CEN Racing's New Short Course Truck

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as soon as I find my manual I'll post the bearing size for you Rodger

gotta say the difs are not impressing me at all
 
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thank pipe after I wrote about the cvds I went on to the cen web site and found the sizes on the bearing are the same as mine so looks like the only variable would be the axle lengh but I could use my old one if needed .
the way it looks like most of the truck is the same except the a-arms /hubsand such

sent you a pm on some info

that diff sure looks the same as a fs I had to file the spider gearsin the center to give some clearance and haven't broke any pins since

I wish I could get ahold of those tire looks sweet on that chassi
 
Now that I know the MCD lsd's fit, that is my next investment. I just put this thing back together as we were going to run this weekend but rain foiled that. so it's kinda just sitting ready to rumble. I can't see the lengths being any different since the tires are fs and things would stick out. they are actually cvd's.

when my pipes get here I'll be testing them out. just depends which one fits. I have the side and rear jet pro pipes coming for redcat. well I sent the side one in for welding. I decided to buy another pipe same time so it doesn't just cost money on shipping. Dino is an awesome guy and would have just paid the shipping back but I wanted to give him something back. dude works too hard to keep customers and I felt guilty hehe
 
I am trying too get these cvds from my local rc pimp he's saying that it looks like great plains in acquiring cen usa so he has been having problems for the past 2 weeks getting thru . :rolleyes:

Anyone heard anything ?

looks like some mcd parts in the near future
 
pipeous said:
Now that I know the MCD lsd's fit, that is my next investment. I just put this thing back together as we were going to run this weekend but rain foiled that. so it's kinda just sitting ready to rumble. I can't see the lengths being any different since the tires are fs and things would stick out. they are actually cvd's.

when my pipes get here I'll be testing them out. just depends which one fits. I have the side and rear jet pro pipes coming for redcat. well I sent the side one in for welding. I decided to buy another pipe same time so it doesn't just cost money on shipping. Dino is an awesome guy and would have just paid the shipping back but I wanted to give him something back. dude works too hard to keep customers and I felt guilty hehe
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I wouldn't bother with the MCD LSDs, I have used a front one in a couple of MCDs and although it does improve the handling and the traction out of slow speed turns they are too expensive for what is a conventional diff with a strong spring to limit the slip/rotation. I would recommend you try the FG special grease in the stock FS diffs first, the result of using it in a stock MCD diff is similar to the LSD....and of course a tub of the grease is the fraction of the cost of a pair of LSDs.

The MCD alloy parts are excellent but very expensive, Innovative Hobby list MCD upgrades from Jofer USA that are more reasonably priced.

Clive
 
I was more wanting the lsd's cuz I don't think the stock cen difs will last and there are no seals. are the lsd's the same worm gears? if so then I am going to fit some other brand difs in there. I should have tried fitting a nutech case in while I had them apart since I have spares of those

I haven't had problems yet, just planning for the future.

ya I was on Innovative website. my shopping cart has $800 in parts... was up to 1900 at one point
 
some mcd parts fit, not all as I am learning. I wanted the alloy motor mount/gear plate. almost $300 for the mcd one and I believe the holes don't line up. fs usa is now nutech usa... sickboy is the only source I have found so just waiting to place a big enough order to cover the shipping costs.

I checked imex, no alloy gear plate. fshopups.com is the best support I have found out there... who knows. I see some mods those guys have done. I guess I need to find an exploded diagram of the lsd to see what the internals look like.

that's why I take 2 or 3 rc's when I go play in case something breaks hehe
 
The inside of a MCD LSD found on RCU

nl30043.jpg


The output shafts do wear overtime and become 'floppy', I have not experienced this problem though.

Even if the stock CEN/FS diffs are not sealed I would still recommend you try using something like the FG special grease or even a heavy weight silicon oil. I tried 300,000 cps oil in a stock MCD diff and the results are close to the limited slip action of the MCD LSD.

Clive
 
I filled mine with hd grease. the bolts go through the dif where the grease goes so if you put silicone liquids in there, the bolt would have to go through the silicone (or drill the case and tap the hole for a setscrew and fill with a syringe after all loktited). the grease I could shape away from the path for the bolts.

ok I like those gears. I'm sold. I appreciate the pic. I've had 2 weeks of downtime but just got called with a ton of work so lsd's it is (sounds like I am back in the 70's... ya dude give me the purple microdot)
 
hi i have been wanting a 1/5th scale for awhile now and the more i look and find on them just makes me more confuzed:( i only have about $1500 and thats it for a few months i was thinking mabey baja 5t, redcat rampage mt,or this cen matrix5-sc. could you guys tell me what would be best because i don't have alot of tools or anything for upgrades on the trucks so they would have to be kind of simple. mainly i just want a good truck that i wont have to fix evry day o week ect.. this comes from haveing a bad experence with a t-maxx that didnt like me to be honest,
 
Here's a couple pics using the Jet Pro side pipe for the Redcat. I had to flatten the end a bit on the anvil to clear the tire but otherwise it was a direct bolt on. I also have to make a different spacer for the shock bolt to hold the add on silencer. I have emailed these pics to Dino at Jet Pro and he's allready altered the design for future pipes so no bending will be needed and the pipe will fit FS, CEN and Redcats
DSCI0001-1.gif
DSCI0002-1.gif

DSCI0001-2.gif
 
203 killer1 said:
hi i have been wanting a 1/5th scale for awhile now and the more i look and find on them just makes me more confuzed:( i only have about $1500 and thats it for a few months i was thinking mabey baja 5t, redcat rampage mt,or this cen matrix5-sc. could you guys tell me what would be best because i don't have alot of tools or anything for upgrades on the trucks so they would have to be kind of simple. mainly i just want a good truck that i wont have to fix evry day o week ect.. this comes from haveing a bad experence with a t-maxx that didnt like me to be honest,
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i don't think you'll get a straight "this is the best truck" here. you have diehard fg fans, baja fans, redcat fans,etc. me, i love my baja and i love my firehammer. i would think that it depends on what type of car you like.
 
HAHA. everytime I see the question, what is the best rc, I think of those seagulls from finding nemo... mine, mine mine...

I'll be honest. I like the CEN, but have written CEN direct to find out about getting an alloy gear plate and better difs because I have melted 2 sets of main gears allready and don't trust the difs... the answer I got was gears would be available next month but I could just buy from fs... so no immediate plans for difs I take it?

it handles different than others. I love FG stuff and I love my Nutech stuff. Time will tell with the CEN. I'd prefer less gears on the side as it's a point more things can go wrong
 
Yeah i gess it does depend on the person. Im just not sure on alot of things because like i said i am 100% new to this. Basicly i have no prior experence in anything that has to do with engines, servos and almost every thing on the 1/5 scale trucks. it would be very helpfull if you guys could show me a link or tell me how to be able to tell like what parts will fit what truck so i wont be limited to the parts specifcly made for the truck. like i remember trying to get a stering servo fo my t maxx took me 2 trys because the first one was the wrong size and i have no clue how to tell if that kind of stuff will fit or not. and i was wondering how long thos engines last like in genral i know nitro engines only last around 4-6 gallons but i cant find anything on how long 1/5the scale engines last. i don't mean to be a pain because i under stand you probobly don't want to anser every question so just tell be if i am being a pain so i know not to post any more. thx for the help this form has helped me alot so far.
 
You are being a pain in the ass, so you'll fit right in with the rest of us ;)

feel free to ask what you want. it's going to be us laymen answering because Andrew Smolink has left CEN so doubt he'll be back to answer questions

www.amainhobbies.com is carrying parts for this truck so that's a real plus. you can use a lot of FS Racing parts but the arms and shocks are different on the cen. some mcd parts fit too.

nitro is expensive and a pain to deal with. these things are so much easier to tune etc

I put hreat tape on my tank and such around the pipe and around the body. should help keep things from melting and getting marked up. I am going to take the 5sc out for a rip tomorrow
 
ok thanks orderd my baja 5t from towwer hobbies yestorday cant want to drive it around in the snow:w00t: im sure the nabor will love it to lol
 
I had mine out today for a rip in wet grass. runs good with the new pipe. the 2 remaining metal gears are very noisy but loosened up as I was driving. it was in the complex here and that area was flooded a couple days ago so it was mushy. I only traction rolled 2 times in a full tank of ripping around and showing off for the kids that watched. I beat on it pretty good. the grass area has about a 3 foot lip all around, it's catch basin for water runoff. almost big enough area to hold full throttle but swing sets and stuff start becoming obstacles hehe.

the brakes are really amazing, but I have to modify the throttle linkage. it's a bent wire thing and can stick a little (only a few revs but enough to just start clutch engaging) if you brake and it flops the wrong way. a quick blip of the throttle cures it but still bothers me. amazing how much grass gets inside when you are spinning the tires... I left tracks all over the grass. Sun peeked out for a bit today and I was going stir crazy. Needed to run something.

I dunno, just something about this truck. I love how it drives. The dual steering servos made a huge difference. I also took slop out of the front knuckles (they need a washer added behind the wheel square, I assumed it was the servo saver so sloppy).

The rear shocks are a bit on the soft side so I'll be changing that. maybe some heavier springs if the ballon springs will fit from the fg stuff that'll be a bonus
 
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