Again could be due to me being a novice but I was expecting a huge difference once I put in the Max6. Throttle response did seem better. For the motor fans I am using the rocket / Surpass 35mm fans like I mentioned. I believe they have a higher RPM then the stock ones and can notice the significant amount of difference in airflow they make.
You can check my video
here to see / hear the difference.
I tried 18/54 gearing to start with and then went to a 50t spur. Took the whole truck apart and checked all the diffs after the 2nd run. Made sure the center diff rolled nice and smooth with no motor in it. Replaced center diff with silicone ear plugs. I put 100k front and rear like I mentioned in my previous post but just replaced the diff fluids last night to 50k front and 30k in the rear. See how I like that better. I haven't had it thermal shutdown yet as I watch my temp pretty closely like I mentioned. Once I see it get to around 140 / 150 I let it cool down a bit. Again not sure if that's a low temp for that gearing. I also tried 18/50 gearing which was nice but I like having the little extra torque and cooler temps with a smaller pinon.
Here is a video of it on 18/50 gearing with 100k/silicone/100k setup.
Sorry I don't understand what you mean about the lipos having the X flying?
These are the batteries that I currently use.
In all I would say it probably gave the truck about a 5-10% gain in performance but I don't feel it's worth spending the money on the ESC unless the VLX-8s goes out or you are going to upgrade the motor in the process.
I was going to go down that road of putting in a Max5 paired with a HobbyStar 800 / 1100kv and some mod 1.5 gears like yours but decided against it due to not wanting to add a bunch of extra weight to the truck. I actually have a WFO receiver box and ESC plate that I was going to use for installing a Max5 still just sitting in my parts box. I think it's just a personal preference thing really on how your want the Xmaxx to perform / behave.
Oh nice.. you change your diff fluid. Sweet. It turns much better for you know. And you should notice the inside front tire doesn't balloon as much while turning also. With the earplugs in center. It should keep the front wheels down a little more.
The thing with changing out the esc. Is that honestly Traxxas electronics suck big time. They have always suck even back when they first came out. It's the one thing that truly sucks about Traxxas.. they need to put more money into R&D on their electronics.
And they tried with the VXL. but they feel short again as always. Especially with the VXL in the Xmaxx. It definitely works and they are able to sell it as a RTR. But that's about all it good for.
It's not the rite esc for delivering or handling the power and amp/voltage draw. That the 8s 1250kv motor need to move that heavy beast of a truck.. The esc has a small window of gearing ratio to run. With it not over heating and catching fire. Especially with the little fan it has.
It's usually the first to go along with the servo next or vice-versa. The servos are 100% crap made with all plastic gears with no real power or any good tourqe. The servo has a hard time turning those big as* tires of the X with all the weight of truck sitting on them.
They have crapped/burnt out on alot of people. Just running it in grass or sand or dirt. Just turning the wheels after working on it while its sitting on the ground or work bench which puts alot of strain/stress on the servo.
That will usually always end up being a bad day. And over stressing the servo while using it at its max. The factory usually sets them on 100% for quality controll testing before shipping then out. And they never turn them down to a respectable good percentage for use. Which is another reason the servo will burn out.
Alot of people don't know any better. They just go to the hobby shop. And ask whats the biggest badest truck/ car they have. That everyone is using or talking about , or the newest RC they have. When they want or thinking about getting into the hobby the first time. And they end up buying the Xmaxx.
I've seen videos of guys pulling the truck out of the box for the first time. And not even look over it. Or check the mesh of gears. Or the diff fluids or shocks. Or go threw the manual before driving it.
And they strip the gears before the end of driveway. Or they think the Auto flip is the best thing ever. And keep holding the button untill it flips or breaks.Not realizing it only works on certain types of ground. And they blow apart their diffs gears or rip the pin/spur. to shreds. Then bitch and moan about the Xmaxx. That it is a pc of poop truck. That burnt up or broke with in the first lipo pack of run time. Auto flip is another bad idea of traxxas to install on the trucks.
But most RC enthusiasts that run traxxas vehicles will tell you. They love Taxxas vehicles. But the electronics 100% suck and the first thing to do is pull them out. So they dont have to worry about fires.
Like the esc over heating issues. And melting or catching fire. From just running laps on grass. Or continued full throttle runs back and forth at the park. Amd once you start upgrades the esc can't take any added weight to the truck. It's basically at its max out of the box..
With a
max6 or max5. Or the castle monster x 8s, or the XLX2. They are much better quality built esc. They can handle much bigger heavier truck with bigger powerful motors and handle tons of power and amps draw. With much better heat sinks and cooling fans. Better
bec voltage adjustability. Better power distribution and set up. With much more to control and fine tune.Then the traxass esc.
Traxxas doesn't really have any real specs on their electronics. Only that it take 33v. There is also no adjustability or fine tunning in regards to punch control levels or with any other tunning abilities.
i really dont like the new ID connectors or they way.They try to say you can only use their lipos on their rc and with their charger. Whitch their lipos also suck. Over rated, over priced under C rated lipos. That are really made for someone that doesn't know any better or what they are doing and kids..
To be honest the the Hobbywing 1100kv didn't add that much more weight. The parts that will add alot weight. Is when guys start adding all the aluminium parts they can find or see. Thinking they are stronger. The RCs are designed with break points in them. So adding the stronger aluminum parts. You just move the break point from a 10$ part to the inner parts of the truck that costs alot more.
I personally don't like to many aluminum parts. I won't buy any aluminum parts that are part of the drive and suspension. Or any part that takes the hit from landings. Like A arms, shock towers, Shock mounts. I like the plastic parts they actually have a bit of flex to them. Which helps on hard landing. There is also little tricks you can do to the plastic parts. That will help them become a little strong and flexible.
And it is all about personal preference. And what you want to get from your Rc. And how you want it to look and drive. How fast or how durable it is to take the landing from being launched. That's the best part of the hobby no two rcs are the same. But they all bring us joy amd happiness. When driven and bashing. Untill you break it .then bring it home fix it and do it all over again next weekend... .
