Hi Geezatec and Covert.

I borrowed a used Rx from a friend and it took about 6 seconds to bind. I got home and recalibrated as suggested and the buggy runs great.

I checked the manual and could find nothing saying that binding was not needed, only the instructions on how to bind.

For whatever reason the original Rx seems to have been the culprit.
Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

John