Weird ESC or Motor issue (MMM/Neu)

[jpoprock]

Hey all! It's been a while!

I finally ordered a new 6S Turnigy Nano-Tech 5000mah 45-90C Lipo for my E-XXL. Got the battery all charged up and balanced, updated the FW on my MMM to the newest Beta, fired up the truck... but it won't go forward or in reverse at all, or at super low speeds. If I pick the truck up off the ground, it explodes into a hot rocket in my hands. Take the pinion off, and the motor responds to my trigger as it should. It's only when the truck is on the ground. It's like there is an invisible force field around it that causes it not to want to go? The tranny isn't binding up, and the driveshafts aren't loose. So I have no clue what to do.

I tried to reprogram the FWD/REV points on the ESC to my DSX3 Sport, but I don't have an on/off switch. So, I had my son pull the trigger on the radio while I plugged the battery in (Pinion off). It beeped as it should, then flashed red indicating that I was to move to the REV position... but it never beeped telling me to go to neutral? So, maybe I messed it up, or maybe it didn't work at all?

The truck was working fine a YEAR ago when I ran it. But this spring my Lipo shorted out inside and puff daddied. I never got around to getting a new one until recently. Been driving other trucks, if at all.

Usually I can figure this stuff out... but I've not seen this type of problem before. Any ideas?

Jason

[jpoprock]

I just found this at Castles site:

5. My vehicle acts like it has "turbo lag" (poor acceleration/punch for the first few feet or yards, and then it "kicks in").

Make sure you're using high quality batteries, and a battery connector capable of high amp flow (75A minimum!)…we recommend our 6.5mm CC Bullets, Deans Ultra connectors, or the Traxxas TRX connectors. This behavior is very typical of a battery pack that is having difficulty providing the power your vehicle/system requires for top performance. The faster the top speed of the system, and the more traction available, the harder the batteries have to work to accelerate the car.

I bet that the Traxxas connector, which has always been fine, is just UNDER Powered for this truck, so the juice isn't getting through like it should. I have some big CC gold connectors I could put on instead. I always worry about shorting out... even with shrink.

What do you think? I might order some EC5 ends for this truck.

j

[suicideneil]

Firmware issue probably- downgrade back to v1.24 or whatever you were running before, recalibrate the esc to the radio, and try again. If the motor won't respond to small inputs then I doubt it's the traxxas connectors acting as a bottle neck- there are some wild rides around here fitted with them & deans plugs ( same size essentially ) and they work just fine, though checking for broken or cold solder joints is worth while.

[BrianG]

So it won't run at all when on the ground? You don't by any chance have one of the diffs backwards do you? Pick the truck up and run it while watching the tires.

[jpoprock]

Hey all. Neil is on to something...t's something w/ the Firmware, I'm convinced. Now I'm caught in this endless loop of "nothing will flash, error every time". I'm going to try a different CCLink USB plug. THe diff's are installed correctly btw.. when I pick it up... the truck is so fast it almost flies out of my hand because of the torque! I just have to figure out how to sorta "reset" this ESC and start over... which is hard to do if now suddenly nothing is able to flash to it.

I'm going to ditch the extenstion for the ESC and try the other CCLink plug, and will report back tomorrow.

Thanks!

Jason

[jpoprock]

Well, I changed out my CCLink for a different one that is newer. I also changed USB cables, so I don't know for sure if the cable was bad or not. The newer CClink worked so I backed up to v1.24. I then went back to the 1.32 Beta, and it didn't work. Same results... just wouldn't take off in either direction with any power at all, unless I lifted it off the ground. Backed down in increments to 1.30, etc.. and gave up after 1.29 because they weren't working. Loaded 1.24 and it works. Very strange.

Thing is... I tried that with the "older" CCLink plug that I have, and NONE of it worked. So, I think that older CCLink tip is fubar. Seems like I've had this problem once before, but it's been a LONG time so I can't remember! That's what made me think of switching out CCLinks.

The one that doesn't work has a sticker on the back that says: 2717 06/09 B.14.
The one that does work says 2939 08/09 B.16

So.. mystery solved! However... it sure is weird that my truck just BARELY moves with the Beta FW. But if you pick it off the ground.. LOOK OUT! Check for loose articles of clothing because if something gets caught in a tire... teeth will get knocked out.. or you'll have broken wrists! LOL!

Thanks!

J