Savage X restoration.

[Easy rider]

I bought a used roller savage x. I’m in the process of re doing it.

I’ve got a motor, rx/tx, roll cage, and wheelie bar. I need a motor mount, exhaust and header, and brake pad kit.

I took yesterday and went through the whole body changing the Phillips head screws to hex heads. I put socket bolts in the chassis braces. Looks cool and eliminates stripping hazards. Every bolt head is a 2.5 socket or bigger. Most are 3 mm. Hardened steel too. I don’t think it does a lot for beefing it up but, it looks better and is way better suited.

The car has had every bolt replaced. Now it’s the wait.

 

[ohsnap]

What engine did you purchase for your Savage and what gear ratios (clutch bell / spur gear) are you planning to run in it?
Be aware that some combinations will not fit in the available space (for example a 52T spur and a 18T clutch bell).

This is just my 2 cents - but I noticed that your throttle / brake servo is an SF-1.
Odds are that yours still has an SF-2 steering servo.
Personally, I was never impressed with the SF-2 as a steering servo and moved it over to throttle duty and replaced it with something that has more torque.

I also noticed a AA battery holder.
If I remember correctly, that will only provide 4.8 volts, and more volts allows you to get more out of the servos (ie faster & stronger response) and you will notice a difference between how 4.8 and 6 volts works in your Savage. For the most part, I still have 6 volt MiNH packs in my trucks, but you can also install / utilize 7.4 LiPo batteries too.

Neither of these two things has to be done for you to run your Savage (whereas the engine mount and exhaust system are), but they were early and noticeably beneficial upgrades that I made - and you don't have to break the bank to make them.

What controller and receiver set-up do you have?
AM, FM or 2.4ghz?
If you have an AM controller, an optional fail safe is cheap insurance to prevent runaways.
Many if not most FM and 2.4ghz units (at least in my experience) have it built in - whereas I've never seen it on an AM set-up - check your manual.
Runaways suck...

 

[Easy rider]

I’ve got a fluky gr2. I upgraded both servos. Hobbypark 35 kg for steering. 20 kg 9imrod for throttle. It’s what I had.

I’m ordering a switch with the humppack wiring. The motor I bought was the gt6 version of the x 4.6 motor.

I’m ordering an aluminum pipe. The stock one that comes on the 5.9 and sold as the x upgrade. M

I’ve since replaced every screw on the platform with a hex socket bolt, pan head, or button head bolt. Must hardener steel. There’s not a hex head on the whole truck
Now that is smaller than a 2mm. Must are 3 mm. I’m really pleased with that.


I’m about to get everything. Should have it put together by the end of next week.

 

[Easy rider]

And, thank you for the advice

 

[Easy rider]

I received all my parts as of yesterday. Only to find out the slipper clutch is different on this than newer models. So, I ordered an eliminator kit. Should be here by next weekend.

Looking forward to getting it fired up and running.

 

[Easy rider]

Finally got it put together. I’ll slow down and fix some things I had to rig up.

I put a slipper eliminator on it. 47 tooth with 17 tooth clutch bell. Kept it stock. I may end up changing that in the future. I don’t know yet. Got no experience with how that’ll run with the 3 speed transmission.

I had to file the mount slots in order to make this work with the eliminator. I was hesitant because I don’t know anything about these trucks. But, I’ve got another plate of if I ever decided to go back to the slipper.

I got to set the linkage tomorrow and will hopefully get it broke in this weekend.

Looking forward to hollering 3 speed baby!!!!

 

[guinnessdublin]

Looking good Easy rider! 👍🏻

 

[Vinni]

Did it have the DUAL slipper clutch system ? I have 1 them n all parts fo rebuild but didn’t like it bad design compared to stock setup never had the eliminater kit tho

 

[Easy rider]

Did it have the DUAL slipper clutch system ? I have 1 them n all parts fo rebuild but didn’t like it bad design compared to stock setup never had the eliminater kit tho

Yes. Any ideas on a throttle/brake linkage design? This stock one sucks.

 

[guinnessdublin]

@Easy rider
Have you done a search on here, sure it has been covered many times?

 

[Easy rider]

@Easy rider
Have you done a search on here, sure it has been covered many times?

Call me stupid but I did. But, could find nothing. Probably my error in using the search function. But, never the less, I couldn’t find any results besides the one I talked about above.

It’s a great thread but, I can’t find the parts in America.

 

[guinnessdublin]

@ Easy rider

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233998363956?hash=item367b63ad34:g:ZdIAAOSwVhdglC8h&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA8NnQOZxdcGC/XgbzsTo7APj153ixYP2CnBoRtGNwvOpozsQLU010r1pUbhACcgHXsKBrOJIwXs2nmMkWBrfQjn2+jSjQZrleUpZn98xLfvd+7EM7NsU7H/++ERZy/hzFAmR/Cqz9uFa1HjDxTDiWq1UKrkFlTgYfL+pAqoVLFtCa3Q877/cWtp+WTh41Br04BVXd0AwJ598kuLYzGBg0ncBjZ69BP0lVBb/wGJg3PnDyNWp+U8kVFb3LzQv8ecwxb217cHOH3Mrd1+oJyNSLiymVFfz7dK71/B251CmbXDQVY52t2+vZZdCeKF1NscwqzQ==|tkp:BFBMmJHuquFh

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273846936977?hash=item3fc28ca591:g:yNoAAOSwK9dc2-rM&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA0AzOQsPEY4VsglRm4s9s1pVVgUy/x+Puvkd216H8Gablh4oEmpHY7UjUOUOQCFzhEPGGpDQbdW+luxTEwvAS/L5Wgv5v8cdrIfX4p4gYJtMdeGJcxxts6tNT8UaUalmbTRXnDSwIGoNmnicXHt+PN8Bnc3CM7NJvw5jrlDEKaM1SydyzjsMmcMDmv+/VJP1m5DOhoblZFN2wPNvVT+XCDWRrgT38YQavtOyMLo/lFhGx6SwuhMoJ3onLiHTlY5CT2mrV0u1sZUT5c+qS/YY6HWY=|tkp:Bk9SR5qR7qrhYQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401416425013?epid=2277387284&hash=item5d76488e35:g:eQ8AAOSwVHde~p-x&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA8G+HXSDAFrd7geJOiJAYVWaWzYT6fQ8dVBz+AW9iIPuRBStk3v0l8LpzjrmfrpsERvFgYH4B5Aico2ivIF4bhCL/vSmphQt2Ig3QGH235TQTge09XDPeV+x+cDRbXRn9uihC6DwuPt8D76B+QozMlmtaL9LBjBZXOu5Pjwur6Hl36Aur80U7mPDatR/C6BtsijpgL40ygXp67kEYMA9Rzfsi2qV/VF0UyR95AkGhO4Jth9bTgmMak1eM1HcmNV3/CJgtYXBZ14VAq7HvUMr+YA1q6ZMhAOsfoAwMMkS3K50OI6p+kvYs8S5D+uT5A+Gdlw==|tkp:Bk9SR6KR7qrhYQ

Sadly not a specific kit out there any longer for the Savage line, but you can buy parts to make it yourself... I pieced mine together using an old turnbuckle I made for the brake linkage, and throttle linkage I had around from something from years back...

 

[Jam 1]

I also have heard of guys using old bicycle spokes for the linkage rods to the carb and brake...

 

[andu]

I also have heard of guys using old bicycle spokes for the linkage rods to the carb and brake...

thanks for the idea, was thinking about redoing my savages linkage and a bike spoke should be a really good fit (already got the collets that are the right size for the spokes)

 

[guinnessdublin]

@Easy rider

@Dipstick1977, There is as Jamo said no after market throttle/brake mod for the Savage anymore but you can do your own with the parts I listed in a previous post about this.
The main part you will need is the Fastrax FAST94RBK Throttle/brake linkage set, these cost £2.99
View attachment 11338View attachment 11339
The servo horns I use are these @£3.99ea but you could use a plastic one of similar size & shape
View attachment 11340
You will need 2 rod stoppers to fit a 2mm rod. A pack of 4 costs £2.99. & 3 small springs, I use the springs from ball-point pens cut down to length
View attachment 11341
The last thing you will need is a new throttle rod, the brake one can be reused but the throttle rod will be to short and will need to be replaced, I use 200mm x 2mm rods and cut them to the required length
View attachment 11342
The last thing you will need is a set of Z bend pliers to put the kink back in the end of the throttle rod were it fits to the bell-crank. You could use a ball & cup fitting on this end if you want instead.
Or you could talk to your local model shop nicely and they will put the bend on the rod when you but it.
These rods cost around £3 for a pack of 10.
View attachment 11343
The end result is this. far better and safer than the standard setup from HPI.
View attachment 11345View attachment 11346View attachment 11347

 

[Easy rider]

Well, I further delayed the progress of getting this thing running. I broke the dang pull start on the f 4.6. Last week. Dang it!!!!!!!

There’s more to it than that though. A couple weeks ago I was online looking for a parts truck when I came across an x 4.6 with a dynamite .28. The price was right and I bought it.

I got to run that last weekend. It runs great. So, I went through the truck giving it some tlc and took it with me to our Christmas gathering. Excited to run it. Well, I broke the dang pull start on that thing yesterday!!!!

I’m not a nitro guru but, I’m not a green horn either. And, I’ve never broken a pull start on any of the 4 nitro’s I own that wears them. I did everything right on these. Preheating, loosening the plug, priming them before trying to start them, etc…. I’m done with that crap.

So, in a few minutes, I’m going to pull the f motor out of this, change out the pull starter for the roto start back plate and put it in the x 4.6. And, for this x with the three speed, I ordered a hobao hyper 30 and roto start back plate!! It’s supposed to be here by next weekend!!!! I’m really pumped about that.

Lord willing, I’ll have this one going in the next couple weeks.

 

[guinnessdublin]

@Easy rider
Rota starter is the future, Lol! 😂
Used one on my savage when it was first released & never looked back! 👍🏻

 

[Easy rider]

Well, if it runs as good as it looks, it’s going to be a screamer. I got the hyper 30 today , the roto start back plate, and the roto start. Whew it’s sure pretty to look at.

Update on this truck. This has went from a restoration to a full blown build back bigger. Since starting this, I acquired a x 4.6. It was a pretty decent rig. Just needed some tlc and a good cleaning. I put the new f4.6 in it and two more tanks and it’s getting tuned right. and ran. And, from what I can tell from last saturdays work, it’s going to be a fast, torquey truck. But, I don’t need two of them.


So, this x is going XL status. I’ve got to order some tvp’s and it’ll be ready to get put together and running. I’ve bought the new drive shaft and motor plate. I figured since it had a 3 speed and I was going to work at getting the xl next, I might as well build this into one versus dropping another $500 buying a broken roller and fixing it back.

I took a chance that the hyper 30 would fit with the roto start versus the huge pull start. And, it does. Yay!! I didn’t want to do a bunch of modifying to make it work out. It appears the fuel tank won’t impede the roto start either.

 

[Vinni]

Well, if it runs as good as it looks, it’s going to be a screamer. I got the hyper 30 today , the roto start back plate, and the roto start. Whew it’s sure pretty to look at.

Update on this truck. This has went from a restoration to a full blown build back bigger. Since starting this, I acquired a x 4.6. It was a pretty decent rig. Just needed some tlc and a good cleaning. I put the new f4.6 in it and two more tanks and it’s getting tuned right. and ran. And, from what I can tell from last saturdays work, it’s going to be a fast, torquey truck. But, I don’t need two of them.


So, this x is going XL status. I’ve got to order some tvp’s and it’ll be ready to get put together and running. I’ve bought the new drive shaft and motor plate. I figured since it had a 3 speed and I was going to work at getting the xl next, I might as well build this into one versus dropping another $500 buying a broken roller and fixing it back.

I took a chance that the hyper 30 would fit with the roto start versus the huge pull start. And, it does. Yay!! I didn’t want to do a bunch of modifying to make it work out. It appears the fuel tank won’t impede the roto start either.

Looking forwood to how that HB 30 performs n how it drops in n lines up wi rotostart 👍

 

[Vinni]

Well, if it runs as good as it looks, it’s going to be a screamer. I got the hyper 30 today , the roto start back plate, and the roto start. Whew it’s sure pretty to look at.

Update on this truck. This has went from a restoration to a full blown build back bigger. Since starting this, I acquired a x 4.6. It was a pretty decent rig. Just needed some tlc and a good cleaning. I put the new f4.6 in it and two more tanks and it’s getting tuned right. and ran. And, from what I can tell from last saturdays work, it’s going to be a fast, torquey truck. But, I don’t need two of them.


So, this x is going XL status. I’ve got to order some tvp’s and it’ll be ready to get put together and running. I’ve bought the new drive shaft and motor plate. I figured since it had a 3 speed and I was going to work at getting the xl next, I might as well build this into one versus dropping another $500 buying a broken roller and fixing it back.

I took a chance that the hyper 30 would fit with the roto start versus the huge pull start. And, it does. Yay!! I didn’t want to do a bunch of modifying to make it work out. It appears the fuel tank won’t impede the roto start either.

Well, if it runs as good as it looks, it’s going to be a screamer. I got the hyper 30 today , the roto start back plate, and the roto start. Whew it’s sure pretty to look at.

Update on this truck. This has went from a restoration to a full blown build back bigger. Since starting this, I acquired a x 4.6. It was a pretty decent rig. Just needed some tlc and a good cleaning. I put the new f4.6 in it and two more tanks and it’s getting tuned right. and ran. And, from what I can tell from last saturdays work, it’s going to be a fast, torquey truck. But, I don’t need two of them.


So, this x is going XL status. I’ve got to order some tvp’s and it’ll be ready to get put together and running. I’ve bought the new drive shaft and motor plate. I figured since it had a 3 speed and I was going to work at getting the xl next, I might as well build this into one versus dropping another $500 buying a broken roller and fixing it back.

I took a chance that the hyper 30 would fit with the roto start versus the huge pull start. And, it does. Yay!! I didn’t want to do a bunch of modifying to make it work out. It appears the fuel tank won’t impede the roto start either.

Ive just broke this beast in wotch out fo stock settings super super rich

 

[Vinni]

Well, if it runs as good as it looks, it’s going to be a screamer. I got the hyper 30 today , the roto start back plate, and the roto start. Whew it’s sure pretty to look at.

Update on this truck. This has went from a restoration to a full blown build back bigger. Since starting this, I acquired a x 4.6. It was a pretty decent rig. Just needed some tlc and a good cleaning. I put the new f4.6 in it and two more tanks and it’s getting tuned right. and ran. And, from what I can tell from last saturdays work, it’s going to be a fast, torquey truck. But, I don’t need two of them.


So, this x is going XL status. I’ve got to order some tvp’s and it’ll be ready to get put together and running. I’ve bought the new drive shaft and motor plate. I figured since it had a 3 speed and I was going to work at getting the xl next, I might as well build this into one versus dropping another $500 buying a broken roller and fixing it back.

I took a chance that the hyper 30 would fit with the roto start versus the huge pull start. And, it does. Yay!! I didn’t want to do a bunch of modifying to make it work out. It appears the fuel tank won’t impede the roto start either.

How’s that HB 30 turbo doin ? I'm praying Hpi sell sum o them new n improved 3 speed trannys wi new KL kits as option parts 🙏

 

[Easy rider]

How’s that HB 30 turbo doin ? I'm praying Hpi sell sum o them new n improved 3 speed trannys wi new KL kits as option parts 🙏

I just received all the parts needed to put the xl together. Going to try and do it tomorrow after work.

I won’t get to run it this weekend Eitherway.

 

[Easy rider]

I got the truck together and a revo fuel tank on it. It’s ready for break in. Hope to get the time to do it this month but, with single digits and high wind, it ain’t looking good for the next 10 days.

I’ll try to get a video up once I get it broke in. I’m running it with ARRMA bigrock 6s tires with no extensions currently.