New Mini-x owner Q's

bluemax_1 · #1 03-26-2003, 03:50 AM

Just got my new mini-x today! Yay!!! First off, gotta say, this thing is pretty quick out of the box with the 5-cells. Or outta the package I should say. Can't wait to see how it'll go with 6-cells. However, I do have a few questions about the car.

Can someone explain to me why there's so little literature included with the mini-x? About the only thing in there was about setting up the ESC. I know the car comes preassembled and all but it would still be nice to have a little more info.

For instance, (these are probably pretty silly questions but I'm new to this and don't know too much about these)

1) How do you get the wheels off the car?

2) How do you adjust the diffs?

3) How do you know if the diffs are too tight or too loose?

I've tried looking through the forum but haven't really gotten the answers I was looking for. For one thing, I didn't really find any mention on how to take the wheels off.

Also, there are a few threads where people talk about adjusting the diffs, where they DO mention things like you should be able to turn a wheel manually and have the other wheel on the axle turn the opposite direction. What they DIDN'T mention was with the 4wd, are you supposed to hold the other axle still while turning a wheel? For example, if you try turning a the right rear wheel forwards, the left rear wheel should turn backwards, but are you supposed to hold the front wheels still while doing this?

The reason I ask is because if I don't hold the other axle still, then sometimes all 4 wheels turn all in the same direction. Also feels really notchy when all 4 wheels turn from turning just one manually. If I hold one axle still while turning a wheel on the other axle, then yes, the other wheel turns in the opposite direction.

The reason for these questions are 2-fold. The first part is that under partial throttle forwards or backwards, the car tracks pretty straight w/o needing any steering trim adjustments but under full throttle on carpet with no tire slippage, the car tends to veer a little to the left. Is this because I need to adjust the differentials?

Also, after running the car on carpet for a bit, I kinda got some hair wound round one of the axles and I need to get the wheels off to remove it. Couldn't figure out how to do it.

So please, if anyone can give me any help.

bluemax_1 · #2 03-26-2003, 04:00 AM

BTW, How long should it take to charge the 5-cell pack? And what amps are being run to charge the batteries? Any ideas how long it should take to charge the receiver's 8 AA-size 1850mAH cells?

I've got the Dura Trax Intellipeak Digital charger. Should work fine with these shouldn't they? Has a range from 0.5A to 6.5A and a trickle charge setting of 100mA.

johnrtse · #3 03-26-2003, 07:41 AM

Here is a site that has some tips on the Mini X, from irc (a moderator here):

http://www.intrepidrc.com/tips.html

As far as adjusting the diffs goes, you have to take out the dogbone axles; under one side on each diff is a phillips head screw- that is how you adjust the diffs.

The wheel nuts are removed using a special thin-walled 5.5 mm nut driver; buy the one from the shop here.

Also, you may want to consider dying your chassis to make it look better too. I just did mine yesterday and it looks terrific!

Hope this helps,
John

binaryterror · #4 03-26-2003, 09:51 AM

Welcome to the world of The Mini-X...

1. To charge the battery pack for the car (either 5 or 6 cell) use the 1.0 amp setting on your charger...charge until warm, unless your charger tell you when they are full.

2. To charge the controller batteries, I have no clue, I have a Rayovac charger that automatically shuts off and does peaking.

3. I personally never test my diffs in the car, I remove them and clean them (watch out tiny parts galore) and then lube them up...wow what a difference over stock! Also I do the tightening/loosening of the diffs in my hands until I get the desired tension/slip, this comes from years of other scale RC play though.

4. BIG TIP: Watch the heat of the motor when running it on carpet, I foolishly burned out a motor from trying to discharge a battery. They are cheap though...

5. TIP: Buy extra motor gears (pinions). Since they are plastic they have a tendency to be kind of weak, especially the front one if you hit something rather hard.

6. Changing from 5 to 6 cell packs does increase the speed and the steering reactions. It will not increase run time.

7. To take the wheels off you do need the special 5.5mm nut driver. Tinyrc has them in the shop. You might be able to find something else, but I couldn't

bluemax_1 · #5 03-26-2003, 02:51 PM

Hey, thanks for all the help guys!

Ya know, maybe it's because it was late at night, maybe the lights weren't bright enough when I was looking at it, or maybe I'm just getting old,

but somehow, I missed the fact that the wheels are held on by a nut! All I saw was the round center, completely missing the fact that ther are outer hexagonal sides! That was why I was wondering how in the blazes I was supposed to get a wheel off, but now that you've told me it's a nut and I actually LOOKED again, the pliers on my Swiss Champ work just fine on them.

Also thanks for the info on adjusting the diffs johnrtse. Kinda hard to see the screw w/o removing anything huh?

Thanks for the batt info too binaryterror. Guess the 2.0amp setting I used might have been a little on the high side

Batteries ddin't get very warm though. I think the Intellipeak uses pulse-charging and it uses a 0 delta-V detection to avoid overcharging. BTW, hope you're not using the Rayovac 1-hour charger. I've heard that it seriously cuts down on the NiMH battery's lifespan. I also just bought a set of new Sanyo AA's rated 2100mAH! They aren't officially sold in the US yet, but Sanyo makes the best NiMH batts around. Might have to make a 6-cell pack with their AAAs. Also got a Powerport BC-102 charger to make it easier to charge the TX batts. A little too much hassle wiring the Intellipeak to chare the 8-cells in the Tx.

Oh well, I'm off to get the hair of my axles and have some fun!

bluemax_1 · #6 03-26-2003, 02:53 PM

BTW johnrtse, the dyed chassis looks sweet!

binaryterror · #7 03-26-2003, 03:13 PM

Nah my company does promotional work with Rayovac and i got a new special charging system called IC3 for free. they work good, plus i got that and free batteries...so i am good.

bluemax_1 · #8 03-26-2003, 04:29 PM

binaryterror, that's a cool deal. Always good when you get hooked up with stuff.

bluemax_1 · #9 03-26-2003, 04:32 PM

Oh and I forgot to ask, where in Michigan are you? And do you know anyplace where they run mini-x's. Would be really great to see what other people have done to their cars and to meet up with a bunch of folks running these small R/C cars.

I'm in K'zoo and from asking around the local hobby shops, none of them know of any groups that run cars this small. They don't even really have anything for Micro RS4's either. Said they tried for the RS4 but there wasn't enough interest in the area, and the 1/24's are even smaller.

binaryterror · #10 03-26-2003, 05:10 PM

Im out on the east side of Michigan. Tiny of Tinyrc is actually in Ann Arbor...

I get basically the same response out here as to a track...

There is one in Utica near me that runs a mRS4 class...however they have 1-3 drivers so far tops. i raced one of theirs and beat it good with my X...but his wasn't crazy modded. Plus on race day they have to share with some 1/12 cars...yikes those 1/12 drivers hit the mRS4's alot....i don't know if i wanna race with large faster cars with bad drivers....

bluemax_1 · #11 03-26-2003, 07:21 PM

Hmmm... so you're in east MI and tiny's in Ann Arbor... are there anymore mini-x owners in MI on this forum? Maybe we could form our own small group and find somewhere to run our cars.

As for racing bigger cars, yeah, it might be fun to beat a larger car, but not if your car might get run over in the process! Hmm... mini-x battle mode with Ben Hur style wheels...

Mondo · #12 03-30-2003, 02:50 PM

Hiya guys. Some Members here may recognise me from Mini-ZRacer.com and YourMicro.com, where I am a regular, right johnrtse

I've just received my Mini-X and I'm quite impressed. I got the 6-cell pack and a couple of spares that I thought it may need.
I've discovered the Kyosho Perfex throttle glitch and also repositioned the antenna to increase range.
These are all tips I've got from the Forums here.

Now come the time that I also have a few questions.

Regarding springs, I got the soft/medium/hard spring set and all I can say is that the medium springs are too hard and the soft springs are way too soft.
Any tips, as in soft up front, medium on the rear?

Another point is the quality of the tires on the Mini-X, theyre more like plastic than rubber. What tire type is the softest? I have a lot of Mini-Z tires, but the profile seems to be a little low.

Lastly is the motor issue, it just runs too hot, irrespective of the surface type. I do not run it on carpet.
I moved the battery holder more forward so it doesn't cover the motor can, but it's still a cooker.
Any tips on keeping that 130 spinner running a little cooler?

binaryterror · #13 03-30-2003, 04:01 PM

Tips to keep it cooler...install neo magnets for the mini-z. or do the ultimate and get a motor can with the ball bearings and the neo magnets from mini-zracer.com.

If you remove the motor and spin it you'll notice all the slop the stock bushings have.

Tip #2. throw away that battery holder...the batteries fit in very tight, so you don't really need the extra weight.

I run the springs as all softs...my surfaces are nice and smooth and the rear holds up just fine for me.

The stock tires do suck...but thats all i use right now for running and the 3 races i have run...they are kinda nice for a controllable drift on the track i race at...i bet any other 1/24th scale wheels/tires could be made to fit...Dynamite Road Rocket, ABC DTM and X4, Kawada Mid.

Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of the Mini-X.

NOTE: I am working on now lightening the stock X's chassis...tips and pics to come soon!

tinyrc · #14 03-30-2003, 10:56 PM

bluemax_1, we'd certainly be up for a Mini-X MI Meet!

Mondo, personally I run the soft springs, they let the ind. suspension really do its thing. Don't forget you can adjust the height w/ those screws there, that may be what you are missing that makes you think they are too soft? We're working on a sink for the X motor, check this out:

http://tinyrc.com/gallery/trcheatsink

For tires, the X slicks work well outside, for indoors, try Mini-ZRacer.com Foams!

Mondo · #15 03-31-2003, 03:09 PM

Binaryterror,

I have a MZR BB motor and can with Neo's, I'll convert my spare motor to those parts this week and let you know the outcome.
I do have some heatsinks handy and I'll see if I can't adapt one to the can.

As for the suspension, well it's super soft, I guess I'll only find out how well it works when I get a decent run from the Mini-X

Thanks Binaryterror, Tiny