Fail Safes Suck

[Plaidfish]

Am I wrong for not running a fail safe anymore???....Ever Since I started using digital servos I've had nothing but trouble w/ those OFNA safety switches....I tried to deal w/ it but I get really F*#Ked up issues.....one nite a few weeks ago I kept goin WOT and it stuck like that 4 times....I disconnected the switch and it stopped......I set it back up and went back to the track did it again......third try was last week and same thing .....last try was with a new unit too....those things really blow chunks I think.....How many people agree/disagree????

 

[c3racing0082]

I Heard Digital And Failsafe's Dont Get Along !

 

[NCNitro]

I have a digital servo in my SS, and I use a venom failsafe also. I have not experienced any problems at all. I use a futaba fail safe on my maxx with standard servos, and have had no fail safe issues at all.

 

[Plaidfish]

Now somebody tells me.....I think that's what cooked my 5925mg.....85 freakin dollar servo done.....JR servos from now on......

 

[jcchase]

I had the same problem as Plaidfish with my buggy and all that was wrong was the batteries had to be replaced. They had to much power to trip the failsafe but to little to control the buggy.

jcchase

 

[bigfreak]

Now somebody tells me.....I think that's what cooked my 5925mg.....85 freakin dollar servo done.....JR servos from now on......

same thing happened to be with the model up from that.

Do this, go to hitech's service and support page:

http://www.hitecrcd.com/nsupport_SFS.htm

Print out the form, fill it out and send it in with your dead servo. In a couple of weeks you'll have a new servo. They sent me one that was new in the box.

After you do that sell it new on ebay.

EDIT: Also, I didn't send in any proof of purchase or anything. I just gave my best guess of when I bought it.

 

[Plaidfish]

Yeah I have a pretty good reputation w/ my LHS....I spend enough dough w/ them to let them deal w/ it....I had it for maybe 2 months and they still just took it back, gave me store credit and I bought the JR 8611?? I think that was the part number..
Did your's squeal really loud before it blew? I know digitals hum a little but it seems any one I put in this application makes serious squawking whenever it turns....even the JR....but at least they center the way they should.....

 

[bigfreak]

mine used to constantly go "meeee meee meee meee" even with no load on it. I had mine for like 3 months. My failure was was mechanical. From what I've read, they do one of two things. 1.) the electronics just go or 2.) the plastic case lets the gear posts wobble out an egg shaped hole. That was what happened to mine. As the gears would wobble about the vertical axis they would bind up and get stuck. I got mind unstuck twice and then the third time I broke the main metal gear trying to wrench on it. I sent it back like that and they didn't say anything.

Funny thing though, your LHS sent it back for you. When I sent mine in, I told my LHS and he asked that I stick one of his busted servos in the box too. LOL I sent in two busted servos and they sent back two new ones (one for me and one for the LHS owner).

Great customer service, but the product is designed poorly I think.

 

[Plaidfish]

I'm gonna get every bad hitec servo I can and send em in.....most companies will just give a new one if you send them a broken item.....I have never had a problem w/ hitec servos until I started using the Digital ones.....I still like my 645s...I think that's what they are....I use them for steering and throttle in my mutant maxx and NEVER had issues w/ them....oh well JRs seem to be what everybody here uses, I'll try those for a while....

 

[SkyMaxx]

Failsafes are a hottly debated items. Those that use them with no problems swear by them. Those (like me) who never use them swear that they just breed more problems.

Most problems I have seen in the electronics (where a failsafe is in the loop), originate with the failsafe. Whether it is a bad signal, a bad connection, or just plain old parts incompatibility, I have heard and seen too many problems to give them my personal recommendation.

I will say this, they are cheap insurance if properly set up and employed. BUT they can also be the cause of endless headaches.

The one thing I do employ on my RCs is a throttle return spring. Works just fine for me.

As for the HiTec servos, I am continually amazed by all the problems people seem to have with them. I must be one lucky dude, as their digital servos are about the only servos I have used in my offroad RCs. The only one that failed was expected to as it went swimming. The rest have lived a fairly long and healthy life despite my best attempts to destroy my RCs by pushing them to their limits. I used HiTec digital servos (5645 for steering and 5625 for throttle and brake) in all my rides. They are set up with a full synth receiver by Novak and a HiTec transmitter.

 

[NCNitro]

I'm with you on the Hitec servos Sky. I have them in all my cars and trucks, and I have never had a problem with a single one of them.

I am also one who has had great sucess with failsafes. But, I have heard a lot of bad things about those micro failsafes. As I mentioned before, I have either a Futaba or Venom failsafe, which are basically identical to each other except for he color, in all my rides, and again, no problems at all with any of them. But the Futaba fail safe was like $60, I think its the cheaper smaller fail safes that are having more problems. And I also run a throttle return spring on all my rides as well.

 

[FastEddy]

I have run exclusively HiTec servos for close to 4 years now and have only had 1 fail. It was 3 years old and had been beat to crap. I use the 600 and 900 series.

I love fail safes as well. I have had issues with them setting off but it has always been for a reason. Loss of signal, low battery, or user error. Actually, I just enjoy following NC and Sky around and agreeing with everything they post.

 

[SkyMaxx]

LMAO...I knew it.

 

[Plaidfish]

I can make some nose shields for ya Eddie .....but you have to ask nice like......

 

[NCNitro]

Actually, I just enjoy following NC and Sky around and agreeing with everything they post.

LMAO!!! At least that way you know you will be right, lol.

 

[Sgt Blamo]

I have two Revo's that have just completed the break-in cycle. I'm running the stock radios that came with the trucks. I have two Ofna Fail Safe's that I have not presently installed. I believe the Revo's come with throttle returns already set up.
Do you guys know if they'll work with the stock radios, and are they worth it?

 

[SpOrK01]

any fail safes worth it. if the radio loses signal ur servo make it go wot bye bye 500+ dollar fo ur cars or trucks. the fail safe if setup correctly will make the car put on the brakes its a no brainer.

 

[Plaidfish]

DUde I have had nothing but trouble w/ my buggy and digital servos w/ these stinkin things....I run one on my MT but I can't make one work w/ my buggy....it just messes up the signal to the throttle servo so much and cooks the controller on it....2 hitec servos later and I got 2 laps total w/ them....I'm gonna try the HRS receiver...anyone know if they have a built in fail safe? I'm gonna go look at the specs now....

If it's a no brainer then tell me why mine is doing what it is? 3 hobby shop experts and an electronics engineer couldn't figure out why.....