Help! New to the game, learning quickly how expensive this hobby can get

[HingaSPL]

Hello All, My name is Chris, I live in Okinawa Japan and I am a extreme newb to this RC hobby, so please bare with me. I got my son into it and he dragged me into it.

I bought my son a used TT01 for a bit over $250 ready to run. Friggin car is tough and takes a hell of a beating. He's having a blast with it and seeing this, I wanna get in on the game so I buy a used TT01 set up for around $250. The guy said the motor, servo, and speed controller were brand new, and to be honest, they looked new. I wait for my son to get home from school and I drive my car down the road to meet him and then everything shut off. Nothing worked and I knew NOTHING about this new hobby. So I bring my car to RC Paradise here on Okinawa. Here is the set up I bought. Motor is a EnRoute 6.5T



According to the dude working at the shop, he said the stuff I had was good quality. I ask him what the problem was and he says I need to buy a new radio and receiver to upgrade it from AM to a 2.4GHz system(sorry if I get the nomenclature wrong, I'm a newb). He sells me a Kyosho Syncro KT-201 and we install and set up the stuff and still nothing. The guy chuckles and I realize that I'm being taken for a ride, BUT I need this fixed cause I wanna play with my son. The guy says that I need a new Speed Controller, so he sells me a HobbyWing speed controller rated for my 6.5T motor. After I buy it, the guy says (in japanese) "that speed controller won't work unless you buy the HobbyWing programmer card, so I buy that too. I ask if they can solder the controller to the motor and the two clowns start laughing and say "you've already spent $400, so we'll do this for free". I head home feeling raped, but excited I can play with my son. I get home and we go outside to play and my steering turns all the way to the right and locks in place. Feeling pretty frustrated that I gotta see the clowns at RC Paradise again, I head over and they sell me a Savox servo. I have no idea what I'm buy, but they keep saying it's good stuff. I get home again to play with my son and my car will run for a bit, then every once in awhile it'll cut out, Speed Controller still running, but no forward or back and the steering also cuts out. I have been messing with it, but cannot figure it out. I've tried both of my batteries, but still the same problem. My sons lithium battery seems to make my car run better. Could my problem be my batteries? I just wanna confirm before dumping more money into this car. And that HobbyWing program tuning card doesn't work for crap. Says it needs software upgrade when hooked up to the car and says Connecting to PC when hooked up to the laptop, BUT it never connects to the laptop.
Here it is my car now




and here is a pic of my boy with his indestructable car


Any tips or suggestions are very welcome. I hope to learn more about this hobby and hopefully someday can help out with what I have learned.

[SleepyC]

It's a money pit!
But it's worth it. You are paying for the experience and memories! Enjoy!

[Foamy Crusher]

How long ago was this? RC paradise has been closed for almost 3 weeks. Their new shop is right across the street for me! Im all jumpy and ready for them to re-open. Back to your dilema... they took for a good amount for sure. Tho, those part are expensive, specially the motor/esc combo you got there. My friend and I mess and play with them all the time. Question for you, after all updating different those part, did you get new proper battery for the combo? We can get together and troubleshoot your car.

This hobby is pricey- But just like any hobby, to make the best it, effort must be put into it currently there is only 1 RC shop on this sad island, and its nearly half the price from RC Paradise and all quality parts.
And if anything, this guy will not jerk you around like paradise those, the dude dont speak english but he will get the just of it. i use my iphone translator

Edit: I just read into your post again... Yes, it can be your batteries. (Could have been your only problem) and the Radio system has nothing to do with it, other than distance and some interference. It hardly to never bothers me.

[HingaSPL]

Originally Posted by SleepyC

It's a money pit!
But it's worth it. You are paying for the experience and memories! Enjoy!

It is fun playing with my son. It's definately worth it.

Originally Posted by Foamy Crusher

How long ago was this? RC paradise has been closed for almost 3 weeks. Their new shop is right across the street for me! Im all jumpy and ready for them to re-open. Back to your dilema... they took for a good amount for sure. Tho, those part are expensive, specially the motor/esc combo you got there. My friend and I mess and play with them all the time. Question for you, after all updating different those part, did you get new proper battery for the combo? We can get together and troubleshoot your car.

This hobby is pricey- But just like any hobby, to make the best it, effort must be put into it currently there is only 1 RC shop on this sad island, and its nearly half the price from RC Paradise and all quality parts.
And if anything, this guy will not jerk you around like paradise those, the dude dont speak english but he will get the just of it. i use my iphone translator

Edit: I just read into your post again... Yes, it can be your batteries. (Could have been your only problem) and the Radio system has nothing to do with it, other than distance and some interference. It hardly to never bothers me.

Last time we went to RCparadise was a few weeks ago. Yeah, I really don't care for the staff there, especially the bald guy. I wanted to give him a boot to the head a few times. I didn't get a new battery for the combo, I need to head to Siro in Ginowan to buy one. There is more than one shop on island, just gotta search. I know they closed X-Hobby in Ginowan. I knew it wasn't a cheap hobby, but when it costs more than my regular car hobby is when I was thinking, what the hell did I get into, hahahaha. I have three AE86's, a R32 Skyline and a Nissan ElGrande to maintain as well. But to be honest, watching my boy smile as he drives his RC definately makes it all worth it. I will definately get up with you soon. We usually go drive the cars on Friday afternoons. Last few times we went out, we went to the course at Chibana or Kurashiki Dam. The dam doesn't have a course, but has huge spaces to play. How the hell do I keep the tires from falling off? hahaha

[HingaSPL]

Also my car has no reverse. The dude at RCP said I need to program the ESC. I really need help programming the ESC, I'm totally clueless with this thing, hahaha.

Here is the shop I started going to. I'm pretty sure this may be the one you are going to as well. great parts and great service

http://www.rc-siro.com/

[Foamy Crusher]

Yea, that bald guy is such a douche for customer service. They dont really take you for a wild ride, all their part are worth and best quality and they will want you to have to of course make a buck but you didnt need all that right away as a beginner . They got you half way hooked up to near pro chasis status.
The guy at Siro is awesome. He is def. cheaper than anyone else locally. I go to him once a week to get something new or to see if he has part that i want/need but sometimes runs out of stock. Good shop indeed. Since you never got a better battery, you def must, for running that motor/esc. Considering that they post office will not ship LiPo battery to us anymore our only sourse is Siro. Expect to push out another 150-160$ for the battery with battery charger. battery will be about 30$ the problem is getting that special charger for these batteries and i believe i saw an used one for 6,000yen. i didnt get since im not running lipo battery yet. But id say run there asap and take a look at it. They just restocked this last friday, so there is alot.

As far as your reverse is concerned, i can do it or the Siro shop manager can do it. He helps us out and any other customer that i've seen come in there for free. Quick fixes free. I have probably spent about 3-400 in parts from there. My chassis for tuned for touring and have been converting it for drift. I have an R34 and Audi R8 shells. Within the next month or so i plan on getting a lighter drift chasis. lol this is probably more than you know but yea, tunning and messing with these cars is near the real thing with real car

[HingaSPL]

Originally Posted by Foamy Crusher

Yea, that bald guy is such a douche for customer service. They dont really take you for a wild ride, all their part are worth and best quality and they will want you to have to of course make a buck but you didnt need all that right away as a beginner . They got you half way hooked up to near pro chasis status.
The guy at Siro is awesome. He is def. cheaper than anyone else locally. I go to him once a week to get something new or to see if he has part that i want/need but sometimes runs out of stock. Good shop indeed. Since you never got a better battery, you def must, for running that motor/esc. Considering that they post office will not ship LiPo battery to us anymore our only sourse is Siro. Expect to push out another 150-160$ for the battery with battery charger. battery will be about 30$ the problem is getting that special charger for these batteries and i believe i saw an used one for 6,000yen. i didnt get since im not running lipo battery yet. But id say run there asap and take a look at it. They just restocked this last friday, so there is alot.

As far as your reverse is concerned, i can do it or the Siro shop manager can do it. He helps us out and any other customer that i've seen come in there for free. Quick fixes free. I have probably spent about 3-400 in parts from there. My chassis for tuned for touring and have been converting it for drift. I have an R34 and Audi R8 shells. Within the next month or so i plan on getting a lighter drift chasis. lol this is probably more than you know but yea, tunning and messing with these cars is near the real thing with real car

Yeah, been to Siro twice and spent a good two hours in there each time just trying to figure out what I can use on my car. I could not believe how many things you could do with these cars. My sons car came with a Lipo battery and he runs that car forever it seems compared to my set-up. I bought him a charger, but would like to buy a quick charger. Heard they go for around $100. When I bought my car it came with a bunch of bodies. For outside I use a 350Z body that the previous owner used for show, but since I bought the car, that body has gone to crap. For indoor I use the 78 Firebird body. I'll head up their tomorrow after work to buy a battery then. need to meet up sometime. May go out Friday afternoon somewhere to drive them.

[Foamy Crusher]

Rc paradise is open again for business. Their new place doesnt have electricity yet but they open from noon until about 6-630pm. They are expecting to have electricity by the weekend. You can go to their spot and drift on their carpet again and not get so dirty . Their shop is on 330 next to Plaza House shopping center (left of where KFC)

[HingaSPL]

Damn, that is near my house, haha. Didn't get to go to Siro today. But will first thing tomorrow morning

[Foamy Crusher]

i know!! It has become sooo convenient. Rather still go to siro from time to time. My friend and i will be going to the new rcp tomorrow morning

[HingaSPL]

Originally Posted by Foamy Crusher

i know!! It has become sooo convenient. Rather still go to siro from time to time. My friend and i will be going to the new rcp tomorrow morning

Drove by it today and it looked pretty ghetto. Is the new track outside? Just came back from Siro, bought a new lipo battery. We kept having a problem keeping the tires on the wheels, dude at Siro educated us a bit. My sons car keeps shredding the diff gear under hard accel. We were looking for a metal replacement, but he said he didn't carry them

[HingaSPL]

Drove mine a little last night and it ran good, but drove the crap out of it just now and it ran like a beast. Not only is it not cutting out anymore, but it has ALOT more acceleration. With the old battery under full accel, it would run strong for 2 seconds then taper off. Now under full accel it runs strong for 2 seconds, then increases power. I really dig the car now and had a great time with my son this morning, although I almost took his legs out with my car, haha. Thanks for the battery tip. Looking forward to meetin you at the track sometime.

My son and I playing car tag is beatin the crap outta my Z body, hahaha

[Daft Gadgets]

yes, the ways to lose money in the hobby are endless, but at least you don't have to worry to much about flight (although cars and planes both have landing problems from time to time).

I was recently talking with someone who decided that it was a good idea to fly his RC plane after a chicken hawk. Needless to say the chicken hawk got a little mad and the guy had to buy 90 percent of his plane again.

[Foamy Crusher]

Of course it was the battery
The hard acceleration after 2 second is common on the non sensored motors
Which you have. ESC takes a few minutes to determine the motor shaft angle on the non sensored.
Some called it acceleration lag. Sensored ESC/Motor dont have that problem

[HingaSPL]

Originally Posted by Daft Gadgets

yes, the ways to lose money in the hobby are endless, but at least you don't have to worry to much about flight (although cars and planes both have landing problems from time to time).

I was recently talking with someone who decided that it was a good idea to fly his RC plane after a chicken hawk. Needless to say the chicken hawk got a little mad and the guy had to buy 90 percent of his plane again.

I've tried RC planes when I was a kid. Used to go to the local flea markets and yard sales and bought planes whenever I'd see them. Crashed every single one of them during the first or second flights, hahaha.

Originally Posted by Foamy Crusher

Of course it was the battery
The hard acceleration after 2 second is common on the non sensored motors
Which you have. ESC takes a few minutes to determine the motor shaft angle on the non sensored.
Some called it acceleration lag. Sensored ESC/Motor dont have that problem

I'll have to read up on that. I have a friend bringing over a Traxxas nitro stampede he wants to sell. you may have saw it in Okinawayardsales.com. I've never messed with gas RC. If the price is right, I may pick it up