Fine Tuning The Shocks; Adjusting Toe-In; Wheels And Tires; Motors And Gearing - Traxxas Monster Jam 3604 Owner's Manual

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ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL

Once you become familiar with driving your model, you might need
to make adjustments for better driving performance
Adjusting the Slipper Clutch
The model is equipped with an
adjustable slipper clutch, which
is built into the large spur gear.
The purpose of the slipper
clutch is to regulate the
amount of power sent to
the rear wheels to prevent
tire spin. When it slips,
the slipper clutch makes a
high-pitch, whining noise. Remove the rubber slipper clutch plug
on the transmission cover in order to adjust the slipper. Use the
4-way wrench to turn the adjusting nut clockwise to tighten and
counterclockwise to loosen. Place the model on a high-traction
surface, such as carpet. Adjust the slipper so that you can hear it slip
for approximately two feet from a standing, full throttle start. (Learn
more about adjusting the slipper clutch in the sidebar left.)
Adjusting the Toe-in
Geometry and alignment specs play an important roll in your
model's handling. Take the time to set them correctly. Set the
steering trim on your transmitter to neutral. Now, adjust your servo
and tie rods so that both wheels are pointing straight ahead and are
parallel to each other (0° toe-in). This will ensure the same amount
of steering in both directions.
For increased stability add 1°-2° of toe-in to each front wheel. Use
the turnbuckles to adjust the alignment.
1
°
-2
°

Fine Tuning the Shocks

The four shocks on the model greatly influence its handling.
Whenever you rebuild your shocks or make any changes to the
pistons, springs or oil, always make changes to them in pairs (front
or rear). Piston selection depends on the range of oil viscosities
that you have available. For example, using a two-hole piston with
a lightweight oil will, at one point, give you
the same damping as a three-hole piston with
heavier oil. We recommend using the two-hole
pistons with a range of oil viscosities from
10W to 50W (available from your hobby shop).
The thinner viscosity oils (30W or less) flow
more smoothly and are more consistent, while
Tighten
thicker oils provide more dampening. Use only
100% pure silicone shock oil to prolong seal
life. The model's ride height can be adjusted
by adding or removing the clip-on, spring
Loosen
pre-load spacers. Adjust the ride height so that
the suspension arms are slightly above being
parallel to the ground. Observe how the model
handles in turns. Proper set-up will add stability
and help prevent spin outs. Experiment with
different springs and shock oils to find what
works best for your current track conditions.

Wheels and Tires

Many types of aftermarket tires and wheels can be adapted for
use on your model. Most will affect the overall width and the
suspension geometry of the model. The offsets and dimensions
designed into the model's wheels are intentional; therefore, Traxxas
cannot recommend the use of other non-Traxxas wheels with
different specifications. The diameter of the wheels is an innovative
design, and there is a variety of different tires available for you to
experiment with (in addition to the tires included on your model
and listed in the parts list). Experimenting with different types
of tires is recommended to see which ones work the best on the
terrain where the model is run. When selecting tires, consider the
1
°
-2
°
overall diameter and the rubber compound (hard or soft). If the
overall diameter of the tire is significantly increased, you will need
to use a smaller pinion gear to compensate for the larger tire. Soft
compound tires with many short spikes generally work better
on hard, dry surfaces. In loose dirt, a tire with large spikes should
perform better. See your parts list for accessory wheels and tires.

Motors and Gearing

There are two different types of aftermarket motors that can be
purchased for your model, stock and modified. Stock motors all
have the same wire thickness and number of turns around the
armature as governed by sanctioned racing organizations. They
are inexpensive and widely available. Modified motors are more
expensive, may feature ball bearings, and come in a variety of wire
To achieve a good starting
point for the slipper clutch
in these models, tighten
the slipper clutch adjusting
nut clockwise until the
slipper clutch adjusting
spring fully collapses (do
not over tighten), and then
turn the slipper clutch nut
Pre-load
counterclockwise one full
Spacer
turn.
Do not run your model with
the slipper clutch adjusting
spring fully compressed. The
minimum recommended
slipper clutch setting is 1/2
turn counterclockwise from
fully compressed.
TRAXXAS • 21

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