What Defects/Problems Do You Guys Have With Your ZipZaps?

MicroRCracer · #1 11-17-2002, 04:31 AM

Ive bought several ZipZaps and have returned or exchanged almost each one i bought. I noticed the 27MHZ ones do not go as far in antenna range than the 49mhz's. i also noticed the 27's have crappy steering where it steers twitchy along with short antenna range. Or often times, these ZipZaps steering alignments cannot be aligned thoroughly where no matter how much you adjust the alignment ajuster in the bottom of the chassis, its still drives crooked.. Another problem that i have found was the steering where either the left or right side steers better than the other. I also noticed if you buy a porcshe, the back of the part of where the rear license plate should be gets a stress crack no matter what when installing the body to the chassis. Another problem is the transmitter. Ive had a problem where it doesnt charge for atleast 45 seconds and instead, it stops charge at 15-20 seconds..

If you guys have or had the same problem, I would like to know for there should be some kind of recall or the factory should test these ZipZaps better before packing them up. Or, maybe does the factory do a Monday or Friday style half @ss job and doesnt test them out so they can hurry them up to supply the high demand in restocking them in RS stores?? Hmm??..

I also want to tell you guys that the one's selling them on ebay are most likely Radio Shack employees who put them away for themselves as soon as they get their shipments and who receive their company store discoount to sell and profit bigtime on Ebay since there's a high demand for them.. I know this, cuz a RS employee was showing me on Ebay with his RS PC at the register, bragging on how much theyre going for and how he kept all of the ZipZaps at the back instead of the display shelves. He didnt tell me that he was a seller, but all of the obvious clues or instincts told me he was shady..

lnx_author · #2 11-17-2002, 05:14 PM

hmm... that's funny... i've had zero problems with the ZZs i've purchased...

as far as RS employees selling ZZs on ebay, i believe that the company has a policy against this, but you should realize that many RS stores are franchisees, and not company-owned...

btw, i don't think it's a good idea to buy any Zz stuff off ebay right now (unless you're desparate -- but for a $19 retail toy?)

steve1970 · #3 11-18-2002, 11:49 AM

No problems at all with my ZZ...it was the first micro-r/c I bought, and I've had no problems at all out of it. I'm even thinking of getting the 1/43 Viper and the 1/32 Chevy truck r/c's they have.

marc515192 · #4 11-18-2002, 12:08 PM

I had a slight problem with 2 of mine where they would turn better in 1 direction but I was able to correct both now each can preform tight turns in both directions.

hogjowlz · #5 11-18-2002, 12:50 PM

well it had short range but that was remedied.

my two complaints about zipzaps are

1: not enough power.

2: the rear axle holder stripped after a week or two.

now i have a 14 clone and it is faster, steers just as well, and has the same battery life.

Stridex · #6 11-18-2002, 01:27 PM

Easy fix for the rear axle is find yourself two "small" washers. I did this mod to mine. Mainly for less friction. You can't glue them on the outside cos the gears and it's already a tight fit. You have to widdle out the center. Put the washers on the axle. Fit each washer in the slots you cut out(I used an exacto knife) to make sure you cut enough and that they fit all the way up. Once you've done that, add a tiny drop of super glue to each and set into place. Make sure you turn the axle a few times as it's drying so that too doesn't get super glued. Can't see a difference in speed, but it drives smoother and I never have to worry about a loose end. If you can get lucky enough, try to find small square ones.

Now, when I want to switch rear axles, I just pull off one side of the plastic hub holders.

weapon · #7 11-18-2002, 02:08 PM

i got a 27mhz civic... and noticed the same problems MicroRCracer brought up:

1. car hasnt got enuf power- works great without body... hardly moves with body
2. steering is very twitchy
3. antenna range no good

just walked past a radio shack that was fully stocked with new ones... was gonna walk in and grab another (49mhz this time) but didnt wanna take it home to discover my monetary loss would increase to $40 because of another bad car.

Stridex · #8 11-18-2002, 05:37 PM

Here might be a fix to your problem.

When the car body is on, it's pressing the motor against the gears too much. The chassis itself may be pressing the motor against the gears too much. Try flexing the chassis. That's just might do it.

wild03 · #9 11-18-2002, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lnx_author
hmm... that's funny... i've had zero problems with the ZZs i've purchased...

as far as RS employees selling ZZs on ebay, i believe that the company has a policy against this, but you should realize that many RS stores are franchisees, and not company-owned...

btw, i don't think it's a good idea to buy any Zz stuff off ebay right now (unless you're desparate -- but for a $19 retail toy?)

Same here, Never had a problem with mine either, I like it more than my Bit ,

Tee Bee · #10 11-19-2002, 03:46 PM

I haven't had much trouble with mine. I like them a lot. I have 2 in each frequency. Check for chassis/gear binding as mentioned before and for body/tire interference. I have the Porsche body and haven't cracked it yet. The range is definitely reduced on the 27Mhz models, but I can live with that. I might do the antenna mods later to improve it. For the places I run them, range isn't really a problem.
Tee Bee
PT Cruiser
Customized Mustang
Porsche 911
Civic
F & F Eclipse & RX-7

#11 11-19-2002, 05:33 PM

I have the Porsche and it turns left sharper than it turns right or is it the other way around. Tried all the tricks I read about with no luck.

Azimov · #12 11-19-2002, 07:33 PM

Hi all,
This is my first post as I've been lurking and soaking in all the great info for a few weeks now. I have three ZZs, a 27mghz yellow mustang and a fast and furious Rx7 and the green eclipse, both 49mghz. I love these little micro cars but have noticed two fairly consistant production flaws in all of the cars. First, is the seemingly common rear axel lossening over time problem. This is most prevelant in my 49mghz cars. The 27mghz is obviously manufactured to different specs in this area. The rear holes that the axel snaps into are much smaller than both my 49s. It also is the one with the FCC legaleze omitted from the print on the bottom of the car. It would seem this problem is part of the two different frequencies being manufactured at different factories, but I'm not sure of this. There is also a noticable difference in controllers. Some have the short stubby slick direction buttons, while others have taller buttons with a texture on the top. Take a close look at your cars and especially the new ones still in the boxes and see if this holds true.
Secondly, all of the cars turn more sharply in one direction than the other. Getting them to track straight is a breeze, but invariably they favor one side with sharper turning radiuses. I haven't opened the steering boxes yet to make sure everything is aligned, but I'm sure this would solve the turning difference. The rear axel is a bit trickier. I'v tried making the small cut to close the gap that was mentioned on this forum, but I also added a tad of epoxy glue to the small gap made by the slice to ensure it stays put. The mod seems to be doing very well even with repeated axel changes so far. I modded all cars with spring antenae that would be between 18 and 24 inches long if stretched out, but only protrude two inches from the cars. The coils only need to be slightly expanded so they aren't touching each other. The radio waves can't tell the difference. The range is great on all cars now! Up to 50 ft indoors on the 49mghz cars.
I don't own any bits yet, but do have the motorworks knock off from Wally World. Unbeleivably fast, but impossible to steer. I prefer road racing and speed is great to a point. I will be ordering bits for the different frequencies and those Petit Marus are looking pretty good too.
Sorry to have rambled on so long in my first post. These little things get my mojo goin!

wild03 · #13 11-19-2002, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Azimov
Hi all,
....omitted for obvious reasons...
Sorry to have rambled on so long in my first post. These little things get my mojo goin!

Welcome, NO need to apologize your post was quite pleasant to read,

GTR · #14 11-19-2002, 11:54 PM

my friend's 27mhz gets about 2 feet of range and it seems underpowered

Azimov · #15 11-20-2002, 10:06 AM

Yup, the 27mghz cars do have a shorter range. Mine had about 4-6ft of range out of the box and stuttered like mad. Changing the cars antenna to the spring solved the problem and it's range is about 35ft now with no stuttering. Not as good as the 49s, but satisfactory enough for racing. I'm sure this could be increased more with a longer antenna or more batteries in the controller. A higher voltage charge in the car would help too. But, I'm happy with the range now.