got a mini-x, have some questions

richh · #1 11-24-2003, 04:09 PM

ok, just got my first mini-x and had some questions...

1) i bought the version that has the electronics and batteries (5 cell pack) already installed. the batteries are soldered directly to the esc. will i harm the rcvr or esc if i connect the charger clips to the battery pack w/o disconnecting the pack from the esc? would i be better off adding a connector between the battery pack and the esc?

2) there are two screws to the left and right of the motor shaft (on the side going to the front, pic attached). what are these for, am i missing a part?

3) on the chassis, directly below the shaft about an inch in front of the end of the motor closest to the front of the car there is a counter sunk hole. what's this hole for?

4) finally, the gear mesh between the front diff and the gear on the shaft is pretty loose. i can turn the front wheels and shaft will not turn because the mesh is so loose. any suggestions on how to tighten the mesh?

thanks

cdog4w · #2 11-25-2003, 06:33 PM

Well, I'm pretty new myself, but I'll try to help.

1) My batteries were in a 3/2 saddlepack configuration with little nubs soldered to 2 points. These matched up with little spring wire leads from the esc so that the batteries were not directly soldered to the ESC. Sounds like we got them from dif. places (got mine here)?

2) These hold down the ESC switch (access from under car)

3) No idea.

4) I didn't have much trouble with the gear mesh (nor do I have any suggestions, sorry), but I did trouble with my front left dogbone popping out. If you run into this, search the x forum for suggestions.

So you enjoying it so far?

richh · #3 11-25-2003, 10:16 PM

thanks for the reply.

1) i saw the wires coming from the battery and i assumed it was soldered directly to the batt and not to the battery contact (didn't even see those contacts at first. i think i may loose the battery contacts anyway and put in a connector. should make charging easier.

2) i can see how the switch would fit in that space, makes sense to me now. does your switch have mounting ears that go underneath the screw heads? my switch is just a small rectangular box. i guess i can make some sort of spacer that would get held down by those two screws to back the switch up.

4) i messed around with the shaft support block some more and got the mesh to where it wouldn't skip.

now for the really funny part. i set up the esc (took a few tries before i got reverse to work) and took it for a quick spin in the family room. it didn't make it more than a few yards before the right dogbone pops out. guess i'll have to do some shimming.

anyway from the few feet it did run, it looked like it was pretty quick. i bought this just cause i wanted to see what other cars there were in the smaller scales. i have a couple of hpi micro rs4's, a few mini-z racers, an xmod, and some epochs. thought this would round out the collection.

cdog4w · #4 11-26-2003, 01:18 AM

Very cool. It would be nice to get the opinion of another well rounded rc'er. Unforunately this is my only RC currently, but I've been happy with it and think I picked well.

I've got a question, you mention adding a connector between the batteries and the ESC. If you have the 5 cell with the folded tabs soldered onto the 2 contact points (like I do), how would you go about soldering the wires to the connector for those? In case this sounds like a total newb question, sorry but it is. I have all the gear and plan on learning how to solder at the first opportunity.

You know, you're right about the switch not being held by the screws (now that I take a closer look).

For my dogbone spacer, I just clipped one loop off a ballpoint pen spring. I had it larger, but it affected steering, but at current size it doesn't seem to have any adverse affects.

So could you give a rough overview of how the X compares against your other cars? I'm sure the other readers and I will greatly appreciate it.

3series takumi · #5 11-26-2003, 06:54 PM

the counter sunk hole is for another motorshaft support like the one in the front. as for the bad gear mesh, do you have a bearing in the front motorshaft support. hope that helps

richh · #6 11-26-2003, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 3series takumi
the counter sunk hole is for another motorshaft support like the one in the front. as for the bad gear mesh, do you have a bearing in the front motorshaft support. hope that helps

do you know if this additonal shatf support is supposed to come with the kit or is it an upgrade/option part?

also, yes there is a bearing in the front support. i think it's just a tolerance thing. anyway i think i have a good mesh now. that second support would be nice to have though...

3series takumi · #7 11-26-2003, 10:03 PM

the second support does not come with the kit

richh · #8 11-27-2003, 01:38 PM

ok, you guys have been pretty helpful... how about another question. it seems like everytime i turn off the car, the esc resets itself, and the next time i go to run it, i don't have reverse. if i go and push the button on the esc and redo the esc setup, reverse comes back. is this normal?

3series takumi · #9 11-27-2003, 07:23 PM

thats not normal. i set mine up once and it was all good. what version esc do you have, the version one are exposed boards and the version 2 are boarding a clear purple blue case

richh · #10 11-27-2003, 07:35 PM

it's supposed to be a ver. 2. it's in a blueish clear plastic box. don't know if it makes a diff. but i'm using a tx from a kyosho mini-z (the new style that comes with the enzo).

3series takumi · #11 11-27-2003, 07:36 PM

miniz tx are one of the only Tx that dont work well with minix