straight steering ?

x947 · 04-22-2009, 10:03 PM

My son runs an rc18t and I run an m18t. I have rebuilt the steering on both trucks but still have a hard time holding a straight line steering. Seems like I'll get it straight and then in a couple of minutes we start having to adjust the steering trim to get the straight line. A few minutes later, I'm having to adjust the turnbuckles to get the straight line. Any ideas on what's happening ? What I'm doing wrong ? Shouldn't the adjustment hold if the truck is not involved in a crash ?

thanks for your insight into this frustrating matter.

Mike

x947 · 04-24-2009, 08:12 PM

no ideas ?

cyoder#9 · 04-24-2009, 08:27 PM

may have a bad servo!! or ball cups r binding! make sure every think is free!! if so i would say bad servo! what kind of radio do u have?

wwoodruff · 04-25-2009, 05:42 AM

The stock radio system drifts alot more than a racing type, but I suspect your steering servo or a broken servo saver is causing the problem. A better servo saver will help if nothing is broken.

myrxseven · 04-25-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwoodruff

The stock radio system drifts alot more than a racing type, but I suspect your steering servo or a broken servo saver is causing the problem. A better servo saver will help if nothing is broken.

Although a higher grade may be a little bit better, it still wont fix the problem. The problem with these cars is they come out of the box with a weak servo saver spring, and no toe out what so ever. If you dremel a slight groove into the stock plastic servo spring and cut a ring out of a spare shock spring, pop the shock spring into the groove. That will fix inconsistancy of the steering. Then get your hands on some adjustable turnbuckles, they have titanium thats expensive, and some places sell alluminum. Once you have those, add about 1-3 degrees of toe out. This will make you car track streight as an arrow. Hope this helps and good luck!

go4dkil · 04-27-2009, 10:22 AM

Try adding a little toe in, then run with toe out to see if that helps. A car will wander all over the track if both wheels are pointed straight.

JonK

wwoodruff · 04-27-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go4dkil

Try adding a little toe in, then run with toe out to see if that helps. A car will wander all over the track if both wheels are pointed straight.

JonK

You will need to add adjustable ty-rods to do this but it works wonders.

burnineyes · 04-27-2009, 03:04 PM

I second the servo saver trick. Strengthen that up and see what happens first. I have several of these and thats always one of my first upgrades.

SpraydbySprague · 04-27-2009, 04:04 PM

I actually used the spring from the Robitronic Scalpel servo saver on my 18T. There are two springs in the package, just use the smaller silver spring over the stock plastic spring on the 18T servo saver. It works great. Check this out.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXTDC1&P=7

Hope this helps.

wwoodruff · 04-27-2009, 08:14 PM

I cut two coils off a stiff gold spring for the 18r and snapped them over the servo saver. Works pretty well.

don74 · 04-27-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x947

My son runs an rc18t and I run an m18t. I have rebuilt the steering on both trucks but still have a hard time holding a straight line steering. Seems like I'll get it straight and then in a couple of minutes we start having to adjust the steering trim to get the straight line. A few minutes later, I'm having to adjust the turnbuckles to get the straight line. Any ideas on what's happening ? What I'm doing wrong ? Shouldn't the adjustment hold if the truck is not involved in a crash ?

thanks for your insight into this frustrating matter.

Mike

If your steering servo is 100% functional and the rest of the steering assembly/linkage is still good then all you need do is to replace the plastic C-spring collar of the servo saver with one of the metal C-springs in this link-
http://thetoyz.com/cart/thetoyz_deta...8122&cat_name=

If you want more accurate and stable steering then use the hop up in this link-
http://thetoyz.com/cart/thetoyz_deta...0185&cat_name=

I'm happy with the first one as its like night and day from the original stock plastic C-spring, but the second one in my other 18 is almost twice as good as the lone metal C-spring modification.

Either way, you'll be gad you did.

wwoodruff · 04-29-2009, 08:01 AM

I had no idea GPM made something like that. This would be the way to go.

duneland · 04-29-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x947

My son runs an rc18t and I run an m18t. I have rebuilt the steering on both trucks but still have a hard time holding a straight line steering. Seems like I'll get it straight and then in a couple of minutes we start having to adjust the steering trim to get the straight line. A few minutes later, I'm having to adjust the turnbuckles to get the straight line. Any ideas on what's happening ? What I'm doing wrong ? Shouldn't the adjustment hold if the truck is not involved in a crash ?

thanks for your insight into this frustrating matter.

Mike

Sounds like HiTec servos.

x947 · 04-29-2009, 04:37 PM

WOW lots of good info here . . .

I have adj turnbuckles on both truck and the metal "c" servo saver springs on both as well.

One truck does have a High Tec servo, the other is a futaba

I think I may have small differences in my steering turnbuckle lengths - both wheels not pointing in exactly the "same" direction. Not equally toed in or out. I just eyeball the lengths and they seem pretty even but I haven't really put a caliper on them.

I'm still fiddlin'

Thanks again !!

Mike

spawn_x · 04-29-2009, 11:11 PM

an oddball but happened to me.. some servos do NOT work properly with some radios.

I went through steering upgrades and two (or three?) servos just to find out small hi-tec anologs do NOT center right with airtronics mx3 2.4ghz (it is official, not a rumor)

went to a digital airtronics servo, steering problems GONE

hey, happened to me.