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Be sure that the switch is turned off before installing
the batteries. Insert the batteries into the battery
compartment making careful note of the polarity.
Now, snap the battery door back into place.
• RECEIVER BATTERIES
The Traxxas receiver is equipped with
B.E.C. (battery eliminator circuitry).
This circuit eliminates the need to
carry a separate 4-cell battery
pack to power the radio
system in battery-powered
electric models. No extra
receiver batteries are required.
BATTERIES AND
CHARGING
Your Spirit truck requires either a 6
or 7-cell rechargeable nicad battery pack (not included). There
are a variety of different battery packs available and you should
consult your hobby dealer to determine which is best for your
needs. 6-cell packs are 7.2 volts and 7-cell packs are 8.4 volts. 7-
cell packs must be "flat packs" in order to fit in the Spirit. To use
the seven cell packs, the battery stays on each side of the chas-
sis must be moved to their outer positions by removing the
screw, sliding the stay outward, and then replacing the screw.
To install the battery, first install the nylon straps through the
slots in the battery stay, as shown (insert the strap up through
the front slot and down through the back slot). Place the battery
in the chassis (arrow 1), close the straps, and then pull the
straps tightly towards the front of the Spirit (arrow 2).
A 7-cell pack will cause your Spirit to go faster however, they
take longer to charge, the motor will run hotter, run time will
decrease, and stress on the driveline components will increase.
A 6-cell pack is recommended for normal, everyday use. The
MAH (milliamp-hour) rating of the battery refers to its capacity.
For example, a 1500MAH battery should run your Spirit longer
than a 1200MAH battery pack.
You will need a charger (not included) to charge your battery
pack. There are a wide variety of chargers available in all differ-
ent price ranges. Have your hobby dealer recommend a charger
based on the type of battery packs you are using, how often you
will be charging, and your budget. Do not charge the battery
pack while it is installed in the Spirit, and never leave a charging
battery unattended.
Because of the many types of batteries and chargers, it is
impossible to provide exact time amounts to expect for charging
and running. On average, it takes about 15-20 minutes to charge
a battery pack. A typical, fully-charged "sport" battery pack will
last about 6-10 minutes in the Spirit. This number can vary greatly
depending upon how you drive.
2
ANTENNA SETUP
Locate the plastic tube and the antenna tip
(supplied in the bag with your instructions). Insert
the black antenna wire, extending from the receiver
housing, into one end of the tube and push it all the
way through. Spray the wire with glass cleaner to
make it easier to insert.
Insert the tube into the antenna mount in the side
of the chassis (see step 41 on page 10). Fold the
remaining antenna wire over the top of the antenna
tube and secure it with the vinyl antenna tip.
Under no circumstances should you ever cut your
antenna wire. Its length is specially tuned to the fre-
quency band, and cutting it could severely shorten
the radio's range.
SETTING UP TO DRIVE
The TQ radio system installed in your RTR model was pre-
adjusted before it left the factory; however, the adjustment should
be checked prior to running the model. These instructions are for
Traxxas radio systems only.
1) Before you ever turn your radio system on, you must "clear"
your frequency. Clearing your frequency means checking to be
sure that no one else in the area is operating on the same
channel as you. There are six different channels numbered 1
through 6. Each of the six channels is represented by a color.
Look at the crystal on the back of the transmitter to determine
which of the channels your model is operating on.
2) Always turn the transmitter on first, before you plug the battery
pack into the model. Fully extend the chrome telescopic
antenna. Slide the transmitter switch to the "on" position. The
red light should be on and not flashing. A flashing red light indi-
cates weak batteries. Do not operate your model with weak or
discharged batteries. Weak batteries will cause the range of
your model to be limited, and you could lose control.
3) Plug the nicad battery pack into the mechanical speed control.
The servos should jump and move to their idle (neutral) positions.
Note: Traxxas models with mechanical speed controls do
not use an on/off switch. Plugging the battery in turns the
system on, unplugging the battery turns it off.
CAUTION: When nicad batteries begin to lose their
charge, they will fade much faster than alkaline dry cells.
Stop immediately at the first sign of weak batteries. Never
turn the transmitter off when the battery pack is plugged
in. The model could run out of control.
4) Operate the steering control on the transmitter (channel 1).
Check for rapid operation of the steering servo and that none
of the steering mechanism is loose or binding. If the servo
operates slowly, check for weak batteries. Turn the "steering
trim" control on the transmitter to adjust the servo so that the
front wheels are pointing straight ahead. Check to be sure that
the wheels do not turn more in one direction than in the other.
If you cannot align the front wheels, you will have to re-center
your steering servo (see "centering your servos").
5) If the motor started running when you plugged in the battery
pack, then slowly adjust the throttle trim on the transmitter until
the motor stops running. Now operate the throttle trigger to
ensure that you have full forward and reverse operation, and
that the motor stops when the throttle trigger is at neutral.
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