Complaint Dept. Why I hate my XX-4

[anoolite76]

No denying that this car is fast. I can stay with 1/8 scale guys with this car. But there are things I can't STAND about it. Here they are:

• It is belt driven, and hasn't shown it can handle the same drive loads as a shaft/gear driven car.
• The whole chassis layout looks like a yard sale.
• Upgrades are scarce (in USA), and front LCD's by Losi are small fortunes.
• The aluminum brace for the rear hinge pins. Almost ten years later and Losi never even tried to fix it, even though they knew it sucks.
• Every bearing surface is exposed to open air. This means one good ripping in the dust and you have hours of cleaning to be done. AE stealth trannies are nicely sealed, but not the xx-4! All bearings for the steering are like dinner plates, holding mud and dirt for your XX-4's steering assembly as you drive it.
• Dirt easily finds its way into the diff area, hastening wear.
• Motor has little open space, so you can easily smoke a motor if you are running on low grass, for example. Temps get high around the motor, and it can cost you.

Feel free to add to this list!

[Southwell]

[*]It is belt driven, and hasn't shown it can handle the same drive loads as a shaft/gear driven car.
No problems with mine.
[*]The whole chassis layout looks like a yard sale.
True, but some creative wiring can keep it fairly neat
[*]Dirt easily finds its way into the diff area, hastening wear.
Does it?
[*]Motor has little open space, so you can easily smoke a motor if you are running on low grass, for example. Temps get high around the motor, and it can cost you.
Holes in the shell over the motor help emmensly, and also opening up the back of the shell to allow air to move through

[Fiddybux]

It's a bit of a pig to work on if you snap a belt, but belts are faster than drive shafts so I reckon it's worth it. Convert it to an X-5 and have done with it. 1 belt, more speed, less to fix if it breaks.

My biggest annoyance is shock towers though, really expensive and very brittle...especially the graphite ones. I run stock plastics all round now which stand up to a beating better.

I don't really have a huge problem getting spares in the UK. Sure I have to wait a while, but they always come in the end. I can't imagine why you would have such difficulty?

Losi spares are always expensive compared to Associated, Kyosho or Tamiya for example...this is the way it is. In the UK we usually pay what you do with the $ sign changed for a £. So, $7.49 to you, that's £7.49 to us >>> really it should cost us half that due to the exchange rate.

I agree, the chassis can be tidied up with some nice wiring. But the shell is quite beautiful in my opinion. Curvy, slick, low-profile...just nice!

You have a point as regards the bearings being open to the elements though.

[jimmy]

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/4wdbatleyregional2007/bigimages/OOP_4169.jpg

[ashleyb4]

The only thing ive broken on my xx4 so far is 2 belts and front wishbones the and thats it I cant see how you can break it so much and the gear box is sealled its super sealled and as for bearings the b4 is worst for that look at there front wheels!!!

A

[Northy]

Originally Posted by Fiddybux

but belts are faster than drive shafts so I reckon it's worth it.

Can you explain this please? I don't understand it.

G

[jimmy]

I just hate working on the car and the belts are certainly a weak point in my experience.
I enjoyed racing it, but I was only racing it because stu evans fixed it for me between rounds at southport National.

[xx4-nutter]

i blame my xx4 for my crap doings at duhram regional due to a belt issue, took ages to solve what was wrong with it, id stripped it down completely, and the worst part was nearly all the fecking radio gear had to come out !!

now im running this 501x it doesnt look half as bad, and taking the shell off this car is always a plesure, blue alloy, carbon fibre... it has to be the future of racing this type of makings with a car

[ashleyb4]

If you get the car all sorted and ready and put soem good preperation into it it will go longer than any ofther car and its good to drive but its all personaly exsperiance at least it gives you somthign to do i defntly think its the easiers car to change a shock tower on and take motor out etc. And it only takes a few minutes to change a belt.

A

[xx4-nutter]

Originally Posted by ashleyb4

it only takes a few minutes to change a belt.

A

if youre on about a xx4 belt, i strongly disagree....

daft lad haha

[ashleyb4]

Last time i changed a belt it took me about 12 minutes thats aint long its 14 screws and your in then its just pull diff out and puly and put new belt on easy peasy.

A

[xx4-nutter]

Originally Posted by ashleyb4

Last time i changed a belt it took me about 12 minutes thats aint long its 14 screws and your in then its just pull diff out and puly and put new belt on easy peasy.

A

bollex mate..

a few mins is at the most 4 ( probibly 3 mins )

12 mins is double figures haha which is between 3 and 4 times longer...

haha !!

[jimmy]

The rubix cube that is the XX4 needs all sorts of jiggling and manipulations to even get to the belts - by that point half the screws are lost in the grass and your 12 minutes becomes 45 + plenty of sweat and swearing.



I've no idea how long it takes to change a 501X belt - maybe just as long since the top decks etc all need taking off. But it doesn't feel as long since you're not swearing and in tears -and I base that off personal experience .

[super__dan]

Originally Posted by anoolite76

No denying that this car is fast. I can stay with 1/8 scale guys with this car. But there are things I can't STAND about it. Here they are:

• 1. It is belt driven, and hasn't shown it can handle the same drive loads as a shaft/gear driven car.
• 2. The whole chassis layout looks like a yard sale.
• 3. Upgrades are scarce (in USA), and front LCD's by Losi are small fortunes.
• 4. The aluminum brace for the rear hinge pins. Almost ten years later and Losi never even tried to fix it, even though they knew it sucks.
• 5. Every bearing surface is exposed to open air. This means one good ripping in the dust and you have hours of cleaning to be done. AE stealth trannies are nicely sealed, but not the xx-4! All bearings for the steering are like dinner plates, holding mud and dirt for your XX-4's steering assembly as you drive it.
• 6. Dirt easily finds its way into the diff area, hastening wear.
• 7. Motor has little open space, so you can easily smoke a motor if you are running on low grass, for example. Temps get high around the motor, and it can cost you.

Feel free to add to this list!

Shall I just add my usual comment about buying an X5???

In fairness it wouldn't solve all of your issues, but I think 50% of them. I had a XX4 and hated working on it. I bought an X5 and loved it. I am now fortunate enough to be sponsored by X Factory but was a customer driver for 6 months at least before that started.

[xx4-nutter]

Originally Posted by jimmy

The rubix cube that is the XX4 needs all sorts of jiggling and manipulations to even get to the belts - by that point half the screws are lost in the grass and your 12 minutes becomes 45 + plenty of sweat and swearing.



I've no idea how long it takes to change a 501X belt - maybe just as long since the top decks etc all need taking off. But it doesn't feel as long since you're not swearing and in tears -and I base that off personal experience .

im actually sat laffin my head off ! well in jimmy haha

that was me at durham i could have easly given up that day..

[anoolite76]

Originally Posted by jimmy

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/4wdbatleyregional2007/bigimages/OOP_4169.jpg

Yes, this is exactly what mine looked like after driving it with an orion 11x2, 13t pinion, 84 spur and 93F heat. POOF!

Originally Posted by Southwell

[*]Dirt easily finds its way into the diff area, hastening wear.
Does it?

Holy cow, does it ever! I am going to make some lexan covers that will act as dust shields for the front and rear. The problem is that I shouldn't have to do this. That's what the "engineers" at Losi should have done a long time ago. There was an o-ring that went around the front bearings that was supposed to seal the front diff. They don't include that with the kit anymore. I asked Losi about it: they said thier team doesn't think it's necessary. Well, I'd rather be hangin' with my friends in the pits than frantically trying to clean it so it isn't gritty kitty.

How did Associated manage to get their B4's steering linkage to be as smooth as it is minus bearings? Compare to xx-4. POOP. XX-4 is awesome right after you've just spent 15 minutes cleaning it. Not awesome after your day of racing.

Looks like we found a hot topic. For a little while I thought this place was deserted!

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Northy

Can you explain this please? I don't understand it.

G

Ill second this question, i must be thick as well G.


I could of sworn the belts got shafted at the worlds

[Stu]

Originally Posted by anoolite76

Yes, this is exactly what mine looked like after driving it with an orion 11x2, 13t pinion, 84 spur and 93F heat. POOF!

The 13t pinion will be the problem. That motor probably wants a 20.

I have to say I've never have any problem with dirt ingress. I've done a full seasons racing with no major servicing apart from after Kiddy & Oswestry - for obvious reasons.

[anoolite76]

Originally Posted by Northy

Can you explain this please? I don't understand it.

G

He meant that it takes less time to change a belt than a driveshaft.

[anoolite76]

Originally Posted by Stu

The 13t pinion will be the problem. That motor probably wants a 20.

Isn't that backwards? If I ran a 25, more load/more heat. 13t, easy on the motor.