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T Maxx 2.5

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Reddog

Reddog

RCTalk Champion
Messages
218
Reaction score
3
Points
105
Location
Winfield IA
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
  2. Racing
Ok well I finally got the T Maxx 2.5 that my mom found on a garage sale home. Filthy mess does not even come close to describing it. It has about a 1/2 inch layer or grime on almost the entire thing. The engine will not turn, either seized up or has so much gunk that it will not turn, either way it will need to be torn down and thoroughly cleaned. The drivetrain seem to be it working order, just really dirty. I have no idea of its history, what has or has not been done or why it was parked. The radio gear works good until you get about 20 feet away the the servos start glitching, may be batteries or a bad crystal.

This is going to take a lot of work to get it cleaned up and going again. I will try to get things going and show what steps I take to get her operational again. One thing is for sure with it, it has never had a bath so we can rule out over cleaning as a problem, LOL. Tires look good, driveshafts are not twisted or warped, diffs are surprisingly smooth, the transmission seems ok but until I can spool it up and see for sure I can't really tell. The fuel tank has signs of crash damage, not sure how bad until I get it cleaned.

Things that will be replaced right off will be: fuel lines, battery will be replaced with a hump pack, bearings will go in place of all the wheel bushings (yes it had bushings in all the wheels, probably a previous owners quick fix) May also do a FOC on it as well but that will wait until I have it running.
Now if anyone else has any ideas where they would start and just how they would go about things, please chime in. I have always started by tearing it clear down and cleaning everything then reassembling. The engine will probably got an overnight bath in antifreeze in a pressure cooker ( I have cleaned many aircraft glow engines this way and it has worked good for them) however if you know a better way just let me know.

Thank You, Shaun
 
Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you. Lets see some before and after pictures! :thumbup:
 
I have a T Maxx project I'm working on just like yours. Its a lot of work but it's a lot of fun IMO. Really gratifying when you compare the before and after.

One thing I've learned about beaters, more often than not the servos and engines are shot. Usually one or more of the hinge pins are bent, bearings rusted or dirty, and shocks are dry or full of mud like goo.
As cheap as fuel tanks are, I'd replace it instead of hassling with the old, possibly damaged tank. I usually upgrade the diffs when I'm doing a restoration if the truck has the old 2 screw 4910 model diffs. :mustache:
 
Well here is a before pic for ya. As you can see I have my work cut out for me. Shaun
 

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Reddog said:
bearings will go in place of all the wheel bushings (yes it had bushings in all the wheels, probably a previous owners quick fix)
Click to expand...
I've seen a lot of strange repairs and mods in my day but that's a new one.
639-2.gif


That's a good looking project there btw. Looks like a early 4910 model 2.5
 
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That's a good looking project there btw. Looks like a early 4910 model 2.5[/QUOTE]

That was my thought as well. As far as the bushings go I have seen it before at the track when someone had a bearing go bad and a set of bushings was available.
 
Bushings in a TMaxx axle carrier??? I'd load up and go home 1st...

Check the stub axles for wear, if it was run for a bit the stubs are sure to be worn and you dont want worn stubs with new bearings.
 
Well this is where I am at with it. I have put bearings in the wheels now (used ones I had) and found the radio problem, pinched wires, and without doing really anything to it, got the engine to run. I soaked the engine with fuel overnight and turned it over slow with the glow plug out. Once it felt good I put the engine back on and gave it a shot. FIRST pull it fired up and ran like a champ. I could not believe it. I will still tear it down and clean everything up, it is far from being ready to drive.
I now know that the tranny works good, the engine runs, and the radio needs help. Servos are VERY slow and sluggish, and the steering servo needs help to even run. So it sounds like a new radio is in order. Not a big fan of the steel spur gear but that is what was on it. It has aluminum shocks on front and stock on the rear and the suspension is very soft.
I have my work cut out for me and am looking forward to having it racing around the yard. Shaun
 
OK well I was thinking that when someone buys a used rc they want it going as soon as they can get. Well I decided to take that thought and give it a shot. The engine I got lucky with, a little fuel shot into it freed it up and I have it running pretty good. The radio gear was shot. I got some stuff from the hobby shot, hump pack battery, new on off swich assembly, new reciever, new servos. total spent was about $70, making the total in this truck now $90. With all that installed I was able to drive it around today.She did ok, not great, but ok.
I have now run 4 tanks of fuel, all back to back. It is getting better. I will still tear it down and get it all cleaned up, but figured I would go the route of someone who is excited about buying there truck and just wanted it running. More to come.... Shaun
 
sorry about the video being sideways.
 
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Well that was the quick way. Now it is time to do it right. I have ordered a FOC for it and will be tearing it apart and cleaning it up right. The tranny was the first part, and what I found was not good.
 
A couple pics
 

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Take a look at the reverse gear...
 

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The transmission is nice and clean and ready for reassemble, just waiting for the FOC kit to come. Got into it some more. Have all the radio gear off, the fuel tank off and found something that you will not find until it breaks completely. One of the front bulk heads is cracked. Just getting it running was fun. I wanted to know just what I had so I am doing the complete teardown. Without doing this there is no way to find things that may be cracked or damaged like the bulkhead. The front turns a little hard while the back turn ok. So the diffs are looking like they need some cleaning as well.
I will also use a light coat of spry on wax to make it easier to clean after each run. Shaun
 
Well I have the entire front apart. All the pins are bent, one front bulkhead is broke (was glued together at one time), the front diff has a sticky, gooey, black substance that used to be grease(now it is just tar). What a mess.
I am having a time with the FOC. I ordered one for a t-maxx 2.5. However it is not the right one. The maxx I have is an earlier version 4909 I think. Which FOC do I need to order? More to come, Shaun
 
Thanks Snooks, got the right one ordered. As for as the progress goes it is coming. I do not have a lot of time to work on it but I have made some progress. The shocks will need complete rebuild or replaced. The new battery box and reciever box are on it. I have swiched the diffs to the 4 bolt diffs. The rims and tires are good as are the drive shafts. Everything needed a good bath. It is coming along well and my boy has been working on it while I am at work. Al in All we are having fun working on it. Had two other trucks dropped off for me to get running as well, and I have my Aftershock to do. So I have plenty of work to keep me busy while I wait for parts. Shaun
 

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