In this Pit Pass article, we are going to look at the extreme side of cleaning your Traxxas R/C vehicle. This is a general overview of the cleaning process. You can be much more detailed if you choose.
Playing in the dirt and mud is part of off-road R/C fun. Roosting dirt and powering through mud is some serious grin-inducing excitement.
However, if you’re going to play dirty then you need to keep your R/C vehicle clean.
Cleaning your Traxxas R/C vehicle can also be pretty relaxing, and you can take some pride in your fresh, clean ride. Then your vehicle is ready for the next round of off-road antics.
Evidence of off-road fun.
Now it’s time to clean your machine so it’ll be ready for the next adventure.
First thing’s first, locate an area outside that is suitable for cleaning. (Trust us; the bathtub is not a good option. You can thank us later.)
Next up, we need some tools to help with the cleaning process. We recommend an assortment of old brushes and a hobby knife, if you want to get after some small details. Also, access to an air compressor can be helpful, or a couple cans of compressed air. We’ll get to that later.
Tip: Don’t throw away your old toothbrush. Just because it's done brushing teeth doesn't mean it's useless. It’s a really good all-purpose brush for cleaning R/C vehicles.
Be sure to remove the battery before starting the cleaning process.
Let’s start the cleaning process by knocking off any loose dirt using a wire brush. This works well if the mud has dried.
Use some all-purpose cleaning spray to soak the dried mud. This will help with removing the mud and dirt.
Use compressed air to blow off the debris that’s been loosened.
Note: Be sure to wear eye protection and make sure not to blow dirt into the bearings, diffs, or shocks.
Spray it again, and use the wire brush or toothbrush to knock off any dirt or mud that is left.
Now that we’ve demonstrated the process on the rear of the vehicle, let’s get the rest of it done.
Use the all-purpose spray to soak down the chassis. Be liberal with the cleaner and get everything soaking.
Note: When looking for a simple all-purpose cleaner, DO NOT use brake or carb cleaner as these can damage the body and plastic parts.
Now it’s time for the hose. Please, be sure to not crank the water to full-blast. We just need a small stream of water.
Now that most of the dirt and mud has been washed off, spray the chassis down again with the all-purpose cleaner, being sure to hit areas that may be a little more stubborn.
While we’re at it, let’s go ahead and scrub down those wheels and tires.
Rinse the chassis again, and use a cloth to wipe off excess water.
Spray down the chassis with compressed air. This also helps chase away water from areas where there are bearings.
Note: Use a little WD-40 on screw heads and bearings to help prevent rust.
The body gets the same cleaning treatment. Spray and soak using all-purpose cleaner; rinse and dry.
Now you can enjoy the satisfaction of a clean vehicle and a job well-done, and your vehicle is clean and ready to take on the next off-road adventure.
