Steering Servo in the M18

[Dynamite Arrows]

Hi, there wasn't much happening in the Micro forum and I have a question burning in my mind!!?

Of the Xray M18 drivers, how many are running with the Xray Power Pack, or more importantly (to me) the Xray steering servo.

As I didn't want to buy all the other bit's that come in the Power Pack, I bought the electronics separatley.

The only problem is the servo, this has to be a Micro type, but the Hitec HS-81 MG servos are just not up to the job and stripping the middle two teeth of the top gear. It's especially true if the car jolts against the track.

If anyone is running an alternative to these, please advise what this is??!!

I understand the Xray servo is not compatible with some receivers.

Both me and my dad have a JR and Futaba servo on order respectively - but the servos we need don't seem to be stocked in the UK at all - they are really high torque metal geared plane servos. We have been waiting a month with no joy! -

I just wondered what any M18 drivers are using servo wise, and if you know where to find them please PM me with this info, it would be a great help many thanks!! ;)

[redlinezak]

im running the hitec hs81mg and so far have had no probs and believe me its seen some abuse. these servos are metal geared so i would guess its a fair old hit to strip them

[Dynamite Arrows]

We've just about done 40 5 min races so far with the M18, and mines survived so far - but it's the centering - it's not perfect.

The top gear is made of a soft metal it can't take much abuse like a metal gear should. On the One18th website - there are two camps - the HS81 MG racers that love them and the other users that hate them (and supposedly have reason to)

The advised me to buy the JR DS 368 and said it should last a life time - but can I get hold of one in the UK ----nope! not yet anyhow!

Thanks for the reply Nathan - I often think we're the only M18 drivers in the UK, hardly hear from any other owners - anyone out there?? ::)

[redlinezak]

the first servo i recieved was faulty from the factory it also wouldnt center correctly (sharpened the reflexes tho) :o but when i exchanged it the next was fine although i havnt done anywhere near the amount of races that you have (still trying to get a micro section up and running at my local club) so i can only wait and see

[Dynamite Arrows]

I hope you get up and running the the Micro's.

My HPI Modified Motor died today, but lets face it it has done all the afore mentioned 45 ish races on two sets of brushes, so for 3 months I think that's a good innings, nothing like the nightmares some are saying about the M18 smoking motors. I even ran it on the 19T pinion at first rather than the 17T. How's your motor doing Nathan?

[redlinezak]

ok so far but as i said it has not seen anywhere near as much use as yours. Im running an orion elite micro mod at the moment. I dont suppose you know of anywhere that does metal pinions for these do you? I found some for the hpi but they are too small for the m18 (unless you have a REALLY small track )

[Dynamite Arrows]

I don't as yet - unless you put a tube in the std 48dp pinions to bridge the gap between a 540 shaft size and the 180 shaft size.

It's not an ideal solution - and I've not tried it myself - I know it was Tamiya's solution on the Holiday Buggy in 1981!!!! Tamiya suppiled a brass tube to go inside the pinion boss to step it down from 540 size to 380 size shaft. I think some drivers have done it successfully overseas.

Stange that Xray have not produced any steel pinions as yet - they do now have a very comprehinsive range of the composite pinions from 13T to 25T I think.