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Not getting a Savage or HPI ever again

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truggy83

truggy83

RCTalk Talkaholic
Messages
363
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1
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101
Location
York, Pennsylvania
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
  2. Racing
So my fiancée bought me a savage Xl last year as a gift. Immediately after break in, the transmission metal gears exploded. Contacted hpi in which they were kind enough to send me new metal gears. I replaced the gears and the truck sat for over winter and I just started running it again a week or so. First tank didnt even get done before the car stopped responding to throttle input. Messed around with it and figured the throttle servo went bad by replacing it with a spare I had lying around. Throttle now worked. Ran the car for about two tanks and it now stopped responding to any transmitter inputs. If you turn the steering wheel and hold it the wheels turn, after a long pause and start shaking. The throttle does the same. I can only assume that the receiver is now bad on this piece of junk. The truck hasn't even been bashed or seen much run time and already things are breaking on it. We bought this thing brand new for a pretty penny mind you. You would think that the electronics would at least withstand a gallon of fuel. I guess that is too much to ask. So I just wanted to vent a little and I don't think I will buy another hpi again. They have good customer service but seems like junk parts.


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truggy83 said:
So my fiancée bought me a savage Xl last year as a gift. Immediately after break in, the transmission metal gears exploded. Contacted hpi in which they were kind enough to send me new metal gears. I replaced the gears and the truck sat for over winter and I just started running it again a week or so. First tank didnt even get done before the car stopped responding to throttle input. Messed around with it and figured the throttle servo went bad by replacing it with a spare I had lying around. Throttle now worked. Ran the car for about two tanks and it now stopped responding to any transmitter inputs. If you turn the steering wheel and hold it the wheels turn, after a long pause and start shaking. The throttle does the same. I can only assume that the receiver is now bad on this piece of junk. The truck hasn't even been bashed or seen much run time and already things are breaking on it. We bought this thing brand new for a pretty penny mind you. You would think that the electronics would at least withstand a gallon of fuel. I guess that is too much to ask. So I just wanted to vent a little and I don't think I will buy another hpi again. They have good customer service but seems like junk parts.


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Click to expand...

HPI has some of the best products on the market. Just because you had no idea what YOU were doing doesn't make it bad. I've beat the hell out of both my X4.6 and my Flux XL and haven't broken anything.
 
I've heard nothing but good things about the Savage. If your servos start acting up first thing to check is your batteries RX and TX, receiver packs can be bought for like $20. Grab a new one and some fresh TX batteries and go have fun, once you get it going good I bet you won't say that again.
 
i started this hobby in march with a $500 traxxas Tmaxx. you wanna experience a frail, always broken truck....buy 1 of those. got tired of sticking money into it so i bought a RTR savage X 4.6! this truck will withstand any beating i will ever give it. throttle servo puked out a couple weeks after i bought it. HPi replaced it.(i believe that they put gimp servos in the truck because most people upgrade them off the bat) i now have 9 savages on my shelves with a variety of motors and i still use the stock servos for the most part. the batteries do need to be replaced once in a while and when you replace the RX batteries, go on ahead and replace the Tx batteries too! HPI has a very solid truck dont write them off just yet!!
 
Batteries are good. I tried changing out both packs with different ones. still doesn't work


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i have 5 savages and they ALL out perform just about any other nitro monster truck and I've never had issues like yours unless like everybody else is sayin the batteries are dead,i run recharge packs in mine just for longer run time
but rest assured if there is a issue thats not human error (which i doubt) hpi will send replacements for what ever it is you need there a very good company and i hate to hear somebody talkin trash about them

happy nitroin to u man
 
Personally I've tons of troubles with my savage but mostly just operator error (and 1 remote going bad on me) but i still love it. So much fun and i even found that i have a blast tinkering with it. Unfortuantely before i started looking at forums i bought some integy parts for it, A arms and shock mounts. I already bent one of the shock mounts so i just replaced it with the stock plastic. Id rec omend just taking your time and have fun tinkering. :)
 
Rolex said:
"Different ones" meaning some you had laying around, or brand new alkalines right out of the package?
Click to expand...

I use rechargeable Duracell batteries. I swapped in some freshly charge batteries that work in my other cars, transmitters. Still does the same thing.


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truggy83 said:
I use rechargeable Duracell batteries. I swapped in some freshly charge batteries that work in my other cars, transmitters. Still does the same thing.


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Click to expand...

Rechargeable AAs are 1.2 volts. Non-rechargeable AAs are 1.5 volts. It takes alot of juice to turn the big tires on a monster truck, especially when it's on the ground. Get a 5-cell battery pack and see a difference.
 
IIf its the radio that came with the truck and it was purchased new just call hpi and let them know,they will replace it with a new one
 
It is a 2.4 ghz that comes with it. The truck does have a 5 cell
Pack that came with the truck. The transmitter takes 8 batteries but is a 2.4ghz


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Just to throw it out there. How are you charging that hump pack? If its been sitting and not been cycled, then the pack needs to be cycled. If you don't have an lcd multi display charger that can cycle the pack then maybe find one and see if your battery is fully charged. I've also heard that hpi's electronics are garbage but I've been pretty good myself.
 
attention original thread creator. HPI is by far the best contemporary RC company. you are the only person I've ever come across to blame such issues on HPI. it is a great company, and HPI unanimously dominates the RC hobby for trucks and 1/8th scale vehicles.
 

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