CJSRCLIFE September Updates

[CJSRCLIFE]

How's it going everyone? It's a decent Tuesday evening in September 2024 and there's been quite a bit going on in RC life yesterday i kinda screwed up the Driveshafts on my XO-1 and found out the front diff was grinding and felt crunchy. I also broke my 1.5mm power tool tip inside the screw pin of one of the driveshafts and stripped the other front one.

Here's some pics of the carnage of yesterdays wrenching session.

This is what i was talking about stripped one pin on one side and broke a driver tip in the other.

After this i'm not sure what i plan to do next for this poor old XO-1, The obvious choice would be to get this car fixed which i might still do but i was always wanted to go big with this car and put another MMX8s combo back into it like i had it last spring. But i also always wanted the new version XO-1 that came out back in summer 2022 and wasn't able to since i bought the older one without knowing Traxxas was coming out with a new one and spent all my money either on this old car or other projects as well as relieving the Castle combo i had in this car for my Crusher Serena Felony project. And i always thought that both the MMX8s or Max 6 combos i had weren't necessary for this car but i wanted something similar to stock and in my opinion these cars minus the radio system and servo are perfectly fine for bashing out of the box as well as going 100mph once the car is tuned and setup properly. So this kinda leaves me at a cross roads with my old\current XO-1 versus buying the new RTR and possibly fixing then selling my old current one. The new car won't happen right away i have to save up for it might be able to buy it by my birthday which is in January on the 16th at the earliest but i have other plans and things i want to buy by then so i may have to put off buying the new XO-1 until next summer.

 

[luke66]

I may want a XO-1 roller someday. But I can't really put much $$ into one.

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

I may want a XO-1 roller someday. But I can't really put much $$ into one.

That's understandable i put way too much into mine but i wanted to make mine feel like a better XO-1. But now i'm considering just getting the new V2 RTR if i go that route then maybe selling my old one maybe after i fix it good enough to sell or if someone just wants it as it is and they can fix it themselves. I might sell my old one with or without electronics but it will definitely have the wheels, tires and body with most of the original extras. As much as i hate to give up on my old favorite i just feel like getting a new one that just works and performs without so much trouble as well as being a never ending money pit.

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

How's it going everyone on this fine Wednesday morning? Here's some breaking news after i had some time to think and seeing where my XO-1 currently is at i might just repair, rebuild and keep the car i have versus buying a new RTR. All that i need to do is rebuild all 4 driveshafts or at least the 2 fronts and get the parts i need to build a new front diff as well as rebuild the rear diff.

 

[luke66]

That's a better idea. The "V2" Isn't realllly new at all. Just build a Limitless instead.

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

That's a better idea. The "V2" Isn't realllly new at all. Just build a Limitless instead.

The only reason i wanted V2 XO-1 is that it handled better although digging through the online owners manual i found out that the new V2 Cars have 500k front and 100k rear diff fluids vs the 100k front and 10k rear that the original\V1 XO-1's had. And you can buy those fluids either straight from Traxxas or from other diff fluid manufacturers i also already did the V2 Body as well as the new front splitter and rear diffuser. The only things i don't have are the HD arms and the receiver box which i might get later on for my new future Spektrum radio and receiver i might be getting this December or by my birthday in January next year.

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

The only reason i wanted V2 XO-1 is that it handled better although digging through the online owners manual i found out that the new V2 Cars have 500k front and 100k rear diff fluids vs the 100k front and 10k rear that the original\V1 XO-1's had. And you can buy those fluids either straight from Traxxas or from other diff fluid manufacturers i also already did the V2 Body as well as the new front splitter and rear diffuser. The only things i don't have are the HD arms and the receiver box which i might get later on for my new future Spektrum radio and receiver i might be getting this December or by my birthday in January next year.

How's it going everyone? Here's whats been going on you may all know i've been in the debate on whether i should give up on my current XO-1 and get a new RTR one sometime next year or should i keep my current XO-1 and rebuild it again and not bother getting a new one. Here's mine currently,

As for rebuilding mine with high performance upgrades like a ceramic bearing kit, better electronics, new body, rebuilding both diffs and finally rebuilding the driveshafts since i screwed up the front ones with the screw pins and all of them need new boots.

Here's my plans for mine if i choose to rebuild mine next year.

Clean stock plastic and aluminum parts

Replace any damaged chassis parts if needed

Rebuild diffs with either the stock style gears or go with the machined spiral cut gears Traxxas makes and go with 500k front and 100k rear diff fluids

Salvage and rebuild the stock driveshafts

Rebuild stock shocks with new softer springs for bashing

Buy and install new electronics like a Castle MMX8s\1717 1,650kv sensored brushless combo, Perfect Pass monster 1\10 - 1\8 servo, Spektrum SR6200A RX,
Spektrum iXSR TX.

Buy and install a new pinion gear of my choice

Keep my current stock wheels and tires or buy new wheels and tires like Powerhobby grippers or new Arrma Hoons

Buy and paint a new V2 stock body full clear or Prographix

Buy and install a new chassis and top brace like the Xtreme Racing carbon chassis and top chassis brace (Optional)

Buy and install a Speedtek orange sealed ceramic bearing kit (Optional)

So that's my full plan sheet for my rebuild i choose to go this route it will be an expensive rebuild but will hopefully be worth it in the long run vs buying a new V2 RTR.

Let me know in the comments below what do you all think i should do, Should keep mine and restore\rebuild my current XO-1 or Should i just give up on my old one and get the new V2 RTR?

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

Here's some breaking news following my decision to either get a new XO-1 or rebuild my current one. I think i'm going to rebuild my current one starting next month to February or March my old XO-1 will get rebuilt, re-serviced and refurbished Rhouse21 style with a few upgrades and she'll be getting a new name since i took her original Serena nameplate for my Felony awhile back. I might also make a new build thread and build showcase with my fully rebuilt XO-1 once she's done with her new name and full specs.

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

Another update for my XO-1, Last night i decided to take apart my old front diff and i found this.

The fluid inside this diff was turned into black goop and the internal gears were destroyed so i definitely need a new front diff this happened after almost 1 1\2 years of street bashing and 1 diff refresh earlier this year. For my long running debate of should i get a brand new V2 XO-1 or should i rebuild my old with new parts, fluids and electronics i chose to rebuild my current one with new parts and stuff. I found a pair of new spiral\helicut diffs for the Traxxas 1\10 4x4 cars and trucks on eBay from a company called Cobra Racing for $100 with bearings and hardware. There's all the other chassis parts i'm going to need like the driveshaft parts, a new front bulkhead
and a new rear foam bumper i was also going to change the shocks over to blue GTR shocks from Traxxas with new springs and fluid. I'm still deciding what new electronics i'm going to use for this car this is going to be the biggest, most expensive and most intensive refresh i've ever done to one of my cars but it's either that or go buy a new XO-1.

 

[CertifiedMike]

It looks like I'm late to comment here but here's what I think...
If there is no other reason to buy the new version other than for the upgrades you mentioned, stay with what you have.
You can build yours how you like and upgrade it as you wish AND take your time doing it.
This seems like a good option where it looks like you already know what you want and its not going to all come included with the V2 version right?

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

It looks like I'm late to comment here but here's what I think...
If there is no other reason to buy the new version other than for the upgrades you mentioned, stay with what you have.
You can build yours how you like and upgrade it as you wish AND take your time doing it.
This seems like a good option where it looks like you already know what you want and its not going to all come included with the V2 version right?

It's okay it might help me decided, The only reasons i want the new one is mainly for the stock esc and motor also since the new one from what i saw in videos it seems to handle better than the older XO-1 my current used to be and there's also the feeling of getting a brand new car. I also had some big upgrades planned like the new upgraded diffs i mentioned and all new electronics like the stock radio(Until i unlock the stock esc and get a new aftermarket radio), esc and motor which is an MM2\big block 1717 sensorless but with a better servo or a MMX8s\1717 1,650kv combo with my choice of a new radio i have a few candidates for and a better servo. Maybe also a new body for my car and maybe a few other upgrades.

 

[CertifiedMike]

There is absolutely something cool about unboxing a new R/C! That's TRUTH!
The upgrades that you mention, planned for the new car, would they fit your current car? (I don't know a lot about either version)

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

There is absolutely something cool about unboxing a new R/C! That's TRUTH!
The upgrades that you mention, planned for the new car, would they fit your current car? (I don't know a lot about either version)

Those Cobra racing spiral\helical cut diffs i'm planning to get should fit either XO-1 since that car uses the same diffs as the all the other Traxxas 1\10 4x4 trucks i would have to open them out of the box to change the fluids. Also the MMX8s combo and the other electronics i had planned for my current car would fit as well but if i bought a new car i would probably run it stock for awhile. My car also needs all 4 driveshafts to be rebuilt since the boots are falling apart i also have 1 bent halfshaft and a replacement bulkhead. Either way would be expensive but if i rebuilt my current car it would probably outperform a new RTR although i sometimes fell like i would be perfectly fine with a stock new XO-1 with maybe a new servo.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Those Cobra racing spiral\helical cut diffs i'm planning to get should fit either XO-1 since that car uses the same diffs as the all the other Traxxas 1\10 4x4 trucks i would have to open them out of the box to change the fluids. Also the MMX8s combo and the other electronics i had planned for my current car would fit as well but if i bought a new car i would probably run it stock for awhile. My car also needs all 4 driveshafts to be rebuilt since the boots are falling apart i also have 1 bent halfshaft and a replacement bulkhead. Either way would be expensive but if i rebuilt my current car it would probably outperform a new RTR although i sometimes fell like i would be perfectly fine with a stock new XO-1 with maybe a new servo.

Yes, that was my thought. Yo can freshen up your car and install the go-fast stuff, bypass handing over $ to Traxxas. Either way, having a nice clean FAST XO-1 is going to be nice!

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

Yes, that was my thought. Yo can freshen up your car and install the go-fast stuff, bypass handing over $ to Traxxas. Either way, having a nice clean FAST XO-1 is going to be nice!

I'll still have to give Traxxas some $ to repair my current one but at least i can build mine one step at a time like a kit since mine all apart right now. And since i'll be doing those beefed up diffs she can take more power if i want to give her the MMX8s combo or just go back to the stock combo or something similar. Last night i had a thought of buying a standard Mamba Monster 2 not the stock Traxxas one with firmware that only works with their radios unless you hack it and a stock big block motor and maybe adding my own cap pack to the esc. If i did that i could use whatever TX\RX combo i want and still have something similar to stock without having to deal with Traxxas' radios.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Yeah, I don't like that 'locked system' stuff Traxxas uses.
If I paid for it, I feel like I should be able to use ALL its features. When the features are avail to us but the manufacturer licks us out, that's petty. Its one of the reasons I drifted from Traxxas many years ago.

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

Yeah, I don't like that 'locked system' stuff Traxxas uses.
If I paid for it, I feel like I should be able to use ALL its features. When the features are avail to us but the manufacturer licks us out, that's petty. Its one of the reasons I drifted from Traxxas many years ago.

It is kind of a pain and annoying but i think they do it at least on the XO-1 to show new users how to do speedruns and make them aware of the safety precautions for running a car like the XO-1. because remember the car with batteries weighs 10+lbs and just imagine it hitting your leg, foot, anyone or anything at 100+mph it could be lethal and could end in tragedy for someone. Whenever i run mine and some kid or someone comes walking by my street i get the car back as quick as i can and i stop running it until they have passed to me it's never safe to run something as fast as the XO-1 or any car like it near pedestrians where there is a chance an accident could happen.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Agreed. Accidents are never good!

 

[CJSRCLIFE]

Agreed. Accidents are never good!

Sorry for that ramble, But i agree too and that's why they put that lock\unlock feature on the stock ESC of an XO-1 mainly for liability reasons and make you go through the process i didn't like it at first but now i wish i just waited and bought an RTR and i think from now on all my new cars unless they were rollers from the factory i will buy them as RTR's since it's cheaper to start out with and i can make changes as needed as time goes on. I was lucky with my Felony and my Slash 4x4 Ultimate since i already had most of or all the parts i needed to get running.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Lol! Ramble away! Its your thread!
The liability does make sense.
No one likes getting hurt! I think its even worse when it happens at a leisure time activity. This should be about fun!