E-maxx just cought fire!!

[J mAn]

i just got an e-maxx for x-mass. when i went out to use it after about 30 seconds smoke started coming out of the body!! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/mad.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif
i took it off and the esc was sizling and the batts were on fire!!!! i have to call traxxas when i get back from vacion

[krayzie]

Mine did not do that mine is still goin strong after 10 runs.

[J mAn]

if traxxas realy cares about there customers they will get me a new e-maxx and replace the batts!

[This message has been edited by J mAn (edited 12-25-2000).]

[This message has been edited by J mAn (edited 12-25-2000).]

[SteveP]

J - Traxxas is very good about their customer service. I've heard of a couple people with problems related to the speed control, but it appears to be related to a loose pinion or a loose motor connector. Bring it to the local hobby shop or contact Traxxas directly. From what the guys at the local hobby shops here tell me, they should get you back running pretty quickly.

[Slipknot]

They are gonna ask some questions before they give you a new e maxx, like you were only using accessories approved by traxxas? You werent running it in the snow or water? ( i know people do this all the time and it is ok but they usually say not to do so) um you waited between runs? You hadnt modified it at all? only traxxas parts? not overloading the esc and batts? etc, so be ready! keep record of everything! take pics! anything you can think of!

[dockman]

They have had some problems with faulty ESCs that usually smoke out on the first run. Traxxas with help you out.

[ttrcr eb4]

LOL holy smokes and Merry cristmas.

[Throtl Hapie]

That's why you got to build it yourself! They need an option to get every thing in the rtr but not prebuilt.

[R_C_MAN]

Someone from Traxxas actually posted here not to long ago about problems E-Maxx owners may face. I guess you guys missed it.

[R_C_MAN]

I believe this is the link: http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001449.html

[dockman]

The building of the truck was done very well. Probably better than most people would have done themselves, especially someone new to the hobby. The only things that had problems was some bad ESCs, which you would not have done yourself, and loose pinions and bullet connectors. Those two things should always be checked any way. If you havent run your E yet, take the plastic strap off that holds the bullet conn. in a wad. Check all the conn. to make sure they are put together tight. When I undid mine one of the neg. motor wires just poped loose.

[DeSmet Spartan]

I also got an E-Maxx for Christmas and it looks like they did a pretty good job putting it together. I have built about 6 or 7 cars and have to say that I haven't seen any problems with the construction other than one loose pinion gear. All the screws are tight and the suspension looks like it compresses evenly. The wiring looks good also other than the bullit connecters on the motor. I haven't been able to run mine yet because I need to change to Dean's connecters.

Any recommendations on a spur/pinion combination for longer run time?

Thanks

[learjet45lj]

traxxas has the best customer service support. I called today after the ezstart mottoe in my new Tmaxx stopped turning. They sent a new motor out in todays mail

[J mAn]

ok thanks for the suport, i was prety worried.

heres a litle more detail on what happened.

i used my two trinity sanyo unmatched 2400's and did not modify it at all.

i wen't out for the first run and after about 45 sec. smoke wasn pouring out of the body. I lifted it off and the esc was smoking like crazy. Then the end caps on the batery started flaring out like when you light a smoke bomb. The thing started to smell prety bad so i ran inside. I came back about 10 minutes later to find the esc still smoking a little i touged one battery loose but the other conector was melted together so i had to cut it free. Some nasty brown liquid poured out of the baterys and they have been sitting on my deck for about 5 days (not a good idea!).

i'm ganna write a leter to traxas and send them some pics.

[This message has been edited by J mAn (edited 12-31-2000).]

[Andrew the RC man]

well u see traxxas wont ask u what happen and what accessories u were using. The took back my nitro pede no questions asked even tho i was going full speed without the body

[Throtl Hapie]

You would think that with a truck that is going to sell like crazy they would have tested it with different batteries and other equipment and make sure everything works.

[krayzie]

After a week my E-MAXX is fine.No problems here.

[dockman]

TH- It has been only a small percentage of ESCs that have had problems and the type of battery did not effect it. Mah rating on the battery dosnt have anything to do with it. Traxxas stated that some parts of the esc that were made for them didnt meet the specs and this caused them to fail. You can only test so much. Some things slip through and a few did. The main thing is what Traxxas is doing about it and they are taking care of it.

[Throtl Hapie]

Ah...

[J mAn]

Will they replace the batteries???

[Interceptor]

So does this mean that you won't be painting flames on the body? jk ;-)

[backyardT3]

thats the same exact thing that happend to a guy at my track he got it christmas took it outa the box popped in the batterys and put on the body. Then the body filled with smoke and the speed control started smoking. He got a Novak Super Rooster (guy at lhs told him it would work) and it smoked that.so then last night he fliped and started going from front to back real fast ( to try and flip back over) and smoke started flying out of the body. He ran and threw off the body... the wires were on fire!!! when everything cooled off the insulator around the wires were melted off exposing the wire inside! He also had a big problem with the slipper clutch. Traxxas says they put it on too loose or something and it is ruining em. Does this mean the E-maxx stinks???? i dunno you decide...

Garrett

[dockman]

Uh...No! If you got a bad ESC then Traxxas will replace it.
How did he have the batts hooked up on the SR? Parallel or Series? In parallel the batts would be fine at 7.2v but in series would be at 14.4volts. To much for the SR and would fry it. The SR can take up to 10cells/12volts. Was everything wired correctly?
The slipper part is pretty easy.Tighten the nut. No problem.
A lot of the problems with the E other than some defective ESCs is inexperience and knowing what to check.

[JP]

backyardT3-you musnt like Traxxas, somehow thats coming out http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif But no, the E-Maxx is truely the best monster truck, if been torchuring the hell out of mine, and only broke a turnbuckle. Yes, I admit ive hit my fair share of ceilings with it coming crashing down, hitting walls while in the air going as fast as I could in a 20 foot run. ((SORRY MOM) she didnt find out yet!!!) I've even tried jumping onto a pingpong table off a small jump and cased it. No problems. You decide, the E-Maxx stink....ummmmm NO!!!

OK, now for the problems. You cant just drive your E-Maxx right away, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!! They tell you that you have to set your ESC up. They tell you to:

Check before each run:
1)check wheels and steering for binding
2)check operation of shock absorbers
3)check the wiring for any frayed or loose connections
4)cgecktightness of front pivot balls
5)check the mounting of the receiver and servo and ESC
6)check tightness of wheelnuts with a wrench
7)Check operation of the radio system, especially condition of batteries
8)Check for loose screws in the chassis or suspension
9if the steering becomes loose, replace the servo saver

Read before you drive, save yourself time and money.

[J mAn]

I caled traxas and they said to send in the esc and they would send me a new one. They said i would have to pay $ 20 http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/mad.gif ! They also said they probably couldn't replace the batteries.

Anyway how should i clean that nasty resedue and the disgusting smell off the rest of the e-maxx?