TOPIC:

7 years since this was last ran so time for some service...


The old roto start was skipping and bolt holes broken on the unit and the engine back plate.
So I fitted:
#1426 Cover Plate (rear plate on engine which roto start unit mounts to)
#120277 Roto Start V3 unit
#107829 14mm One way bearing (stock is 12mm)
#105895 Shaped exhaust gasket (the stock purple was crumbling-discontinued, this has same size)


The orginal optional 47t steel spur #77127 is expensive if you can get hold of it, LHS was out of stock.
So I ordered a chinese one on ebay for the 1/3 of the cost.
Ofcourse my LHS was out of the #72131 slipper clutch pads so I bought a stock 49t plastic spur #77094 and robbed the clutch pad from that.
Should give me a tad more top speed than my other Savage with 49t spur.
Allready have fitted the #77105 15t hardned clutchbell to go together with the metal spur...


Ready to rock.
I`m using Optifuel 16% RTR fuel as that is all my LHS has. The new EU regs sucks as it`s no longer legal to sell or use nitro fuel with more than 16% (weight) so it has a bit more prosentage.
Before I was using 30% Optifuel and it was a breeze to adjust. Would wheely on demand. Not anymore....


Also fitted new replacement air filter #87204.
Would have liked to report everything did work flawlessly.
It did not as the stock AM radio has crazy amount of inference, to the point it took off by iteself.
My other truck the stock AM radio works perfectly.
So before next outing I need to swap out the radio. Will likely be my trusty Tactic TTX300.

Earlier this evening I ran 1 tank without problems after swapping to my Tactic radiogear.
Needed a few adjustments on the carb (beserk buggy had borrowed this for testing purpose).
Did it in my dusty driveway so now it`s really dirty.

Next time will be on grass.

Also need to fixt the issue with the tank on Savage #1. After 20 years the 0-ring on the lid has swelled and will not stay put, making tuning a nightmare due air leaks.
Btw the stock O-ring is 18x2.4mm in case anyone need one.
When that is fixed I have 3 running nitro vehicles

Hey Richard, always nice to get them tuned and running right and 3 is a good accomplishment.

I currently run a Slayer Pro 4x4 which I really like but have had a couple of Savages over the years and I must say they are my favorite monster nitro truck.

My last one was a XL (for extra long chassis plates) and had Entegy extras on it. 

I hope to get another someday. I do have a 1/5 on the way with a chainsaw motor on it.... This should be interesting!!!!!

 

Hi Jim.

Savage is my favorite too.
As someone else said (a owner of a hobby shop) the X 4.1 is perfect balance between power and performance.
Don`t have enough power to go stupid fast and not enough power to break stuff. But still fast enough.
I have not broken a single part beside when I crashed into a boulder head on at full speed, only bent the frame. broke a few of the chassis braces, broke the steering post and broke one shock.
Suspension arms seems bulletproof, so is the driveshaft. And I think the 4.1 was the first one with the metal diffs.
Parts availability seems to be good, some are discontinued but most times they are updated and used on later trucks. In my case on the next truck in line, the X 4.6.
Oh and i love the Force engines which is made by Ofna. Most of the times easy to tune. Bit harder with the current low % nitro.

I have been really lucky as all of my 3 nitro vehicles was gifted to me for free. Got the 2 Savages in return for changing a bulkhead on HPI E-Firestorm. Ovner no longer had the space or time to run them.
So only cost for me has been service parts and nitro really. Only upgrade I have done is OFNA mod linkage, steel spur on this one and upgraded the servos.

Guys, try a usa1.  It's the best. 😁

The vintage nitro USA-1 was based on the Burns chassis. A really good chassis. But in mine opinion it`s not a Monster Truck since it`s based on a buggy.
The new released Nitro is based on the Madforce chassis. I do not like that chassis at all. All too similar to Wheelie King wich was a poor chassis layout.

Only USA-1 I ever vanted was the electric vintage one..

I had have the 3 first versions of the nc usa1.  Burns, turbo burns and inferno dx  based, honnestly no différence.  And my best one is the 2nd on the turbo burns with front brake and forged transmission full of very hard grease into diffs. I ran them in mountain up to 1500m alt. With a picco pull start and the option carburator in 7mm. I never had a so robust gp truck.

I love the Force engines too!! I didn't know they made them for HPI, very interesting...

Had a couple Ofna buggies years ago.....

Hey Flo!!

Never had a USA-1 but they are beautiful!

If any has a leaking lid on their Savage tanks and can`t get hold of the orginal O-rings (101423), 16x2.5mm ones work perfect with a snap when closing.
Stock is 18x2.4mm and I tried 18x2.5mm and it was no go as it would leak. The stretched 16mm one worked perfectly