Savage Flux first impressions
 

I pulled the trigger and ordered a Savage Flux HP from Tower last Sunday. After having several Maxx trucks, that always broke easily, I decided to try a Savage. From what I have seen on here and HPI's site they really seemed to be built to take some abuse.

Truck showed up yesterday and I've only been able to use it a little. Upon opeing the box and pulling it out I was amazed at the size and weight. This truck is without a doubt a bit bigger and more robust than a E-Maxx. I like that the wheelie bar is included and isn't such a protrusion off the back of the truck that it makes jumping a danger. Having a rollbar under the body reminds me of the nitro revo, it's nice to have that suppurt there rather than the motor mount being the highest point like a E-Revo/Maxx. When dropped from chest hight, even with single shocks, it doesn't bottom out like a Maxx or Revo, at least in the out of box configuration. I do plan on putting my Hitec 7955TG servo in the truck when I get some time, perhaps this weekend, but the single stock servo seems more up to the task than the dual servos from Traxxas. The immediet downfalls I have seen so far are that the slipper needs to be tightened immedietly, the battery boxes need a little bigger cutout for the wires to exit, the straps used to lock the battery boxes are a joke, and the chrome on the wheels comes off easier than on Traxxas wheels. None of those negatives are a big deal, to fix all of them it will take less than 5 minutes and only need to purchase a set of velcro straps to make sure the batteries stay in place.

So far I am very pleased with my purchase. I immedietely swapped out the stock radio for a Spektrum rx to use my DX3R and my only other planned upgrades are the servo and probablly a new F series body. Might also get the GT2 tires like Freeze has and a set of black rims.

You are going to love this truck! Just a few things you might want to do: Get the HD tranny gears, the stockers suck. You will need to buy shims to shim the new tranny gears because they are very narrow, you will see what i mean if you buy them. Also ditch the metal spur and use just a normal plastic one, you will need to buy the bronze bushing from you LHS. The plastic gear is much quieter and will not destroy pinion gears. I have went through 2 RCM pinions on mine before i decided to switch to the plastic spur. Plus the plastic purs are like 3 bucks, where a good quality pinion is around 15-20.

Sorry, I did forget to mention I will be playing with gearing. I didn't get the Flux so I could have a speed machine, stock gearing is to fast for my taste in a MT. When I want speed I know my truggy will outperform the Savage. I plan on gearing down considerably. Stock is 44/20, I will go up a few teeth on the spur and down a few on the pinion

Where do I find these plastic spurs? Only finding steel ones.

Any plastic spur from any of the nitro savages will work, but you will need the bronze bushing that goes in the center. since the flux spur is metal it doesnt use a bushing.

Here is a thread that has the spur and the bronze piece listed http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28345

Thanks, found them. I'll prolly get the 47 or 49 and get an 18t pinion

And put in that 7955TG!

Anyone see a problem using a bearing instead of the bushing? To get the bushing it's almost $5 but I can get two bearings for $3.

I also found the first downfall of the Flux, changing pinions is a PITA!!!!

Back long ago when I had my savage.
They had a single slipper and dual.
The dual held much better.
I not even sure options on that any more but thought would throw it out there.

I dont ever remember there ever being a dual slipper setup. Are you sure you are not thinking of the dual disk brake setup?

Yeah they made a dual slipper. Kinda like the robinson setup for some of the other nitro MTs.

I second the plastic spurs. Never had an issues with any of my savages.

Now that you have graduated from the maxx next step will be to get a lst and convert it.

I had one. So not mistaking it with a brake.
I put it on a nitro trans with 3 speed gearing.
Had one of them small 2250 lehner on it.
The single slipper wouldn't handle the pressure.
I got a thread around here some where about it.

Shouldn't be a tough mod to do would it? The tranny has a long shaft, and the motor is adjustable forward and aft.......

It was on the http://www.hpiracing.com/kitinfo/858 which I believe was the original Savage X part #. See page 37 of the manual. Looks like you need parts:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=86802
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=77094
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=86801
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=87243
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=86800

Doesn't look like there is much choice other than the 49t spur.

looks like a waste of time really, especially since you would need a special spur gear.

I personally wouldn't get the plastic. Spur. I really haven't seen or heard anyone have problems with it as long as you set your mesh right. Also, make sure you get offset rims for tires. Much more stable. Also, you might want to try to pick up some white springs, 45 weight oil, and use those with the large tube for the shocks. Much better than stock for bashing and jumping. Make sure you zip tie the front and rear bumper braces together so the hinge pins don't fall out. Last thing, fing a thicker, longer screw and replace the front bumper screws with them (drill out the holes) the stock ones are very weak and will break.

Well I already ordered a 49T plastic spur and a 17T pinion. I know mesh is everything, I have run steel spur on my truggy with no issues, also ran plastic with no issues. There's no denying the plastic is quieter, but I also think that they make it a little smoother too. I don't plan on offset wheels, I wanted a MT not a truggy. Handling isn't everything, part of the fun of a MT is the lack of complete control.

I do thank you for the other tips though.

By no stretch of the imagination will "offset" wheels cause the Savage to be anything other than a MT. It will NOT "truggify" it at all. Even with offsets and the XL axles my Savages (nitro and brushless) handle tons worse than my RC8T that doesn't have offset wheels.

Offset wheels, XL axles, XL chassis, and any combination thereof is best left to individual preferences. A certain individual here found he enjoyed the stock length/width over the XL length/width in his Flux.

Speaking of idiots, where has he been lately?

Maybe he sold his Flux and bought a 4x4 Stampede?!

Who likes rolling over all the time? It's post fun when all four wheels are on the ground, or doing a backflip:na:

I'm new to this forum but definitely not brushless rc and especially not the savage flux. I have to say i run my flux hard and i have never felt the need to go plastic on the spur nor have i heard of anyone using correct mesh needing to go plastic. I actually still have the original stock 20t pinion still going strong. Also i had my flux at xl length and width and it lost almost all of its "nimbleness" it had to it so my solution was to go back to stock length while leaving the flm extended arms on. It doesn't flip, handles well, and still feels like it did when i bought it.

You must have the only bulletproof pinion gear in the world lol. Or maybe your definition of running hard is different than everyone elses? So far my plastic spur has been holding up good and my pinion still looks like it did when i installed it.

Pinions do wear out, I have one pinion from my truggy that you can see the wear on from the spur, after a year of racing. Pinions no matter how hard, if running against an equally hard spur will wear out quicker, they spin about 3-5 times more than the spur. My primary reason for switching to pastic is that I'm lowering the gearing and plastic spurs are cheaper, but also I do like that they are a bit quieter and smoother.

Back on track though, on my impressions of the flux. I have had it a couple weeks now. Last year I got a E-Maxx at this same time. So the running I have done is similar. I like that I have yet to break anything on the truck. On the downside though, I know have another truck that I have to order all parts for. I had to order from Tower earlier in the week to get gears to change the gearing. So when I do eventually break something I have to order and wait to fix it. The best part about the Traxxas stuff is that I can drive 10 minutes to the LHS and get parts.

The flux is an all around good quality truck made for for hardcore bashing and for some extra cash can be made into a racer if your local track has a mt class. There are a few must do upgrades though just like any factory rc it isnt without its flaws.

Racing? Get a truggy. Unless you are doing more true monster style racing.

hence the monster truck class lol My local track has a class for mt with limited upgrades as set forth by the owner. Nothing serious just something else to pack in on race day:smile:

I have a truggy for racing. RCobscession said that if your track has a MT class, it can be made into a good racer. In a MT class you wouldn't be allowed to race a truggy as you would have a clear advantage. My track doesn't have a MT class but if you come with a MT and want to race in the truggy class you can, but all I can say is good luck with that! Truggys far outperform any MT no matter how much work is done to them.

What I meant was Monster Jam style; i.e. basically drag race over short obstacle course.

Well maybe you might get a Revo kinda close. If it has the "center diff". At least it has most of the adjustments that most race buggies and truggies have as far as the suspension goes. But still...

Savage Flux in the snow
 

The following video content may upset some people, I'm sorry if I offend anyone that is against driving there precious RC truck in a "little" snow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLv_rCtme0M

+1.... I just took my RC8Te, with ProLine Trenchers, out for a run in the snow myself... much fun. PITA getting the snow out, but hair drier helps!

As you can see in the video I knock a lot of the snow off just by dropping it and shaking it. Other than that I just throw it in the tub to drip off for a bit and put it next to the heater. I've done it just like that for years now with my E-Revo and E-Maxxs.

I wouldnt worry about offending anyone, I dont think Crybaby has been around for a while.

I'm surprised he allows dirt to get on his Flux.

He doesnt, i think he only runs that thing in gravel and then immediately goes home and blows it off with a compressor lol.

Dude! could've done that somewhere besides your living room!!!!!:lol: Your future wife is going to have a hay day "training" you.......!!!!!!!

I like doing it right inside my door, saves me from having to use a humidifier, I've been waking up with the driest mouth ever. Also I did that just before I went to my part time job and just a few hours later when I got home it was bone dry. When I have a wife, or girlfriend living with me it'll be somewhere that I have a basement to do that kind of stuff in

Lay off the bong! :lol:

Just got my first set of Turnigy batteries today. Tried getting some Neu's but 10 days after I ordered them they refunded me my money. It sucked playing the waiting game, waiting for lipos to come only to find out they weren't coming. I ordered these Turnigy 5800mah 2s packs on Monday and they where here Friday when I got home. I immedietly checked the voltage as I had heard so much about dead cells upon arrival but both packs where identical and at 3.8V/cell. Just got done soldering some deans on and they are charging, I have to say that I'm not a fan of the wire! The 8 gauge wire seems to be over kill and is a PITA to solder.