RE: Official E-FIRESTORM thread
My E- had been sitting for a couple weeks, then I brought it upstairs and got it ready to go outside. I came back and my 2-yo daughter was playing with the switches on the stock transmitter. Now, when I pull the trigger, the car goes backwards. If I push it forward, the car goes forward! If I invert the throttle via the switch on the transmitter, the car goes on throttle without touching the trigger, and stops when you move the trigger from the neutral position. What the heck happened? Is there a way to reset the ESC? Its completely stock. Thanks, Ryan
Posted on: 9/18/2009 4:23 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9106058

RE: Official E-FIRESTORM thread
Hey gang. Can I ask a couple Q's? 1) I lost my battery brace (wife was "cleaning"...). I was going to order a replacement from HPI ($7)unless you guys can think of another place to order from or a makeshift fix... 2) I would like stiffer springs than the stock ones (which are 3.6lbs and 10 coils and 3.3 lbs and 11 coils). What makes the spring stiffer, the spring rate or the # of coils? Would a jump to 2.7 and 13 coils be too stiff (given I get thicker oil too). Thanks, Ryan
Posted on: 9/1/2009 2:23 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9061988

RE: Official E-FIRESTORM thread
Here's a link to a little movie of my bone stock EFirestorm. There's a lot of vids of hopped-up brushless eF's, someone may want to see one stock before they buy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taaQvjSXZUY This thing is tough too. I was chasing around my nieces in their Power Wheels Jeep and was constantly banging into their wheels, twice got the nose wedged under their wheels. And of course, once, it got completely run over squarely by their back wheel. The body got crunched (that popped right out), and the ESC popped loose (that popped right back in). Wife's family was shocked since they'd never seen a hobby-grade vehicle before... I'm enjoying it mightily!!
Posted on: 7/17/2008 8:58 AM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7740296

RE: "Breaking In" New Batteries
Thanks, I started charging my 4600mah at a lower amp level and it charged "fully" in two hours and has been trickling since. It's probably been on Trickle for an hour now and the battery is only slightly warm. So I'll try that out overnight tonight. Thanks again.
Posted on: 7/8/2008 1:56 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7707607

RE: "Breaking In" New Batteries
So I started charging the 3600 nimh at 3.0 amps (highest AC level available). After about an hour, it peaked and went to 200 mah trickle. The battery was hot though. I could hold it in my hands, but I couldn't say it was "warm". I've read a couple places where hot is bad, that's where charging should stop. The battery was somewhere around 8.4 volts (6 cell battery). Should I let it trickle still and make sure it doesn't get hotter?
Posted on: 7/8/2008 8:33 AM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7706602

RE: Official E-FIRESTORM thread
I just got my eF today, what a nice piece of equipment. I just think bak to the Kyosho Big Brute that my bro had back in the 90's and shudder... I swapped the springs front to rear, but the springs seem too short for the rear. I screwed down the adjuster about 2/3rds down till the spring finally compressed. Is that right or were the springs on right in the first place? Thanks.
Posted on: 7/7/2008 8:44 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7704791

RE: New E-Firestorm on the way: is there a new truck Checklist?
[quote]ORIGINAL: 73 I would say remove the double side tape below the ESC and reciever before you hit the dirt, replace w some quality 3M tapes. The 3 E-Firestorms here have their ESC and reciever dangling after a while. [/quote] That's the kind of "dirt" that is good to know! I have double sided velcro to help keep the battery from any sliding too.
Posted on: 7/3/2008 1:41 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7690048

RE: New E-Firestorm on the way: is there a new truck Checklist?
[quote]ORIGINAL: brushlessboy16 Break in the motor [/quote] Is it like a Porsche, under 4500 rpm for the first 3000 miles? That might take a while! [:)]
Posted on: 7/2/2008 11:37 AM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7685654

RE: "Breaking In" New Batteries
I just found this FAQ: http://www.hangtimes.com/rcbattery_faq.html What do you think about the first 3-4 answers? If I wanted to get "set the peak level" by charging 3 times for a long period, how would I discharge it. Long periods of putting around at a slow steady speed? That would probably help in breaking in the engine too... Thanks again for your help.
Posted on: 7/2/2008 11:35 AM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7685652

RE: "Breaking In" New Batteries
guver, what does c/10 mean? So basically, charge it at 460 and 360, respectively, until the charger says they're full and 200mah trickle charge for 4,6 or 8 hours? That's easy enough. I'll have to look for what to do about taking care of the batteries after use too. I hope to make these two last... Thanks, Ryan
Posted on: 7/2/2008 8:35 AM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7685146

RE: New E-Firestorm on the way: is there a new truck Checklist?
I like the idea of reversing the rear suspension hookup for increased wheelbase. I think I might wait for doing that though.
Posted on: 7/1/2008 4:23 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7682646

New E-Firestorm on the way: is there a new truck Checklist?
I know some new electronic toys always need to be tweaked out of the box, (i.e. tightening bolts, filing rough edges), I'm sure there are little things that notoriously need to be taken care of with the e-Firestorm. I've posted this about the new batteries: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7682225/tm.htm Can't wait to get this thing, its my first hobby-grade car... Thanks, Ryan
Posted on: 7/1/2008 2:22 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7682240

"Breaking In" New Batteries
I finally have my first hobby-grade kit on its way (including E-Firestorm, charger and 2 batts), and I want to make sure I do things the right way. I ordered this charger: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTSA4 which is fairly robust. I've read here and there that if its a 3000mah batt you'd charge at 3amps (etc.), if I read that right? But what would I do the first time I'm charging the batteries? (and thereafter). I noticed that there are different trickle rates also? 100mah vs. 200mah? For batts, I ordered: 4600mah Trinity Reference pack 6c nimh 3600 Trinity Critical Mass pack 6c nimh I'd be interested to hear all the different techniques you've stumbled across. Thanks, Ryan
Posted on: 7/1/2008 2:17 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "Batteries & Chargers"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7682225

RE: E-FireStorm, Flux, Rustler VXL, or what?
I'm not sure I want to get a new truck (the HPI E-F) and then be adding a new ESC and Motor. Its one thing to explain to the wife the expensive box that came in the mail. But if I get the SW then there's two boxes, each with a big price tag - to her. Then I have to hear "if its not good enough out of the box, why did it cost so much...". I got to hear that when I started dressing up my new car... :) So does the Rustler take those TRA connectors that I read about? At this point I'm leaning towards a stock E-F and really good batteries. I can always take the batteries with me to my next truck (or car) or sell them to my brother.
Posted on: 6/13/2008 8:30 AM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7614291

E-FireStorm, Flux, Rustler VXL, or what?
I am itching to get a truck, and specifically I'd like to have it by July, and certainly by August for a trip I'm taking. Ideally, I want the HPI E-F Flux for the speed, durability, tunability and run time. Specifically, it will be used for: -Light bashing -Occasion Racing (not expected to win, "just compete") -Run times important -I don't want to be giving away any speed if I don't have to. I don't feel like waiting until late-June to hear that HPI is again delaying the Flux. So my options are to get a regular Firestorm with LiPo or maybe 7-cell batts or a Rustler VXL now vs. waiting for the Flux. Again, I like the HPI's durability and tunability, and from what I hear its a more stable driver. But a lot of people are rocking out with the VXL and most say its faster. What would you do? I guess I'm just lucky as a consumer that there are great options in the RTR market...
Posted on: 6/12/2008 12:44 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7611142

RE: Official E-FIRESTORM thread
GOING LIPO out of the Box? So, the HPI site says the E-Firestorm accepts most kinds of batteries, including "most Lipos". What exactly is involved with getting a new Firestorm out of the box running on Lipo batts? Connectors? New ESC? I'd like to make the purchase of car, batts and charger in one trip, and I have no idea what is required with Lipos. I'm thinking about just getting a smaller Lipo (2s?) and not a SuperFryer9000, or some batt on steroids. I have no NIMH batts now, so if the upgrade to Lipo is easy enough, I might as well do it now, runtime is my primary motivation (but I can't say no to the speed...). Thanks, Ryan
Posted on: 5/19/2008 1:48 PM by Author "rsr427" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7514714