Help! T-Maxx not moving.

[SwedeMatt]

Got a T-Maxx for Christmas and the motor has been great. No tuning issues at all. I must have been lucky!

This past week I was playing around with it and did some jumping. At the end of the session it tumbled when it landed and when I tried to drive it again it didn't move....just shuddered when accelerating and made a high pitched grinding sound.... Not good!

No damage is visible on the outside. Drive line looks intact, nothing seems to be jammed etc. What could have happened? Any ideas on where to start?

 

[Rolex]

Have you looked at the spur gear? It's possible the engine shifted when it landed, and now the clutch bell teeth stripped the spur.
You need to routinely check all the screws for tightness.

 

[Revo Rancher]

It might be a gear in the transmission, as well. My wife flipped her truck forward on tank four of the break in and shortly after that it would not go anywhere. It just sat there and revved. Turned out to be a gear in the transmission. Traxxas sent me a new one free when I called. Easy enough to put in.

 

[SwedeMatt]

Yes, I did check the spur gear and it looks fine. No visible damage to it as far as I can tell.

I guess I'll just have to take it all apart and see what is broken.....

 

[Rolex]

First check all 4 wheels. Make sure it's not something as simple as a stripped hex or a broken pin.
Then check axles and drive shafts. Work your way back, rather than starting inside the trans.

 

[Revo Rancher]

Oh, c'mon Rolex. You're being too logical, taking all the fun out of it!!!

 

[SwedeMatt]

Hehehe, I like the logical approach.

I checked all the obvious stuff already and it seems to be something aroudn the spur gear, clutch or gearbox. So I guess I'll have to take it apart tonight. Or maybe not!!! I think my girlfriend will kill me if I sit and tinker with it on Valentines day....

 

[Rolex]

Oh, c'mon Rolex. You're being too logical, taking all the fun out of it!!!

Good point. Okay, start by removing the circuit board in your EZ-Start, then look inside your fuel bottle for M&Ms. Next, check the oil level in your neighbor's lawn mower. Borrow it and mow the lawn. When the grass is short, look for little pieces of plastic that might fit somewhere in a Tmaxx.
Post pictures of what you find. Revo Rancher will try to identify them for you.

 

[.21Rc10GT]

I already went through that check list! however, i did find m&ms in my fuel.

 

[LazyDave]

Could the spure gear be jamed and the cluch shoes rubbing the cluch bell. I would think that would make a high pitched noise.

 

[.21Rc10GT]

Have you tried tightening the slipper clutch?

 

[Rolex]

Have you tried tightening the slipper clutch?

I can't believe none of us even thought of that yet. Tighten it all the way down, then back it off 1/2 turn. If you tried to run it with a loose slipper too long, it would melt. Hopefully that hasn't happened. Stock, they only have 6 pins. If you need to get a new one, use all 12.

 

[SwedeMatt]

Thanks guys for all the tips.

This will make me sounds like the newbie I am......How do I adjust the slipper clutch?

 

[Rolex]

It's the nut with the spring that holds the large spur gear in place. Tighten it all the way, then back it off one half turn. Let me know if it was loose.

 

[SwedeMatt]

Ok, thanks!

I noticed that the spur gear was not spinnig perfectly evenly so this might be it. I'll tighten it up and let you guys know.

Again, thanks for all the help guys! This is an awesom message board.

 

[SwedeMatt]

OK, checked the spur gear and compared to a buddies T-maxx.....spur gear is tight and no difference to my friends car.

Could it be that the spur gear is not fully engaging with the gear coming from the motor? I held the ger coming out of the motor and the spur gear slips just with a little bit of hand force turning it. Is this normal or is this THE problem? If so....how do I move these two closer together?

 

[.21Rc10GT]

Sounds like the mesh is off, or you stripped the spur. To move the engine, loosen the 4 screws on the bottom of the chassis (should be the 4 only allen head screws and they are kinda in a slot on the chassis). Then move the engine towards the spur gear. You do not want the mesh too tight to where it binds, but you just want a "tick" of play.

 

[SwedeMatt]

Finally had time to mess around with my T-Maxx again....

Found the problem when I loosened the screws for the engine mount. The engine mount had snapped in one corner (of course underneath the starter motor so I couldn't see it without taking it apart).
Woohhoooo, finally back on the track again!!

 

[Herbieace]

I had the same thing happen to mine when I had a nasty flip. I got one on e-bay for about 3 bucks. Make sure you reattach the yellow wire. I couldn't figure that one out for like an hour.

 

[SwedeMatt]

I almost missed putting the yellow wire back....but thanks to reading all the posts here I remembered that there was a grouding wire that I had to look out for.

My engine mount was $11 at the LHS but I was able to ride Sunday so it was worth the extra $$.

I had to really richen it though since it started dying on me when it warmed up. It was fine as long as I kept it revved up but when warm and letting off the throttle it died.

What do I do to fix this? HSN or LSN?