What do you replace your RTR servos with?

[majin]

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

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i use this same servo in 2 trucks, no complaints at all

i also dig the hobbystar 25kg servo, was under 60 bucks and its still working after a year. in my main crawler that gets the worst abuse lol
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184045880717?_skw=HobbyStar+HCS-4521+High-Torque+Digital+Waterproof+Crawler+Servo,+RC+Truck,+1/10,&itmmeta=01KF1T5B1SMWD3MZ5JBFM0BQM0&hash=item2ad9fd458d:g:WK0AAOSwi9hh3yr0&itmprp=enc:AQALAAABMO7PUuNWmJ++UShgI9tQz/qsjaOWmTsF/2E3d/W54oRJzukJp1nVybMkCjm+fSWh2pD+3o5z/gSJwnLdi0tdK3RR16ifA9/XD+GnnrTgYa3HT4f0/WCf+Mbb/4mMnilb8k/rfrn/msk8pp+IdjgN+Y/8KTfekrDgVQjVNZSFejLLvx89gAai348XUT+nGTJkJO/25Qfh0DONOPIQ3eGg9pCq/CYaihX7qlP6RFeaPTx0I8imgUnsZ+xI1PHoyObp3Z4HdIhz2E8P1O5Rc9p/5UiYoH7lBIfTg1bxpUNvVk1f2ZAqbIKmAyBnk1rhBYTEp+Kv8LhBUfWbxbn38MNeaOIg5RDuwvFam2vWPXjOnGPXsl2VHRNXtOo9nYd+Ho/hx8bjVYRv/sRqs8d0hFI0ip0=|tkp:Bk9SR4axlbr4Zg

 

[WickedFog]

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.

Where did you hear that? I've spoken to Brent a couple times and he's the guy behind his servo designs. Amazon servos are designed and made in China. But Brent's stuff is made in Taiwan as far as I know. I'm not a fan boy by any means, but he seems like a pretty sharp dude when I spoke to him. I can't see how his stuff could possibly be your typical Amazon stuff.

I do question his use of 304 and 316 stainless steel for their gearing though. There are only a few uses for that stainless steel. In your kitchen, the medical industry, and any place you don't want your chit corroding. Other than that, that stainless is a soft material and there's no way I'd ever use it to make gears. But it seems to be working.

 

[RustyUs]

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.

I love those online AGFrc/NitroPro debates.

 

[RustyUs]

A lot of toes get stepped on when "what do you use" threads pop up. Everybody will make buying mistakes/poor choices in the hobby... live and learn. How far you're willing to risk a certain price range servo is up to you. I can remember when top tier servos had a combination of composite/metal gears in them. Today's hobby runs rampant with rebranding products. You too can have your own brand of servos if you are willing to cough up the initial cost of 500+ servos. Tweak the specs a bit to have a unique product... BOOM... you're in business.

I gotta go to work now...

 

[xjtorc]

Where did you hear that?

I spent an evening dissecting one several years back. A buddy of mine had blow his truggy servo up for the fourth time and was tired of dealing with it. I don’t remember the exact model, but it had some pretty cool milling on the case. Found stainless gears with missing teeth on more than just the top hat which was pretty weird. They’re manufactured by AGFRC in China. The guts are essentially the same as the blue band “35kg” Amazon special.

It’s similar to the $50 silent ESCs I run in my crawlers. They’re using the same exact physical hardware as some of the $200 branded versions. Those brands are sprinkling pixie dust in the form of firmware, settings, and sometimes wiring changes but at the end of the day they all perform the same.

General consumers assume expensiver is betterer. But the reality is, we just have to decide if the pixie dust is worth more of our money.

 

[CertifiedMike]

You too can have your own brand of servos if you are willing to cough up the initial cost of 500+ servos. Tweak the specs a bit to have a unique product... BOOM... you're in business.

I might do this actually. If I order 500 servos right now, it would leave me needing about 10 or 12 more...

I had a very similar convo about servos recently. I think theres a TON of rebranding happening.

If a person orders a servo with a better motor, bearings, gears, cases... it stands to reason it will be a better servo too.

If I order 500 well optioned servos from china, they will likely be better than the basic, non optioned servos from the same exact manufacturer in china.

Same isn't always the same.

That said, I do believe there are also ppl putting fancy paint on junk servos and pushing them as 'pro level' 'racing gear'.

I expect that in buying a low dollar servo, I am rolling the dice to an extent.

I thought that with some input from the group, I might find a reasonable answer... you are all like CHILDREN!!!


Ok, kidding!!! I know everyone has faves, different budgets and uses their gear differently.

I have a few new brands that weren't on my radar before and am still open for more ideas while I get bench space cleared for the inspection and decisions are made.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[xjtorc]

I thought that with some input from the group, I might find a reasonable answer... you are all like CHILDREN!!!

"reasonable" around these parts??

 

[CertifiedMike]

"reasonable" around these parts??

Reason??? I'll show YOU a REASON!!!

 

[Finesavageboy2]

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.

Your gorgon problem reminded me of when I bought a Helion Invictus 10mt at a thrift store. the servo on that thing was so broken, I could only turn left. right was non-existent. And then I ran it into a brick mailbox. the left lower and upper control arms blew a part. now its sitting in a box in a million pieces. it was a blast to drive for that bit.

Anyway, I just use cheap Amazon servos. I think the one in my slash is a 25kg servo with metal gears. Last longer than the Traxxas ones at 1/5 of the price.

 

[jojobeans]

I guess RC Talk is on one today. I hadn’t interacted with this thread until now. I thought maybe I was browsing the forum in my sleep again.

Since I’m here though. Those blue case 35kg servo’s on Amazon have been my go to. They’re sold under 50 different brands… pick your poison. I usually get the 2 pack. I run my BEC at 7.4v on all of them without issue. Price to performance is insanely good for a basher. I wouldn’t use them in a race rig… but they have plenty of torque and speed for my sledge to move around heavy aftermarket 3.8” tires on grass. I’ve had one fail and that’s because I ran the BEC at 8.4v and it started to not want to center. Not really the fault of a servo when it was never listed as a HV servo IMO. But, it was cheap enough I wanted to try it.

 

[EJMOPAR70]

I just ordered a batch of 6 9Imod 45kg servos from ebay. Are they any good?

 

[CertifiedMike]

I just ordered a batch of 6 9Imod 45kg servos from ebay. Are they any good?

You'll have to left me know!!! Good luck!!!
Were they cheaper in bulk?

 

[PaPa K]

I put a Ramp Crab servo from Amazon in my Fcx 24 power wagon. Stronger and plenty quick, time will tell how it holds up.
Put a NSDRC RS100 and mini servo arm in my Typhon Grom, it is very quick and strong, so impressed I grabbed another for my Mojave for when the time comes.

 

[DavidB1126]

I just ordered a batch of 6 9Imod 45kg servos from ebay. Are they any good?

I have the 40kg ones and I love them

 

[Jerold]

The original servos are almost always average.

Personally, I only run metal gear servos. They are more expensive, but they are MUCH tougher. Also if you are in dusty, muddy, or wet environments consider a waterproof servo.

Lots of good servos out there. I mostly run Protek.
Savox are chatty and drive me crazy.
Reefs are very good, I've only got one and it's good, lots of people run them.
Ecopower is also good.

 

[RustyUs]

Get something better than what you already got... that's usually the mentality of a person that has a RTR RC vehicle. "Better than" comes in many forms. Was it the gear(s) that stripped/broke? Did it burnout/just give up? Did the case/tabs break? Maybe you are planning to run in wetter conditions than what its designed for? Could it be the stock servo is just not strong/fast enough for you and your RC that was upgraded or modified with items that caused more strain/stress? Could it be you know RTR electronics are usually, meh, and just want to be prepared? Or is it just because it's the wrong color? When replacing the stock servo that comes in RTR RC vehicles, I'd take into account the specs of that servo, and what I didn't/don't like about it.

I used to look for reputable brands like Futaba, Hitec, or their rebranded Tower Hobbies servos for my RCs. That was many years ago... before interweb brainwashing and the gazillion choices of today. In recent years, the lowest priced servos I've used are JX Servos... some of them you can get spare gear sets for, others you cannot. On the opposite side of things, a ProModeler servo is in my most demanding 1/8 monster truggy.

How low (price/quality) can you go? Are you feeling the "buy once cry once" pressure? Do you care or not about a servo being disposable?

 

[desmobob]

HiTEC offers titanium gear servos. Too cool...

 

[RustyUs]

Is it just me, or has Hitec been put on hold in everybody's mind?

HiTEC offers titanium gear servos. Too cool...

Titanium you say? I'm going shoppin' now.

 

[RustyUs]

Is it just me, or has Hitec been put on hold in everybody's mind?

Titanium you say? I'm going shoppin' now.

Well, this is what I was afraid of. The D951TW is the cheapest titanium gear metal case servo.

 

[desmobob]

Well, this is what I was afraid of. The D951TW is the cheapest titanium gear metal case servo.
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Yeah, but that's a whole lot of cool bragging rights for under two-hundred bucks, with tax! And think of the grams of weight saved over those ponderous and burdensome regular-old-run-of-the-mill metal gear servos that are weighing down your rig like an anchor now. Worth the cost of admission... for those with a wallet stuffed full of dead presidents (of course meaning "not me.") I can dream, though.