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Stock Servos Suck

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wannarunem

wannarunem

Hardcore RCTalk User
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  1. Bashing
Alright..heres the deal. The Savage is a kick ass truck, BUT!! It takes nearly my whole front yard to turn the damn thing around!!!! I'm running the stock servos and havent done the MP servo saver yet. I need a servo that will give me tighter steering on grass. I'm not gonna race, but I would not mind getting a servo thats suitable for racing as long as I can turn the Savage around without hitting the fence on each side of the yard everytime. I want a tighter, stronger servo. What servo should I uprgade to??
 
It may not be the servo, but the stock servo saver. I haven't done the OFNA servo saver mod either, but I have this servo:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=000411146&I=LXUZ80&P=K
It has 12 kg cm torque (164 oz inch) but yes, the truck still turns badly because of the weak servo saver. I'm waiting for the exchange rate to go down before ordering stuff from the US.
 
Ok getting a better servo is a good upgrade but having a 5 cell RX pack goes well to complete that upgrade.

Reg 4 cell = 4.8V
5 cell pack = 6V
 
Yeah i think i will go with that servo. I'm planning on getting it at the end of the month. The 5 cell RX pack is a good upgrade. I have already did that to my savage.
That servo will make the steering more powerful..but what about giving it a tighter steering radius? Would I still need to do more mods or is the servo upgrade and the MP saver mod going to be what I'm looking for?

If possible, Id make my savage turn as quick, sharp, like my Storm buggy....Possible???
 
possible ... yes BUT a truck is easier to flip over on a turn. So I would think about that since a buggy is lower it is less prone to flippin over.

Jon
 
Good point... I didnt even think about that. Id be able to control the amount of steering with the transmitter in turns. Maybe easier said than done tho. This is my first MT and I often forget about the higher CG. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
can yah give me a stock number or a link to the servo saver mod i have a hitec hs545 servo and a 645 which would yah run and which servo saver would yah run on it to thanks
 
wannarunem said:
Yeah i think i will go with that servo.
That servo will make the steering more powerful..but what about giving it a tighter steering radius? Would I still need to do more mods or is the servo upgrade and the MP saver mod going to be what I'm looking for?
Click to expand...
Oh, I forgot to say that that particular servo has connector for JR receiver, you need one that fits your receiver brand (I think the one that comes with Savage RTR is Futaba?).

You can get tighter steering radius by some end point adjustments on the transmitter, but I think you've done that. I've heard rumours of someone doing 4-wheel steering conversion to the Savage but I haven't seen it myself... I would be interested in finding out how to do it though.
But try the MP servo saver mod first and see what happens.

edit:
Some links...

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXABH5&P=ML
or
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=000411146&I=LXJAA9&P=K
 
Last edited:
With a hobby knife the connector can be trimmed to fit if its what i think it is. Just trim off the wing on the connector and it will pop right in. Yeah, I've set the end points with the transmitter but still not happy with it. I'm anxious to shop for that servo. Gotta see where its cheapest. I will order the servo saver mod to.
 
Yes, I cut the wing on the Futaba receiver battery connector to fit into my JR receiver. So a JR connector should fit into Futaba receiver (not sure if the servo wiring is the same though, might need to swap them around) But that servo is also available with Futaba connector anyways.

I checked RCBoyz and Stormerhobbies, they also sell the servo for about US$55. Please let us know if you've found a cheaper online store^^ (preferably one that ships to overseas destinations)
 
servo

prodImg19581.jpg

200 0z with. I think .10 second transit time at 6 v
airtronics 94358 $102.00
 
Even with the MP servo saver, a high torque servo, and a 2000Mah NiMH receiver pack, my savage still doesn't turn anywhere near as sharp as my 21 maxx.

It has to do with the steering geometry. The hub carriers hit stuff and the drag link hits the diff. I've read with some creative dremeling you can make it turn sharper, but I'm just to lazy to tear it apart.
 
I have the MP saver, an Integy steering bar, a Futaba HT metal gear servo, and a 6V Rx pack. My hubs do not hit anything when turning full left or full right with my EPA @ 100% and my D/R steering @ 100% and my steering is pretty tight. See my page for links to my setup.
 
olds97_lss said:
Even with the MP servo saver, a high torque servo, and a 2000Mah NiMH receiver pack, my savage still doesn't turn anywhere near as sharp as my 21 maxx.

It has to do with the steering geometry. The hub carriers hit stuff and the drag link hits the diff. I've read with some creative dremeling you can make it turn sharper, but I'm just to lazy to tear it apart.
Click to expand...

Thats what i was thinking. To much plastic getting in the way of the steering mechanism. I just may pull out the dremel and see what i can do. Just hope i dont make it to weak by removing to much material.

Doggie...so far, I've found it for around 55 bucks also. I'm still looking.

dm...man, that servo is sweet. Is that what your running????
 
Yep, Just put it in last night. Along with the diff mod f/r. Gunna try it out at the track saturday.
 
Mine do. I think I'm running a futaba S3305 with airtronix mx-3 radio. I'm also runing lunsford titanium turnbuckles. I have my EPA set at about 80 in both directions and that is where the carriers bind.
 
Check which holes in the servo saver the links are in. If they are in the inner holes, closest to the center, move them to the outside holes. A quick fix, and a major change in steering, since they have more travel in either direction.
 
Rolex said:
Check which holes in the servo saver the links are in. If they are in the inner holes, closest to the center, move them to the outside holes. A quick fix, and a major change in steering, since they have more travel in either direction.
Click to expand...

hopefully they are in the inner holes...its just taking so much room right now to turn around. If they are i will move them out. Great idea...thanks!!!!

dm, let us know how you like that servo.
 
I also have the Futaba 3305 and I use a Futaba 3PM. I am using the middle hole on the MP saver, the stock front-end pieces, and 100% EPA. I bumped my EPA up to 110% and the front was still not hitting anything. When I went to 115% the inside of the hub started to contact the lower suspension arm pin mounting area so I went back to 110%. EPA 110% gives me a pretty small turning radius.
 
I think regardless what the EPA is and what hole you put it in, the carriers are still going to hit at some point. I used a hole that was pretty close to the servo center. This makes for a little touchy steering, but I get the most torque to the wheels. Servo's are rated with a weight on a 1 inch arm. Take that to 3/4 inch and it ups the torque of the application.
 

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