RC10T4 Problems

[Chrislong]

Got an RC10T4 to have fun with and having problems with it. Ive been racing 14 years so these are not problems due to lack of experience.

1st problem, when building the rear shocks, the plastic parts did not snap into possition as well as I am used to (I must have built 20 AE shocks now). They seemed not to leak and work ok until I put it on the track, both shocks just dropped all the oil, upon opening to fix, the plastic parts are floating up and down the shock shaft and the seals are cut to shreds.

Why?

2nd problem, flying aroud the track and hit a solid track marker dead on the wishbone. The wishbone cracked around the front of the inner hinge pin and the very top of the shock tower broke off (i.e. accross the 3 holes). Had a look and there is little plastic there in both places - no wonder it broke.

Not good, can't do much with the wishbone, but once I have a new shock tower I will be making some sort of brace to fit over the 6 screws at the top.

Has anybody else had these problems??

Don't get me wrong, the T4 handles awesome - its just let down by its lack of strength.

Chris

[mr4man]

hi chris i have found the same with the shocks on my new b4.
seems to be a very fine line between the seal retaining clip fitting ok and it not.
had too very carefully trim just enough plastic of too make it clip and stay in the groove. maybe its due to the teflon coat on the inside?
i also now about the whishbones due to breaking about 3 since ive had it, thought it was just cos i race indoors.

[Chrislong]

Hi Richard,
Im sure outdoors I won't have these problems cos I won't be hitting such solid items, I will be running two wheels on the kerbs safely - which is why I probably broke it - forgot I can't use the kerbs.

Im going to have another go at rebuilding the shocks today, and if they still leak they're going back to CML with a letter.

Have you found any other weaknesses??

Chris

[mr4man]

yeah the camber links are a bit soft also the ball cups.
most people seem to change them for rpm ball cups and lunsford ti turmbuckles.
have a look on www.rc10b4.com there a whole section for the t4.
have you got the heavy duty servo saver spring it made a load of difference.
also the mod to put weight in the rear bulkhead to make the car have more traction usually run 30gms.
did you find the shocks difficult to get two the same seem very hard to bleed?
definatly get the factory team blue alloy front arm brace as the kit one is very weak.
took dooms advice when i bought the kit on that one.
also the rear tower on the b4 is a common common breakage

[Chrislong]

Mr Baker, im talking T4 not B4.

Hinge pin brace is bulky plastic on new T4, hence broke wishbone - not the brace.

I was not asking about HD servo saver spring - I have one.

Setting up AE shocks is ABC, its the quality of the machining inside holding the clips/seals in which I am questioning.

Std Ballcups fines as always, Lunsfords on.

Chris

[Chrislong]

I have now stripped rear shocks, cleaned everything down in component form and rebuilt, again the plastic parts did not clip into position as easily as I am used to with the many B4, TC3, B3 shocks I have built in the past. It appears the lower washer snaps into position nice but the square clip is not quite reaching the groove (which is clear and unblocked), so upon a few hard presses with a blunt allen key driver this also snapped into position.

I am more confident these will not leak again, although the T4 will be store over a drip tray!

If anybody else is having trouble do like I have done and press again carefully but firmly using a blunt implement after using the supplied tool.

Another issue (3rd problem), when building the rear up, the hinge pin brace which sits over the anti-squat washers had holes drilled too big for the screws supplied (thread did not even touch the sides). resolved by trimming the top off the brace and using longer screws and a couple of nuts.


Is anybody else having any issues with the strength of the T4, i.e. wishbones, shocktowers, hubs, chassis. Rather than turnbuckles and ballcups.

Chris

[super__dan]

I had problems when I built the shocks on my B4, I tried sets of washers, clips and seals that I knew worked in other shocks and they still didn't fit, so I put it down to the shock body. I was thinking maybe the anodising is too think oor something (clutching at straws). This was bad on one shock and very bad on another (both the rears as I recal)


Anyway I arsed about with it for ages and eventually they went in and stayed there, haven't dared touch them since!

Dan

[DA_cookie_monstA]

At a guess Dan, it is more likely to be poor quality control at the place of manufacture as Anodizing only creates a few microns thick coating, not enough to be from snug fitting seals to, get me big hammer out fitting bearings.

[MattW]

Might be worth trying MIP seals in the shocks. They should be softer than the kit red ones so may compress a bit better.

[Trucky]

Hum, strange one this.
My T4 has not had one single problem yet, that includes whacking the thing into kerbs, metal posts etc.
It is solid enough for me but i am only using a 15 turn motor on it. What motor are you using?

[Chrislong]

Dan, sounds like my problem, both shocks not quite right but one worse than the other. anyway, after some careful rebuilding yesterday, new seals (I think they were Green MIP's) I have spent a while just pressing shocks and dropping the truck and nothing has dis-lodged since... touch wood eh!

Im using a Reedy PT 12x2 geared 20/87, and it is a flying machine, I was storming around at the time and I was fair shifting when I clobbered it. I expect I was going to acheive a time 3 laps off the tourer track record at Jubilee!

I doubt I will break it so easy outdoors since the track markers can be driven over (with two wheels maximum ofcause). I think I will still make a aluminium brace for the top of the shock tower bracing between the two bolts. Im intending on getting some air with this truck, I have a 9x2 itching to go in!

Chris

[V6NUT]

Hi Chris

Got my T4 this weekend and have built it up...
I found on one of the shocks that it didn't click in place first time and fell apart But then I tried it again with a bit of force and it now looks ok...(touch wood)

Going to give it a run on Wed night to see how it goes..

What tyres did you use Chris Long The First?

[Richard Lowe]

I've had trouble with my B4 rear shocks leaking from new, although they seem to have fixed themselfs now :o

Spooky

It's only on the rears too, thats interesting as the shocks are identical to the B3, which was identical to the B2, which was identical to the RC10.... The only new component is the shorter rear body, seems they hav'nt got the QC right yet.

[Chrislong]

Hi Kash,
When i rebuilt my shocks, I looked down the body with a bit of light and it is clear if the clip has located in the groove properly. Hope you're's are ok?

I was racing on a permanent tarmac track, so very grippy, asing Proline Road Hawgs front and rear with TQ Orange - and grip was plentyful after a few runs to get the TQ deep into the rubber.

Setup was basically as per manual, except for 1 degree of Uncle-squat and geared 12x2 on 87/20. 1 degree of camber all around and 1 degree of toe in on the front.

The car so far is std apart from a Fastrax alloy body mount (The B4 wing mount) and some extra tie wrapps holding it together while I wait for new parts to arrive.

Let me know how it goes Kash. I will see you on Saturday anyway might bring it with me if I can find room.

This leaky shock problem seems quite common and not with just T4 rear shocks.

Chris

[V6NUT]

I looked at my B4 and noticed that it's rear shock seem to be leaking >:(
It's not a lot but i'll sort it out after the finals I think ;D

[J_J]

Hello Chris

I'm a mate of Kash's we have just got T4 trucks.

The build quality of the shocks lets the kit down I have managed to wreck 2 of the red o rings snapped one and badly snagged the other.

However replacing them with MIP ones has made the shocks a dream.

Take care

Johnny "Soon to be air with his truck"

[Chrislong]

Hi JJ,
Not good are they, I split one of my red seals to shreds - they seem to lightweight and soft once soaked with oil to cope don't they - unlike the quality MIP seals. I think i will fit these first attempt next time i build a kit up.

Let me know how it goes, hopefully we'll be racing soon, Ive told Kash we should all centralise (NW, Mids, NE truckers) at Batley for some fast and furious truck racing at some of their club series's rather than just turning up at random and ending up racing in a 3 car truck heat.

Good news, Ive had no trouble getting parts, there in the post already so T4 fixed tomorrow night. I was dredding a repeat performance of lack of spares like the B4 on launch... doesn't seem to be the case.

Chris

[V6NUT]

Chris

There is a Truck National on at Tibshelf on 11th April fancy going??

JJ good to see you got the shocks sorted. I might get some of the MIP seals and change them over.

Kash

[Chrislong]

Hi Kash, wish i could but 11th April is the first NW regional at Bury Metro so can't make that one, would have gone though - isn't tibshelf an onroad track?

Chris

[V6NUT]

Yeah i think it is...It is supposed to be on Tarmac.
???
Should be fun ;D

[Chrislong]

Hey guys,
On March 28h Batley is switching to outdoors, do you fancy going along to Cleckheaton track racing the trucks at the club meeting there? If enough of us turn up we'll get our own heat. Kash, J_J, anybody else?

Im guessing yellow minispikes rear and yellow staggered ribs fronts - thats what I have on it ready anyway!

Chris

[burgie]

why have you gone off topic, Mo??? ;D

[Chrislong]

Its testing, see if I can uncover any more problems and cure them ;D

[burgie]

ahh right, I see. Testing. . . .

Lets test the performance of an 11 double at high altititude then ......

[V6NUT]

Hey guys,
On March 28h Batley is switching to outdoors, do you fancy going along to Cleckheaton track racing the trucks at the club meeting there? If enough of us turn up we'll get our own heat. Kash, J_J, anybody else?

Im guessing yellow minispikes rear and yellow staggered ribs fronts - thats what I have on it ready anyway!

Chris

Yeah sounds like a good idea!! :D
I haven't bought any tires yet I just ran the kit ones round Teesside indoors last night and they wern't to bad..

What shock oil have you put in yours??

I have used 45wt Schumacher all round and it worked it a treat It landed lovely over the jumps ;D ;D

[V6NUT]

Chris what do you think of the T4 ??? overall..

I know I could get seriously addicted to racing them They just go so well!! ;D ;D

[Chrislong]

Overall I think it could be a great car if it built up a bit better out of the box, im still not too pleased about the rear shocks as one of them still has more drag on the shaft than the other = slightly wonky handling? and I think the front may have some weak points in the plastic.

Considering the handling, it works very well, it has a fast race prooven transmission, it is a a fast truck to have. Impressive in that respect - and it looks sexxxxyy.

Chris

[J_J]

The cars are great the shocks are poor :(

Mine was getting some serious air on wed night at Teesside...sounds good racing at ta batley can I race my Basil Brushless ?

JJ

[Chrislong]

Basil should be good? can't see anybody having any problems with it, i don't anyway. I got fingers crossed for a dry day.

If anybody is bored on 21st, Im going to be playing at Bury metro with the T4.

[Doomanic]

Why not gome down to Kiddy?

There will be a truck heat, and you can see Project Mako in action again.

[Chrislong]

Hi Dom,
I can't im afraid mate, parents away so got to keep control of the hounds and Bury Metro is 2 mile away so thats about my limit that Sunday.

What about 4th April? is Kiddy open then? Where will Mako be?

Chris

[Chrislong]

Ok, been a while since I last stripped the T4 shocks and no leaks, problem solved, front shocks has traces of oil underneath the spring retainer where it sits on the balljoint, but no major worries - I will put the RPM seals in them eventually.

Had one practice with it at Batley yesterday and it is awesome, very easy to drive, goes where I put it and lands safely when I launch it into clouds. Unfortunatly hopes hindered and forced to race the B4 (which was as good as usual), so looking forward to Southport next week where it will have a full day of fun!

Chris