My 30lb baby arrived

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for me, running wise ps has been really only issue. i did alot of upgrades on mine and nothing was ever wrong before that, i used a metal carb spacer piece and different filter attachment to carb, with one of those, cant remember the name, not fast eddy, but that other guy that made a couple different designed, carb/filter velocity stacks. some guys say the servos go on thiers, i changed mine to hitecs, but old ones were still good to use. i changed radios too, to a 4pks, just bout all upgrades werent needed as truck was good, but ya git the upgrade bug, its hard to not do it anyways, lol:lol: the original bodies are thin, youll prolly need to reinforce it in places with some abs sheets on underside, just use the good heat gun to heat the pieces up and gloves to work it down over body to conform as best ya can, and some pop rivots to secure it to body with a lil good glue, it will make body last a bit longer


theres a great guy here on thie forum too, Woodster, that does bodies, 3 times thicker than the old stock ones like this one i got from him and made a gen lee body from:
IMG_1355.webp
 
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for me, running wise ps has been really only issue. i did alot of upgrades on mine and nothing was ever wrong before that, i used a metal carb spacer piece and different filter attachment to carb, with one of those, cant remember the name, not fast eddy, but that other guy that made a couple different designed, carb/filter velocity stacks. some guys say the servos go on thiers, i changed mine to hitecs, but old ones were still good to use. i changed radios too, to a 4pks, just bout all upgrades werent needed as truck was good, but ya git the upgrade bug, its hard to not do it anyways, lol:lol: the original bodies are thin, youll prolly need to reinforce it in places with some abs sheets on underside, just use the good heat gun to heat the pieces up and gloves to work it down over body to conform as best ya can, and some pop rivots to secure it to body with a lil good glue, it will make body last a bit longer


theres a great guy here on thie forum too, Woodster, that does bodies, 3 times thicker than the old stock ones like this one i got from him and made a gen lee body from:
IMG_1355.webp

So no issues with the frame of the truck? Did you upgrade alot of stuff as as soon as you got it? Im planning on upgrading stuff but not as soon as i get it the wife will get pissed:D
 
So cobra do you still like your truck?

To answer your question, yes absolutely I still love my truck. However I have had some issues (all pics taken with iphone 4s):


The gear mesh was WAY too tight. I had to loosen all the clutch/engine bolts and ran 3 sheets of paper stacked between the pinion and spur then tightened everything back up. That resolved the issue. Not real hard to do.

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The Spur/pinion cover attachment tab was rubbing on the RH axle shaft when the suspension would compress. I unbolted the tab and ground off a little material for clearance. Good to go. Not hard at all.

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I broke the front upper shock mount during break in. I actually think it may have been broken/cracked out of the box because I was basically just doing circles when it let go. Not a big deal, there was an extra one in the spare parts bag (although I used an HPI part I already had). Real easy fix.

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The rear upper shock support snapped in half during some pretty heavy jumping yesterday. Replaced with an HPI part. That was kind of a pain as the new big fancy pipe Dan is shipping these with has to be removed to replace that shock support.

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The rear body mounting area basically crumbled the second time it was on it's roof. Kind of disappointing, but expected.

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After all that, my pull start has been fine. It was acting up yesterday, but I noticed I had a lot of grass built up in it. Cleaned it out and it's been holding up fine since. I ran about a tank through it today taking it easy. No other problems. The two parts that have broken come as spares in the parts bag the truck comes with. The other stuff just needed some elbow grease to get worked out. I didn't want to admit this, but the KM plastics don't seem to hold up as well as the HPI parts. Overall I'm still VERY happy with the truck and what I paid. I also have an older HPI Baja 5B which I really like as well. I've replaced a ton of parts on it, but it's been run pretty hard and is a few years old now.
 
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To answer your question, yes absolutely I still love my truck. However I have had some issues (all pics taken with iphone 4s):


The gear mesh was WAY too tight. I had to loosen all the clutch/engine bolts and ran 3 sheets of paper stacked between the pinion and spur then tightened everything back up. That resolved the issue. Not real hard to do.

c3dec0c6.gif

The Spur/pinion cover attachment tab was rubbing on the RH axle shaft when the suspension would compress. I unbolted the tab and ground off a little material for clearance. Good to go. Not hard at all.

05856e00.gif

51a77a34.gif

868b66c1.gif

I broke the front upper shock mount during break in. I actually think it may have been broken/cracked out of the box because I was basically just doing circles when it let go. Not a big deal, there was an extra one in the spare parts bag (although I used an HPI part I already had). Real easy fix.

c2322b0a.gif

The rear upper shock support snapped in half during some pretty heavy jumping yesterday. Replaced with an HPI part. That was kind of a pain as the new big fancy pipe Dan is shipping these with has to be removed to replace that shock support.

c25567b0.gif

56413dee.gif

The rear body mounting area basically crumbled the second time it was on it's roof. Kind of disappointing, but expected.

f6b367af.gif

e330330c.gif


After all that, my pull start has been fine. It was acting up yesterday, but I noticed I had a lot of grass built up in it. Cleaned it out and it's been holding up fine since. I ran about a tank through it today taking it easy. No other problems. The two parts that have broken come as spares in the parts bag the truck comes with. The other stuff just needed some elbow grease to get worked out. I didn't want to admit this, but the KM plastics don't seem to hold up as well as the HPI parts. Overall I'm still VERY happy with the truck and what I paid. I also have an older HPI Baja 5B which I really like as well. I've replaced a ton of parts on it, but it's been run pretty hard and is a few years old now.

So in your opinion is the truck still worth it for the money? Or do you think hip is better ?
 
Fireman the fact that the Bodies are weak are really a mute point for me, the stock HPI bodies are brittle as well and for the money that I am saving I can buy Woodster body that is 3 x thicker and make it my own. As for the plastic being weak, RPM products have proven to be cheap and strong over the years for me so those will be in my future:) I can tell you that yesterday when I was driving it you couldn't tell by the goofy smile that I had wether it was HPI of KM:w00t:
 
Fireman the fact that the Bodies are weak are really a mute point for me, the stock HPI bodies are brittle as well and for the money that I am saving I can buy Woodster body that is 3 x thicker and make it my own. As for the plastic being weak, RPM products have proven to be cheap and strong over the years for me so those will be in my future:) I can tell you that yesterday when I was driving it you couldn't tell by the goofy smile that I had wether it was HPI of KM:w00t:

So basically the stuff that broke on the frame of the truck is just usual wear and tear, and the same stuff breaks on a hpi Bahamas 5t as well ?
I just don't want to purchase a piece of junk. As far as the plastic body goes that thing looks thin as hell. If its anything like my old traxxes body than I know that will break, and ill just buy a thicker one. I was more conserned about the frame of the truck
Thanks.
 
fireman my kingmotors buggy has survived some things id rather not say lol. they are tough just as tough as an hpi but you have to go through the baja after purchace to make sure everything is right from the start. thats with hpi and kingmotors or rovan. as for the rear towers breaking team chase makes a beefy upright set for 25 bucks , good luck breaking those
 
So in your opinion is the truck still worth it for the money? Or do you think hip is better ?

Or dou you think I should go with hpi?

So basically the stuff that broke on the frame of the truck is just usual wear and tear, and the same stuff breaks on a hpi Bahamas 5t as well ?
I just don't want to purchase a piece of junk. As far as the plastic body goes that thing looks thin as hell. If its anything like my old traxxes body than I know that will break, and ill just buy a thicker one. I was more conserned about the frame of the truck
Thanks.

The HPI doesn't come with big knobby tires, a 2 speed, or a 30.5cc motor like my KM did. I get all that for $500 less than an HPI. Even if I have to spend $100 on upgrading some plastic arms, or another $100 on a body, this truck is absolutely worth the price, and them some. There are pros and cons each way, but the financial difference for me is the biggest decision maker. I have an HPI 5B and I've broken way more parts on it. It doesn't make it any worse of a car. They'll all break, and you'll be upgrading all the same parts eventually regardless of who makes it. To me, it makes more sense starting out $500 ahead with a couple bonuses not even available on the HPI.

I can't tell you what truck to buy. I can tell you I'm absolutely happy with mine, and the $500 I saved by buying what I would consider a very comparable truck. If you've got an extra $500 laying around and buying the HPI would make you feel better, then have at it. You'll be happy with either one.
 
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yah, i never broke any plastic parts on mine i run i a few times, then upgraded stuff, my shock towers and bracing are alloy now, a arms still originals, but i got a set of rpms ready if i break one. i too had issues with the rear spur cover bracket hittin the new hostile boot and ripped the end off it. i did a rework job on mine, i completely removed the tab off backplate, threw it away. i then used 2 of the cone washers that were originally used on 3 point clutch carrier, reason i did, was i replaced that plastic carrier with a alloy one with a larger TFE bearing, it had the cone shape made into it, so i ground off the round extension part of those 2 cone washers, i used longer bolts, tossed the plastic pins that were stock holdint the top and bottom of cover, the screws i used fit thru existing holes perfectly. screrw, washer, thru cover and backplate nut on backside, tensioned it up good and snug, it aint goin anywahere, and will not come off, and no need for that tab by the axle anymore. i think i got a pic
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The HPI doesn't come with big knobby tires, a 2 speed, or a 30.5cc motor like my KM did. I get all that for $500 less than an HPI. Even if I have to spend $100 on upgrading some plastic arms, or another $100 on a body, this truck is absolutely worth the price, and them some. There are pros and cons each way, but the financial difference for me is the biggest decision maker. I have an HPI 5B and I've broken way more parts on it. It doesn't make it any worse of a car. They'll all break, and you'll be upgrading all the same parts eventually regardless of who makes it. To me, it makes more sense starting out $500 ahead with a couple bonuses not even available on the HPI.

I can't tell you what truck to buy. I can tell you I'm absolutely happy with mine, and the $500 I saved by buying what I would consider a very comparable truck. If you've got an extra $500 laying around and buying the HPI would make you feel better, then have at it. You'll be happy with either one.

I'm going to buy a T1000 when my tax money comes back. Mabey a little sooner if I finish my kids room off for the wife:D
 
when ya do get a collared PS at same time, trust me, youll need it, the ones they come with wont hold up very long. do also as mentioned, too, go over it and check all nuts and bolts, oil the filter, and i would break rear down and check the diff to be safe make sure its full of oil. it'll take ya a lil time, but its time well spent, before you run it.
 
when ya do get a collared PS at same time, trust me, youll need it, the ones they come with wont hold up very long. do also as mentioned, too, go over it and check all nuts and bolts, oil the filter, and i would break rear down and check the diff to be safe make sure its full of oil. it'll take ya a lil time, but its time well spent, before you run it.

Heat Hobbies has a KM T1000 for $699.00 I think i may buy that one when my taxes come back.
 
Heat Hobbies has a KM T1000 for $699.00 I think i may buy that one when my taxes come back.

I was going to do the same, but for the extra $80 you can get it with a 2 speed and the knobby tires from Dan. And probably your choice of pipes. Or, hit him up, he might do better than the $699 for that same one Heat Hobby is offering.
 
I was going to do the same, but for the extra $80 you can get it with a 2 speed and the knobby tires from Dan. And probably your choice of pipes. Or, hit him up, he might do better than the $699 for that same one Heat Hobby is offering.

wow that sounds even better did you just haggle with him or something?
 
wow that sounds even better did you just haggle with him or something?

His Ebay listings have a "Make Offer" option. The truck I bought, exactly like the one in the link below, is listed for $829 shipped. I offered $750 shipped. He hit me back at $779 shipped. I accepted. I think he may have done the $750 had I been 5 states closer. As it is, it can't be cheap to ship that beast across the country.

He's a KM dealer, so if there's a model you want that's not listed, hit him up. He probably has it, and I'll bet he's the cheapest.

This is the truck I bought:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5-Scale-3...ol_Vehicles&hash=item45fd6f0c31#ht_5028wt_952

And BTW, the body really is quite thick. It's thicker than any of the nitros I've had. I think the biggest issue I had was it was 25-30 degrees out when I crashed it, and there's just no support anywhere else. Those two mounting spots have to support the 30lb truck landing on it's roof. I don't blame the body. I'm looking into adding some high density foam to a few areas to help support the body when it's on it's roof.
 
Yeah i also got it a bit cheaper than advertised but i don't think it is fair to dan if we post how much imo. anyway little update after getting 2 tanks through it there were a few things i wanted to do to it to feed my upgrade fever.

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On the way are the following and should be installed Friday for some track time and video on saturday.

Full force hi flow fuel line kit
Hitech 5755mg(rhino)
Servo clamps
Ps and misc items
 

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