Doginjeep
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 210
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief...but mostly foolishness.
This thread is about my two Savage X's, but mostly revolves around the second one, because it's the one which has had the most work into it. Nothing fancy, no FLM TVP's or mid-tank mods, but has the potential to get into engine mods at a later date.
This is #1. I got it in May,2013, and shortly after, became a member on HPISF.
#2 was a runner with an Axial.28 Spec 1S, HPI Ribbed pipe, 40series Masher tires and a whole box of parts, acquired in October.
I didn't know much about these trucks except that I wanted one. A lot of the members (Jam Racing 1, X, Xtreme Savage, Upbasher) helped me out in identifying which version I had.
I made an impulse purchase (#1) through a local seller on Craigslist, and ended up with what was basically a really good condition rolling-chassis. The motor was a turd (a SuperTigre .21) and wasn't even assembled, had the plastic diff housings and only a set of ProLine 40series Paddle tires. After realizing my folly, I made a purchase of a used HPI K4.6 motor. It too was garbage. I was un-knowing of this. It seemed like it had some compression and I figured I could get it started. Nope. I had to sideline the hobby as I was getting married in July, and that was a little more important.
A few months later, I regained interest in it.
It didn't fix itself while on storage, so I took it to the LHS and he pointed out that the K4.6 had almost zero compression. In my haste, I searched Craigslist again for a runner. I found #2! The fellow said he had enough parts to build a second factory motor, alloy diffs, a 3speed and 2speed tranny and a 47t steel spur gear. Also in the box of parts was an HPI aluminum rollbar and 1 piece of an Integy roll cage, which I scabbed onto Savage #1(sharp eyes will notice its for a Savage 25, and does not have proper mounting holes for the X TVPs)
After I took the mess home, I realized that the spare piston set he included was for a F4.6!
Not my K4.6.
So I made plans to source a sleeve and piston for the K4.6 so that I could build 2 trucks. One for beating, and one for speed. This is how #1 got the Axial motor.
I proceeded to dismantle the K4.6 and figure out why it was being so difficult. This is what I found.
The rear bearing cage (nylon) had disintegrated and was plugging the intake ports, not to mention unable to function at all like a bearing should. So, with more help from forum members, I hunted down some bearings. Avid RC sells ceramic bearings for the K4.6 (and millions more) for a decent price and they were on my doorstep in less than a week.
At the same time I also purchased a K4.6 piston set on eBay, sold to me by Jenny's RC of New Jersey. Great folks there as well.
I removed the old bearings with the toaster-oven method, then cleaned everything and put it back together.
I had #1 running and put a few tanks through it. I was getting enthusiastic about the BMX track in the neighbourhood and figured it was time to start jumping it. This is how I borked the plastic diffs. (inside joke)
So now I had to transplant the alloy diffs from #2 into #1.
#2 would be treated to a set of HD diffs purchased on eBay, again from Jenny's RC.
While I waited for these to arrive, I rebuilt the shocks. I applied the short-stroke theory to keep the speed-truck stable. I can't seem to find a thread outlining the process and I lost the pics I took while doing it. The black bump-stop is placed inside the shock body to limit travel, keeping the truck lower to the ground.
I did this only to the shocks with green springs. The black spring shocks retain the bump-stop for durability. I also used 40wt shock fluid in each shock.
I think it's too heavy, the compression is stiff and the rebound rate is pretty slow since the green springs are lower spring rate as well(actually they are just shorter than the reds by just over 1/4".) I'll probably replace it with something like 25wt oil.
I also decided to get a more race inspired wheel/tire combo, but what I settled on in the end was a package I negotiated with another eBay vendor. New Axial 40series Terrorizers on black 8-spoke rims, not a dish wheel that I really wanted. I belted them with a lightweight fabric tape (similar to duct-tape) and glued them with Goop Plumbers glue (thanks https://www.hpisavageforum.com/members/jam-racing-1.5645/).
This photo illustrates the increased track width compared to the factory Warlock rims. (Installed after glue was set and diffs installed).
While I waited for the glue to cure, I slapped in the new diffs and pinions.
And a new TowerPro MG-995 and Hi-Tec HS645-MG servos with an aluminum steering horn, and the 3speed tranny with a RobinsonRacing 47t spur gear.
After doing the break-in of the K4.6 while it was installed on Savage #1, I swapped it into Savage #2 to test the 3speed transmission. It didn't last long. I knew that it was recommended to use a hardened clutch-bell on a steel spur gear, but I threw caution to the wind and payed for it when I used the stocker.
So that's where the two trucks stand right now. I'm currently waiting for my 18t RobinsonRacing clutchbell to arrive at the LHS and I'll be back to the quest for speed... as much as I can afford for now, anyway.
SWEET !!! Great write up and pics too, good job Dog...
