Old T-Maxx .15. New OS .18 CV-RX..questions

[circusfreak]

Hey all,
Just joined this forum and have been finding a lot of good info here. I just recently got out the old T-Maxx with the .15, which is still in really great shape, mainly because I never had the engine tuned and starting consistently.

So it is running OK now, but always very sluggish on the low end. I have tried tuning LSN up and down and can not seem to improve it much, and it also takes a long time to start. So I am thinking of upgrading to the OS .18 CVRX. Just wondering mainly if this engine can be fitted with the EZ-Start system from a 2.5 or 3.3 truck? I really don't want to deal with pullstarts if possible. I see the .21 OSes have the E-Start backplate which is cool, but I don't see an option to add it to the .18. Any ideas? Or are there any other aftermarket starting solutions?

Also, when looking for parts online and such, can I use most of the parts from the 2.5 truck on the old .15? I know the suspension is wider now, but what about driveshafts, shock towers, bulkheads, etc. All the same size?

As for suspension, can I just buy new upper and lower arms to get the wider stance, or do I need new shafts and knuckles to go with it? New turnbuckles?

Thanks for the info, much appreciated!!

 

[ChucksCity]

well first off if your going to upgrade you engine i would go with a picco .26 they normally run around 200 dollars and perform like nothing else will in a tmaxx and use ez start,
as for suspension, when you upgrade the engine you will want to up grade the driveline which means gettting the newer suspension arms and steel driveshafts, you can use the same axle carriers as long as you buy shafts for the 4910 model, if you want traxxas brand driveshafts you will have to upgrade the axle carriers and toe links to revo spec parts, the bulkheads and shock towers are the same for all t maxx models

 

[romeo_1984]

personally in my honest opinion if you dont wanna deal with the pull start then rotostart is probably the best way to go i had nothing but problems with my easy start! but hey thats my opinion!

 

[circusfreak]

First of all, if I go with the OS .18, can I assume that it will not have so much extra power as to tear up the stock trannie and driveline? I have heard of a lot of people dropping this one in, so I assume it will be ok for now. I don't really want to spend the extra 75 for the picco.

Would the rotostart fit that OS engine? I would like to stay away from ez-start as well, but something other than a pull start would be great.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[circusfreak]

Well, I picked up the OS .18 CVRX and added the Duratrax backplate which fits the rotostart shaft. Perfect fit for everything with no mods. Now I have to wait for this stupid Minnesota spring snow to be over so I can go break it in!!

 

[x_doug_x]

i am in the process of putting together an os.18tm on a t-maxx.
i bought the engine in the "cheap cart" at the hobby store for about 90 bucks.
i'm in the process of putting everthing together, there was no header and i bought this one off ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/RDLogics-61510-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
i also couldn't fingure out the clutch setup till i looked at a expanded view of the revo, so i ordered the "nut" that screws onto the shaft of the revo 2.2 and it should work, the stock clutch, flywheel, clutch shoes, etc.. will fit. just needs diffrent nut.
i also bought the 2.5 conversion for the .15 and it seems to be useless.

also got the e/z start for the 2.5 and it bolts straight to the os .18tm so now i have the motor assembeled on my desk and i'm waiting on the bolt for the clutch before i bolt it up. it has the ez start bolted on it. it's not a hard swap but you are looking at some serious money, i paid about 90 bucks just for the motor, then i paid 40 for the e/z start, and 22 for the one way bearing for the e/z start. and 25 bucks for the useless 2.5 swap kit made by traxxas. and 60 or whatever the link above says for the header/pipe .

 

[circusfreak]

Sounds like my drop in was a little easier. I am very happy with how everything fit. The CVRX has a side xhaust, so the old manifold and pipe fit right on. The old flywheel and clutch nut just pulled off the trx .15 and dropped onto the new OS as well. So just the $12 rotostart backplate, $130 .18 CVRX(s), and the $6 starter shaft and its good to go. Took all of 30 minutes to swap out.

Now I can't wait to go out and break this thing in. I was really sick of the .15 and how touchy it was and hard to tune, so I think this OS will be a big improvement. Good luck with yours as well!

i am in the process of putting together an os.18tm on a t-maxx.
i bought the engine in the "cheap cart" at the hobby store for about 90 bucks.
i'm in the process of putting everthing together, there was no header and i bought this one off ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/RDLogics-61510-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
i also couldn't fingure out the clutch setup till i looked at a expanded view of the revo, so i ordered the "nut" that screws onto the shaft of the revo 2.2 and it should work, the stock clutch, flywheel, clutch shoes, etc.. will fit. just needs diffrent nut.
i also bought the 2.5 conversion for the .15 and it seems to be useless.

also got the e/z start for the 2.5 and it bolts straight to the os .18tm so now i have the motor assembeled on my desk and i'm waiting on the bolt for the clutch before i bolt it up. it has the ez start bolted on it. it's not a hard swap but you are looking at some serious money, i paid about 90 bucks just for the motor, then i paid 40 for the e/z start, and 22 for the one way bearing for the e/z start. and 25 bucks for the useless 2.5 swap kit made by traxxas. and 60 or whatever the link above says for the header/pipe .

 

[x_doug_x]

Sounds like my drop in was a little easier. I am very happy with how everything fit. The CVRX has a side xhaust, so the old manifold and pipe fit right on. The old flywheel and clutch nut just pulled off the trx .15 and dropped onto the new OS as well. So just the $12 rotostart backplate, $130 .18 CVRX(s), and the $6 starter shaft and its good to go. Took all of 30 minutes to swap out.

Now I can't wait to go out and break this thing in. I was really sick of the .15 and how touchy it was and hard to tune, so I think this OS will be a big improvement. Good luck with yours as well!

your .15 had just a regular clutch nut? mine had a clutch nut with a shaft on it, it bsically extended the short shaft on the motor. and the clutch bearings were on the clutch nut. this new os.18tm has a long shaft and the clutch bearings actuall go onto the crankshaft, and there is a nut with no shaft that goes onto the crankshaft before the clutch and tightens the flywheel.

this motor didn't come with a header.. if it did i might have been able to put the rubber boot from the os header to the traxxas pipe. but oh well.

 

[circusfreak]

I guess I misspoke, its not just a regular clutch nut, its the clutch nut that has the shaft on it, but it screwed right on the OS .18 the same as the TRX .15. All I really had to do is widen the body hole slightly for the new heatsink.

your .15 had just a regular clutch nut? mine had a clutch nut with a shaft on it, it bsically extended the short shaft on the motor. and the clutch bearings were on the clutch nut. this new os.18tm has a long shaft and the clutch bearings actuall go onto the crankshaft, and there is a nut with no shaft that goes onto the crankshaft before the clutch and tightens the flywheel.

this motor didn't come with a header.. if it did i might have been able to put the rubber boot from the os header to the traxxas pipe. but oh well.