Savox 1230SG for Summit Steering Review

[Sactown_Summit]

Just wanted to give a quick review on the Savox 1230SG servo I used to replace my stock dual steering setup that burnt out on me.

The Savox 1230SG, 500 oz-in of torque at 6V, so far is performing AMAZINGLY!! Spent about 2.5 hours yesterday rock crawling and bashing on it for the first time and the difference between it and the stock Traxxas 2075 servos is VERY noticeable. Now I did also install a CC BEC at the same time because I wanted to make sure I got the 6V of power to the servo so I could take full advantage of the 500 oz-in of torque so the servo is definately not lacking for power.

PROS:

Turning on pavement is sharp and crisp. Turning radius has definitely decreased. Turning on dirt is just as good as I can really whip the rear end of the truck around now when doing a 180 degree turn. Reminds me a little now of my Slash 4x4...but not quite to that level of control of course. Rock crawling is where I really saw the difference as I was able to really crank the wheels over obstacles and angles I just wasn't able to before. Before I would have to reverse to get the 2075 servos a chance to release and reload to yank the wheels over. The Savox just doesn't have that issue. On tight angles where the wheels are pinned between rocks the wheels will start to trun the direction I want. Not fully as I still have all the stock steering linkage installed to the Savox and the stock linkage is a little soft (I haven't done the washer mod either yet), but I don't have to back up to get them to start to yank over and that is a really nice difference. Power is not lacking. Also the steel gears hopefully will hold up well, only time will tell.Servo stayed cool even with all the abuse it took yesterday, and that is even with a thick coat of Pastidip on it for waterproofing. Installation was also a breeze as its a 25 spline so it just drops in and mounts up to the stock Summit servo horn.

CONS:

There are a few cons that I have identified. Of course its not waterproof so I had to do that myself. Not a big deal if you don't mind doing that sort of thing. I just sprayed it with 3 coats of Plastidip and that should do the trick on keeping water out. I noticed the servo does also make a fair bit of noise. It is digital so it makes a fair bit of a "crackling" sound, which will change over to a hummm for a bit when it centers, then goes quiet for a while depending on pressure on the front wheels. Then will start over again. Occilates between cracking to silent to humming. Not a big deal to me as I am used to my other digital servos doing this from time to time, but if you are looking for a silent servo this is not it.

So over all I am VERY HAPPY with the purchase. I went to the hobby store to get a Hitec Titanium servo but just couldn't justify the Hitec price on my limited budget. The Savox was $74 at my LHS and the Hitec servos they had that were faily comprable on specs were $120 and $190 respectively. So I decided to give Savox a try and I have been very happy. Im not bashing on Hitec in anyway I have owned their servos before on other cars I have had and they have been perfect, but when on a budget and my stock steering went out on me, I am glad so far I gave Savox a try.

My next move will be to shop around for the best aluminum steering arms and or maybe just do the washer mod to the servo saver to tighten up the rest of the steering system. Other wise I am very happy with the Savox single servo steering setup on my Summit.

I will try and update my experiences with this servo as I go long term with it. Trust me with the amount of time I spend driving the Summit it will be tested over and over again.

[BlackSheep800]

Thanks for the update. I got all my stuff in the mail last week but have not had time to install it. I went ahead a bought a CC BEC too hsould be here later this week.

Do you mind explaining how you hooked it up to the stock system? And if it matters I'm running (2) SPC 2S 8200's.

[MITCH316]

I'm loving my Savox SA 1230-SG. My Hitec servo is just as noisy as my Savox at times...I'm running mine with out an external BEC...so far its performing well, I just leave my steering expo turned all the way down.

[Sactown_Summit]

Thanks for the update. I got all my stuff in the mail last week but have not had time to install it. I went ahead a bought a CC BEC too hsould be here later this week.

Do you mind explaining how you hooked it up to the stock system? And if it matters I'm running (2) SPC 2S 8200's.

Yeah no problem. I had a lot of help on my other thread that helped me hook everything up correctly. here is the link to that thread, should have all the answers your looking for:

http://traxxas.com/forums/showthread...C-install-Help

Was very easy once I got it straight in my head with the help of people here. What kind of batteries you have shouldn't make a difference to the install either way.

Good luck with the setup, once you get it all hooked up you will LOVE it!

[TraxxasSummitCrawler]

Should I upgrade it to this? I have one in my crawler and was thinking I could steal it off that and put the waterproof one one from the summit on the crawler. Thoughts?

[Sactown_Summit]

Should I upgrade it to this? I have one in my crawler and was thinking I could steal it off that and put the waterproof one one from the summit on the crawler. Thoughts?

First thing I would ask is what scale is your crawler? If you can get away with without having the monster torque of the 1230SG in your crawler, and the 125 oz-in of torque in the stock Traxxas 2075 servo will be adaquate for your crawler, I say do it. The Summit definitely needs more torque in the steerring department then what the stock servos provide.

Then again you can just do what I did and that is ride the stock servos till they gave out. For me that took about 16 sets of battery packs of hard running before they gave up the ghost.

All I know is you won't be sorry putting the 1230SG in your Summit. Good Luck

[kinger]

I fitted the savox 1256 to my summit today and it's spot on, a little bit noisy but I can live with it

[Sactown_Summit]

I fitted the savox 1256 to my summit today and it's spot on, a little bit noisy but I can live with it

Awesome. Glad to hear.

Yeah the install couldn't be easier. Literally just mounts up via existing holes, the traxxas stock servo horn slips right on no issues. I even reused the screw from the 2075 on the new Savox servo and all is good. Just put a little loctite in there to keep her snug and away you go.

[TraxxasSummitCrawler]

First thing I would ask is what scale is your crawler? If you can get away with without having the monster torque of the 1230SG in your crawler, and the 125 oz-in of torque in the stock Traxxas 2075 servo will be adaquate for your crawler, I say do it. The Summit definitely needs more torque in the steerring department then what the stock servos provide.

Then again you can just do what I did and that is ride the stock servos till they gave out. For me that took about 16 sets of battery packs of hard running before they gave up the ghost.

All I know is you won't be sorry putting the 1230SG in your Summit. Good Luck

Just the regular 1/10th scale crawler. I'll agree the stock servos are not very good. I'll try the swap this weekend and see what I think. I have a can of plastidip laying around as well, so I guess I'll dip it and put a bead of di-electric grease around the steering horn goes, but under the cover!

[bpayne13]

Awesome. Glad to hear.

Yeah the install couldn't be easier. Literally just mounts up via existing holes, the traxxas stock servo horn slips right on no issues. I even reused the screw from the 2075 on the new Savox servo and all is good. Just put a little loctite in there to keep her snug and away you go.

I just watched a video on installing a Savox to replace my 2 failed Traxxas 2075s and it showed having to purchase a new servo aem and modifying the Traxxas stock parts. Did you have to do this as well or did the new Savox servo just bolt on and work?

Thnaks

[Sactown_Summit]

I just watched a video on installing a Savox to replace my 2 failed Traxxas 2075s and it showed having to purchase a new servo aem and modifying the Traxxas stock parts. Did you have to do this as well or did the new Savox servo just bolt on and work?

Thnaks

Nope. Not sure why they upgraded all those other items. Maybe they just wanted to hop those up at the same time as doing the servo? All I know is that my Savox servo literally just dropped right in. No mods what so ever.

[DayWalker]

I know a few people who run savox's in different models and they all say they are noisy.

[MagicDragon]

Yes definitely noisy. I have dual SA-1230SG's in my Summit run off a Castle 10amp Ubec. I also have a hot racing aluminum steering servo-saver with stock horns (as a weak link) to strip if ever there is too much torque. Problem is I am running 12mm offset hubs with Axial 8 spoke 40 series beadlocks wrapped with RC4WD Mudslingers to get an almost perfect square foot print on the ground which puts more strain on steering especially when crawling. The servo saver spring is just too weak and collapses when it really counts. I can't turn because of this. Sooo, I bought a heavier duty spring. Still not enough. Now I have the heavy duty spring shimmed up 3/16" with 2 small lock washers. It still allows the servo saver to completely move without coilbind. I was happy for a month but it is getting weak again due to all the extra pressure wearing the edges of the servo-saver pivot points so that it is more easily moved from its home position. I only crawl with my Summit so I don't believe I really need it if I am careful with steering. I am wondering if I could weld the servo-saver solid.? I have a Tig and can weld it easy enough but I am hoping for some input before I weld this $40 piece solid. Are there other options? I have noticed that Axial rc's don't use a saver on steering. But I'm not sure if the design and geometry of the Summit steering is a good idea to run solid. I don't bash it at all, only crawl and adventure style trail rides. Any positive advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[BlackSheep800]

I just wish they made the wire (lead) a little longer. I really was hoping to have installed it on the passenger (left) side but with the short wire was barely able to get it on the driver side……at least the way I wanted to route it.

Anyone else experience this too?

[Sactown_Summit]

I just wish they made the wire (lead) a little longer. I really was hoping to have installed it on the passenger (left) side but with the short wire was barely able to get it on the driver side……at least the way I wanted to route it.

Anyone else experience this too?

Yeah the Savox servo wire is pretty short. I had to install it on the passenger side as well and even at that I had to stretch it pretty good over the top of the front battery vent just to be able to reach all the way and get inside the sealed received box. You could mount it on the drivers side if you bought a cheap servo wire extension?

[BlackSheep800]

I found one at my LHS......picking it up this afternoon.