KM Triton Blade 5B

[willb]

Hi all,

 

As there is virtually no information on the forum yet of the KM Blade, I thought I'd share mine with you all.

 

This has most of KM's latest parts on. For example, their new arms are their equivalent to RPM arms. First impressions are positive, they look very good and tough. Secondly, the engine is KM's new type of engine featuring, I believe a Fuelie/CY bottom end with KM head and piston.

 

The body is made by Triton and looks great. It fits well too although it did take me forever to figure out how to remove it for the first time!

 

Spec as follows (taken from RCM):

 

- New KM 34cc, 2-stroke, Engine

- H-CMR6 Spark plug

- Ghost Tuned Pipe

- Walbro 1191 carb

- New 6061 CNC alloy Chassis for strength & Reduced weight

- Large-bore shocks with threaded adjusters

- Large two-stage air filter system

- High duty throttle servo for braking (20kg)

- High torque metal gear steering servo (35kg)

- Extra-large fuel tank for long Run Times

- Tunable, sealed viscous differential

- Multi-piece beadlock off-road wheels

- Impact-absorbing bumpers

- 6V 2000mAh Hump Pack receiver battery with charger

 

I instantly swapped out the throttle servo for a Savox 1256. My go to servo. I went to replace the steering servo too but sadly the KM servo is rounded at the edges, as too is the battery box mounting plate, so my Savox 0256 didn't fit. I need to get the HPI wider brackets. The stock KM servo does work, it's very slow when compared to the Savox 0256 and the torque figures, I'm not convinced myself!

 

I also swapped out the receiver pack for a higher capacity one, changed the stock plastic clutch carrier for an alloy one and put a Walbro WT-990 carb on in place of the WT-1191 (which I can find little to no information online about). Apart from that, it's as it came.

 

I did the engine break-in today. I thought I'd follow OBR's break-in recommendation. So far so good. The engine has heaps of power! Just about at the stage where I can open it up fully.

 

I'll keep adding more info to this as and when I do more to the truck but for roughly £550, I'm impressed!

 

Here are a few pics:

 

The first is how it came and the others are with the body design I went for. I think it came out pretty well!

 

 

Cheers

 

Will

 

 

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[evssv]

that looks sweet dude.....

[Zannu]

That looks very nice. I will need to be careful following this that I don't get drawn in and end up with one. Sometime I do want a 1/5 but I don't really have the money to at the moment. Enjoy it.

[QRC]

Having seen this car in action yesterday, it's a bargain at the current price. Great idea for it to have a clear shell for owners to be creative.

Edited September 3, 2017 by QRC

[Bigjimknickers]

Looks like KM are onto a winner with this version! I really like it. I'm off 1/5 till I find a decent bash spot though.

I'm following.

enjoy!!

[tanveer]

you really cant go wrong with km 1/5th scales, they really have improved from just the clones they where years ago. Iv been kicked off pretty much every bash spot iv found around my neck of the woods, otherwise id be on the rcmodelz website now ordering a triton, they look epic!! 

[Carpmart]

I saw this in the flesh the other day when I met up with Will.  I was impressed and it's a very decent piece of kit, especially for the money!  

[.AJ.]

Looks mutz 

[willb]

Thanks all

 

Little update: the first proper run was good. It does have oodles of power so you can really get the back out on bends which is always fun! This engine has a new type of pullstart which I haven't seen before. I'll post some pictures up as I had an issue when it wouldn't engage. There are a couple of sprung lugs on the fan itself which engage and bite into the pullstart choke, however, they became full of crap (no cover fitted yet) and were forced closed hence why the pullstart wouldn't engage. A quick fix, but something worth noting. I'll fit all covers, pullstart, engine and a better air filter cover.

 

The need for the sway bar kit is a must too. It does like to dip quite a bit on fast corners. £9.99 for the sway bar kit which you can't grumble at. I'll fit that this week and see if it makes a difference.

 

Other than that, not really much more to report - so far so good 

[John_RCModelz]

We have the rovan servo bracket that takes the savox on the website for a couple of quid.

 

[willb]

Small update, I'm finding the wheelbase is a little on the narrow side. I do love walking to flip the truck back on its wheels constantly! So, with that in mind, I bought these:




I opted for an additional 2" on the rear and 1" on the front. Reflecting on that, I probably should have just gone from 1" all round as now I don't like how it looks from the rear! It doesn't roll now though!




Rear:


Front:


Cheers

Will


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[.AJ.]

Yea the 2" looks a bit much and your wheel bearings won't like them either lol

[willb]

I'm going to swap the 1" on the fronts to the rear and put the stock back on the front. Should be just right then.


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[Oh How Original]

Once you tinker with the suspension set up and such, you'll find it rolls much less.

Rebuilding them with DDM HD springs is a good idea, when you're ready to start tinkering that is

Certainly looks an awesome piece of kit.

I'm almost tempted myself!

[.AJ.]

Front tyres make a huge difference to grip roll as well

[willb]

I didn't realise DDM did stiffer springs for the Baja too, I'll get 2 sets if so [emoji1] The tyres will have to remain for a while. Damage limitations to the bank account this month!


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[Oh How Original]

I find the less grip you have at the front, the less grip roll you get, I always use Dirt Busters or Mini MXs... Putting MXs on there definitely adds more grip roll.

Front springs are fine as standard, but the rears defnitely improve a lot with the stiffer ones it soaks up the lumps and bumps a lot better too.

[.AJ.]

I was recommended to stick with stock Dirt Busters on the front as well, I've got pretty zero grip roll and it still handles really well 

[Oh How Original]

You lads do have an advantage in that you have a bit more front end weight with your cages, which helps with crap tyres.

I kinda have to force mine to go round corners, but thankfully I've had enough of them to get a handle on it lol.

[willb]

Sadly I had the first mishap at the weekend. I was finishing the engine brake-in procedure and a drive cup failed on the diff side, it broke on one side. Quite disappointing seeing as I haven't even pushed this yet. And I don't want to start doubting KM's parts quality... Shall be calling RCM and see what they say. I took the axle extenders off too, so can't even blame them for the extra stress!

[rdarsa]

So I bought the Blade from Will, who was a delight to deal with, and thought I would follow up on the modifications to make it really tough and ready for the weekend bash at Jubilee park with the London All Stars. Everyone that shows up has at least 2 5th scales, I was left wanting......

 

Having a very modded 5B already and a shed load of spares, the car was built up pretty bullet proof and nothing left to bolt onto it, I thought I would start again and really liked the Cage and Shell design of the blade, and fancied going back to light weight basics with this new 34cc motor

 

Its had a quick run, and this is what I have done to prep the car with (IMO) the 'Must Have' updates to eliminate all the stuff I used to break all the time with the other car.

 

1) 2 inch extenders went on the back courtesy of Will, the 4inch rears are of no use, but the fronts give just the right width at the back without killing the bearings

2) Clipless front hubs were a must

3) Irc chassis plate under the front

4) TBone bumper (well half of it fits nicely) - no need for the support bit as it is close to the oem bumper for support

5) The KM servo's seem amazingly competent compared to what was on my car 5 years ago - 6v fine for now - had a 5600nimh to stick in.

6) Sorted the front steering with the threshold steering saver - the KM wiper arm pillars are too thick - so had to grind them down & Used washers and a bolt to bring the ball up higher for more positive steering response

7) Home made dog bone guards, chopped up plastic container - cable ties, keeps the grass off them

8) The servo rod thread is too small for the end screw on the breaks, so used double collet for safety - easier to adjust too

9) Strategic placement of sponge keeps a lot of the car lighter and cleaner - especially under the crank case

10) Rebuilt the shocks, using 3 hole pistons, 40wt silicone, took a while, and decided to use one front spring instead of the oem double type - as the plastic ring always gets cruddy and fouls on the shock. 2 hole pistons and 55wt on the front - they had to be bled from both ends, but now feel really close to the IRC shocks on the other car. I'm chuffed with them. - Shock straps will go on soon to protect my work

11) Found a cheap (bit too big but fine) rear 10mm sleeve for the upper arms, which is a regular break to avoid.

12) I had a vertigo hex clutch bell with all the gears and hostile spurs, so will try 18/56 out next.

13) did away with the 10K clutch spring - in favour of a 6K, I hate the 10K on off power delivery - really makes the car too much of a handful.

14) Got rid of the flying start middle disk between the brake disks and put a 3rd disk in place  - those star things break real easy.

15) Some Big Knobbly mad max truck tyres on the back are on the way, and I am good to go.

 

 

Anyway thanks Will, I hope you have fun with your Losi (BTW - the only way to get them to feel really quick is to get a £1500 big bore motor)  - See you at Jubilee soon I hope 

 

 

[evssv]

Nice.....so hes got a 5ive now then??isthat a baja t bone??or from sumin else??

Edited October 11, 2017 by evssv

[rdarsa]

Nice.....so hes got a 5ive now then??isthat a baja t bone??or from sumin else??

No it a half a baja tbone


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[evssv]

Just now, rdarsa said:

No it a half a baja tbone


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a what??

[rdarsa]

Its just the bottom bit of the bumper  - I  did away with the top bit that bridges the top of the bumper to the chassis - no need as there is already another bumper under it! Hope that makes sense??