After having a brushless revo for a month or so, I find I really like the quiet running and plug in and go bashing. Not to mention the amount of torque. So, figured I'd try out another rig.
I've wanted a nitro stampede for a long time, but the 2wd and single speed trans always kept me from pulling the trigger. After watching a ton of vids on youtube, and after getting the ERBE, I decided to get a stampede 4x4 vxl.
I almost went to a LHS a few weeks ago while out to lunch with my wife and bought one new, but I had bid the night before on one on ebay and it wasn't to end until the next day, which I then lost. Then instead of going and buying new, I bid on a couple more. Then I won one. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as good as the first one I lost. Photo's looked ok, but they must have used a fuzzy filter or something because when I got it, it was not worth what I paid.
All 4 corners were seriously sloppy, the front right had blow a bearing out completely. All 4 axles were/are worn to the point of nearly failure, the tires were so out of balance I couldn't even drive it anyway. The included lipo had all 3 of the balance wires broken so it wouldn't take a charge.
So, after inspecting it and ordering a list of parts I'm now waiting for, I threw on a set of 14mm t-maxx hubs (that don't really fit right) and slayer wheels/tires I had laying around and cutting/resoldering the balance wires just so I could run a pack through it. Man... is it slow. I figured the slayer wheels/tires were a bit smaller so it felt slow due to that. FYI, slayer wheels rub on the front c-hub when turning. The kid included a 17T pinion with it, so I installed that and it was faster, but still seriously slow off the line. Regardless, I had fun with it at the skate park and decided to just make the best of it. The 5200mah lipo that came with it only took 3200mah charge after running it until the LVC kicked in, so guessing it's just a junk lipo.
Then I read the manual more thoroughly about the speed control to make sure it was setup to have the LVC enabled and also noticed there were 3 profiles... sport, race, training. I turned on the LVC (it was already on, but was making sure), then set the profile to sport. Took it outside to find that the lipo it came with couldn't handle the amount of power it wanted... and it was fast. Like, seriously get into trouble fast. So, I aparrently had been driving it with the ESC in training mode. I put the 11T pinion back in and may take it out for a bit of a run after work. Then after I get all my parts this week, it should be good to go.
I have the following in the mail to me now:
2 x 7200mah 2S 90C SMC lipo's
RPM front carriers/c-hubs
RPM rear carriers
4 new stock slider axles
4 new chevron style tread stampede 3.8 4x4 (non-vxl) wheels/tires (I like the tread pattern on my other MT's)
14T pinion (probably unnecessary now)
4 12mm alloy wheel hex's
new fast eddy bearings for the diffs, all 4 hubs, steering and center shaft
From what I've read (and what I see on the truck), the stock sliders won't hold up very well. I'm hoping the new ones hold up a while.
Spent $300 shipped on the truck and $130 on parts. Buying new locally with tax would have been near $520, so I'm $90 short of that. I totally should have just bought new.
As it sits now.
Slayer tires rub here:
I've wanted a nitro stampede for a long time, but the 2wd and single speed trans always kept me from pulling the trigger. After watching a ton of vids on youtube, and after getting the ERBE, I decided to get a stampede 4x4 vxl.
I almost went to a LHS a few weeks ago while out to lunch with my wife and bought one new, but I had bid the night before on one on ebay and it wasn't to end until the next day, which I then lost. Then instead of going and buying new, I bid on a couple more. Then I won one. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as good as the first one I lost. Photo's looked ok, but they must have used a fuzzy filter or something because when I got it, it was not worth what I paid.
All 4 corners were seriously sloppy, the front right had blow a bearing out completely. All 4 axles were/are worn to the point of nearly failure, the tires were so out of balance I couldn't even drive it anyway. The included lipo had all 3 of the balance wires broken so it wouldn't take a charge.
So, after inspecting it and ordering a list of parts I'm now waiting for, I threw on a set of 14mm t-maxx hubs (that don't really fit right) and slayer wheels/tires I had laying around and cutting/resoldering the balance wires just so I could run a pack through it. Man... is it slow. I figured the slayer wheels/tires were a bit smaller so it felt slow due to that. FYI, slayer wheels rub on the front c-hub when turning. The kid included a 17T pinion with it, so I installed that and it was faster, but still seriously slow off the line. Regardless, I had fun with it at the skate park and decided to just make the best of it. The 5200mah lipo that came with it only took 3200mah charge after running it until the LVC kicked in, so guessing it's just a junk lipo.
Then I read the manual more thoroughly about the speed control to make sure it was setup to have the LVC enabled and also noticed there were 3 profiles... sport, race, training. I turned on the LVC (it was already on, but was making sure), then set the profile to sport. Took it outside to find that the lipo it came with couldn't handle the amount of power it wanted... and it was fast. Like, seriously get into trouble fast. So, I aparrently had been driving it with the ESC in training mode. I put the 11T pinion back in and may take it out for a bit of a run after work. Then after I get all my parts this week, it should be good to go.
I have the following in the mail to me now:
2 x 7200mah 2S 90C SMC lipo's
RPM front carriers/c-hubs
RPM rear carriers
4 new stock slider axles
4 new chevron style tread stampede 3.8 4x4 (non-vxl) wheels/tires (I like the tread pattern on my other MT's)
14T pinion (probably unnecessary now)
4 12mm alloy wheel hex's
new fast eddy bearings for the diffs, all 4 hubs, steering and center shaft
From what I've read (and what I see on the truck), the stock sliders won't hold up very well. I'm hoping the new ones hold up a while.
Spent $300 shipped on the truck and $130 on parts. Buying new locally with tax would have been near $520, so I'm $90 short of that. I totally should have just bought new.
As it sits now.
Slayer tires rub here: