soundcolor
Rock Crawler
O.K. boys and girls, here is the beginers guide to the MRC. It contains answeres to the most often asked questions. As well as links where modifications can be performed, and to where you can buy parts. I havfe broken this down by section, so lets get to it. This whole thread assumes you have a stock MRC. If you are running upgrade parts, then not all questions, answeres or modifications will apply to you.
Section One.
Body, Body mods, Body mounts
_____________________________________________________
Q. My body mounts seem to be getting stuck on everything.
A. Its a real pain in the @$$ isnt it. The MRC's body posts are way longer than they will ever need to be. You can cut them down about 3 or 4 holes if you want.
Q My body clips keep falling out, and I am loosing them, any tips?
A. Sure thing,
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144577&highlight=body+posts
Q. What bodies are available for the MRC.
A There are a ton, and everyone has their own choice on whats best. Basically anything designed to fit a 1/18th RC truck will work. You can also use some of the "hard bodies". These are basically bodies that are formed out of ABS. As long as it has a wheelbase of between 7.5 to 8 inches you should be good. Before you buy one, be sure to measure your wheelbase by usinga ruler and taking a measurment from the front wheels axle nut to the rear wheels axle nut.
Q. How do I lower my body
A. Punch a set of holes about 1 inch farther up on the body then the stock holes already are
Q. My wheels are rubbing my body.
A. A common problem with crawlers is body rub. The best advice that can be given is decide what you can and are willing to live with and what you arent. If having some rub is o.k. with you then only cut what you have to, if you cannot stand any amount of body rubbing, then start cutting. There are several ways to do this, but the smartest, and best way I have found is to take a fine tip sharpie, while holding the suspensio at full articulatin and marking a line where the tires come in contact with the body. Then, use some lexan scissors to trim away the offending area. A little at a time is better than all at once.
Q. I just got a new body for my MRC, how do I put holes in it, and where at.
A. Before you paint your body do these steps. Put new body over rig, and position where you want it. Then use a fine tip sharpie to mark where the body posts are going to come thru. Then cut the excess lexan away from the body mold. Use either a 1/4 to 3/8ths drill bit, or my personal favorite, a hole punch (the kind used for punching holes in paper) and make your holes. If you choose the drill bit method, then set the body on top of a piece of wood where the hole will be and use slow, light pressure. This will stop any possible cracks, or ripping of the body.
For any and all other questions related to body mounting and painting, please refer to the link below
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=60
Section Two.
Electronics
_____________________________________________________
Q. What size motors will fit in the MRC without modification
A. Anything under a 370 size motor will fit the MRC. However, please understand that not all motors are the same size. They may have a bigger, longer can. Or the output shaft may be of a diffrent size. You should be prepared to do some slight modifications to anything you buy. I will try to go over some of the most common motors in the Motor section.
Q. My MRC was running fine, and then all of the sudden it stopped, or It ran fine the other day, I charged the batteries when it died, and now it wont run at all..
A. More than likely the problem you are facing is dead batteries in the TX (radio). For some reason, when the batteries in the radio get low,or dies, it can unbind from the reciever and your rig wont work. So, replace those batteries with either some good regular batteries (energizer, rayovac or duracell's) or a quality set of rechargables (energizer, sanyo..et al), and then re-bind it per your instruction manual.
Q. I have a new servo, and was wondering if I needed a BEC.
A. Yes, and No... Is it absolutely neccissary, no... will it help... yes. A BEC basically allow the servo to get its power straight from the battery instead of from the ESC, which doesnt put as much strain on the ESC. This is a good thing. Alot of people are running the stock ESC with upgraded motors and servos and dont ever have a problem with them. So you may get lucky... but its better to get one and not need one then to have your rig sitting on the shelf for a week while your order comes in.
Q. What is the best motor/esc/random electronic out there.
A. This is one of those personal prefrence questions, there is no clear answer. It depends on what you have the money for, and what you like.
Q. What are some of the most common electronics for the MRC.
A. The Tekin B1R and FXR.
http://www.teamtekin.com/
Novak mongoose
http://www.teamnovak.com/products/brushless/mongoose_crawler/index.html
Castle Creations mamba line
http://www.castlecreations.com/products/mamba_max.html
Q. I ran my MRC through the water, or it slipped into a puddle, or a water tower fell over 200 feet from me and my MRC got wet...
A. Seriously, what did you think was going to happen. Here are some things that may help. Remove the electronics from the rig, open them up and dry up all the water. Spray WD-40 inside, let set for a minute or two, dry it out and let it set overnight. It might work and it might not. Next time, dont get the thing wet.
Q. How do I waterproof my electronics
A. There are alot of diffrent theorys on this, however here is the first thing you should know. Water and electronics do not mix. One tiny pinhole in anything and you could ruin everything. So, do any and all of these with caution.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26785
Q. Should I go LiPo.
A. that depends on you. Lipo has alot of advantages and a few dis-advantages. First, if you dont know what it is, then use the search button. They will genearly get you some more wheelspeed, and may let you run a little longer. However, they are also very picky, you need a dedicated charger, and a little know-how. So search and study up. Here is a great place to start, please read post #2
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34047
Q. Can someone help me with wiring my electronics
A. Love too, read here first.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91348
Q. Should I get the tekin B1, or the tekin B1R...
A. the B1R of course. The B1 does not have a reverse function.
Q. How long should I charge my stock batteries on the stock charger
A. No more than 4.5 hourse. That charger and the batteries get real hot if left on there for any longer
For any and all other electronics questions please see the below link
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=9
Section Three
Motors, and Transmission
____________________________________________________________
Q. I see on here that one of the free-mods is to flip the tranny/motor. What does that mean and what will it do for me...
A. It means unbolting the motor/trans from the skid, and turning it around so it faces the other direction. Flipping the motor/tranny mainly is only done for one reason, more room for the electronics to be mounted closer to the front axle, and off of the top of the rig.
Q. How do I loosen/tighten the slipper clutch.
A. the small 1/4inch nut on the transmission. (its under the transmission cover)
Q. I want my MRC to go real fast, more of a rock basher/racer...
A. O.K. then get you a Losi mini slider motor.... they are one of the fastest motors out there.
Q. My new mini slider motor gets real hot, and so does my ESC.
A. Yep, here are some helpfull hints. Either, drop to a 10t pinion gear, or install some heat sinks on your motor. Use the search button there is a ton of information about it on here
Q. Is the Holmes Hobbies Torque Master Mini any good.
A. No, its horrible, worst motor ever made.... OF COURSE ITS GOOD. most of the people on here run one, he is one of the top motor buildiers in crawling and his motors flat out win comps
Q. What are some good motors for the MRC
A. There are several, here are the most common
Holmes Hobbies Torque Master Mini
Discontinued
http://holmeshobbies.com/home.php
Losi Mini Slider Motor
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB1216
Losi Insane 370 motor
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB0837
There are plenty of others, but these are what I have seen as being used the most
Section 4
Drivetrain
____________________________________________________________________
Q. One of the tabs on the shock mount on the axle is broken
A. Its a common problem due to over-tightening the screw that holds it in place. Its not a game changer, or anything really to worry about. It will hold just fine. In order to fix it, you need to replace the axle housing. Part number LOSB1405
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB1405
Q. I am getting this wierd "clicking/popping" sound from my rear axle.
A. You need to replace your ring and pinion and the axle housing.. If that doesnt work shim the left bearing on the ring gear out with a thin washer.
Q. I broke my driveshaft
A. It happens. Replace with a new losi plastic driveshaft, or a GOOD quality part like the MIP's or the punisher shafts. Stay away from integy parts
The best parts to replace with are the MIP driveshafts or the Punisher driveshafts
MIP
http://www.miponline.com/MIP/Home.html
Punisher
http://rc4wdstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=63&products_id=1029
Q. I lost a pin out of my driveshaft
A. It happens. Replace with a stock pin (and a dab of thread locker), or you can use a body clip/paper clip, nail, or pice of wire.
Q. I was out driving my truck around the yard/rocks/ditch/laundry/over the kids, and now only the front/rear wheels turn, its like I dont have four wheel drive anymore/ or I only have 3 wheel drive now...
A. You have broken a locker. The axles on the MRC have little plastic lockers that mount inside of the ring gear housing, to much torque, and the metal axle shaft spins in the locker , instead of turning with the locker. You need to buy some metal lockers.
There isnt currently a how to thread on replacing them because it is very easy to do, refer to your owners manual for dissassembly and reassembly
Q. Should I upgrade the center locker
A. Yes, tho they dont break often, if you are already doing the front and rear, then you might as well do the center while you are at it.
Q. I cant get my center lockers to fit, or they are very hard to put in
A. Completly normal. They are a tight fit. I used a pair of pliers to squeeze them in. Just be sure you have them lined up correctly before you mash them down.
Section One.
Body, Body mods, Body mounts
_____________________________________________________
Q. My body mounts seem to be getting stuck on everything.
A. Its a real pain in the @$$ isnt it. The MRC's body posts are way longer than they will ever need to be. You can cut them down about 3 or 4 holes if you want.
Q My body clips keep falling out, and I am loosing them, any tips?
A. Sure thing,
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144577&highlight=body+posts
Q. What bodies are available for the MRC.
A There are a ton, and everyone has their own choice on whats best. Basically anything designed to fit a 1/18th RC truck will work. You can also use some of the "hard bodies". These are basically bodies that are formed out of ABS. As long as it has a wheelbase of between 7.5 to 8 inches you should be good. Before you buy one, be sure to measure your wheelbase by usinga ruler and taking a measurment from the front wheels axle nut to the rear wheels axle nut.
Q. How do I lower my body
A. Punch a set of holes about 1 inch farther up on the body then the stock holes already are
Q. My wheels are rubbing my body.
A. A common problem with crawlers is body rub. The best advice that can be given is decide what you can and are willing to live with and what you arent. If having some rub is o.k. with you then only cut what you have to, if you cannot stand any amount of body rubbing, then start cutting. There are several ways to do this, but the smartest, and best way I have found is to take a fine tip sharpie, while holding the suspensio at full articulatin and marking a line where the tires come in contact with the body. Then, use some lexan scissors to trim away the offending area. A little at a time is better than all at once.
Q. I just got a new body for my MRC, how do I put holes in it, and where at.
A. Before you paint your body do these steps. Put new body over rig, and position where you want it. Then use a fine tip sharpie to mark where the body posts are going to come thru. Then cut the excess lexan away from the body mold. Use either a 1/4 to 3/8ths drill bit, or my personal favorite, a hole punch (the kind used for punching holes in paper) and make your holes. If you choose the drill bit method, then set the body on top of a piece of wood where the hole will be and use slow, light pressure. This will stop any possible cracks, or ripping of the body.
For any and all other questions related to body mounting and painting, please refer to the link below
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=60
Section Two.
Electronics
_____________________________________________________
Q. What size motors will fit in the MRC without modification
A. Anything under a 370 size motor will fit the MRC. However, please understand that not all motors are the same size. They may have a bigger, longer can. Or the output shaft may be of a diffrent size. You should be prepared to do some slight modifications to anything you buy. I will try to go over some of the most common motors in the Motor section.
Q. My MRC was running fine, and then all of the sudden it stopped, or It ran fine the other day, I charged the batteries when it died, and now it wont run at all..
A. More than likely the problem you are facing is dead batteries in the TX (radio). For some reason, when the batteries in the radio get low,or dies, it can unbind from the reciever and your rig wont work. So, replace those batteries with either some good regular batteries (energizer, rayovac or duracell's) or a quality set of rechargables (energizer, sanyo..et al), and then re-bind it per your instruction manual.
Q. I have a new servo, and was wondering if I needed a BEC.
A. Yes, and No... Is it absolutely neccissary, no... will it help... yes. A BEC basically allow the servo to get its power straight from the battery instead of from the ESC, which doesnt put as much strain on the ESC. This is a good thing. Alot of people are running the stock ESC with upgraded motors and servos and dont ever have a problem with them. So you may get lucky... but its better to get one and not need one then to have your rig sitting on the shelf for a week while your order comes in.
Q. What is the best motor/esc/random electronic out there.
A. This is one of those personal prefrence questions, there is no clear answer. It depends on what you have the money for, and what you like.
Q. What are some of the most common electronics for the MRC.
A. The Tekin B1R and FXR.
http://www.teamtekin.com/
Novak mongoose
http://www.teamnovak.com/products/brushless/mongoose_crawler/index.html
Castle Creations mamba line
http://www.castlecreations.com/products/mamba_max.html
Q. I ran my MRC through the water, or it slipped into a puddle, or a water tower fell over 200 feet from me and my MRC got wet...
A. Seriously, what did you think was going to happen. Here are some things that may help. Remove the electronics from the rig, open them up and dry up all the water. Spray WD-40 inside, let set for a minute or two, dry it out and let it set overnight. It might work and it might not. Next time, dont get the thing wet.
Q. How do I waterproof my electronics
A. There are alot of diffrent theorys on this, however here is the first thing you should know. Water and electronics do not mix. One tiny pinhole in anything and you could ruin everything. So, do any and all of these with caution.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26785
Q. Should I go LiPo.
A. that depends on you. Lipo has alot of advantages and a few dis-advantages. First, if you dont know what it is, then use the search button. They will genearly get you some more wheelspeed, and may let you run a little longer. However, they are also very picky, you need a dedicated charger, and a little know-how. So search and study up. Here is a great place to start, please read post #2
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34047
Q. Can someone help me with wiring my electronics
A. Love too, read here first.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91348
Q. Should I get the tekin B1, or the tekin B1R...
A. the B1R of course. The B1 does not have a reverse function.
Q. How long should I charge my stock batteries on the stock charger
A. No more than 4.5 hourse. That charger and the batteries get real hot if left on there for any longer
For any and all other electronics questions please see the below link
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=9
Section Three
Motors, and Transmission
____________________________________________________________
Q. I see on here that one of the free-mods is to flip the tranny/motor. What does that mean and what will it do for me...
A. It means unbolting the motor/trans from the skid, and turning it around so it faces the other direction. Flipping the motor/tranny mainly is only done for one reason, more room for the electronics to be mounted closer to the front axle, and off of the top of the rig.
Q. How do I loosen/tighten the slipper clutch.
A. the small 1/4inch nut on the transmission. (its under the transmission cover)
Q. I want my MRC to go real fast, more of a rock basher/racer...
A. O.K. then get you a Losi mini slider motor.... they are one of the fastest motors out there.
Q. My new mini slider motor gets real hot, and so does my ESC.
A. Yep, here are some helpfull hints. Either, drop to a 10t pinion gear, or install some heat sinks on your motor. Use the search button there is a ton of information about it on here
Q. Is the Holmes Hobbies Torque Master Mini any good.
A. No, its horrible, worst motor ever made.... OF COURSE ITS GOOD. most of the people on here run one, he is one of the top motor buildiers in crawling and his motors flat out win comps
Q. What are some good motors for the MRC
A. There are several, here are the most common
Holmes Hobbies Torque Master Mini
Discontinued
http://holmeshobbies.com/home.php
Losi Mini Slider Motor
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB1216
Losi Insane 370 motor
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB0837
There are plenty of others, but these are what I have seen as being used the most
Section 4
Drivetrain
____________________________________________________________________
Q. One of the tabs on the shock mount on the axle is broken
A. Its a common problem due to over-tightening the screw that holds it in place. Its not a game changer, or anything really to worry about. It will hold just fine. In order to fix it, you need to replace the axle housing. Part number LOSB1405
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=LOSB1405
Q. I am getting this wierd "clicking/popping" sound from my rear axle.
A. You need to replace your ring and pinion and the axle housing.. If that doesnt work shim the left bearing on the ring gear out with a thin washer.
Q. I broke my driveshaft
A. It happens. Replace with a new losi plastic driveshaft, or a GOOD quality part like the MIP's or the punisher shafts. Stay away from integy parts
The best parts to replace with are the MIP driveshafts or the Punisher driveshafts
MIP
http://www.miponline.com/MIP/Home.html
Punisher
http://rc4wdstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=63&products_id=1029
Q. I lost a pin out of my driveshaft
A. It happens. Replace with a stock pin (and a dab of thread locker), or you can use a body clip/paper clip, nail, or pice of wire.
Q. I was out driving my truck around the yard/rocks/ditch/laundry/over the kids, and now only the front/rear wheels turn, its like I dont have four wheel drive anymore/ or I only have 3 wheel drive now...
A. You have broken a locker. The axles on the MRC have little plastic lockers that mount inside of the ring gear housing, to much torque, and the metal axle shaft spins in the locker , instead of turning with the locker. You need to buy some metal lockers.
There isnt currently a how to thread on replacing them because it is very easy to do, refer to your owners manual for dissassembly and reassembly
Q. Should I upgrade the center locker
A. Yes, tho they dont break often, if you are already doing the front and rear, then you might as well do the center while you are at it.
Q. I cant get my center lockers to fit, or they are very hard to put in
A. Completly normal. They are a tight fit. I used a pair of pliers to squeeze them in. Just be sure you have them lined up correctly before you mash them down.
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