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Not Happy with 3.3

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K

kwalzy

RC Newbie
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Location
Springfield Illinois
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
I was just wondering if anyone else has had problems with the mount on the 3.3 cracking. My first motor on my truck lasted about a week and a half gallon of nitro, traxxas didn't replace it because of a small scratch on the top. I really wanted my second one to last so i babied it all day and on about the ninth tank it rolled once ever so slightly off the side of a rock pile and died instantly, I started it up and it was revved up high. I looked on the motor and there was a huge crack around the mount that looked similar to my first engine. The engine lasted one day!!! My one gallon of nitro fuel has lasted longer than 2 engines! I can't keep droppin $125 every time i want to drive the truck.
 
yes it has a crack just above the ear and below. I sent in the second and am waiting to see if they will replace it. Is this a common issue because I'm scared to drive the thing because i feel like I'm going to crack the engine.
 
Don't waist anymore money on the traxxas egine buy a o.s. .21 it is a drop in for your 3.3 and runs 10 times better. more power and smoother running:)
 
Just found out today after arguing with traxxas for the third time that they won't replace my engine. I'm pretty upset because i just wasted 250$ for nothing :angry: . I just bought a savage x 4.6 a week ago and all of my t-maxx problems are solved. :D
 
Yep, I blew a motor the first week i had mine but they replaced mine so why would they not replace it? Any ways this is traxxas were talking about lol. i probably went through 8 glow plugs the on the old motor also before it blew.
 
First Ill say that the 3.3 engine is totally bogus crap..........If you dont break them in exactly as traxxas suggests the engine doesn't run right from day 1..........

Heres my deal...........Got my newest T Maxx 4908 online for 329 free shipping.......Took it out of the box and broke it in on the HPI method...The engine stalled alot after that and was hard to get tuned for high speed passes plus it wouldnt even get through a full tank of fuel before shutting down overheated ......I was mad and peeO'd so I took the engine apart and found the nylon washer that was supposed to be between the 1 way bearing around one of the easystarter attachment screws sandwiched between the gasket and the plate so i figured airleak and culprit to it.....Stuck it back together and it ran good for 1 tankful of fuel and started runing hot and lean again.........Checked the carb o-rings and carb screws,changed both;-even bought a new carb....

Then I called Traxxas and explained my problems..the tech guy was laughing to himself on the other end while i was explaining my problem and when I said that i found the nylon washer in the wrong spot he said it was impossible because Traxxas products are assembled by robots and they dont make mistakes.........What I saw wasn't a mirage and all they said was to stick the engine in the box and mail it to them with a creditcard number to be billed 65.00 for engine diagnosis and repair if needed and also said this will take 2-3 weeks for me to get it back after they receive it.........2-3 weeks and $65.00..Wheres the Traxxas warranty?..I can take an engine apart in 20 mins...clean it up in 20 and re-assemble it in 25.........My truck was 3 days old when I called and I got the runaround and when I asked for a supervisor the Tech hung up on me..Then I had a runaround trying to obtain a managers name and after 20 mins explaining to the secretary why i wanted a supervisor to speak to she hooks me to a guy by the name of Hans who was an even bigger doofus.........Fed up with Traxxas support and me spending money with them on 3 Trucks I toasted the engine in true basher fashion and sent its stinking guts straight to Valhalla with a Nitro filled popping saluter straight to the firepit after I snapped the rod running it wot at every tankful of the 3 day bashing session.........Thats all the 3.3 is worth...1 good bang not worth a rebuild or chance at second life..The HpI 3.0 is way better compared side by side the 3.3 all day....
 
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Looks like following the directions is pretty important. My buds on his 4th gallon. He was completely new to the hobby last year when he bought his Maxx(he's learned a lot; buying a Savage xl next week), and all he did was follow the directions to a t. The mill runs great, hangs out in the 265-275 range and is only on it's 2nd glow plug. The first one never went bad; I talked him into changing it after the first gallon. It ran the same. This post is directed towards newbs, because I figure you can't teach old dawgs new tricks. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO YOUR BRAND OF ENGINE. It's way more fun that way.
 
Traxxas's break-in is very close to a typical "heat cycle" method which is definitely tried and true by many of us on many brands of engines. It sucks, but on occasion, people get bad engines and I understand your pain. It's unfortunate that traxxas handled things they way they did.

For the guy that started this thread, why not just get a roll bar and a new crank case? I know it's a new engine, but the 3.3 is a tall head engine in a small block spot, which means, any direct contact with the head puts a lot of leverage on a couple very small cast aluminum ears. Actually kind of surprised you didn't break the engine mount. A new crank case is $30. I'm sure you could probably find it cheaper on ebay.

I busted the ear clean off my OS18TM after installing it in my jato. It was due to it slapping the ground really hard on proper 4 wheels down landings. No direct head contact with anything.

As for ditching the 3.3 and going for the OS21TM, sure, you could do that, but why bother? Getting a 3.3 that runs right puts out plenty of power for a t-maxx or revo at a little over half the cost of a new OS21TM.

Just my .02. ;)
 
I agree that Trx should have handled that way better. But don't knock a pretty good engine and company just because you had some bad luck(or broke the engine in wrong or beat the snot outta your rig; whatever the case may be). A 3.3 is only $120 new. Shipped! It's no high end engine. But it's a damn good cheap one.
 
Ya I just tore my motor apart and found that its junk the hole bottom of the sleeve is all banged up so I called traxxas and they pretty much said screw you. My carb on it is complety junk theres sometime when the carb will catch and hold the throttle open so I feel your pain. I want a savage but can't afford it and dad won't let me=(
 
I haven't wasted a dime on my T Maxx. Savages are great, but I prefer the T Maxx platform. Sorry 'bout yer luck. 2 people outta who knows how many will never change my mind.
 
i also have a T-Maxx 3.3, i bought the truck with the 2.5 and ez start. i upgraded to the 3.3 and broke it in like the instructions said and everything. i have about 2 gallons of fuel threw it now, i havent ran the truck in about 3 months. before i put it away, my spur gear would only last about 20 minutes. now the truck wont start. i can crank on it for about 30 min and it will give me a little spit and spudder, but thats all...... i have cleaned the air filter and everything. i dont understand..... if anybody would like to help, i would greatly appreiciate it. what are the factory tuning settings for the 3.3????? i need help....????!!!!!
 
wade0325 said:
i also have a T-Maxx 3.3, i bought the truck with the 2.5 and ez start. i upgraded to the 3.3 and broke it in like the instructions said and everything. i have about 2 gallons of fuel threw it now, i havent ran the truck in about 3 months. before i put it away, my spur gear would only last about 20 minutes. now the truck wont start. i can crank on it for about 30 min and it will give me a little spit and spudder, but thats all...... i have cleaned the air filter and everything. i dont understand..... if anybody would like to help, i would greatly appreiciate it. what are the factory tuning settings for the 3.3????? i need help....????!!!!!
Click to expand...

HSN 4 turns out, LSN flush with the surounding area, idle set so the carb opening is about the thickness of a credit card.


I had a hell of a time getting mine runnin in the begining. Runs reliably now.... but STILL not tuned perfectly.
 

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