Problem with Optima RC Car
 

Hi,
I recently got my 1980's Optima out of the loft and amazingly it works after 30 years straight out of the bag.
But when I go to acceleration, it ends up sticking and goes out of control. It only seems to happen when on the ground. If I hold the car and accelerate, there doesn't seem to be a problem. Could someone possibly point me in the direction of the fault?

Could it be a dodgy receiver?

Thanks,
Phil

You could do a range check on the radio.

Antenna down, put the buggy on something to hold it off the ground and walk away and see how far you get.

With no other interference from other radio etc you should get 10ft or so.

If it all works the radio is probably ok.

More than likely the main battery in the buggy doesn't have enough real power to supply the motor and radio under load (It is old right?). The radio usually looses out and the buggy will still run just not very fast.

Yes the battery is 30 years old. It only does it when you are at full acceleration. if you move slowly it doesn't go wrong. Does that sound like a battery then?

Thanks

I swapped the connectors over so the direction controlled the acceleration, and the same thing happened, so I have ruled out a receiver problem. It only happen on full acceleration. Never when going slowly. Does that sound like a battery problem?

Sounds battery related to me.

When at full throttle and under load the greater drain (motor) take the power the old battery has and you loose radio.