Mini-Z, Kyosho Mini-Z Racer, MR-03, MR-02, MA-010, Forums, News, Pictures, Parts, and Shop - Mini-ZRacer.com
Forums, Mini-Z, MiniZ, Kyosho Mini-Z, Kyosho MiniZ, Kyosho Mini-Z Racer
Mini-Z Hop-Ups, Mini-Z Parts, MiniZ Hop-Ups, MiniZ Parts, Kyosho Mini-Z Hop-Ups, Kyosho Mini-Z Parts, Kyosho MiniZ Hop-Ups, Kyosho MiniZ Parts, Kyosho Mini-Z Racer Hop-Ups, Racer Kyosho Mini-Z Parts
Old 2010.06.15, 10:02 PM   #1
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
bump wall, servo lock

I just bought a new readyset MR015 and have an annoying problem

If I bump a wall with the wheels turned, I get servo lock. The wheels will be stuck, either direction, full turn. I have to manually turn the wheels, 'click', and back to normal.

I race RCP and hitting wall is unavoidable, I searched the threads and is it possible this problem will work itself out? is this true?

Car is new, ran less than 20 minutes, RCP track, the servos are quiet and work good, no centering issues, motor seems strong, stock am radio. BUT I can't make two laps without having to retrive my car and reset the steering!!!

Can anyone help? thank you.
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.15, 10:19 PM   #2
EMU
EMUracing
 
EMU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 7,417
Send a message via AIM to EMU
If you feel comfortable, open it up and make sure that there is nothing in the gears, and everything is in the proper place. You can remove and reseat the servo assembly and see if that helps.
__________________
EMUracing
Micro RC Syndicate /DG Designs /GSR /Reflex Racing /Fast By Faqish /MurderTown Racing
EMU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 12:06 AM   #3
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
EMU, thanks for the reply and advice...

OK, I peeked inside the servo case and saw nothing strange, no dirt, all gears are good, I work the servo and watch the saver move left to right, everything seems smooth.

However one thing does come to mind...

The servo has been noisy since the first time I turned on the car out of the box... almost exactly like an 03 digital steering. Is this normal?

My MR-02 ASF is quiet when I turned the car on, the steering doesn't 'hunt' like an 03. However this 015 is hunting. I could see the gears twitching. Radio batteries are new and car drive ok on the track, no glitch. So I can rule out the radio batteries.

Is this normal or could this be the problem. I thought it was interference from the track but now I'm at home and servo still noisy.

Of course once I turn the steering wheel everything is fine, until I bump the wall while turning, then I get servo lock. FWIW the throttle and motor work fine, forward, reverse no problem.
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 01:10 AM   #4
byebye
Moderator
 
byebye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Stafford, Va
Posts: 6,064
Are you runnin the stock steering rod? I've had this happen but only after a hard impact. Is thus a box stock rtr?

Kris
byebye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 01:52 AM   #5
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
Kris / byebye,

Yep stock everything, it's straight out the box ready set, even the radio and crystal. Only thing I'm playing with are tires as I dial in the right mix of understeer so I don't flip (90mm HM).

Like you, first time I hit the wall semi hard, the wheels locked. I thought it was a fluke but now any hit at an angle the wheels will full lock.

I don't get it... and the noisy servo while standing still, does yous do it too? (not sure if u have an 015, sorry) Thanks.
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 02:22 AM   #6
Eman
Registered User
 
Eman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Near Wichita, KS
Posts: 275
The noisy servo usually means the VR pot needs cleaned or replaced. Sometimes even after cleaning or replacing it will still be noisy. I don't know what causes this. Maybe too much play in the gears? As long as the steering doesn't twitch while your turning and accelerating I wouldn't worry. Still a bummer seeing how its new. As for the other problem maybe the servo saver is sticking or it could be the stock tie rod.
__________________
Photos
"Necessity is the mother of all invention"
Eman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 08:05 AM   #7
byebye
Moderator
 
byebye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Stafford, Va
Posts: 6,064
I Think you may have too much slop in your servo saver. You should consider an alloy servo saver and tie rod. Is this mr-015 an I-series? I never had much luck with those. The quality in my opnion is not as good as thier predecessor.

Kris

Last edited by byebye; 2010.06.16 at 08:08 AM.
byebye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 10:43 AM   #8
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
Hey Eman, Thanks for the input, yes, it's driveable and handling better everyday as I keep dialing it in. However the servo lock is quite annoying, visually there's nothing wrong, no hang ups, no binding anywhere.

Kris, thanks, it's not an i-series, I'll look into your advice. I was planning on buying tires and an oil shock with my miniz budget, but now I may investigate the servo issue. IMO I don't think it's gears cuz the steering works great, smooth and quiet. it's just noisy standing still and that servo lock grrrrr.
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 01:15 PM   #9
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
Drivers, thx again for all the great input. Mmmky, I have a theory

The kidney shaped hole on my 015 tie rod ends have a kink on the inner shape. Compared to my 02, that inner shape is more rounded, and my PN alloy tie rod, it's a smooth curve!!!

That explains the 'click' I get when I reset the wheels by hand. The kink is catching the knuckle 'arm' at full lock and won't let go...

As a bonus, right hole is kinkier , so more chance of lock turning right? I'll test that out... Meanwhile if anyone has experienced this, check tie rod ends, how's it look? It doens't have to be a sharp corner, my kink is subtle enougt to catch the knuckle arm with a 'click', enough to servo lock... i think.
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 01:45 PM   #10
arch2b
Moderator
 
arch2b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 35,480
Send a message via AIM to arch2b
make sure nothing is catching on the tie rod cover at full lock. i've had that happen in the past.
arch2b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 03:46 PM   #11
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by arch2b View Post
make sure nothing is catching on the tie rod cover at full lock. i've had that happen in the past.
arch2b, you are absolutely correct the knuckles have 'bump stops' and they caught the tie rod cover at full lock, just as u describe!

My 'kidney hole' diagnosis was wrong dang I was so excited too.

I switch to PN alloy knuckles (no bumpstops) and... PROBLEM SOLVED!!!
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 08:07 PM   #12
arch2b
Moderator
 
arch2b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 35,480
Send a message via AIM to arch2b
cool, thought i was the only one with that problem
arch2b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2010.06.16, 08:57 PM   #13
Mead
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 38
thx again, I'm happy now

IMO the knuckle 'bump stops' kinda unnecessary, the way they catched the cover, bad design...

FWIW, my friend's MR-02 AM car, servo is also noisy... hmmmm. Oh well, my car drives pretty good, can't complain
Mead is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
MR-03 Servo Gears kwsmith29 Mini-Z Racer MR-03, MR-03 VE, Sports Series, EVO 62 2010.08.07 09:01 PM
Servo Conversion Tutorial for MRCG's color01 GSR 5 2010.03.29 11:31 PM
ASF servo lock blt456 Mini-Z Racer MR-02 2 2009.05.23 10:13 PM
InZane P28 1/28 racing chassis from Reflex Racing! ruf Mini-Z Racer MR-02 56 2009.04.10 01:25 AM
¤ servo convertion ¤ killer Mini-Z Science 21 2003.01.03 07:30 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2011 Mini-ZRacer.com
Mini Inferno Sale - Up to $85 Instant Savings!
Micro-T Hop-Ups
RC18R, M18, Micro RS4, Mini-LST, TamTech-Gear, Minizilla, RC18T, RC18B, RC18MT
shop.tinyrc.com Products

more»
Tiny RC Community News
[03/22/17] MZR was on vacation, didn't... : All kidding aside, the host experienced a bit of a server meltdown last week and efforts to restore the site to a new server took longer than anticipated. The current server is temporary until - more»
[11/25/15] Did You Hear? Our Black... : Hey Racers,
We're getting started a bit early with our Black Friday sale this year.  Generally we're not supporters of retailers opening early on Thanksgiving, but in our case, we're - more»
[06/30/15] shop.tinyrc.com: Have You... : Hey All! Just a quick reminder to everyone that we post all of our shop.tinyrc.com Newletters here on the MZR Forum. If for some reason you miss them in your email inbox, you can always see the - more»
Mini-Z, Mini-Z Racer, MR-02, MA-010
M18, M18T, RC18T, Mini-LST, Mini-T, Micro RS4, XRay, 1/18, 18th scale
XMODS, XMOD, Micro Flight, ZipZaps, ZipZaps SE, Bit Char-G, MicroSizers, TTTT, Plantraco Desktop Rover, SuperSlicks, Digi Q
Mini Inferno, Mini Inferno ST, half EIGHT, 1/16, 16th scale
Epoch, Indoor Racer, 1/43, 43rd scale
E-Savage, eSavage, eZilla, e-Zilla, HPI
Robots, Bots, Bipeds, Wheeled, Manoi, Roomba, NXT, Lego, Hacking
Crawling, Crawlers, Micro, RC, Losi Mini-Rock Crawler, Duratrax Cliff Climber
Kyosho Minium, Caliber 120, Minium Forums
Mini-Z Hop-Ups, Mini-Z Parts, Mini Inferno Hop-Ups, Mini Inferno Parts, M18 Hop-Ups, M18 Parts