I have a few questions for the hardcore 1/8th scale racing crowd.

What do YOU use for performance servos? And specifically how much torque do you feel is the minimum requirement for a racing buggy/truggy(even racing MT)for both steering and throttle/brake where the specs become literally a non issue issue?

Also for servo transit speed, what do you feel is the bare minimum requirement for transit speed on steering and throttle/brake servo arrangement where again speed/response is not the limiting factor?

Currently for my racing LST XXL I use 3 Tower TS-170's(Rebadged Hitec 7955's)which give me claimed specs of .15 transit speed and 333oz. of torque per servo(666oz. of torque for steering). I assume these have more than enough torque for steering and throttle/brake duties, but for my SC8 and RC8T Im curious if the transit time is going to be quick enough or if I should look to something faster?

ANy opinions or thoughts appreciated!

I mainly use the 7955's (on 7.4v Lipo) for throttle and steering on my buggy and truggy

I have used 7955's in the past, very solid but WAY overkill for my buggy and they are somewhat slow.....JMO

this season in buggy I am trying a pair of Savox 1258TG's

i really like my Futaba servos, i have tried hitec 7955s, JR 9100T & S, airtronics, savox,and now futaba. the hitec 7955 is next to indestructible, ran them for 2 years. i have the Futaba BLS351 for throttle/brake and the S9157 for steering. they are extremely smooth and they feel a good bit faster and stronger than they say.

BLS351 - Torque: 217 oz-in @ 6V
Speed: 0.13 sec @ 6V

S9157 - Torque: 425oz-in (30.6kg/cm) @ 6V
Speed: 0.14 @ 6V

Buggy: Futaba BLS351 for steering (enough torque and quite fast), Futaba BLS451 for brake/throttle (very fast and enough torqe)

These are brushless and can be run from 2S LiFe straight. Then they have even more power than stated.

So in your guys opinion a transit speed of .15 is too slow for steering and throttle? If so what speed should I look for where the servo does not become the limiting factor?

.15 would be the slowest i would go IMO, it just so happens we are running less than .15 ... .15 is fine for both servos but IMHO its a little slow for throttle but it is still fine... like the guy before your post said, a 2s LiFe battery will make them faster and stronger and you can run them unregulated ... i dont trust LiPo and these LiFe packs are awesome and well worth the money.

From what I understand Hitec 7955's can run "unofficially" at 7.4 volts and have a slightly faster transit time of around .12 and torque of around 400oz.

I myself use 1700mah LiFe reciever packs which run at 6.6volts and are supposed to be "safe" for normal 6volt operating servos. I use Spektrum recievers so I can run anywhere from 4.8volts up to over 7.4 volts anyway.........

It's personal preference really.....I race 1/10 electric offroad quite often so I like a faster reacting servo to input. I am running these on steering and t/b in a HB D8 car.....I would'nt recommend this servo for a arena truck application but for buggy it should be dialed and plenty!

these are the specs on the Savox 1258TG, I will be running a standard ni-mh hump pack.


Speed @ 6.0V: 0.08 sec
Torque @ 6.0V: 166 oz-in

posted in electric off-road forum....hope this helps clarify!



Originally Posted by Email from Hitec
ORIGINAL: tohm

We have tested the HS-7955 with 7.4V lipo packs and have not had any adverse problems. Many of our team drivers/pilots have been doing this for some time now. The spec sheets will probably not change, as they were written in 2007, way before we did actual testing with the higher voltages.

At 7.4V, the torque is 387oz/in and the speed is .13sec.

Tony Ohm
Hitec/Multiplex USA

So for throttle what do you feel should be the minimal transit time for fast snappy response from the engine? .12? .10? Faster?

Since Im switching from 6volt nimh packs to 6.6volt LiFe packs Im wondering how much speed Ill pick up from the TS 170 servos.........

The Servos Im looking into picking up are the Savox 1267 and 1268MG's or the Hitec 7940TH or 7945TH servo and pick up the Hitec programmer with it........choices, choices.......

it's personal prefernce, there are no magic stats that work for someone, find a combo you like and stick with it...

IMO 200 oz for a buggy and 250 for a truggy is the min for steering, but servos these days blow that out of the water. My fav servos are the KO RSX power servos 436oz @ .11 sec. Way overkill but by far the smoothest servo I have ever seen. For throttle I like somewhere around 180oz or higher I have used less but I think they struggle with the brakes. The Savox 1268 are a descent choice too great price and good #'s 361oz @ .11 sec. I am using these in a MBX6T on both steering and throttle and they are good so far. Also you cant go wrong with Hitec's personally I would use 7950 or 7955 and I would stay away from the 7940's I dont think they are quite up to the task of 1/8 scale long term.

I have been real happy running a hitec7955 in buggy. speed is good enough on LiFe batteries.

I would use your existing servos for steering and get something like the hitec 7940 for throttle.

transit time ratings can be suspect as well. I've seen two different branded servos, both .15 transit time, react a lot differently.

My personal choice would be savox.