Are you an RC driver-mechanic?

[Harold Bascom]

There's nothing as satisfying as figuring out failures in large scale gas rc trucks or cars. For most of us who consider ourselves driver-mechanics, there's nothing as sweetly challenging as figuring out what the hell's gone wrong when your engine went start or why your vehicle just took off--so fast, you couldn't hit the kill switch fast enough before it was totaled against the neighbor's fence. Lol.

The above happened to me. Had to buy a new chassis, suspension parts, new front end... and believe me, the rebuilding was exciting.

And then there is dealing with what, for the non-mechanical rc-er, may be unknown. Why things fail. Here's an example: I'm running my Redcat Rampage XR hard around a technical flat-track circuit in my large backyard and just like that, it stops though the engine still revs and something whines at a high pitch. (Thats a gear spinning free.)

So l stop the engine through my kill switch button on my transmitter and groan; not because I don't know why it stopped, but because I had to lift the heavy thing up a grade to my house and the garage.

Of course, I knew the problem was somewhere in the transmission-- that a gear wheel had gone loose. And that was exactly the problem: the gear connecting the pinion was spinning free. So, I tightened a pair of set screws after putting a bit of blue Loctite on each and gave it time to set.

Knowing your rc and fixing stuff on your engine, transmission, or suspension can be fun for the rc hobby for driver-mechanic. It is for me. You learn a lot of stuff in the process. So, why not strive to be a driver-mechanic?

 

[DougStar]

why not strive to be a driver-mechanic?

I don't see how it could be any other way?.....whats the other option ? .......run off to your local hobbie shop every time theres an issue idont think so?‍

 

[Harold Bascom]

I don't see how it could be any other way?.....whats the other option ? .......run off to your local hobbie shop every time theres an issue idont think so?‍

That's EXACTLY what some guys here in the USA do.

 

[DougStar]

No way!!!! That's pathetic ????

 

[Harold Bascom]

No way!!!! That's pathetic ????

For some it's not seen as pathetic but convenient. For some people there's the 'I just want to drive it, let someone else fix it' attitude. Plus some see it as a way to support the local hobby shops. And remember that I'm talking about gas vehicles that can be intimidating for some new to the gas, fifth-scale rc hobby. Let's be sympathetic.

 

[DougStar]

And remember that I'm talking about gas vehicles that can be intimidating for some new to the gas, fifth-scale rc hobby. Let's be sympathetic.

Whahwhhhhhahahahaha NO WAY!!!????????

 

[Z.hb71]

Well believe it or not I WAS that guy who whenever had a issue, brought it there. But I was sick of their repair bill (they charged $100 for replacing brakes on nitro 4 tec and took 3 weeks to do it ?) and shortly after they closed down, and them closing down was probably the best thing that happened, not because they closed down, becuase it was actually a decent store and the staff were friendly, but it actually motivated me to get off me ass, and figure out how to fix problems. Now, fast forward more less 3 years, I can fix almost any problem I encounter with my truck! (That's not a brag btw, most can) unless it's a super weird issue. Engine is a different story but the peeps here helped me alot with that ? oh also that hobby store was the people who encouraged me to get nitro, which is pretty surprising for a mostly electric store.

 

[DougStar]

Even if I wanted to there is no hobbie store near me..... plus why give more$$$$$ away when you can fix it your self??

 

[Z.hb71]

Even if I wanted to there is no hobbie store near me..... plus why give more$$$$$ away when you can fix it your self??

Yep! Now I do have a bunch of hobby towns near me but I can't trust anyone to work on my truck, or drive it, too expensive for randoms to be doing things on it/with it. That is if they would even touch it.

 

[Harold Bascom]

Well believe it or not I WAS that guy who whenever had a issue, brought it there. But I was sick of their repair bill (they charged $100 for replacing brakes on nitro 4 tec and took 3 weeks to do it ?) and shortly after they closed down, and them closing down was probably the best thing that happened, not because they closed down, becuase it was actually a decent store and the staff were friendly, but it actually motivated me to get off me ass, and figure out how to fix problems. Now, fast forward more less 3 years, I can fix almost any problem I encounter with my truck! (That's not a brag btw, most can) unless it's a super weird issue. Engine is a different story but the peeps here helped me alot with that ? oh also that hobby store was the people who encouraged me to get nitro, which is pretty surprising for a mostly electric store.

At first, I was a 1/10 scale electric guy before I moved on the 1/10 and then 1/8 scale nitros. Up to then I read rc magazines and managed my own problem-fixes. But then I ventured into fifth-scale. Bought my Redcat Rampage XR with a dud for an engine. I took it to my local hobby store and the guy could not make the engine run.

In the end I bought a new Zenoah G290rc engine, thought of returning to the hobby shop for him to install, but something said, "No! Install the damn thing yourself!" And I did. It started me on the road to be a joyful 'wrencher.' Lol.

 

[Z.hb71]

For some it's not seen as pathetic but convenient. For some people there's the 'I just want to drive it, let someone else fix it' attitude. Plus some see it as a way to support the local hobby shops. And remember that I'm talking about gas vehicles that can be intimidating for some new to the gas, fifth-scale rc hobby. Let's be sympathetic.

Like 1:1 scale, some rather fix it themselves, some rather have someone else do it, just with 1:1, you might need a lift, it's much harder ect. RC is pretty easy

 

[Basher5iveT420]

I used to be that guy who would rather pay someone to fix my Rc’s.

Unfortunately no hobby shop near me will even attempt to work on 5th scale rc’s and the 2 places that said they can work on them
Wanted to charge a arm and a leg and are located almost 2hrs away, So yeah not gonna happen.

That forced me to learn to fix everything my self.
I bought every tool I needed to rebuild my Losi 5t’s and I order all the parts ONLINE.

Now that I’ve invested a couple thousand into my Rc’s and have learned to wrench on them.
I’m actually scared to let anyone else wrench on my cars ?

I now enjoy the process of fixing my Rc’s. I honestly think at times I’m addicted to wrenching on my Rc’s.
I typically run em till I break something, then i go home jump on the inner webs. Spend countless hours researching upgrades for everything I broke.
Order ... install.... repeat....
it’s a savage way of life, but I would have it no other way! ??


Ps: the only person that stops me from buying ridiculous upgrades is my BANK account, see the way my checking account is set up.......??????

 

[cbaker65]

On 1.1 ,my truck ,I fix ,on my wife's car ,shop!.....

 

[DougStar]

I work on all 3 of my cars ?? I have learned a load fom being a member here ?? I would like to help any member here any way I can. I'd also like to add working on your car is easy ?? don't be scared to ask questions 99% of us here want to help each other ???

 

[Blown67Sedan]

I do all of my own work on cars, no matter what size they are. That's where most of my enjoyment comes from... The wrench time.

 

[crucialRC]

i wrench on everything from my 1:1's to my daughter's 1/10 Rustler E-word. ? My thought on it is that if it's already broke, it can't get more broker. There's nothing like the feeling of something not working, then you put the time into it, then it works. I call it instant gratification. Like at my job when the guy has the circuit off, wires in a 3-way switch, and then turns the circuit back on and turns the switch on and all works as expected. The feeling of pride that YOU did it and did it correct. There's nothing like it.??

 

[Phill2]

Whahwhhhhhahahahaha NO WAY!!!????????

I have met blokes that don't know which end of a screwdriver to hold so I reckon they'd be going to the hobby shop or changing hobbies.

I work on all 3 of my cars ?? I have learned a load fom being a member here ?? I would like to help any member here any way I can. I'd also like to add working on your car is easy ?? don't be scared to ask questions 99% of us here want to help each other ???

+1

At first, I was a 1/10 scale electric guy before I moved on the 1/10 and then 1/8 scale nitros. Up to then I read rc magazines and managed my own problem-fixes. But then I ventured into fifth-scale. Bought my Redcat Rampage XR with a dud for an engine. I took it to my local hobby store and the guy could not make the engine run.

In the end I bought a new Zenoah G290rc engine, thought of returning to the hobby shop for him to install, but something said, "No! Install the damn thing yourself!" And I did. It started me on the road to be a joyful 'wrencher.' Lol.

Same with me but it was a Dune Runner.
Not knowing that I had to change the front engine cover had me scratching my head though.

 

[Seandonato73]

Guess im.avout the same as most of you guys. Just i was a mechanic for most my life so no one touches any of my stuff for repairs... have a hard time taking the wife's car to an alignment shop ? so fixing my RC's just came natural to me. Always glad for help and always willing to help.

 

[William E Burrows Jr]

I am very experienced working on the Losi 5 T and the Vekta 5.
I am limited on some of the G320 RC motor operations. I did buy a Long Block for a G320 and finished the rest of the assembly.


View attachment 52060
There's nothing as satisfying as figuring out failures in large scale gas rc trucks or cars. For most of us who consider ourselves driver-mechanics, there's nothing as sweetly challenging as figuring out what the hell's gone wrong when your engine went start or why your vehicle just took off--so fast, you couldn't hit the kill switch fast enough before it was totaled against the neighbor's fence. Lol.

The above happened to me. Had to buy a new chassis, suspension parts, new front end... and believe me, the rebuilding was exciting.

And then there is dealing with what, for the non-mechanical rc-er, may be unknown. Why things fail. Here's an example: I'm running my Redcat Rampage XR hard around a technical flat-track circuit in my large backyard and just like that, it stops though the engine still revs and something whines at a high pitch. (Thats a gear spinning free.)

So l stop the engine through my kill switch button on my transmitter and groan; not because I don't know why it stopped, but because I had to lift the heavy thing up a grade to my house and the garage.

Of course, I knew the problem was somewhere in the transmission-- that a gear wheel had gone loose. And that was exactly the problem: the gear connecting the pinion was spinning free. So, I tightened a pair of set screws after putting a bit of blue Loctite on each and gave it time to set.

Knowing your rc and fixing stuff on your engine, transmission, or suspension can be fun for the rc hobby for driver-mechanic. It is for me. You learn a lot of stuff in the process. So, why not strive to be a driver-mechanic?

 

[cbaker65]

GOT TOOLS!