Noob - Advice welcomed!

[Daveb99]

My first post on here...looks like a great forum. I hope I've posted in the right section as a newcomer, if not please move this to the right place!

After a break of over 25 years, I've decided to get back into R/C and have recently bought a Losi 22 (RTR version).

I've done a fair bit of reading/research on the net and have a few questions, any help would be much appreciated as things have changed a fair bit over the last quarter of a century ;-)

I'll be joining my local club (Astroturf permanent outdoor track) and doing club meets, and a few races when time permits.

Sorry but these questions are a bit random:

What kind of grease / oil do I need to buy? I have GT85 (which I use on my bikes!), do I need to buy some kind of bearing oil and some silicon grease?

Can anyone recommend some shock oils? I guess I need two or possible three different ones for hot / cold temperatures?

Battery connectors - what's the best option? When I bought the 22, the shop sorted me out and did a bit of soldering to leave me with a direct connection using Pos and Neg 4mm banana plugs to my hardcase Lipo.....but the leads are too short so I either need to solder some longer wires onto my ESC, or fit a battery connector and make up a lead for the battery end. So which connectors should I go for......EC3, Deans or XT60? Which is easiest to connect / most durable?

Do I need to buy a Lipo Safety Bag for charging / storing my Lipos? I've read that they are compulsory at many race meetings?

My Lipo charger (Overlander AC-6S Pro) can charge different types of cells including NiMH. Can I use it to charge my AA Eneloops (for my TX) in a battery holder (i.e. in series), if I make up the right wiring etc? I figured it might be better to have more control over the charging of them - display, timed cut off etc, rather than the wall charger which I might forget to turn off....

Final question (for now....!) is about set up - specifically toe in/out. With buying the RTR version of the 22, it is ready built, and looks to have a fair bit of toe out at the front, and also toe in at the rear. It looks pretty odd but I guess there's a good reason for it...?

That's it for now...I think that's enough for my first post!

Any help & advice would be much appreciated

[Danny Harrison]

Ive used my charger to charge my kids xbox batteries so it can be done yes.

Dont think you need to grease bearings, Ive never done mine, I tend to replace them if need be. (only a tenner for a full set in my B44)

For set up, I'd have a look at what the team drivers are running. I think some set up sheets are available on the losi website.

I'm sure someone will come along to help you with the rest. Where is your local club at?

[Daveb99]

Thanks for the quick reply....club is in Coventry (Baginton) - CMCC.

I went to watch the practice at the weekend, real friendly bunch, and will be going back this Sat (weather permitting) to join and hopefully give the new buggy a shakedown

[James]

GT85 is good stuff for cleaning and so on, but buy some bearing oil from a model shop, you only need a small amount, a small bottle with a needle applicator will last you for months.

If you want to save money on shock oil and only buy a few go for a 20,30 and 40, you will use most of the 30/35 region, don;t worry about temperature.

You'd be best to do the job properly and lengthen the wires on your speedo and continue using the 'corally' style connector - banana as you call it.

Yes buy a lipo bag.

I don't know that charger specifically but it sounds like you can use it for your transmitter, it would be easier to use it direct through the charging jack that should be present on your transmitter, you'll have to buy a connector though.

Set the front of your car to have 0 degree toe in/out.

Hope that helps..

[Daveb99]

James - that's a big help, thanks. I'll get some lubes, shock oil and a Lipo bag sorted as per your recommendation....

Do I need any grease? I assume it would be used for the diff / gears - but how often do people strip these down, de-grease and degrease given that they are sealed?

Sorry one more question too - I've read elsewhere that you shouldn't ever let Lipo cells discharge below 3V, as it causes irreversible damage to the cells. Would I need to fit an in-line Low Voltage Cutoff device, or does my ESC cater for this (Losi 22 RTR, has a Losi ESC fitted) ?

EDIT - just found the answer to this one on the Losi website - my ESC is listed as "PROGRAMMABLE, SENSORED ESC WITH LIPO CUTOFF' so I assume that will protect my Lipos.

[James]

You probably got s grease tube/pot with your kit? Only really used for the ball diff, Schumacher sell a decent grease in a pot when you run out.
You can use a touch of grease on your diff gear/idler etc, Associated make a good one.

Treat your lipos with common sense and respect and they'll be fine, you can set a lipo cut off on most speedos, but the best thing to do is just sensible run times, if your car starts to slow then stop immediately, just do perhaps 7 mins at a time and your batts should last longer.