Savage Flux first impressions
 

I pulled the trigger and ordered a Savage Flux HP from Tower last Sunday. After having several Maxx trucks, that always broke easily, I decided to try a Savage. From what I have seen on here and HPI's site they really seemed to be built to take some abuse.

Truck showed up yesterday and I've only been able to use it a little. Upon opeing the box and pulling it out I was amazed at the size and weight. This truck is without a doubt a bit bigger and more robust than a E-Maxx. I like that the wheelie bar is included and isn't such a protrusion off the back of the truck that it makes jumping a danger. Having a rollbar under the body reminds me of the nitro revo, it's nice to have that suppurt there rather than the motor mount being the highest point like a E-Revo/Maxx. When dropped from chest hight, even with single shocks, it doesn't bottom out like a Maxx or Revo, at least in the out of box configuration. I do plan on putting my Hitec 7955TG servo in the truck when I get some time, perhaps this weekend, but the single stock servo seems more up to the task than the dual servos from Traxxas. The immediet downfalls I have seen so far are that the slipper needs to be tightened immedietly, the battery boxes need a little bigger cutout for the wires to exit, the straps used to lock the battery boxes are a joke, and the chrome on the wheels comes off easier than on Traxxas wheels. None of those negatives are a big deal, to fix all of them it will take less than 5 minutes and only need to purchase a set of velcro straps to make sure the batteries stay in place.

So far I am very pleased with my purchase. I immedietely swapped out the stock radio for a Spektrum rx to use my DX3R and my only other planned upgrades are the servo and probablly a new F series body. Might also get the GT2 tires like Freeze has and a set of black rims.

You are going to love this truck! Just a few things you might want to do: Get the HD tranny gears, the stockers suck. You will need to buy shims to shim the new tranny gears because they are very narrow, you will see what i mean if you buy them. Also ditch the metal spur and use just a normal plastic one, you will need to buy the bronze bushing from you LHS. The plastic gear is much quieter and will not destroy pinion gears. I have went through 2 RCM pinions on mine before i decided to switch to the plastic spur. Plus the plastic purs are like 3 bucks, where a good quality pinion is around 15-20.

Sorry, I did forget to mention I will be playing with gearing. I didn't get the Flux so I could have a speed machine, stock gearing is to fast for my taste in a MT. When I want speed I know my truggy will outperform the Savage. I plan on gearing down considerably. Stock is 44/20, I will go up a few teeth on the spur and down a few on the pinion

Where do I find these plastic spurs? Only finding steel ones.

Any plastic spur from any of the nitro savages will work, but you will need the bronze bushing that goes in the center. since the flux spur is metal it doesnt use a bushing.

Here is a thread that has the spur and the bronze piece listed http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28345

Thanks, found them. I'll prolly get the 47 or 49 and get an 18t pinion

And put in that 7955TG!

Anyone see a problem using a bearing instead of the bushing? To get the bushing it's almost $5 but I can get two bearings for $3.

I also found the first downfall of the Flux, changing pinions is a PITA!!!!

Back long ago when I had my savage.
They had a single slipper and dual.
The dual held much better.
I not even sure options on that any more but thought would throw it out there.

I dont ever remember there ever being a dual slipper setup. Are you sure you are not thinking of the dual disk brake setup?

Yeah they made a dual slipper. Kinda like the robinson setup for some of the other nitro MTs.

I second the plastic spurs. Never had an issues with any of my savages.

Now that you have graduated from the maxx next step will be to get a lst and convert it.

I had one. So not mistaking it with a brake.
I put it on a nitro trans with 3 speed gearing.
Had one of them small 2250 lehner on it.
The single slipper wouldn't handle the pressure.
I got a thread around here some where about it.

Shouldn't be a tough mod to do would it? The tranny has a long shaft, and the motor is adjustable forward and aft.......

It was on the http://www.hpiracing.com/kitinfo/858 which I believe was the original Savage X part #. See page 37 of the manual. Looks like you need parts:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=86802
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=77094
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=86801
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=87243
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...FVSEARCH=86800

Doesn't look like there is much choice other than the 49t spur.

looks like a waste of time really, especially since you would need a special spur gear.