. You then tighten the nut by holding one of the wheels & turning the nut to the right. Your car should have came with a wrench or you can use an appropriate socket from a socket set.

- traxxas Rustler VXL. I need to know how to maintaince it and keep it clean?
I recently bought an electric R/C car and i need to know if there are parts i should oil, WD40, or something like that. im running brushless motor. my manual didnt come with anything on how to do any of this, and the online manual is the same as what came witht he box. any help would be well apreciated. I want to keep my car running in top shape.

A I recommend that you monitor your Brushless motor with a temperature gauge every five minutes: http://www.odonnellracing.com/accys/index.html Temperature guide: 60* F - 119* F, Motor is in good condition. Only the bearings will need oil every few runs. 120* F - 139* F, Motor now puts stress on magnets & some internal to prevent further damage to motor. Stopping is recommended. 140* F - 159* F, Motor is gasping for air and needs a break. The magnets are beginning to smoke. The internal components are looking for any possible way to cool down. Stopping your vehicle is highly recommended. 160* F - 179* F, Motor is showing signs of severe fatigue and it's likely your motor will suffer from motor overheating if you don't stop asap. 180* F+ Your motor internals are likely burnt by now. Your motor has a 75% chance of not operating after this. I also recommend these products for your Rustler: - http://www.traxxas.com/products/electric/rustler3707/trx_rustler3707_accessories.htm (3340 VXL-3s Cooling Fan $25.00) - http://www.teamepiconline.com/shop/item_new.asp?item=7640 - http://www.teamepiconline.com/shop/item_new.asp?item=TEP5001 - http://www.teamepiconline.com/shop/item_new.asp?item=4456 - http://www.rpmrcproducts.com/products/traxxas/SandRDex.htm You should also check out this website: http://www.traxxas.com/support/kb_search.php?action=artikel&cat=126&id=431 Notice: You don't have to buy all the products I listed. If you have any other questions to pro-long the life of your rustler, please send me a message and I'll get back to you asap. I also recommend that you check out the hobby shop search engines. Most hobby shops can help you with your questions.