Nitr0EngiEx
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I just got my Kraton a week ago and I have been shocked with how much has already broken. These things are expected to break on normal cars, but the hype of the Kraton on Youtube and what I read online made it seem indestructible. With that said here are the weak points and issues I have had and the solutions thus far.
1.) One of the hexes in the wheels stripped so when you hit the gas the nut just spins itself off the axle instead of push the tire.
I fixed this by setting a longer pin that I made out of an Allen wrench into the axle and then notched the hub of the wheel for the pin to fit in. Problem solved. no more issues with that. I almost want to pin all my wheels but for now I will so as needed basis.
2.) Wing mount now looks like an S and one side actually broke off the shock tower. RPM mounts on order. I did read online that this was a must have upgrade but for some reason at the time I felt like I had spent enough money and would wait until the mount broke, well that happened day 1.
Will fix this with new RPM mount as it arrives.
3.) Front Turnbuckles were completely worthless, kept falling off, the plastic so soft and poopy it took no effort to push it back on, or off for that matter.
Thankfully I was prepared for this, one Youtube video (I watched 100's on the Kraton) this guy used RPM Traxxass ends, and ordered the OEM Traxxass ends to get the metal balls that go in the ends so I have the OEM and RPM in stock. So far the RPMs have worked great just as I knew they would. I was not waiting for both sides to break, I replaced both on the front.
4.) The front bumper broke clean off. Even with an RPM Bumper installed, the front bumper bent up and broke the screws off into the front differential case. So far the red mount hasn't fallen off and I still have my hinge pins.
So for this I am doing a couple things:
A.) replace front hub with Hot Racing hub on order.
B.) Instead of putting another OEM bumper to get hit and snap off again I will get a second red metal mount such as the one there or create something similar with the hinge pins blocked in. i will install this second brace like item in place of the plastic bumper. Chances are its lower profile and position wont take an impact with the RPM bumper installed which leaves me still having a bumper and something to hold my hinge pins in.
5.) Number 5 is what currently has me down because I did not anticipate this, but when I was tearing up the beach with my Kraton one of my Front CVD broke off at the ball end. I have been able to McGyver my way through all of the breakages, but I don't have extra Axles.
For this I ordered GPM Axles for a long term solution, I will also get a set from warranty from Arrma, and I also bought a set from a Ebay seller really close by to me, so should arrive tomorrow and get me back running.
6.) I was having issues with the front CVD popping from the outdrives of the Diff, this was really upsetting me. What I observed is the subjective side was not nearly as deep into the outdrive as the opposite side, and then I noticed how loose the Pillow Ball mounts where in the A arms (and hubs, but not relevant to this issue).
I fixed this by removing the pillow balls from A Arms and removed the Spacers, then re installed with blue Loctite. The pillow Balls have since not come back loose again also the axle stopped popping out as what I did put the axle deeper into the outdrive.. The red lock nuts for the hubs also got blue loctite, and yes this works even though it is plastic on metal, the concepts of loctite still apply regardless of materials used, its simply less effective.
I suspect that RPM A Arms which seem thicker and stiffer will have less flex and Aide in the ability for the front suspension to stay square and not twist out of shape which is the cause of them popping out I believe.
7.)Not an Arrma Issue, but my Yeah Racing Fans did not survive 3 minutes at the BMX Track
For this, I have a problem with all of the motor coolers I have seen out there. The Heatsinks just seem to lack mass of metal which allows the heat somewhere to go. Out of them all, without seeing in person I determined that the Yeam Racing seems to have the highest mass of heat sink. So instead of buying another Brand I am replacing the 2x poopy 30mm Fans that draw .3A each pushing( .6A Total) 5 CFM~ Each (10 Total), with a single 5V, .2A 60MM fan that pushes 15 CFM. I did the measurements and I can get it to mount to the yeah racing heat sink with a metal plate that is 3mmx70mmx70mm.
I am very excited about this because I hope that I can find a fan that wont grenade on impact; however, if it fails the first time I can buy various 60MM fans and change them out until I find one that is Durable, they are all the same size.
I was having overheat issues, Servo would work, but have no FWD/REV movement. Let it sit and it would come back. I am hoping the new fan will fix that. I currently have no fans. Running 14T Pinion. stock Kraton wheels
1.) One of the hexes in the wheels stripped so when you hit the gas the nut just spins itself off the axle instead of push the tire.
I fixed this by setting a longer pin that I made out of an Allen wrench into the axle and then notched the hub of the wheel for the pin to fit in. Problem solved. no more issues with that. I almost want to pin all my wheels but for now I will so as needed basis.
2.) Wing mount now looks like an S and one side actually broke off the shock tower. RPM mounts on order. I did read online that this was a must have upgrade but for some reason at the time I felt like I had spent enough money and would wait until the mount broke, well that happened day 1.
Will fix this with new RPM mount as it arrives.
3.) Front Turnbuckles were completely worthless, kept falling off, the plastic so soft and poopy it took no effort to push it back on, or off for that matter.
Thankfully I was prepared for this, one Youtube video (I watched 100's on the Kraton) this guy used RPM Traxxass ends, and ordered the OEM Traxxass ends to get the metal balls that go in the ends so I have the OEM and RPM in stock. So far the RPMs have worked great just as I knew they would. I was not waiting for both sides to break, I replaced both on the front.
4.) The front bumper broke clean off. Even with an RPM Bumper installed, the front bumper bent up and broke the screws off into the front differential case. So far the red mount hasn't fallen off and I still have my hinge pins.
So for this I am doing a couple things:
A.) replace front hub with Hot Racing hub on order.
B.) Instead of putting another OEM bumper to get hit and snap off again I will get a second red metal mount such as the one there or create something similar with the hinge pins blocked in. i will install this second brace like item in place of the plastic bumper. Chances are its lower profile and position wont take an impact with the RPM bumper installed which leaves me still having a bumper and something to hold my hinge pins in.
5.) Number 5 is what currently has me down because I did not anticipate this, but when I was tearing up the beach with my Kraton one of my Front CVD broke off at the ball end. I have been able to McGyver my way through all of the breakages, but I don't have extra Axles.
For this I ordered GPM Axles for a long term solution, I will also get a set from warranty from Arrma, and I also bought a set from a Ebay seller really close by to me, so should arrive tomorrow and get me back running.
6.) I was having issues with the front CVD popping from the outdrives of the Diff, this was really upsetting me. What I observed is the subjective side was not nearly as deep into the outdrive as the opposite side, and then I noticed how loose the Pillow Ball mounts where in the A arms (and hubs, but not relevant to this issue).
I fixed this by removing the pillow balls from A Arms and removed the Spacers, then re installed with blue Loctite. The pillow Balls have since not come back loose again also the axle stopped popping out as what I did put the axle deeper into the outdrive.. The red lock nuts for the hubs also got blue loctite, and yes this works even though it is plastic on metal, the concepts of loctite still apply regardless of materials used, its simply less effective.
I suspect that RPM A Arms which seem thicker and stiffer will have less flex and Aide in the ability for the front suspension to stay square and not twist out of shape which is the cause of them popping out I believe.
7.)Not an Arrma Issue, but my Yeah Racing Fans did not survive 3 minutes at the BMX Track
For this, I have a problem with all of the motor coolers I have seen out there. The Heatsinks just seem to lack mass of metal which allows the heat somewhere to go. Out of them all, without seeing in person I determined that the Yeam Racing seems to have the highest mass of heat sink. So instead of buying another Brand I am replacing the 2x poopy 30mm Fans that draw .3A each pushing( .6A Total) 5 CFM~ Each (10 Total), with a single 5V, .2A 60MM fan that pushes 15 CFM. I did the measurements and I can get it to mount to the yeah racing heat sink with a metal plate that is 3mmx70mmx70mm.
I am very excited about this because I hope that I can find a fan that wont grenade on impact; however, if it fails the first time I can buy various 60MM fans and change them out until I find one that is Durable, they are all the same size.
I was having overheat issues, Servo would work, but have no FWD/REV movement. Let it sit and it would come back. I am hoping the new fan will fix that. I currently have no fans. Running 14T Pinion. stock Kraton wheels
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