No-Idea113
Active Member
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 134
- Arrma RC's
- Kraton 8S
Hi All,
I've had this Kraton 8s EXB since it was available (I was on the thankfully short-lived pre-order) and have have had some sessions with it and changes so I figured I'd post up my thoughts. This is my first Arrma, my first assembled rig (always been kits prior to this), and my first rig over 3s. Not crazy build like some because I have some other hobbies that need funding too.
My typical run is in large wide open hay fields and gravel / rock drives. This is the perfect enjoinment for this big rig. Previously an old 2wd Stampede was neat to putt around with but I couldn't blast through the hay field and hit berms to send it flying like I can with the large Kraton. Otherwise it is boats or crawlers mainly for me on the RC stuff.
Setup:
EXB Kraton 8s
Stock take out new electronics from an RTR;
Spectrum Firma 160A ESC
Spectrum Firma 1250kv motor
JX PDI HV20710MG Servo
Nitro Hobbies 7600mAh, 75C Muscle Packs with XT90s
m2c steering bell setup & servo axle
m2c pillow ball retainers & inserts
m2c front & rear hinge pin support blocks
Arrma ARA320473 stone guards
RPM 80812 rear arms and 80642 guards
Initial thoughts; impressive. It is huge. Disappointed it wasn't a kit. Took a lot of the initial fun out of it for me but I'm still really enjoying it.
Ran it a few times stock and had no issues just some minor annoyances. Ordered some parts to solve those. Here are my thoughts on those:
First up was to order a set of RPM rear arms so I could run their mud/stone guards (along with the Arrma front ones I already had put on for the first run). THe one thing I noticed is the rear arms tend to get packed and pelted with everything coming off the front tires and I was trying to save the creation of birds nests on the rear shafts and chips in the shocks. "While I was in there" I ordered the m2c hinge pin support blocks.
The RPM arms for me didn't completely fit correctly with the larger lower spring retainers on the EXB model I had to do some minor clearance on the arms to get them to not bind on the retainers. I assume they were designed around the smaller RTR model retainers. Otherwise they went in fine. The stone guards do wonders to stop grass on the shafts and stones against the shocks.
The m2c front and rear hinge pin supports I am glad I ordered. I can see why people have problems with the stock ones. After only 2 runs the stock retainers were wallowing out and allowed the pin to move. The m2c ones seem to have solved that problem, I'll check on them after a few more runs but they've had a dozen or so now with no issues.
The m2c pillow ball retainers made the cut too as the stock ones began to change position on me. These are a great product, stay put and work well. I will say you don't need the tool though, I have one and it still sits new in it's package, not needed.
The steering began to annoy me with all the play in it with the stock setup so I bought the the M2C steering setup. Decent finish but still left something to be desired in my opinion. I had to shim the shoulder bolts that hold the steering arms to the drag link. Without a shim the play was just as bad if not worse than the stock plastic setup. The bearings would float up and down as the pocket M2C milled was less than the height of the shoulder on the bolt. I understand that you want a little movement there as to not crush the bearings but we were talking about .65mm + of play. I used some ARA709058 .5mm shims (the same ones that are already used elsewhere in the steering) and that brought it down to about .15mm of up and down travel. Noticeable difference and much smoother steering action now.
I know everyone seems to say just jump right to the m2c chassis but the stock EXB seems to be holding up for me so far. When it doesn't I'll probably order one. I'm not launching 20' high, I think I usually stay under 8' and probably 15-20' of distance but I have had some tumbles that sent it cartwheeling down stone one wheel at a time that I was sure would break something and didn't. I credit the m2c hinge pins for holding the arms together. 30ish pounds of uncontrollable toy is an interesting spectacle. Haha.
Next steps? I have ear plugs for the center diff to hopefully help with the ballooning on the front tires so much during acceleration and I have backordered ordered some 200k, 500k, and 1mil to play with in the front and rear.
Otherwise I'm charging packs and getting it out there!
I've had this Kraton 8s EXB since it was available (I was on the thankfully short-lived pre-order) and have have had some sessions with it and changes so I figured I'd post up my thoughts. This is my first Arrma, my first assembled rig (always been kits prior to this), and my first rig over 3s. Not crazy build like some because I have some other hobbies that need funding too.
My typical run is in large wide open hay fields and gravel / rock drives. This is the perfect enjoinment for this big rig. Previously an old 2wd Stampede was neat to putt around with but I couldn't blast through the hay field and hit berms to send it flying like I can with the large Kraton. Otherwise it is boats or crawlers mainly for me on the RC stuff.
Setup:
EXB Kraton 8s
Stock take out new electronics from an RTR;
Spectrum Firma 160A ESC
Spectrum Firma 1250kv motor
JX PDI HV20710MG Servo
Nitro Hobbies 7600mAh, 75C Muscle Packs with XT90s
m2c steering bell setup & servo axle
m2c pillow ball retainers & inserts
m2c front & rear hinge pin support blocks
Arrma ARA320473 stone guards
RPM 80812 rear arms and 80642 guards
Initial thoughts; impressive. It is huge. Disappointed it wasn't a kit. Took a lot of the initial fun out of it for me but I'm still really enjoying it.
Ran it a few times stock and had no issues just some minor annoyances. Ordered some parts to solve those. Here are my thoughts on those:
First up was to order a set of RPM rear arms so I could run their mud/stone guards (along with the Arrma front ones I already had put on for the first run). THe one thing I noticed is the rear arms tend to get packed and pelted with everything coming off the front tires and I was trying to save the creation of birds nests on the rear shafts and chips in the shocks. "While I was in there" I ordered the m2c hinge pin support blocks.
The RPM arms for me didn't completely fit correctly with the larger lower spring retainers on the EXB model I had to do some minor clearance on the arms to get them to not bind on the retainers. I assume they were designed around the smaller RTR model retainers. Otherwise they went in fine. The stone guards do wonders to stop grass on the shafts and stones against the shocks.
The m2c front and rear hinge pin supports I am glad I ordered. I can see why people have problems with the stock ones. After only 2 runs the stock retainers were wallowing out and allowed the pin to move. The m2c ones seem to have solved that problem, I'll check on them after a few more runs but they've had a dozen or so now with no issues.
The m2c pillow ball retainers made the cut too as the stock ones began to change position on me. These are a great product, stay put and work well. I will say you don't need the tool though, I have one and it still sits new in it's package, not needed.
The steering began to annoy me with all the play in it with the stock setup so I bought the the M2C steering setup. Decent finish but still left something to be desired in my opinion. I had to shim the shoulder bolts that hold the steering arms to the drag link. Without a shim the play was just as bad if not worse than the stock plastic setup. The bearings would float up and down as the pocket M2C milled was less than the height of the shoulder on the bolt. I understand that you want a little movement there as to not crush the bearings but we were talking about .65mm + of play. I used some ARA709058 .5mm shims (the same ones that are already used elsewhere in the steering) and that brought it down to about .15mm of up and down travel. Noticeable difference and much smoother steering action now.
I know everyone seems to say just jump right to the m2c chassis but the stock EXB seems to be holding up for me so far. When it doesn't I'll probably order one. I'm not launching 20' high, I think I usually stay under 8' and probably 15-20' of distance but I have had some tumbles that sent it cartwheeling down stone one wheel at a time that I was sure would break something and didn't. I credit the m2c hinge pins for holding the arms together. 30ish pounds of uncontrollable toy is an interesting spectacle. Haha.
Next steps? I have ear plugs for the center diff to hopefully help with the ballooning on the front tires so much during acceleration and I have backordered ordered some 200k, 500k, and 1mil to play with in the front and rear.
Otherwise I'm charging packs and getting it out there!
