Some things I learned today...

[SkyMaxx]

Ran my MBX-5 for the second time in as many months. Had a blast doing it, too.

The track I was running on was dry, dusty and loose. Traction was a small problem, but the dirt rooster tails were fun to make.

First, a hard enough landing will bottom out the buggy no matter how much you try not to. Multiple occurances will turn off the receiver for you whether you want it to or not.

Yes, this happened to me three times today. Lucky for me I was having other drive train issues that slowed the buggy to a stop and prevented the dreaded run away.

The radio box on the MBX-5 uses a slide switch to power the receiver. The way I have mine mounted now is for the switch to be in the up position for power and down position for off. Gravity and some hard landings helped the switch to fall through to the off position. Simple fix suggested by a fellow at the track...flip the switch. So that will be my first mod to my buggy.

Second lesson, properly glued tires are a must for a monster powered buggy on a loose track. I thought I had them glued well, but I ended up sliding and driving out of both rear tires today. A liberal does of CA and those things were fixed. So, take your time to properly glue them on and glue them well.

Third lesson and more of a WTF than anything else. After running for a bit, I noticed that my buggy seemed to friction lock itself and shut off. The drive train had some noticeable binding. With MilitaryMaxx to assist, we narrowed it down to my clutch.

Somehow the aluminum clutch shoes on my engine slid off their posts just enough to permanently engage the clutch bell. You guessed it...without full throttle applied the friction from the drive train actually killed the engine (kind of like putting your thumb on the flywheel to stop the engine).

The only guess I have is that the power of the engine and some of my creative driving allowed them to slide forward on their pegs. Easily fixed, but annoying none-the-less.

Final lesson for the day, check your ride often during a long bash. Screws that you thought were snug and loctited may and will come loose. I have found no fewer than five screws on my "tight" rig that needed to be tightened and re-loctited.

Here endeth my long-winded buggy lessons for the day.

 

[FlyinRazorback]

I ditched the on/off switch a long time ago. I run an extension from the receiver out of the battery box along with the wire from the battery and just plug it in there. Just one more thing I don't have to worry with.

Glad you had fun with the X5.

 

[Error401]

I've had the aluminum clutch shoes stick before too. I'm not sure if the slid forward and get wedged, but I do know they froze up. IMO aluminum shoes are crap. I'm going to be taking them off of my K3 for sure.

 

[SkyMaxx]

Mine were not stuck engaged (as in spread). They were pushed forward from the flywheel face, slipped forward on their pegs. The tops of the shoes (those closest to the flat face of the clutch bell) were what were stuck on the flywheel. Kind of like penny-ing someones door. Suckers were wedged in such a way that the flywheel and clutch bell were one unit. The shoes never had to spread.

 

[mcvickj]

For your switch problem I saw a tip in RCCA that suggested using a scrap piece of lexan to make sure your switch doesn't move. Of course flipping the switch is just as easy.

 

[SkyMaxx]

The fellow at the track also suggested the lexan trick. I will try that or FRB's suggestion if the flipping of the switch does not solve the problem. Thanks for bringing that one up.