Well, my Baja finally came in...

[1500valk]

...and I was having second thoughts last night of paying $915 for a "toy". That lasted about 3 seconds when I opened the box at the LHS. This thing is huge, and totally awesome in nearly every way. I need to get some fuel, and get the RX battery charged and get this thing on the road.

 

[4u2nv]

awesome! I'm jelous as hell.. Have fun with it man!

 

[1500valk]

I have been running it today in my backyard, and I cannot ever remember having this much fun with an r/c car. No heat issues, not worried about breaking it (in my fairly flat yard), no flameouts, nada worries. I have had several people come over to watch. One was a r/c racer, Losi electric buggies and stuff. I let him take it for a few runs around my yard. He said he needs to sell some stuff and get one......
My brother was saying there is no way he would buy one, when I was waiting for it to come in. Now he is saying he wants to sell some stuff and would love to get one (after running it for 5 minutes). This is free PR for HPI for sure!

 

[phx123]

Yeah its alot of fun .. When ever I take mine out every stops playing with theirs and wants to drive mine.... So when are ya putting in the big bore kit ??

 

[1500valk]

I will add a big bore kit when the engine is ready for a tear down. I am sure that will be a ways off. My first mod will probably be an x-can exhaust. Also, I saw some new beadlock rings for the stock wheels. These were made out of aluminum and looked like they could stiffen up the stock setup a bit. Mostly will leave my Baja stock, I think. I do plan on getting a new body for it, since I am not a huge fan of orange and yella.
I would like to find out more about the x-can. To me, it looks like the best option for exhaust. Doesn't stick out like some I have seen, doesn't make the car tail-heavy. I head HPI is making their own, so I might wait for that. I mean, they left all of the space behind the engine for a reason....
One thing I learned really quick: take that "stinger" off of the muffler. I took it off and the thing just came alive!

 

[Nitrobuzzard]

If you run it in alot of grass, you will need to keep the engine cleaned out bro. The fan sucks up every bit of grass it goes over I think...lol.....

If you put your hand above the brake area, next to the engine, you should feel some air blowing, at idle, out from around there. You should feel a good bit coming out. If it's not, shut it down and take the pull-start housing off and clean it out and blow out around the cooling fins of the engine with an air hose.

I went into my LHS a few weeks back and they had one in there that had gotten to hot and toasted the engine. It was packed full of grass, leaves, etc. I check mine about every tank, depending on where I'm running it of course.

If you already knew this, well, consider it a reminder..lol......enjoy it man, they are a blast!!


-Nitro

 

[1500valk]

There are some nice pull-start housing filters available. Also, this bloke from Australia, name of Tad, came up with this little thing:

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/554027289/2203410010068508197FRIHcF

he says no crap gets past them, none.

I am going to do it to mine, couldn't really hurt.

This guy is on the hpibajaforum, pretty neat site.....


I run in grass a lot, so it makes sense. Also, the air filter for the pull-start housing makes sense, as well.

 

[Nitrobuzzard]

I've been thinking about doing something like that just wasn't to sure of the durability of it. I may as well try it and see what I can come up with.....lol

thanks for the link bro.....


-Nitro

 

[1500valk]

no prob. I was trying to locate some mesh for my air intakes. My wife's old strainer has decided to sacrifice itself for the cause.

 

[Nitrobuzzard]

LOL.....cool man, I was thinking along the same lines but using aluminum sheeting and drilling holes, cutting and shaping. I think the strainer would be alot easier.

Be sure to post a few pics after you finish it, that way I'll know If I want to try to "sacrifice" the strainer or not.....lol



-Nitro

 

[1500valk]

So far only two problems with my baja. First was the fuel hose was kinked under the air cleaner, so bad the engine wouldn't prime. Also, had to take off a wheel to tuck the tire bead under the bead lock ring. Well, I had to resort to a standard craftsman wrench to remove the wheels. The little orange wrench wouldn't budge it. I estimate the nuts holding the wheels are in excess of 100 ft lbs of torque. I could not remove the rears, way too tight, and too far inset in the wheel. I will have get a socket of the apropriate size. i plan on using a torque wrench to see what the "removal" torque is. I have emailed HPI customer service, will see what they say. I did end up chewing up the orange wheel wrench a bit, but I think it will still work. Minor problems, but there shouldn't be assembly problems with a $1000 r/c car.

 

[Nitrobuzzard]

LOL......well yours is backwards of mine.......my wheel nuts all but fell off.....without me touching them....lol........

With yours being that tight, you going to have a time getting the wheel off after you get the nut loose. I over-tightened mine a little and it pinched the wheel so it stuck to the axle threads. Like to have never got that thing off.......good luck with it bro!

My fuel line was kinked a little bit but not that bad. I moved it around a little but nothing major.......


-Nitro

 

[phx123]

Well my Baja fuel line was ok but those wheel nuts felt like they were put on with an impact gun..

 

[rccars411]

so far, x can is the best way to go. As far as big bore kits go, http://www.oneillbrothersracing.com/rccar/itemdescription/29cckit.htm is the way to go.

For the price, can't beat it. Throw an x can on there, and rip up the lawn.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Geez Valk, now I want one! JEALOUS!

 

[Dooley]

Very Cool!

 

[1500valk]

I found a link for the pull start housing filter. It seems to work, although I haven't tried it out in the dust, yet.

http://www.davesmotors.com/store/product1670.html

 

[phx123]

Well as I found out tonight watch the really weak steering servo... I didnt even hit anything and I stripped all the gears inside.. I ordered the steel conversion for it so Ill let ya know how it goes..
P.S Oh and yes that filter is a must.. It sucks everything in there.. I even found a twoonie.

 

[1500valk]

ok, twoonie as in 2 dollar Canadian piece?
Mine was surprisingly clean, even running it in grass, but I still blew everything out with an air gun before putting the filter on there.

 

[phx123]

Oh yeah I guess some of you might not know what a twoonie is haha. But your right. Its a 2 dollar coin.