upgrades??

[jmm7188]

I'm looking for suggestions for my e maxx. I enjoy it how it is but I was wondering if there was a way to make it faster without losing the waterproof benefit because I put it through everything. I'm hoping to make it more durable so I won't have to worry about it breaking on me when I have it out.

[M n M]

Gearing…

Playing around with spur and pinion gears will help. If I remember right, new out of the box E Maxx comes with an optional 62T spur gear. It's intended for flat smooth run I believe.

LiPo batteries will add some punch to it as well. I'm not sure how long the stock 550 Titans will last running at increased speed and power though.

[jmm7188]

ok yea the lipo did help but i heard it really wasnt recommended to use the extra gear that came with it and since I keep it offroad mainly it wouldn't work

[msquad]

I wanted to keep mine waterproof too and have power and speed, so I upgraded to brushless. Got the Tacon 2150Kv motor along with the hobbywing WP SC8 waterproof ESC. Running 24/62 I ran above 50 MPH. I'm running 24/68 right now and running about 45 MPH top speed. I'm going to try a 65 tooth spur with either my 24 tooth spur but am going to try a 28 tooth spur too. I have a nice heatsink/fan on my motor and after running through grass or whatever, the motor is basically cool to the touch - not hot at all. Running 2 4s Lipos, 5000 mAh, 25C.

Oh, here's a vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yutIXnpqBSM&feature=plcp
I've been too lazy to take a better one, sorry .

[jmm7188]

How can it still be completely waterproof if its brushless? That's why i haven't put a mamba monster on it yet

[upbasher]

How can it still be completely waterproof if its brushless? That's why i haven't put a mamba monster on it yet

You can waterproof a mamba monster speed control (the motor doesn't need to be waterproofed) by using plastidip or liquid tape.

[jmm7188]

ok and no matter how much water it went in it wouldnt mess up?

[M n M]

ok and no matter how much water it went in it wouldnt mess up?

With a brushless system, it's the ESC that you have to worry about getting wet. Most manufactures don't make them WP.

Hobbywing has a WP brushless ESC. I know nothing about it and would consider it water resistant.
http://www.hobbywing.com/product_show.asp?id=278

I've read that the LiPo batteries don't like getting wet. So in that case, there are several tricks that can be done. I believe that hard case LiPo's would fair better getting wet than soft packs. I have soft packs and I've used medium sized balloons to WP them. Stretch them over the battery and then use rubber bands to wrap the end tight around the wires.

I've also read where folks have used a good silicone adhesive and packed it in around where the wires come out of the pack.

[msquad]

How can it still be completely waterproof if its brushless? That's why i haven't put a mamba monster on it yet

I don't have nor do I care for the mamba monster. As linked above, I have the hobbywing WP SC8, says it is waterproof. I do have hard case lipos and have used hot glue on the openings to keep water out, BUT I don't run in water really, I wanted the waterproof for winter/snow use. My real goal was to be able to use my emaxx all year around whether it is summer or winter. I don't do the mud/puddle bashing - if I were going to do that I'd get a slash 4x4.

There are videos of the WP SC8 being tested on youtube such as this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAm5C8ePig4

[jmm7188]

msquad,
i looked up your setup last night and watched your video and it looks pretty sick. I'm new to rc so I really dont know much thats why I wasnt sure if the motor getting wet would hurt anything and the good thing about your setup is from what I've seen is less expensive than the mamba monster. I don't plan on trying to submerge it in water but if I need to go through it I don't want it to mess up

[PowerToTheMaxx]

By the way, for those who are adventuares, the Twin-VXL setup gives exelent brushless performance and complete waterproof.

And really? shouldnt you use your slash 4x4 as your high speed vehicle and save the MAXX for the mud and water, cause it will haul any slash in of road.

[msquad]

I have done all the research. I'm obsessive like that.

So the dual twin VXL seemed nice, but would have costs me almost 2 times as much buying the parts off ebay.

After selling my brushed system and buying my ESC, motor and ESC program card, I spent about $100.
Mamba monster with program card would have been about $300, but not waterproof.

Also, yes, I can only run 4s vs. 6s, BUT I have to say, I have not broken 1 think yet. I have ran into trees, into big rocks, my wife's leg 2 times (boy was she not happy). The only think I have done is strip out the inside of the wheel (the 14mm hex) but I happen to have 4 more tires/wheels on standby (got cheap off ebay actually bidding on accident so I'm glad I had them).

I'm very satisfied with 4s. I get great run times, usually the 5000 mAh batteries can outlast me and I hit over 50 MPH. I know I could go to a higher MPH if wanted with a bigger pinion, I may just try it for fun to say I broke 60 MPH, but to me, that is impressive already running 4s.

The ESC and batteries are not hot at all. Now with my new heat sink and fan on the motor, you can't even tell if the motor had been running it is so cool. Check out item: 120845422648 on ebay for the heat sink I'm using, I had to use my vice to make it a bit less diameter, but now it really fits and really does a great job.

I may order a 28T pinion to run with my 62T or 65T spur to see what top speed I can get but would only do that for fun. I wouldn't leave it like that. With my current 24/68 it runs very well and with punch level on 3 I can do wheelies all the way down the block. Maybe today I'll be less lazy and make a daytime vid.

[PowerToTheMaxx]

Nice. Ya, twin VXL is expensive, but Ilove how the truck looks with the dual blue motors and dual speed controls.

Id like to know how waterproof that Hobbywing really is. I run up the battery trays or higher in water sometimes, so even with splash guards it can get really wet.

[jmm7188]

ok I know this sounds kinda stupid but I dont know much since I just started in rc...what is the program card and where is it at and where can I get the one you have from? Would it be possible for you to post some pics?

[msquad]

ok I know this sounds kinda stupid but I dont know much since I just started in rc...what is the program card and where is it at and where can I get the one you have from? Would it be possible for you to post some pics?

Check this out.
http://www.hobbyhot.com/HOBBYWING-EZ...ard-CB071.html

That heat sink I bought on ebay (I mention item number up there) for $22 can be had for half the price if you can wait for delivery. I knew there was something odd about the item I bought since it had a sticker on it and under the sticker it seemed to be scraped.

http://www.hobbyhot.com/HOBBYWING-EZ...Heat-Sink.html

[jmm7188]

ok thanks alot. is that all I need to set it up or do i need different brackets or anything?

[msquad]

No brackets or anything else need for that if doing a conversion from brushed to brushless using the 3903/3905 emaxx chassis. You will need to do some soldering and have a BL motor also.

[jmm7188]

ok was planning on using the tacon 2150kv. hopefully I won't mess anything up soldering because I have never soldered anything

[Emaxx1991]

It's really simple

Here is a video for ya
here is a video

[jmm7188]

thanks alot. thats really gonna help when I get ready to change it

I noticed in the video after he connected the ends that you could still see some copper that wasnt covered up, should i get something that will completely cover it better?

[Emaxx1991]

Just leave ur shrink tube a little long

[jmm7188]

Would it hurt if i used the clear ones like what comes on the waterproof models

[Emaxx1991]

If ur talking about shrink tube then no it does not matter what color it is as long as there is no contact between the connectors

[jmm7188]

Ok so water won't affect it?

[msquad]

I used the shrink tubing and made sure it overlapped the connector end so no metal was showing. Turned out nice. I have not soldered in years and it didn't turn out too bad.

One think I learned since this was the 1st time I did this - I will know better next time - just don't solder all the wires together at the stock length. Put the stuff in the vehicle and see how long you would prefer to have the wires. After I finished I thought - gee, these wires are all way too long, this looks stupid. So instead of redoing the ends, I cut the wires in the middle and re-soldered them and put some electrical tape over to make the wires shorter and make it look neater. I did use the traxxas ends and I only had a couple of them so didn't want to ruin them.

Actually, I did redo the ESC ends since I had extra of those connectors. I took a pic.



..........

[PowerToTheMaxx]

That looks pretty neat.

I try to use shirnk wrap insted of electrical tape for long runs cause after a while the electrical tape wears out, and starts to slide and goo up, and loose its insulating ability

Just a point. Cant wait to see it run. I might go brushless soon with this combo, but I have a ton of structual parts that keep wearing out and breaking

[jmm7188]

pretty slick setup up. definitely can't wait till I do mine. Interested to see how good yours is gonna do

[LD]

Ok so water won't affect it?

It's waterproof and the video showed it is. Excellent quality ESC .

Here's a heads up on the 4mm connector that EMaxx1991 (post#19) is showing in the pic. I've already had problems with that spring type connector. I've even had problems with Castles 4mm connector. GensAce has changed their 4mm connector on their lipos because they also had problems with the spring type and I must say the new one is the best 4mm connector I've seen or used. It has a half taper to it that has more contact area than Castles or any other split type 4mm connector.
Check out the pic and you should be able to see the taper http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-6219634..._2219_78796330
I'm using the spring type to charge and the GensAce type for a power plug and it's worked great.

Also short wires not only look better but run more efficient .

[jmm7188]

Thanks for the heads up. The less hassell the better

[msquad]

I made vid yesterday evening. I was doing it by myself so could only set the camera down to film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=FL...yer_detailpage

[PowerToTheMaxx]

Just me or your tires balooning like heck?

[jmm7188]

pretty wicked no doubt what name brand lipo's did you go with?

[msquad]

Yes they are ballooning. I got some Duratrax Onxy 25C 5000 mAh 2s. They last pretty long.

[jmm7188]

ok I tried finding the 4s and no luck yet. I checked with tower hobbies and all they had were the 2s and 3s

[Emaxx1991]

ok I tried finding the 4s and no luck yet. I checked with tower hobbies and all they had were the 2s and 3s

Look here

[PowerToTheMaxx]

Sorry, Traxxas dosnt like HK links. You need to be more sneaky. they sell 4s, Thunder Power sells 4s. If you can, go with 2x 2s cause that helps balance the chassis

[jmm7188]

emaxx1991 whatever that link is isn't working.
so traxxas sells 4s?

[jmm7188]

thunder power's lipo 25c 5000mah 4s is 135.00 ea. there any cheaper?

[msquad]

You can get a couple nice 2s 5000 mAh lipos for under $100 from towerhobbies or spcracing.

[jmm7188]

just curious does anybody know if the summit bumpers will fit the e maxx