TommyC Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 (edited) So it seems like I was one of the lucky few that managed to get their hands on the new mini Maxx. Ive not owned any of the bigger maxx’s to compare to but I do have all 3 groms which it seems this is pitched against. In my opinion, there is no comparison. With the 1/10 components and brushless power it’s on a different level. I have converted my groms but that puts them in the same ball park as the Traxxas price wise. The new blx will save you a few £££ (well, a lot actually😡) but this is going places the groms can’t. it seems like a solid little truck but a tad slow at the top end. The rear suspension sags so I’ve put 8mm spacers on the rear and 2mm on the front which evened it out a bit. I also found that the radio seemed to struggle with switching from fwd to rev? I know some require a neutral position before switching to reverse but this was 1-2 seconds before it would move. Maybe this is normal for Traxxas tq stuff? Not sure about the plastic geared servo but it can stay on for now. I didn’t do a proper speed run but I got 19mph out of it in fairly long grass and around 20 mins run time. I dislike the proprietary nature of Traxxas electronics so I’ve gone straight ahead and put an 80a 3300kv max 10 combo in with a dumbo rx. Selling off the Traxxas bits should just about cover the cost of the max10 kit, 3s battery and new receiver. With the esc butted right over I was able to reuse the original receiver box and my dumbo rx with 3mm foam wrapped around it fits just as snug as the original. Cramming all this into such a small car, you need some basic soldering/crimping tools if you don’t want it looking a mess. The difference is night and day. I’ve had 43mph out of it but feel it has a bit more to give. As with the 3 groms I’ve over powered it’s now difficult to control and pulls wheelies from half throttle. It also cartwheels at the slightest hint of braking. I will need to fiddle with the tx settings to calm it down a bit. it’s had a half a dozen tumbles on the tarmac including one into a brick a wall. It also slide about 50-60 ft on its roof after flipping at half throttle. Nothing broken so far but the shell has taken some damage from the front shock towers and I’ve punched a hole in the rear corner of it. There are loads of over priced accessories coming from Traxxas. I’ve got a centre diff on pre order, which needs a different centre shaft and pinion, that adds another £80. If you were to keep it Traxxas with the vxl3s and some alloy shocks you’re in over £600! That’s widemaxx money. But I like the minis. They’re relatively cheap to modify and fix, seem to take a battering as they just bounce and I can fit more of them in my house! They get used more because you can take them anywhere. So I’d say it’s worth every penny. Edited November 23 by TommyC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 Im saving mine for Christmas Day, was intending upgrading the motor/esc but dont really want wheelies at half throttle etc like youre saying. Ive wasted so much money making things too powerful to be fun. Hmmmm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 23 Author Share Posted November 23 I suspect it will be a lot more manageable on 2s. My Typhon grom was the same but some playing around with the gyro and throttle/steering curves on the dumbo made all the difference. Not had a chance to get out today though, weather is absolutely miserable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted November 24 Share Posted November 24 Tomley seems to be having diff issues with his VXL one? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 24 Author Share Posted November 24 Yeah I saw that. I’m gonna pull it apart and see if I’ve done any damage already. Might run it on 2s until the centre diff arrives. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 26 Author Share Posted November 26 So I made a video to show what I think the diff problem is and thought why not post to YouTube? Excuse the poor quality. Then I found this. The other diffs do fit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie1 Posted November 26 Share Posted November 26 When he is talking about xl5 trucks, whats he on about? Xl5 is an esc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 27 Author Share Posted November 27 (edited) Yeah I think it only comes in the 2wd platform. I have a rustler xl5 2wd. It does use the same planetary gears but the outdrives are too short. the diff above is out of the vxl’s. Thing is you don’t seem to be able to buy the complete diff, separate part numbers are 2x trx6779 ring/pinion 2x trx5381 or trx3978 carriers 2x trx6882x spider gears thats £40 per diff from modelsport. There is a complete diff, trx6789, but the gearing is 13/37 not 12/47? edit: looks like they did do a 4x4 xl5. Perhaps the gearing was different? https://m.traxxas.com/products/models/electric/rustler-4x4 Edited November 27 by TommyC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 (edited) 20 hours ago, TommyC said: Yeah I think it only comes in the 2wd platform. I have a rustler xl5 2wd. It does use the same planetary gears but the outdrives are too short. the diff above is out of the vxl’s. Thing is you don’t seem to be able to buy the complete diff, separate part numbers are trx6779 x2 trx5381 or trx3978 trx6882x thats £40 per diff from modelsport. There is a complete diff, trx6789, but the gearing is 13/37 not 12/47? edit: looks like they did do a 4x4 xl5. Perhaps the gearing was different? https://m.traxxas.com/products/models/electric/rustler-4x4 Regarding 4x4 Traxxas Models (Slash, Stampede, Rustler, Rally etc) the XL5 (brushed) DOES HAVE different gearing to the VXL versions (brushless). I think the material is the same mind just the ratio. Its why converting a brushed Slash 4x4 to a brushless isnt as simple as just changing the elecrics (to do it properly). Once its been confirmed theyre an upgrade and work, you could maybe pick them up from Jennys if they sell them separately? Edited November 27 by Kpowell911 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 28 Author Share Posted November 28 Traxxas are bringing out a bevel gear diff for the mini maxx already, trx10780. Now I ordered one of these on Tuesday thinking it was just a replacement stock diff. I’m sure I’d seen it on modelsport over last weekend. So I searched on google for trx10780 posted within the last month. Only one page came up, a German website, showing it was last edited on nov 8th?! Maybe this search isn’t accurate. But if it is, maybe Traxxas knew the planetary diffs were a problem already? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie1 Posted November 28 Share Posted November 28 1 hour ago, TommyC said: Traxxas are bringing out a bevel gear diff for the mini maxx already, trx10780. Now I ordered one of these on Tuesday thinking it was just a replacement stock diff. I’m sure I’d seen it on modelsport over last weekend. So I searched on google for trx10780 posted within the last month. Only one page came up, a German website, showing it was last edited on nov 8th?! Maybe this search isn’t accurate. But if it is, maybe Traxxas knew the planetary diffs were a problem already? https://traxxas.com/products/parts/10780 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 11 hours ago, wolfie1 said: https://traxxas.com/products/parts/10780 Is that a confirmed upgrade or just a complete ‘stock’ one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 Just read a facebook post kinda confirming thr Slash 4x4 diffs drop in. This technically means X-01 diffs would fit which can take 8S lol. Not sure on ratios mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 1 hour ago, Kpowell911 said: Is that a confirmed upgrade or just a complete ‘stock’ one? It’s a bevel gear diff so different to the stock one. With the amount of people shredding diffs, even on 2s, Traxxas must have been aware it was a weak point 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brightside Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 Yo, just a heads up be careful running them in the cold 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 Or just don’t run them full throttle into a concrete wall! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie1 Posted November 29 Share Posted November 29 8 hours ago, Kpowell911 said: Is that a confirmed upgrade or just a complete ‘stock’ one? I was just linking up the info to the traxxas site on that diff number that wasnt in german Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 It was more the date on show that I was referring to. Why does that page say it was published on 8th of nov? I got my car on the 15th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 29 Author Share Posted November 29 12 hours ago, TommyC said: It’s a bevel gear diff so different to the stock one. I’m not sure on this now. Seeing different opinions about whether it’s an upgrade or not. As I said, I’ve got one or order so will find out when it arrives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted November 30 Author Share Posted November 30 I pretty certain this is an upgrade. The carrier looks the same as the 5381 carrier. stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted December 2 Share Posted December 2 That is indeed a slash 4x4 diff case rebuild in the last pic, that should be good for 3s…..coupled with the Slash 4x4 ring gears and i would have thought that would clear up the fragile bits. thing is, this kind of scenario isnt new, Traxxas have operated like this for years, makes their “upgrade” sales healthier. One could argue this keeps the model price competitive but Traxxas aren’t cheap to begin with at any scale! But and this is the rub, at least parts availability will be very good for the foreseeable…… other companies are the same, been looking at Losi stuff, its no cheaper than Traxxas overall, the Pro-moto with a few choice bits would easily be into 4 figures… rock on to the little Maverick Doha for £50, that will suffice for winter 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted December 2 Author Share Posted December 2 (edited) I’m still fairly new to this hobby and the only traxxas I had before were the rustler 2wd, trx4 and trx4m. All good cars. Having the maxx name on this I thought it would be great. mine hasn’t actually broken yet. It’s only had one run stock and a few speed runs on 3s. But now I’m paranoid so I’ve got it in bits waiting for some steel bushings and shims to turn up to see if I can improve the stock diffs as cheaply as possible. I thought I’d try traxxas as the Arrma’s I have, which I love, seem to be difficult to get parts for. But I want to be buying upgrades because I want them, not because I need them! Edited December 2 by TommyC 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone-wolf Posted December 2 Share Posted December 2 Im going to comment and sorry if i am blunt but this diff saga with the mini maxx is just not acceptable and typical of traxxas marketing for more sales, i really do dislike this company for a whole lot of reasons, i own just one traxxas model and yes its been okay but did turn into a bit of a money pit to upgrade to better parts (familiar theme) not sure i will keep my traxx, just seems traxx now charge the maxx price for their models then expect punters to pay close on purchase rice again in upgrades that seem to be needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted December 2 Share Posted December 2 100% with you on the upgrades, it becomes a obsession when i bet half of it isnt needed… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted December 2 Author Share Posted December 2 (edited) I buy every rc with the expectation I’m going to spend 50% more on upgrades. But actually my other traxxas have probably had the least spent on them. Just a 1080 and rx in the 4, lcg chassis, lights and shocks on the 4m, and the rustler has the brushless set out of my quantum, bumper and wheelie bar. It does seem people are very quick to jump on Traxxas, which may be down to their track record of which I’m not familiar with. The brushed groms had diff problems too and Arrma made a v2 which still isn’t really up to the job. So I’ve spent £45 on each grom for a set of alloy diffs. I don’t recall as much uproar about that. However the groms were less than half the price of this to start with and not advertised to take the 3s I put in them. Will be interesting to see what traxxas do, if anything. But now I’ve put a Hobbywing combo in my warranty is out the window anyway. I think with this and the groms I’ve learnt not to buy the first release of something! Edited December 2 by TommyC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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