What do you replace your RTR servos with?

[CertifiedMike]

I have officially blown the Spektrum steering servos in both my Gorgon and my Granite. I'm looking for replacement suggestions.
I am aware that I can replace the servos with $150 Nitro Pros, Reefs... I am hoping to not double the price of these trucks by using such expensive servos.
Each truck still has the 23 spline set up in it right now.
I have already purchased a Hot Trick servo saver for the Gorgon to adapt a 25 spline.

I need it to be waterproof. I need it to not be 'any Scamazon servo', I don't use Scamazon.

What do you all use? Do you have any suggestions for servo arms too?

 

[Glitch]

AGF makes the servos for most higher end brands and you could just buy their best spec servo in your price range. If you’re truly not willing to buy anything coming right from China, and you’re not willing to spend a chunk of money your options are going to be pretty limited. In that case I would buy a 4s or 6s stock servo off jenny’src.

 

[Mike4xdriver]

I used these in my 9.5lb 4ws Atlas and have zero complaints.

https://www.makerfocus.com/products/digital-servo-35kg

https://a.co/d/aEr82A5

 

[DavidB1126]

I have this for my Typhon. Currently in my Rustler now but getting another one and might buy a batch of them to put in my Typhon and Slash.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-B...d=1768485719&sprefix=9imod,aps,97&sr=8-1&th=1

(180 degree option, no need for 270 in a surface, for steering use)

 

[DavidB1126]

In that case I would buy a 4s or 6s stock servo off jenny’src.

a S665 (stock 6s BLX servos) are 24ish bucks on Jennys. But still slow for my liking but can work, depends on drivers preference. Imo I would just spend not even 10 bucks more on a much faster 9imod like I linked, or AFGRC. I was actually looking into AFG for a micro servo for my mini b. Might go with them. Cheaper than savox. (I burnt up 2 savox servos in my mini b so far. #1 was a signal wire issue, #2 was a burnt motor it looked like)

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

I used these in my 9.5lb 4ws Atlas and have zero complaints.

https://www.makerfocus.com/products/digital-servo-35kg

https://a.co/d/aEr82A5

View attachment 263049

View attachment 263050

View attachment 263051

We have also used (abused ) those in our vorza, mt8 and big rock without any issues. Can grab them on the bay if you don’t want to use amazon

 

[xjtorc]

Scamazon only here!

 

[xjtorc]

But for real: Everyone forgets about Hitec!

Hitec 645MG for both trucks would work great.

And a Spektrum option:

Spektrum S651 is a little more money than the 645, a little less power, but advertised as "waterproof"

Whatever you do, avoid EcoPower. From experience, they're all garbage. Scamazon servos are better quality by a long shot.

IMO "waterproof" is nonsense when it comes to servos since they all have the same construction, a rubber o-ring around the rectangular body halves. Maybe those marketed as waterproof have some dielectric grease shoved inside them. Even those marketed as waterproof still have a hole where the screw threads into the top hat gear allowing water to shoot directly inside the servo.

 

[TeknoJ]

Some of the scamazon stuff has been really good to me. I go for nsdrc if I want to get something that isn't amazon. I have tried the savox, spektrum, eco power, - they all suck.
For about $60 the rs500B is awesome. It is direct powered. Also, for $60 nsdrc has the RS450, which is not direct power and may not be what a gorgon would require. Anything beyond those 2 budget servos and you are in nitro pro price territory.

 

[332_RC]

Spektrum S665
Corally CRHV 7225
Power HD anything
Savox
I can't stand the DS amaazoon servos

 

[xjtorc]

Anything beyond those 2 budget servos and you are in nitro pro price territory.

The funny thing about Nitro Pro is that they are rebranded Scamazon servos which have been well-marketed to racers. Yes, they, the company and their fanboys will claim otherwise.

Kinda like when CCXRC started a "new product line" of micro crawler parts but it was all Chinese junk with his branding. Nobody bought it and he doesn't do that anymore because it's a poor business model.

There I said it.

 

[TeknoJ]

The funny thing about Nitro Pro is that they are rebranded Scamazon servos which have been well-marketed to racers. Yes, they, the company and their fanboys will claim otherwise.

Kinda like when CCXRC started a "new product line" of micro crawler parts but it was all Chinese junk with his branding. Nobody bought it and he doesn't do that anymore because it's a poor business model.

There I said it.

Fo real?

 

[DavidB1126]

Anything beyond those 2 budget servos and you are in nitro pro price territory.

Meh. Not really. In my 2w/4w race buggies I have a very budget friendly (in the race world) Power HD servo, for 75 bucks. Amazing specs. Super fast. Comparable to nitro pro or maybe even better for the price.

I can see why NitroPro is super loved, and that's all bc of their warranty they have with the servos. Lifetime I believe. Correction: Lifetime gear warranty. 12 month free replacement.

 

[xjtorc]

Fo real?

Unless something has changed in the past few years...I'd like to see a tour of their manufacturing facility.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Its not where it comes from so much.
When I said I don't use Scamazon, I should extend to Ali as well.

Scamazon scammed me once about 10 years ago. Not a dime spent with them since. No plans to change that, ever.

I buy stuff from all over the world tho. Tariffs make me feel like its ok to do that now.

I think the Gorgon blew due a potentiometer. It still works, just not right.
The Granite servo died yest. It worked up until I brought it inside to put a new battery in it. I can only assume water but haven't really looked into it yet. I don't have room for 2 more disassembled trucks right now.

These trucks are my beaters. They are perfect for someone who visits and wants to run an RC.
I run them into snowbanks and icy trees all winter. I don't intend to build these trucks into much more than what they are right now.

If I buy a $$$ servo, the most likely would be a Reefs 422HD. It has snot, waterproof, decent brand, warranty... still @$110/servo, these winter beaters are gonna turn into fancy shelfers real quick.
Its seriously as much as I paid for the Gorgon. With the saver, its MORE! Not trying to be cheap so much as real.

 

[Doom!]

For anything bigger than a mini crawler I use the Amazon servos, so far no issues, pretty much what @Mike4xdriver posted above. I would imagine they can be sourced elsewhere. Have seen them branded under a few different names. Zoskay is the name on mine and I believe you can find them on Ebay.

 

[desmobob]

I'm very happy with one of these, especially for the $60 price:
AGF RC 32kg digital waterproof

I did get mine from Amazon but you can find them elsewhere...

 

[Burnzone]

Like already mentioned, I bought jennysrc servos of whatever looks most likely. Upgraded my brushed and brushless Granites with S651 or S652s. Now looks like 4s stuff like S662 maybe if I have to ever do it again. And get a 25spline servo saver for $2.97. Baby bird special, cheep, cheep, cheep! Cuz, yeah, bashers

 

[Spksh]

Another vote for AGF RC. They have their own non-AliExpress store: https://www.agf-rc.com. They look familiar, because (from what I can tell) they're the OEM for every other brand that doesn't have their own manufacturing capability.

 

[desmobob]

Another vote for AGF RC. They have their own non-AliExpress store: https://www.agf-rc.com. They look familiar, because (from what I can tell) they're the OEM for every other brand that doesn't have their own manufacturing capability.

I watched a video where a techie-type guy tested them and they produced significantly more than their specified torque. Nice. They run on 4.8-8.4V. I have also read that AGF is a producer for other companies who re-brand them as their own.

With their apparent quality, great fit and finish and proven performance, I don't see any reason to spend more money for my uses. Maybe my opinion will change a few years down the road, but they seem like a solid choice to me so far.

When I was doing a lot of R/C flying, HiTEC was my brand of choice for servos. That would be the brand I'd choose if I was going to spend more money. They are the biggest in the business and produce servos for all kinds of industrial and robotic applications. I believe the R/C stuff represents just a small segment of their business.
https://hitecrcd.com/servos/