RangerRock
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,985
First of all I would like to thank all of the members that put my name in and I would also like to thank Megabyteme (John) for allowing me to do this review.
Truck: HPI Savage X 4.6 RTR
Manufacturer: HPI
Written by: HPI_Savage25 (Parker)
Price: $429.99 (Tower Hobbies price) www.towerhobbies.com
Kit Number: 867
Here is a list of everything included in the box:
1: HPI Savage X 4.6
2: Roto Start 2
3: Transmitter
4: Manual and stickers
5: Inner cone for the exaust to make it quieter
6: 2, 2.5, and 3mm allen keys
7: Tie Rod adjust tool
8: Roll cage that protects the engine head
9: 14mm hex's
10: Extra body clips, radio box clips
11: Tall body post, servo horns, various other linkage items
Break-In: I broke the engine in the way HPI recommended. The first tank is idling with the truck off the ground, or tires off the ground. During this tank I had to restart it several times, the motor had a sweet spot that if it was anything more or less it would just die. For the second, third, and fourth tank I drove it around in circles blipping the throttle and letting it coast some. After each tank I would lean the HSN (High Speed Needle) and the LSN (Low Speed Needle) out about 1/8 turn. Overall the break-in was very simple and the motor starts very easy.
As of now I have right at 8 tanks through the motor and it is feeling very powerful. I am having no problems lifting the wheels up in the front yard and not to mention the low speed is still quite rich. I did have to add another spring to the brake rod, the one spring on the rod was not enough to activate the brakes and I just happen to have a spring laying in my box so I put it on and the brakes now are working properly. I also went ahead and installed the rest of the roll cage that covers the engine, in the beginning I only had the roll bar but now since it is pulling the wheels up easily I decided it would be best to install it, pics are coming.
Here is a picture with the extra spring added.
Picture with roll cage installed.
First couple tanks after break-in: After the fifth tank I started to lean the motor out some more for performance tuning. All I can say is WOW. The motor is STILL running rich on the low end and it will still pull the wheels up very easily after 1/2 tank. The motor has good top end also at this point and starts up easily. So far the truck has tumbled a few times, and I have added some scratches to the rear of the body from the wheelies.
Track Time: After break-in of the motor I went to the local track and ran it on the dirt oval. I started out by tuning the motor out in the field in within two tanks the steering went out and upon inspection the steering servo stripped a gear. I just happened to have another truck and I took the steering servo out of it and put in and it went back to tuning. The truck came with 1 shock spacer on each shock and for bashing around that would be good but for an oval track it made it too stiff and was top heavy. After running a tank with the shock spacers in I then removed all shock spacers then ran the truck again, with much better results. The track was very dry today and made it very loose, almost like driving on ice. I myself do not have a temp gun but a friend of mine does and while we was at the track we tested the temp of the motor after each tank and a few times during each tank with the motor never getting above 245degrees with the outside temperature being around 70-80degrees.
Jumping: The truck did quite well jumping stock but I noticed that it was a little too stiff and liked to bounce quite a bit upon landing. To solve this I took the shock spacers out which pretty much solved that problem. The truck was easily to control in the air and landing was quite smooth even on a track that hasn't been ran on in quite some time.
Bashing: This truck has taken some MAJOR abuse. I got me a bigger ramp last week and set it up in the court across the street and was hitting the ramp for about 3 tanks until it finally gave up. So far I have only had to replace a steering servo, motor plate, and a spur gear.
Low Speed Handling: The truck handles really good at low speeds while on dirt or grass. It turns sharper if you are on the throttle just a little bit. If you are running on the road the truck seems to want to tip over a lot but its a monster truck.....what do you expect.
High Speed Handling: The handling at high speeds isn't the best in the world. If you are on dirt or grass it is fine at high speeds and takes turns pretty good. Iran in the road some and to be driving in the road is different, the truck doesn't like to turn at high speeds too well. I am not sure why but I am working on getting the on road turning better than it is but overall the high speed handling is good.
Competition: The competition for this truck is going to be the the LST2, Warhead, and the Monster GT. So far the only truck I have ran with is a Revo 3.3 and another Savage X 4.6. The Revo is fast but if I ever can keep my front wheels on the ground I pass the revo in a drag race. I know that several people at the track has a LST2 and one person has a Warhead so I will be able to race them sometime soon hopefully and see how that goes.
Tuning: The motor holds a tune very well, just like any other HPI motor I have owned. I have only ran 4 different motors so far and I would put the stock S-25 and the 4.6 at the top of my list. The 4.6 starts up very easily and holds a tune very well also throughout the day.
Wrenching: Wow, this truck is very easy to work on compared to other trucks. To replace a servo is much easier now, if you ever have to remove the internal components of the tranny they can be easily removed by removing a few screws from the top, radio box is MUCH nicer than the older versions in my opinion and the diffs are also a lot easier to replace or even to check for proper shimming.
Truck: HPI Savage X 4.6 RTR
Manufacturer: HPI
Written by: HPI_Savage25 (Parker)
Price: $429.99 (Tower Hobbies price) www.towerhobbies.com
Kit Number: 867
Here is a list of everything included in the box:
1: HPI Savage X 4.6
2: Roto Start 2
3: Transmitter
4: Manual and stickers
5: Inner cone for the exaust to make it quieter
6: 2, 2.5, and 3mm allen keys
7: Tie Rod adjust tool
8: Roll cage that protects the engine head
9: 14mm hex's
10: Extra body clips, radio box clips
11: Tall body post, servo horns, various other linkage items
Break-In: I broke the engine in the way HPI recommended. The first tank is idling with the truck off the ground, or tires off the ground. During this tank I had to restart it several times, the motor had a sweet spot that if it was anything more or less it would just die. For the second, third, and fourth tank I drove it around in circles blipping the throttle and letting it coast some. After each tank I would lean the HSN (High Speed Needle) and the LSN (Low Speed Needle) out about 1/8 turn. Overall the break-in was very simple and the motor starts very easy.
As of now I have right at 8 tanks through the motor and it is feeling very powerful. I am having no problems lifting the wheels up in the front yard and not to mention the low speed is still quite rich. I did have to add another spring to the brake rod, the one spring on the rod was not enough to activate the brakes and I just happen to have a spring laying in my box so I put it on and the brakes now are working properly. I also went ahead and installed the rest of the roll cage that covers the engine, in the beginning I only had the roll bar but now since it is pulling the wheels up easily I decided it would be best to install it, pics are coming.
Here is a picture with the extra spring added.
Picture with roll cage installed.
First couple tanks after break-in: After the fifth tank I started to lean the motor out some more for performance tuning. All I can say is WOW. The motor is STILL running rich on the low end and it will still pull the wheels up very easily after 1/2 tank. The motor has good top end also at this point and starts up easily. So far the truck has tumbled a few times, and I have added some scratches to the rear of the body from the wheelies.
Track Time: After break-in of the motor I went to the local track and ran it on the dirt oval. I started out by tuning the motor out in the field in within two tanks the steering went out and upon inspection the steering servo stripped a gear. I just happened to have another truck and I took the steering servo out of it and put in and it went back to tuning. The truck came with 1 shock spacer on each shock and for bashing around that would be good but for an oval track it made it too stiff and was top heavy. After running a tank with the shock spacers in I then removed all shock spacers then ran the truck again, with much better results. The track was very dry today and made it very loose, almost like driving on ice. I myself do not have a temp gun but a friend of mine does and while we was at the track we tested the temp of the motor after each tank and a few times during each tank with the motor never getting above 245degrees with the outside temperature being around 70-80degrees.
Jumping: The truck did quite well jumping stock but I noticed that it was a little too stiff and liked to bounce quite a bit upon landing. To solve this I took the shock spacers out which pretty much solved that problem. The truck was easily to control in the air and landing was quite smooth even on a track that hasn't been ran on in quite some time.
Bashing: This truck has taken some MAJOR abuse. I got me a bigger ramp last week and set it up in the court across the street and was hitting the ramp for about 3 tanks until it finally gave up. So far I have only had to replace a steering servo, motor plate, and a spur gear.
Low Speed Handling: The truck handles really good at low speeds while on dirt or grass. It turns sharper if you are on the throttle just a little bit. If you are running on the road the truck seems to want to tip over a lot but its a monster truck.....what do you expect.
High Speed Handling: The handling at high speeds isn't the best in the world. If you are on dirt or grass it is fine at high speeds and takes turns pretty good. Iran in the road some and to be driving in the road is different, the truck doesn't like to turn at high speeds too well. I am not sure why but I am working on getting the on road turning better than it is but overall the high speed handling is good.
Competition: The competition for this truck is going to be the the LST2, Warhead, and the Monster GT. So far the only truck I have ran with is a Revo 3.3 and another Savage X 4.6. The Revo is fast but if I ever can keep my front wheels on the ground I pass the revo in a drag race. I know that several people at the track has a LST2 and one person has a Warhead so I will be able to race them sometime soon hopefully and see how that goes.
Tuning: The motor holds a tune very well, just like any other HPI motor I have owned. I have only ran 4 different motors so far and I would put the stock S-25 and the 4.6 at the top of my list. The 4.6 starts up very easily and holds a tune very well also throughout the day.
Wrenching: Wow, this truck is very easy to work on compared to other trucks. To replace a servo is much easier now, if you ever have to remove the internal components of the tranny they can be easily removed by removing a few screws from the top, radio box is MUCH nicer than the older versions in my opinion and the diffs are also a lot easier to replace or even to check for proper shimming.
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