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Is it normal, my luck, or do i have a lemon?

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garmen987

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I bought a revo 3.3 about two weeks ago and have only ran a gallon of fuel through it, I have also replaced quite a few parts including one yolk on a front drive shaft, the throttle servo, and a pushrod for the shocks. I dont drive it hard and have only sent it tumbling a couple of times and never severly. Is all this breakage something I'm going to have to get used to or is it just dumb luck? Does everyone replace $100 worth of parts every week? The truck gets great reviews by most and thus the reason I bought it (also the LHS carries all the parts). Also drop me some hints as to cleaning her up, its a tedious process to disassemble half the truck every couple days (air duster doesn't get the grime that is caused by WD-40). I wanna spray her down with carb and choke cleaner but i know it'll kill the plastics. Thanks for the time, see ya on the other side.

Sorry about the long post but i have another quick question to tack on here. I am also getting a creamy white film on the base of the engine and the ez start gear casing, is it leaking something that i need to look into fixing or is it from excess WD-40 that results from the after run.
 
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I personally have never used WD-40 inside the engine on my truck. I have heard horror stories from people that when you miss cleaning up just a little bit of it on anything that gets hot, it makes like a varnish that will not come off. I use model after run oil, just 2 or 3 drops eleminates the worry of wd 40. Also you have to realize that as "indestructable" as vendors claim their products to be, they still use the cheapest parts possible to build their trucks from the factory. If you replace parts, use aftermarket such as RPM which are made of much stronger materials.


just my 2 cents
 
First of all, let me welcome you to RCNT. You've found a place with good info.
It's cold where you are right now. When it's cold, the plastic parts get brittle and are far more subject to damage than they would be in the summer. It's an excellent truck.

For cleaning, your LHS will have a cleaner that will cut oil without harming the plastic. If you have a compressor, use that cleaner or Simple Green, then a spray bottle of clear water, and keep blowing it off with the air.
When it's dry, spray it with a 50/50 mix of Armoral and water. It will look brand new, it will not be oily, and a lot of dust and dirt will just blow off it with the compressor since the thinned mix of Armoral makes it slick.
 
It is cold here but i waited for 50 degree days to break it in and run it. I dont like the idea of tearing up a $500 investment. Thanks for the cleaning advice, i was going to ask about simple green, got a lot around from detailing cars on the side, the stuff works great on interiors but i didnt know how it would work with oil. Rolex, what do you reccomend about the WD-40 thats what it says in the Traxxas vid and its what the LHS reccomended. Also the Nitro clean from the hobby shop is way expensive, hence the only reason i didnt try it yet. Thanks Again.
 
the wd-40 wont ruin it unless you over do it, I have been using it for years with no issues but just for the inside of the engine, thats it

Nitro Clean is better however for general cleaning or simply green
 
I love WD-40. I just don't use it on the RCs. It's a dust magnet on a track or even on the lawn, that's why I prefer the thinned Armoral.
There are other cleaners available, but many are too toxic for either some of the plastic, or the anodizing, that's why I stay with the simple green. And old tooth brush, a narrow stiff bristled paintbrush and you can get it all clean.
 
Ok, thank you for the advice there, so about the creamy film. WD-40 or otherwise? this is my first nitro vehicle and i am extremely new to this hobby although i do work on 2 stroke engines frequently. Chainsaws/Weeders, they have their differences but essentials are the same.
 
I use break cleaner on my Maxx. It blasts the dirt off real quick. Practically dissolves nitro residue and oil. Also dries fast, so you don't have to worry about residues.

I don't know if it's the best thing for the plastics, and I try to keep it off the tires, but it works like a charm. I haven't sprayed the electronics since the dirt mostly stays around the engine, but you should be careful just in case. It's safe for use on anodized parts.
 
I have thought about brake clean and engine degreaser but was worried about the plastic, I've seen that stuff eat rubber for lunch. Just to clarify i had been using mild dish soap and a rag to clean and WD-40 only on the inside of the engine, it was just getting on the head and block when turning it over during after run.
 
brake cleaner is not wise as well as carb cleaner and gum off. they DO NOT eat the plastic, but they do fade anodizing and powder coating, as well as decay rubber materials, like" the ruber around your shock spring, your ball bearing have coated rubber seal, it can and will get brittle and flake off, I'm sure there is other problims with it that i just havent found out about, oh ya, its what? $6.00 a can..and nitro cleaner leaves a whit residue.eww.. i think you have the right idea, dishdetergant, simple green,wd-40, and an old paint brush.. this is my order of cleaning: wd-40(water displacer/dirt magnet) the hole rig, you can't use too much and it wont wont damage your servo's or motor AT ALL.. and its a great cleaner.. becouse of its oil content it is a dirt magnet so, i spray it down with dish detergant and dry it off emediatly with heat gun.. and thats it.. by the way.. i will try the 50/50 armoral mix. sounds like a great idea
 
Tried the ideas and they work well, thanks for the help guys. Saving a few minuites in the evening is always a plus. I use simple green an old small paintbrush with stiff bristles and then finish up with the armoral mix, makes it like a new one. Thanks again guys. :bow:
 
I'm glad you're happy with the results. I learned the hard way, and found the easy and best way. I know it looks brand new. It still amazes me.
If you do this every time you run it, it becomes a very quick process and the truck will ALWAYS look new.
 

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