TC3 Question

[TC3 Benjammin]

Hey guy, here's one for ya...

Just built my TC3 and after I let off the throttle the car turns slightly to the left (sometimes the right). I built the diffs and the shocks as the instructions specified. Why wont the car go straight? I have a Traxxas radio/servo/receiver in the car. Does this have anything to do with it? Rest of the electrics are a 14T trinity and a Novak Cyclone TC ESC. Please help, I want to race this thing!

[The_Ne-Go-She-Ate-r]

i had the same prob, did you build the tires good are they off track? are they off balence? are they wopped? it would be best if you trued them . every slight difference makes a difference in tc's. is your caster perfectly straight? it shouldnt have anything to do with the drive train inless theres a serius bind in there!, and try to set your steering better on your radio, that might help.

[TufferWilde]

TC3 -

From the sound of it, it is not a setting, but rather an issue in the steering system.
Here are a couple of things to possibly check on the TC3.

Check for any binding on the steering rack - it should travel smoothly left stop to right stop.

Check any of the ball cups, see if they are too loose or cracked.

Here is an issue I had with me TC3 - at the front "uprights" (sorry, don't remember the real name of the piece) there are bushings on the top and bottom, and these tend to wear out over time, along with the hole in the "uprights" will wear out over time.

One other thing to check. The steering servo itself will make a huge difference to the car. If the servo is worn out, or not strong enough, it will not be able to return to center and the car will tend to drift to the left or right, or both as your case may be. Once I had replaced the servo, most of this sort of problem disappeared for me.

Hope this helps!

Tuffer

[TC3 Benjammin]

Thanks for all the great advice. The car is brand new, so I would HOPE nothing is worn (steering rack, ball cups, etc). I think the servo is the culprit. What servo do you recommend? Keep in mind that it needs to plug into the Traxxas receiver.

As for the tires, I think those need to be replaced too. I have a hard time glueing the tires to the rims, so I bet they are not true. Any tips on getting the tires glued just right?

[The_Ne-Go-She-Ate-r]

bring them too your local hobby shop and get them too do it for you. they will do a great job, i never was good at glueing tires but i always do it anyways, youll get better the more tires you mess up the better you get.

[The_Ne-Go-She-Ate-r]

or when your glueing them make sure there on track and use a rubber band to hold the tire tight and right on the rim.

[TC3 Benjammin]

i need a new steering servo... Which one is the best for the money? Associated says I need 80 oz of torque or more.

http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/cool.gif

[doublet]

Get a HITEC 615MG servo. Only 39.99 at Stormer hobbies for a 108 oz. torque (estimated, its 100-something) and .18 transit time (also estimated, high 10's). I have one and it is an awesome servo. Metal gears, dual bearings, just not coreless.

[rc10man]

Hey TC3BEN, when you glue your tires put them on hte wheels, then put a wide rubber band around the tires so that it hold the tireing the slots. then pul the tire strait up from where you want to glue and run a bead of glue about 1/2 inch long in the groove. make sure you do this evenly in four places or the glue will make your tires unballenced. Hope this helps!

[TufferWilde]

TC3 Benjammin,

When I first purchased the TC3, I was using the stock JR servo, which had no power or speed. I put in the Airtronics 94257 and it made a world of difference!! As for the torque number, I would have to agree with the AE guys - they made the car!. It is not the power to turn the wheels, but more the holding power of the servo, so that the forces of driving it don't overcome the servo. This is especially true with a 4WD car.

As for the tires, don't glue your TC tires like that of a off road vehicle, as sidewall flex is the enemy. Glue around the entire bead of the tire.

Hope this helps!!

- Wilde

[TC3 Benjammin]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys!

...I'm sad to say I have another problem. My left rear A arm broke. It made me SO mad that I almost felt like selling the car. I guess I'm just used to the durability of
off-road (this is my first on-road car). My question is this: Are the graphite A arms tougher than the composites? Is it worth the extra money?

[TufferWilde]

TC3 Ben...

Glad to hear that some of that helped. As for the arms, I found that the graphite ones were a ton stiffer, but also more brittle than the composite ones.

I seemed to find that during a solid hit to the boards, the car did not break, but in a shot that I just tapped the board, I knew I was shelling out the $7 for a new arm.

[ovalnator]

TC3Ben, I run a futaba 9101 servo in my TC3; works great.

RPM sells a nice tire gluing jig for TC's; It may help you out a lot(they are fairly cheap too)

As for the a arms, I had the smae problem; Once my car glitched and ran straight into the board; broke nothing. Another time I was slightly tapped in the rear and an arm broke. The graphite ones are stronger, but they tend to be brittle. My advise, dish out the cash and get a set of aluminum ones; your car will be bullet proof!

[ohbarry31]

i just got a tc3 and have experienced the exact same problem, drifting from left to right randomly .. i have noticed some play throughout the steering linkage and am going to put seran wrap in the ball cups to see if this tightens it up at all .. if not i may need a new servo (currently i have a futaba s-158, anyone know anything about this?) .. so if you get a new servo and things turn out great let me know ...

[TufferWilde]

hey Ovalnator,

With the Aluminum Arms, have you had anything else break? One of the guys I race with put all of the alumimum goodies on his TC3 and then didn't have the same problem, but it caused another problem... Bent hinge pins and broken bulkheads!! I never did try the Aluminum parts, but they sure do look cool!!

As for servos, I just put a Air. 94357 in my TC (I actually race with the MR4-TCW now, just sold the TC3 to a buddy.) The 94257 I had in the TC is now in my new FT T3.

[ovalnator]

Tuffer, I also use lunsford titanium hinge pins, and have yet to break anything else on the car.

[TufferWilde]

Ovalnator,

Good plan!!

Tuffer

[JP]

Yeahhh, my Futaba S9101 is GREAT. All you need for a TC3. And it self centers, so you wont drift. No problems yet except I stripped the gears once from a corner of my basement wall (stupid wall). Im suprised I didnt break the front a-arm or ANYTHING else it was such a hard hit.

[ovalnator]

I like running my TC3 in the basement too. I know exactly what you mean; that stupid wall gets in the way to often! And so does that sump pit!

[ohbarry31]

i discovered that my current servo puts out 42 oz/in of torque .. with the AE guys saying the tc3 needs at least 80-90 .. i am a bit curious as to exactly how much a difference another 40 oz would make .. any comments? (make me really want to go buy a new servo) .. thank you

[TC3 Benjammin]

Whats up fellas!

Well, after 3 and 1/2 weeks with the TC3, I am selling it on ebay. I just can't hack it
On-Road. Just too boring for me. I hope I get enough for the TC3 (selling it w/ no reserve) to buy the T3 team. I think stadium trucks are "where its at". Hopefully I can raise the cash from my TC3 to buy the T3. Any tips on the T3? Why can't you use stick packs?

[Nairb]

What do you mean, "You can't use stick packs?" Of course you can.

[TC3 Benjammin]

TE says the only way you can use stick packs is if you take the end caps off. Punk.

[Nairb]

You can use regular stick packs easiest if you have at least one of the foam pads in front of it in the battery holder. If it's all the way forward, it will be harder to get the battery strap over it. Relax, buddy.

[ovalnator]

Stick packs will work just fine; I know many people who use them right after buying them out of the case at the LHS.

[TC3 Benjammin]

YOU relax. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif