mini-x versions

[sleepyb]

was wondering, heard mentions of new vs. old version of the mini-x...
what exactly are the differences?

[The Thunderer]

Absolutely! I'd like to know too. I've got one that is the glitchiest thing ever... with an FM radio! I'm not sure if its the radio or something wrong with the car.

The thing that also concerns me is the plastic (clear plastic... fragile plastic?) gears at the rear shaft end point and the forward shaft end point. These guys scare me! The look to be easily broken.

I HOPE that this is not a new version...

Any insights Mini-X experts?

[tinyrc]

The old version was a fake/prototype version that was never intended for sale, and somehow HK retailers got a hold of some and sold them, and it made the Mini-X look bad as they were junk (since they were prototypes, not for consumer release). The proper Mini-X, which we stock here, is much tougher. It may look fragile because it's clear, but it is far stronger and thicker than for example a Mini-Z.

[dgilpin]

They look pretty cheesy, but seem to hold up fine, especially indoors. I cracked that front pinion gear pretty quick, so plan on making a foam bumper for the front. I was able to modify an 8-tooth mini-z gear to replace it. So order some spares. The motor runs way too hot (burns your fingers!) on 6 cells, and mine burned out, so get one of those, too if yours runs hot. I hope that one was just bad from the start.

The rest of the plastics are fine after two weeks of use, some out on the concrete driveway which is not very kind to it.

Mine is also very glitchy. I put alkalines in my mini-z transmitter instead of nimh. That helped a little (higher voltage). The 6-cell pack helps on the rx end a little, too, I think. I will try my T-maxx transmitter sometime.

I am running on lithium ion cells now, and that required a lot of plastic surgery, and relocating the rx toward the rear had the benefit of allowing me to pull the antenna wire up more, which also helped the range some. How about a longer wire?

[tinyrc]

I am running on lithium ion cells now, and that required a lot of plastic surgery

Wow, cool, can you post some pics in a new thread about your LiIon conversion?! :cool:

[dgilpin]

I shouldn't stir up interest yet - the jury is still out on them. The cells I got were for an electric r/c airplane, and were pulled out of surplus cell phone battery packs.

Lithiums are more dangerous to work with, as I understand they can melt down if pushed too far. But after running them through a few charges seem ok on the x. My concerns are that they are about 8.4v fully charged - what will that do to the esc long term? It does not get warm, so I hope it is ok. The motor is another matter. I thought it would have hurt the esc and not the motor! But that is good because motors are cheap, and we may see modifieds some day.

The packs have a tiny circuit which limits current draw (2 or 3 amps) and shorts, so of course I removed that! So the cells may not last long (I paid $4 per pair - a pair is 8.4v - so I don't mind burning out a few). That allowed me to snap them into single AA holders from Radio Shack - one on each side. Since they are longer that AAA, I had to trim away the plastic on the front battery box, and move the rx and esc up higher. It is getting pretty ugly. But the AA holders are on their sides, so I can change batteries without romoving the body!

Two lithiums and the holders are still lighter than the 6-cell pack, and have about 850mah capacity. But the discharge curve is not as level as nimh, so the voltage drops while using. And you have to be very careful not to run them down too much or a cell can be damaged (that little circuit takes care of that by cutting out).

All that just to say it is not for the faint of heart, may be hard to obtain, and may damage your car. So let me get a new motor in this thing and continue testing before saying much more!

Pics will have to wait 'till I get a camera rigged up. Just imagine a fat AA cell on each side, the side and front plastic removed from the battery "box", and the esc and rx mounted over the batteries to avoid hitting the steering works.

There are some other mods, too. But nothing interesting.

[tinyrc]

Cool! :cool:

[irc]

The first mini x proto had a lot of binding in the gears. The newer version rolls much smother and drives nice. the plastic is very strong but the front pinion gear is the weak point. If your steering is glitching try twisting the short servo wire this always works. The motors do run hot and IM not sure why?

[dgilpin]

I got a new stock motor and put in bearings and two capacitors. I also twisted the servo and speed control cables from the receiver. Glitches are completely gone! I used to hold the car up and press the throttle - the esc LEDs flickered and the motor stuttered pretty bad. Not now!

[Btman]

Wow great tip about twisting the servo wires. I have not tried it yet because my car does not glitch too much. In fact it glitches less than my mini-z. I also noticed that the motor runs very hot on these cars. So far mine has not burned out since I got the car about 2 months ago. I don't know if the heat is due to the 4 wheel drive (even with bearings), the turns on the motor or what. Other than that the car has been very reliable and durable. Maybe there should be a heatsink finned aluminum motor bracket for these cars. I know modified motors on larger scale cars can be hot and heatsinks are available to help with the heat problem.

[dgilpin]

Definitely needs a heatsink, and I have been working on that. Just a wired-on piggyback heatsink gets hot, but its really just too much of a load for that little motor. How about a tiny fan blade on the long motor shaft? Probably not enough. We need a micro radiator up front!

[tinyrc]

I would really like to see what people can come up with in terms of a heat sink as the motor certainly does get hot. Keep us posted on your experiments.

[usagi]

There is a Mini-Xj version out here. Looing forward to getting this car in oct.

[irc]

I have used heat sinks made for the Z before on my X but it's not much help. I notified Xpress about the hot motor cuncerning us about 6 months ago and I was advised something would change in future cars but they did not say what? In the mean time they assured me it's ok to keep running the motor even when in gets hot?

[baleisen]

Lubricate the bearings and motor. That cut down some of my heat. BAE

[irc]

Breaking in the motor also helps. Bushing oil on the front motor bushing helps quit a bit also but the back bushing should not be oiled as to much oil will enter the motor.

[usagi]

here is the Mini-Xj Version

[usagi]

More Info, if you seen this already then please forgive me :)

[usagi]

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[usagi]

..............3

[tinyrc]

usagi, any idea what the differences between the Xj and the regular X are?

[usagi]

................nexttttttttttttttttt

[usagi]

.....

[usagi]

......

[usagi]

.......

[usagi]

I will tell you in a few minutes......................

[usagi]

Lasttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt:D

[usagi]

well, this version goes with a ball diff (FRONT AND REAR). They will be making it in black again. The more infor i get the more I post later:D

[tinyrc]

Cool! Is the black chassis a different material? Is it the same layout? From the pics it looks like it could be a more open pan layout?

[usagi]

................

[usagi]

well, it seem that they are making this car in HongKong........... The new layout insure better stablity and handling.........

[usagi]

..................I keep you posted..........I might order this car sooner then I thought........... it looks way better then when i last saw it.............WOW!

[usagi]

..............Burp:)

[usagi]

hecup!

[usagi]

Later I post what options the are going to release answers to assembling........ Stay toned................................

[tinyrc]

Wow, the new version will have adjustable tie rods?! Cool!

[usagi]

I doj`t know much about hte first model......... But If i reading correctly it seems that carbon materal will be used.

[tinyrc]

Wow, CF chassis? Excellent!

[baleisen]

I am looking for the parts necessary to modify a regular Mini-X if necessary. Right now I am very happy. BAE

[dgilpin]

Here are some pics of my lithium powered Mini-x and info on the batteries used.

http://www.gcs-net.com/mini-x/lithium/lithium_Mini-x.html

[baleisen]

Very $%* interesting. I still have a Quallcomm phone. If the battery pack is still good I'll be happy. BAE

[tinyrc]

Cool, what is the voltage on those cells?

[baleisen]

I haven't got the slightest idea. I'll dig the phone up in the morning. I still have to finish my research paper. What a drag. BAE

[dgilpin]

Mine charge up to 8.2 volts, even though the "nominal" voltage is stated as 7.2 on the label.

[irc]

I will contact Xpress and find out about this. It looks the same with a black dyed chassis? I have seen the servo set up that way before.

[usagi]

this model has been around since the last week of june. But not until mid July did they start going out more............... Well I f you say you seen them before why didn`t you say that before.

[irc]

I have not seen that model in your picture before just the servo set up that way (custom) buy another racer. Why don't you tell us where to get this car and where to find more information on it?

[usagi]

hey I am new to this board. I just arrived a few days ago.

ANyways, I am trying to find out a place to buy it. The place that had the pictures does not have link to buy them. But at the r/c show in oct they will sell them.................

[irc]

cool ,IM glad you are passing on information can you give us the link to where you got the pictures? Welcome to the forum!

[irc]

Xpress has informed me that no such car (Mini XJ) exist? It could be an aftermarket servo linkage and dyed black chassis?

[dtmracer]

sorry to burst your bubble but i am 90 % sure that the black chassis in the pics is just the original chassis painted black. also i went to the wepage of the xj and translated it and it was talking about an aftermarket part kit that came with all the pieces in the picture of the resin bushings ect......., not a new car. it looks like the guy painted the chassis black just like the guy who made the mini sk. this car is awesome!!!!!!!! i am determined to do something like this. im sure most of you have been to this site but he has updated it with new electronics, like m3 cube esc!!! check it out here......
http://www.siukeung.com/link01/link01-07-04.htm
click on the part one and part 2 of the mini sk

[dtmracer]

i have to correct myself, it seems that they are selling a kit but it looks no different than the original mini x, maybe a different manufactures copy. i wouldnt trust anything besides the xpress one, i have raced 1/10 rc for years now and they make good but fragile cars.(very light) i think we had another mini x copy earlier, i think it was the mini Q or sumthin, never heard of it ever again? must have been a flop. the translation was by alta vista and not everything was comprehended so i may be wrong but.....

[usagi]

The informatin here is the XJ is japanes version.

[Ohm]

Originally posted by dtmracer
it looks like the guy painted the chassis black just like the guy who made the mini sk. this car is awesome!!!!!!!! i am determined to do something like this. im sure most of you have been to this site but he has updated it with new electronics, like m3 cube esc!!! check it out here......
http://www.siukeung.com/link01/link01-07-04.htm
click on the part one and part 2 of the mini sk

Wow, I hadn't seen that one. I just put an abc motor in my friends mini-x, but opted to put the motor above the shaft. I wonder why that guy put it perpendicular and not parallel. Seems like it would be a bear balance. What's he using for the central diff, is that a one way out of something or scratch built.

I think next time I'm gonna try to squeeze a gpm 180 under the shaft with a central one way.

BTW anyone know where to get those micro oil filled shocks without having to buy all the linkage? The only places I've seen'em you have to buy the whole kit.

[usagi]

I don`t how good call the HK people on this one is. Since it only showing up in japan market. But it would be nice it eeryone had this model.

[urq435]

Try dinball website in HK. You can find some individual micro dampers around $10 each. I believe it was used on micro rear damper.:)