Buying Used, Help wanted/desperately needed!!

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jaygreig

jaygreig

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Terre Haute, Indiana
Okay,
So, I got into 1/5 scale a while back, and love it so much I think my wife is getting jealous. I had the opportunity to run a Losi 5ive at my buddies house and if it was possible, I got hooked even more. Tomorrow I am going to look at a used 5ive and was really hoping to get some input. I am wondering what I should be looking for as far as wear points, areas to verify it's authenticity (since there are clones now of the 5ive, and I'm not that intimate with one yet), things that should be there that commonly aren't on a used, etc.
So, past the obvious of looking for damage, blatantly missing parts, and making sure to drive it long enough to let the engine warm up for testing compression, what should I be looking for?


The guy says it is coming with two 26cc CYs, a cheapo 2 ch Spektrum TX, upgraded shocks (stocks also), Losi tuned pipe (says it has a "small" dent).

He states that the front fenders have been cut back, (approx $76), front bumper is broken (approx $21), broken ball on throttle linkage ($??), broken radio box (approx $28), and needs some motor mount screws if I want to see it run (um...yeah).

All this could be mine for the tender price of $800...any help you guys can give me is greatly appreciated.
 
No clones are out so don't worry as for truck it's self there a tank set truck down with tires on it and turn center diff it should move no skipping then look at front and rear diff cups and pins on axles the pins wear the slot in diff cup then center diff the front drive shaft wares real bad the pin gets flat spot .
As for shocks losi are the best no up grade needed they did change to a nut to hold piston on shock shaft
If it's in any shape at all most on here would give $800 for it
 
Any pics you can post up? I wouldn't worry too much about the cosmetic stuff. If it is a 5ive that price seems reasonable IF it is running, is he firm on price?. As for the "upgraded shocks", there are none! There are aftermarket shocks and some may think they are upgrades but like nitrocat said, the Losi shocks are the best (installed some on my DBXL)...Put the stockers back on and you can feebay the aftermarket shocks. It sounds like both motors are currently out of the truck? That's the main thing that concerns me.

There are others out there on feebay & C-list that I see going for 12-1300, might be worth spending the extra $$ getting something all ready to go!
 
Buy the clone. $989 new shipped to your door. I am a 5ive T owner and I would buy it....Highlights:
Better engine and carb. alloy center diff. cup. Good looking servos, better clutch holder, cheap radio is the one I prefer....and use.
Pitfalls:
Potential flimsy body panels, and shock towers. Worth the risk IMO as those are wear items anyway.
GO FOR IT, I wouldn't judge you.
 
Revolauncher said:
Buy the clone. $989 new shipped to your door. I am a 5ive T owner and I would buy it....Highlights:
Better engine and carb. alloy center diff. cup. Good looking servos, better clutch holder, cheap radio is the one I prefer....and use.
Pitfalls:
Potential flimsy body panels, and shock towers. Worth the risk IMO as those are wear items anyway.
GO FOR IT, I wouldn't judge you.
Click to expand...

that's a terrible idea......:(
 
It's a terrible idea that I have spent my hard earned money and know a better value when I see one. The parts are all compatible and Rovan provides excellent support to hundreds of members on these very same boards. "Don't hate the playa', hate the game." People need to get off their high horse on the whole intellectual property thing. If Losi didn't want it cloned, they shouldn't have them built to spec. overseas for them by competing vendors. This looks like a good quality model and worthy of the investment. YOU can't knock something until YOU have tried it. Flame over.
 
Well, I ended up pulling the trigger on it. I can post up some picks later tonight...the cosmetic stuff only bothers me because I want to be the one to scuff, crack, and rip up the body! I will most likely invest in a new body...I have found a few screws that are right on the cusp of being stripped (cheap driver probably) so those will also go. It is running and drives at the moment, but I believe I will be tearing it down to really take stock of it soon. So, for now I will keep the running to a minimum, and try to adjust to how insanely loud this thing is compared to my baja.
All in all, kind of a happy kid now...I've got a 5ive T baby!!!
 
Now that you have adopted a new baby you have a big responsibility and if we find that you are miss treating it you will reported to the 5ive police as all of have been guilty of
 
lol...yeah, I feel like i just got another kid to take care of. It needs a fair bit of TLC, but I think I'm up for the responsibility. Body is pretty well cashed...the guy had tried to dye the wheels red and made them a wonderful shade of maroon. I am thinking a stainless screw set may be one of the first purchases. Then the decision on what to do on the body since it's going to be clear now...possibly a tribute to one of my favorite Lucas Offroad drivers...may do something custom from my buddy that does some pretty amazing work. Thoughts?
 
may need something in the pipe department...I think the Losi pipe on it def rolls on the power, but it is literally so loud that it hurts your ears if you're too close to it. I ran it out across the field earlier, and as I brought it back on a right hand turn, maybe 20 feet from me, it actually caused pain in my ears...borderline annoying. Bear in mind this is coming from someone who normally doesn't mind loud (especially engine) noises. Anyone have a pipe recommendation? Something that isn't going to break the bank or burst my eardrums? Dominator w/silencer?
 
Well if you go price you can get a jetpro for $140 shipped and most everything els is $250 there all good some a little better than others everyone has the best on here and will tell you so.
 
I am wondering on another "cosmetic" issue...I think I am going to get some black RIT dye tonight and see what I can do about the maroon wheels. The only urgency on this is the fact that my wife said "I like the rose colored wheels on it"...yeah...not happening. Anyone know of a trick to maybe minimize the current dye color? Or do you think that the black dye will take care of it? Thanks in advance...
 
Trying to convince myself that tearing this thing down to almost "kit" form will be fun...I am surprisingly not looking forward to it like I did with my baja...I really wonder if it stems from the fact that all I really want to do is drive it.
Also, another question I have is, is the roll cage normally very flexible? I go to even pick this hoss up and it flexes quite a bit.
And while I don't think it's "buyer's remorse", I am starting to cringe at what this "restoration" is looking like it's going to cost me...I'm thinking it's more important than ever to read the reviews, ask the opinions of the guys that know this beast well, so that I'm putting the best parts in. Thanks for the help so far to all that chipped in opinions and information. I think the next thread will be almost like a "let the audience decide"...I am going to start the tear down next week. The parts ordering will start shortly after. So, if you happen upon the thread, feel free to throw in your two cents...

(Seriously, if all you guys want to throw in $0.02...every little bit helps LOL)
 
You had better see if what you want is available some stuff is pie in the sky no one has it .
But the big one go a ahead these are not bad to work on and like the diff stock parts you can get you will like it
 
Tear into it. Every part that matters is available. I have no idea what he is talking about. Easy to work on. Cheap to maintain
 
Glad to hear they are easy to work on and hoping it holds true to be "cheap to maintain".

I guess I was going off of the flexibility or almost lack thereof, of the Team Chase cage on my Baja...it's pretty stiff and sturdy, so it had me worried on the Losi. I will most likely tear into it tomorrow night...going to spend the last evening of my vacation running it around and irritating people with the noise. Thanks for all the help guys!
 
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