Traxxas XRT steering servo issues.

[Majcric]

I'll start by explaining my driving style and how I treat the truck in general. I run 6s on low cut grass, some gravel and dirt with no jumps. Overall very conservative driving. Endpoints have been set and no binding that I can see.

The servo that came in the truck started cutting out with minor hiccups while driving but enough for me to have a small crash and mess up my perfect body. I say this because the truck has really been babied. So I install another Regular 2085 and on the 3rd run after about 40-45 mins it completely freezes up with no functioning. I turn it on later and it's working again. But anyway I think it's on its last legs and so I ordered a 2085x. ( I did not upgrade originally because I thought it was a fluke and with my driving style the originally electronics have always lasted in all my other RC's.

Anybody have a lot of issues with the steering on their XRT? I'm about ready to sell this POS.

 

[ferrebee88]

I have had rocks get stuck in that steering setup. When I had my XRT I got the M2C delrin steering bellcrank to help with durability. I think Traxxas servos are quite week. I like to get the adapter and put a good 1/10 servo in them.

https://m2cracing.net/shop/#!/M2C-1168-X-SERIES-BELLCRANK-KIT/p/594746089

https://www.amainhobbies.com/hot-ra...-xmaxx-maxx-hraxmx24m01/p1423027#tab-feedback

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Welcome aboard!

Traxxas steering servos stink. I dont have an XRT but I've had similar experiences with my Xmaxx and just about every other Traxxas factory steering servo. Their upgraded servo isn't horrible but it isn't great either. You'd be better served with any of the many aftermarket options out there. I opted for a perfect pass servo and 1/10 conversion.

 

[AjDale]

I haven’t had much issues with the 2085R servo. I have it in my Xmaxx and XRT. I’d highly recommend upgrading your steering bellcrank whether it’s M2C, Traxxas aluminum or GPM. Anything is better than the stock one. That’ll fix your issues…. Hopefully!

 

[easy rider]

The 2085x servo is a good servo. It’s an over priced servo too. I like drop in and you’ll be happy with the 2085x. But, when it goes I’d be looking at going a different route.

 

[Majcric]

Thanks to everyone for all the kind reply's. Seems like a friendly community here.

 

[Littlemotor]

Definitely move on from Traxxas, and grab a reputable servo. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Majcric]

Here’s where i’m at…I’ve ran the XRT a few more times and sometimes I could deplete my batteries, and sometimes it would freeze and I’d lose steering. ( another small crash) if this is going to happen it is well into the run at around 35 min+ mark. It’s very warm touching the skid plate, and the naked servo its self would most certainly burn you if you laid a finger on it, even for just a few sec’s. (Personally never had steering servo’s to overheat) FWIW, i’m running 2 3s 5000 mah and 2 3s 6400 batteries. None of my runs are ever consecutive and I wait at least two hours in between to be safe. Traxxas being Traxxas says they are supposed to get hot and just turn the RC off after 20 mins.

XRT/XMaxx owners is your skidplate on the warmer side of things or just warm period? I’ll get back when I get the 2085x installed waiting on Jenny’s to ship.

 

[Majcric]

I haven’t had much issues with the 2085R servo. I have it in my Xmaxx and XRT. I’d highly recommend upgrading your steering bellcrank whether it’s M2C, Traxxas aluminum or GPM. Anything is better than the stock one. That’ll fix your issues…. Hopefully!

Does your 2085R run on the warmer side to your knowledge? I guess what I’m asking is have you ever felt of the skid-plate.

 

[AjDale]

Does your 2085R run on the warmer side to your knowledge? I guess what I’m asking is have you ever felt of the skid-plate.

One thing to note is that the stock steering servo does have plastic gears. Not sure what traxxas was thinking in that aspect but that could play a huge roll as to why it’s freezing/glitching. It would also make sense as to why it’s running warm. I can’t say for sure if mine gets warm or not though, I’ve never checked. I’d like to say no. But I’m also running a chassis brace so I don’t have the ability to really tell that through the chassis. Definitely would recommend putting the new servo in AND a steering bellcrank

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Your issue sounds strange. A low voltage problem maybe? I've never had a servo get hot to the point it would burn me. Never even close. They get a little warm but not hot.

Are you sure your servo saver isn't too tight? Dragging maybe? I'm curious what the supplied voltage to the servo is. Make sure your steering isn't binding at all.

I'm assuming this is the factory traxxas esc?

 

[Majcric]

Your issue sounds strange. A low voltage problem maybe? I've never had a servo get hot to the point it would burn me. Never even close. They get a little warm but not hot.

Are you sure your servo saver isn't too tight? Dragging maybe? I'm curious what the supplied voltage to the servo is. Make sure your steering isn't binding at all.

I'm assuming this is the factory traxxas esc?

Yeah Stock ESC. In fact, Everything on the RC is stock.

On another note, I'm not going to say for certain but I'm narrowing this down to TSM causing the issue.

 

[TeknoJ]

Ditch the Traxxas servo and upgrade the steering bell crank like these guys say. Traxxas doesn’t make great servos.
I always promote the direct power servos for the bashers or crawlers. NSDRC probably makes a killer servo for 6s voltage and that thing would snap your neck off your body with that kind of voltage. Nitro Pro also makes great servos. Don’t skimp out on your next servo.

 

[Majcric]

Ditch the Traxxas servo and upgrade the steering bell crank like these guys say. Traxxas doesn’t make great servos.
I always promote the direct power servos for the bashers or crawlers. NSDRC probably makes a killer servo for 6s voltage and that thing would snap your neck off your body with that kind of voltage. Nitro Pro also makes great servos. Don’t skimp out on your next servo.

Yeah i have plans to do the bell crank. Then if it fry’s the 2085x in a short time period. I’m getting rid of the XRT and moving on.

 

[TeknoJ]

Yeah i have plans to do the bell crank. Then if it fry’s the 2085x in a short time period. I’m getting rid of the XRT and moving on.

Keep the xrt if you like it, I am saying ditch the Traxxas servo. The Traxxas electronics are junk. The truck itself seems to be decent for most people. I don’t have one so I can’t say for sure. What I can say is, get a good servo, my preference is a direct power servo.
If you want to sell the thing down the road then so be it, just get some enjoyment out of it first.

 

[ferrebee88]

Its sounds like the XRT just isn't the right truck for you. PM me for my mailing address. lol

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

I dont think getting rid of the car is a good plan. Almost all RTR electronics are sub par. If your under the impression that getting a different RTR is going to yeild better results then youll likely just be disappointed. Thats why RTR's seem to be on the cheaper side of the spektrum when you consider what quality electronics would cost. If the XRT had a good quality motor/esc combo and a quality 1/5th scale servo, it would be upwards of 2k which is about what I have in my Xmaxx with upper end electronics. Just food for thought.

 

[Majcric]

I dont think getting rid of the car is a good plan. Almost all RTR electronics are sub par. If your under the impression that getting a different RTR is going to yeild better results then youll likely just be disappointed. Thats why RTR's seem to be on the cheaper side of the spektrum when you consider what quality electronics would cost. If the XRT had a good quality motor/esc combo and a quality 1/5th scale servo, it would be upwards of 2k which is about what I have in my Xmaxx with upper end electronics. Just food for thought.

I have my eye on a kit. If I'm going to start adding quality electrics and components just prefer to do this from the ground up. I wanted to give Traxxas a chance. Adding a Max 5/6 and a quality servo along with better gears, etc. The list goes on... I can get out now and do better elsewhere. With a chance the new servo fixes it I might hang on to truck for a little while.

 

[Majcric]

I will continue this thread and my problems to try and help others. For example, if someone is having a similar problem.

I now feel very confident in saying TSM is indeed causing the servo to overheat on my particular XRT. I've turned it off and noticed a significant reduction in heat and not to mention no more shutting down. That's the good news, the bad news is this particular RC doesn't handle nearly as well with it turned off. So the question now is will the new servo be stronger and be able to handle TSM... we shall see soon enough.

 

[ferrebee88]

I will continue this thread and my problems to try and help others. For example, if someone is having a similar problem.

I now feel very confident in saying TSM is indeed causing the servo to overheat on my particular XRT. I've turned it off and noticed a significant reduction in heat and not to mention no more shutting down. That's the good news, the bad news is this particular RC doesn't handle nearly as well with it turned off. So the question now is will the new servo be stronger and be able to handle TSM... we shall see soon enough.

I have owned several x-maxx's and an XRT. The first thing I do is ditch the traxxas rx/TX. Learning to drive without TSM/AVC will be better in the long run. I think it is way more fun when I am in full control.