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Radio/Electronic
What's the difference between AM/AD band/2.4G board?
As time advances, so does the RC technology. These boards mentioned are different use different frequency to control the car. Some of the difference are listed as below:
AM board
Pros
-Fully proportional steering and throttle
-User can change crystal on board/controller to avoid interference
-User can change FETs on board for installing faster motors
Cons
-the control is not as finite as Ad band board
-No ICS linkup for adjusting/fine-tuning the ESC settings
AD band
Pros
-2x2 FETs installed for installing faster motor
-Finer control/feel than AM board
-ICS linkup capable
-Everything that AM board offers
Cons
-still prone to interference
2.4G
Pros
-2.4G has way less interference
-New ICS linkup to fine tune ESC settings
-Everything AD band offers
Cons
-delay for going reverse
-some complains the throttle control becomes more punchy
Should I buy 2.4G car or AD band or AM car?
That will greatly depends on your budget and how much you will like to invest on this hobby. Generally speaking, a stock AM car with a stock remote is the least expensive way to get into this hobby. Another good startup point is to buy the 2.4G stock car with stock remote.
Any recommendation for less expensive remote, but more feature than the stock AM radio?
If you are planning to continue to use AM board/car, then a Futaba 2PL is a pretty decent upgraded remote I do recommend
Why does my car keep on losing control?
Many possible reasons, and I will divide them into two area:
1) On car
-Receiver wire is too close to the crystal
-Receiver wire is too close to the motor wires
-Loosen receiver wire
-Car battery is low and/or remote controller is low on battery
-Crystal on car does not match the remote crystal
-Damaged crystal
-Burnt Fets
2) Surrounding
-Room is too small
-track is close to wall and power outlets/electric appliances
-Exposed pipes/metal surface close to track
-Interference with other radio
What radio should I get? EX1UR or EX10?
The EX1UR is the latest KO radio(as of 2008), and it will take the full advantage of the new 2.4G module/board. I do recommend this if you are getting a new remote. For those who has already owed an EX10 and been using the AD band boards/module, unless you plan to change all the boards/module to 2.4G, otherwise, the benefit of switching to EX1UR is marginal.
Can I use my non-KO radio?
Sure, but you will need appropriate module to go with that, and for some module(such as AD band or 2.4G KO module), you may even need to mod it yourself to make it work with the non-KO Tx.
Is the Miniz 2.4G module compatible with my other 2.4G system?
No, exclusively miniz.
What rechargeable radio battery do you recommend?
I'd recommend to use reputable Li-poly battery, for its weight and long lasting property. If it can be balanced charge, all the better.
My on car antenna broke, what should I do?
You could use piano wire to replace that, or buy a new one, or solder a new wire from the board directly.
I just install the AD band on my awd, but the steering will turn either full right or full left once the car is powered on? Why's that?
Try solder the steering motor wires backwards, it should help solve this.
Motor and drivetrain
What is the most powerful motor to run without fet upgrades?
There are a few. But all depending whether you are using (stock) AM board or AD band/2.4G board.
For stock AM board, I recommend Kyosho X-speed, PN speedy05, speedy07,
For stock AD band/2.4G board, I recommend all the above and PN AWD, AWD II, Speedy AD; Atomic Standard, Stock, AD stock
What are the basic maintenances for motor?
Change of brushes, depending how often you run your motor. And clean the motor with specialized motor cleaner after a day or two on track.
How often and when do I need to replace my brushes?
That solely depends on wear. Usually, after 20-30 packs, you should start considering it, if you are using strong motor with hard spring.
Why does my car make a lot of noise?
Many reasons cause this, some may include meshing of the gears might be wrong, broken bearing in motor(yes, that does happen), gear/differential scraping parts of the car.
Why does my car make this weird noise only when accelerating or braking fast?
If the differential is way too loose, you will experience a delay when accelerating and may even hear whining of the differential(s). Otherwise, it could also be slack at the differential/gear meshing.
My motor is really hot after run, is that normal?
If it is not caused by drag in drive train or wrong gear mesh(say you put in the wrong motor spacers for your AWD), yes, it probably is normal. But not so hot that you cannot even place a thumb on it for 1-2 seconds right after run.
Tires
What tires should I use for my local track?
For best result, you should ask your friends at local track
How do I tell whether the tires is hard or soft?
Besides using tools to do that, usually you could feel it by hand by compressing the tire.
How do I choose my tires?
Usually by performance of car. Depending on track and how you like the car to perform on track(oversteer/understeer).
Do I need to glue my tires?
Yes, if you are competing, and maybe if you are using really good double sided tapes and just practicing.
What tires are good for drifting?
There are few makers for AWD drifting, usually Atomic/Kyosho/Tagu all makes decent drift tires.
Setup/On car problem
What is the 'best' setup for my racing AWD or drifting AWD?
Err...there is no 'best' setup for any particular car, since it always depend on how you drive and the track. But for obtaining a better setup, I'd recommend to 1) Try changing one variable at a time and learn how each setup change will affect your car before making that change.
2) Always remember if you change one aspect by one change, you may trigger other side effect. Record your change on a setup sheet is a great practice.
My car keep on rolling/tipping over when I make a turn, what should I do?
That is call the traction rolling, couple of things to do to combat that--
-lower your car to the ground
-use car shell that has lower center-of-gravity, some example such as any Ferrari, NSX, 350Z, Mclaren, Lamborghini
-Avoid using high COG shell, such as Mini cooper, Beetle, Odessey, Subaru, etc
-Use appropriate tires, if too much grip--it will slow your car down and may even cause traction rolling
-Dial down your turning radius on your radio
-Change your driving habbit, you can't expect a car running in 300km/h and suddenly making a 180 deg turn without any handling problem.
My car is not turning enough in a corner?
It is generally refer to as 'understeer', a few things one could try to combat that, depending on whether it is corner entry/mid/exit:
-Check your front tire wear, if threads are worn out, it might cause understeer
-softer front spring
-harder rear spring
-more front toe-out
-softer front tire
-harder rear tire
My AWD/miniz cannot go straight?
-Try trimming on your remote(on board, if AM board)
-Check whether you have overtighten the wheel nuts
-Check tire wears
-If the problem is not 'consistent', then it might be a radio problem.
The turning radius of my AWD is not equal on both side?
-Check your L/R turning balance on your remote
-Overtighten wheel nuts(also the car might not go straight)
-Ride height(with battery/shell installed), if too low, it will scrap the track
-Debris or binding on the servo motor/gears
-Tire wears
-CVD shaft condition
-Slack on wheels
My car spin out in a tight circle immediately after accleration?
-Try loosen the rear differential a bit to see whether it will improve
-Use harder tires at front
-Use softer tires at rear
AWD Drifting
If I want to drift my AWD, what are the essential parts I need?
A set of drift tires, full set of bearing and possibly a set of kyosho spring.
What motor should I use for drifting?
Stock motor is decent, and if I want more speed, go for a xspeed; but anything more probably is not all necessary
What body is best for drifting?
There are couple of choices, and usually the 90mm is a common length/body for drifting chassis. My personal favorites are the Subaru/Evo shell.
What setup is good for drifting?
As answered in later section, there is no one universal setup that is great for everyone. But for drifting on RCP/carpet, as a starter, I'd recommend not to make sustainial changes to chassis. Stock car with drift tires and stock(or x-speed) motor is a good starting point to work from.