Bad Luck W/ Mamba Max???? - RC-Monster Forums

jhautz · **Bad Luck W/ Mamba Max???? -** 11.25.2006, 03:22 PM

So I got a new mamba maxx that I was planning on using for a buggy conversion Im doing. I got it in on Wenesday last week and I hooked it up, did the radio calibration and did a quick test. I had it hooked to a 3s Lipo with the BEC diconeected and was using a reciever pack. The MM worked OK for about 15 seconds then started looseing power to the point that full thottle barely turned the motor and then dead..... Nothing... Now I can even get it to give me the start up tones. When I plug it into the USB the computer recognizes it, but when I I try to upload the programing changes to it usiing the software I get an error saying that it can write to the controller. I now have tryed it with multiple sets of batteries, 6 cell, 2s, 3s, The Internal BEC conected and disconected, multiple recievers, a rx pack and an external BEC.

Bottom line nothing works.... Like I said, I hooked it up and it worked for about 15 seconds, then it died a slow death. Slowly loosing power, then going completely dead. Al within 30 seconds of hooking it up for the first time.

Do I just have have bad luck and got a bad unit??? or am I missing something here????

I sent a note to CC to find out how to get this exchanged for a new one, But no response yet. (Holliday weekend so Im assuming that no one is even there until Monday) Now Im also kinda mad that I didn't get this trough Mike. I ordered it through Tower just cuz Mike was out of stock. Towers answer was. "Call CC. Its thier problem. We cant do anything." Mike would at least assist me in getting it fixed. Tell me what needed to be done at what to epect when I talk to CC.

Anyone else seen anything like this????

Serum · 11.25.2006, 03:27 PM

I called them up when i had an issue with their controller. They just sent you a new one and include an envelope in which you can return the defective one.

Sounds te me like you got a rotten apple..

Too bad you can't program it, sounds to me like it's suffering a software problem. You can program it with the transmitter, right? what if you follow it step by step and try to correct the error it's suffering.. (the fallen bit)

crazyjr · 11.25.2006, 03:45 PM

Thats a new one on me, I got two and no problems. Hope you can get it fixed or replaced

captain harlock · 11.25.2006, 03:47 PM

Probably towerhobbies has stocked some broken down versions of the MambaMax. This is their first batch eversince the MambaMax was released.

jhautz · 11.25.2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serum

You can program it with the transmitter, right? what if you follow it step by step and try to correct the error it's suffering.. (the fallen bit)

No I can't even get the start up tones on it anymore, so programing it even with the tx, is impossible. At first I thought that it was a LVC issue, but it should not have a LVC set from the factory and I didn't change it so that can't be the problem.

Glad to hear they are responsive with the replacement though. But I wanted ro run it this weekend. Looks like That will be out. And that kind sucks cuz this might be the last decent weekend befor the winter really sets in.

Serum · 11.25.2006, 05:20 PM

captain; it's not possible to buy broken controllers from castle. not even for towers.

Too bad this happened Jhautz..

i know your feeling..

MetalMan · 11.26.2006, 12:18 AM

Have you tried any different motors? Apparently one of my beta motors (during beta testing) caused two Mamba Max ESCs to fry. I was never told that the cause was the motor, but between the two Mamba Max ESCs the only variable that remained constant that could have caused the problem was the motor.

jhautz · 11.26.2006, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalMan

Have you tried any different motors? Apparently one of my beta motors (during beta testing) caused two Mamba Max ESCs to fry. I was never told that the cause was the motor, but between the two Mamba Max ESCs the only variable that remained constant that could have caused the problem was the motor.

No, only tried the one motor. By the time I figured out that it was dying.... It was dead and I couldn't try anything else. Although, I did pull the Quark 125 from another truck and set it up in the buggy so I could run it tomorrow. The motor has no issues w the Quark so Im assuming it not the motor. Its a Lehner 1940/7 btw. I was planning oin running 4s or 5s on it, but i never even got to test it with voltages that high. I was doing the setup with a 3s pack to get through the programing and bench testing and it just quit working. So I dont know what happened.

Anyway. I hope they replace it quickly. This is very annoying to get a new toy and have it broken righ out of the box.

coolhandcountry · 11.26.2006, 09:48 AM

I think you just got a defective item. It is electronics so any thing can happen.

jhautz · 11.29.2006, 11:10 PM

Good news!!! I finally got to talk w/ someone at Castle and they are sending me a repalcement and a postage paid box to return the defective one. I should have my new MM by this weekend. Thats some pretty sweet service.

2 big thumbs up for CC on this one. I was very disapointed in getting a bad unit, but man they sure know how to take care of thier customers!!!!!!

crazyjr · 11.30.2006, 08:44 AM

Good to know, glad we got an american manufacturer that stands behind their products

**No response... -** 12.11.2006, 02:59 PM

sent a motor and esc back to CC November 16th, Now December 11th... no response to repeated phone calls and emails except for an e-mail on the 5th telling me 'it's still on the repair floor'

maybe that's where it's at... on the floor.

Won't ever order/purchase from Castle Again.

Procharged5.0 · 12.11.2006, 03:05 PM

Did you get a "return authorization" number from them before you sent it in?

12.11.2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Procharged5.0

Did you get a "return authorization" number from them before you sent it in?

No... I called them daily November 10th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. Each day leaving voicemail with my phone number. Awaited call backs every day... no response. E-mailed twice during that span... no response to either mail til the 16th... the day I mailed it back. Have received virtually no response other then the email I received on the 5th telling me 'It's still on the repair floor, I will have more info for you if you call in Thursday (7th)' I called on the 7th, 8th, and once this morning... no response again since...

BAD BAD BAD.

If I hear nothing by end of business day today... I am going to contact my credit card company and see what can be resolved that way.

Procharged5.0 · 12.11.2006, 03:27 PM

Perhaps is would be beneficial to ask for Shawn Palmer.

My guess is the ESC has been "lost" in a paperwork shuffle if you did not follow their specific return/warranty policy. I see it happen alot in my industry (also electronics)