Frequently Asked Questions
For electric and nitro
If you want to understand what camber, caster, ride height, and other settings will do for your kit, read the back pages of your off road or on road/oval manual.
If you need more info about settings than the manual gives, get the Complete Tuning Guide for your kit.
Race Reports and Results. Team Associated's race victories are posted here. Also posted is the complete list of IFMAR winnings.
Kit Conversions and Upgrades. How can I upgrade or convert my kit? We've put together a list of pages where you can learn more about converting your kit to another.
Race Apparel and Car Carrier. Get your Team Associated race gear here!
Associated Transmission Troubleshooting Steps
Question of the Week Archive. (Many, many questions and answers on a variety of subjects.)
How to copy the contents of the Associated Reference Library CD to your hard drive.
Help Form. Contact Associated directly for help via e-mail
I am missing part #_______. What can I do? If you are missing a part from your kit, notify Associated immediately by phone at (714) 850-9342.
If you suspect a part is defective, call us or use this form.
Questions
Would you please tell me when should I change my pinion (or clutch bell) and spur gears and why?
None of your servo horns work with my new servo.
Tell me about the record speed run cars.
All four shocks leak oil by the shaft.
Is there any kind of gas conversion kit that I can get for my kit?
How can I get the over-spray on the outside of the body off?
My diff spins differently, first together, now always different directions.
What's the total length of the #1600 Factory Team Shock Set for Traxxas T-Maxx?
Where else can I get bodies for my kit?
I'm not sure how to gear my car. Which pinion and spur do I start out with?
Where can I sell my R/C stuff?
How do I become a retailer of your products?
I am not good when it comes to painting bodies.
I want to go faster and get lower lap times.
Can anyone address the gear pitches? What does 48 and 64 mean, and how and when is each type used?
I would like to know if I could get one of your Team Associated banners for the track.
How do I choose the correct off road tires for different tracks?
I need info about Yokomo products.
What do people mean when they speak of a "blue groove" track condition?
How can we identify what model our car is so we can order the appropriate manual?
I have a question about my non-Associated kit and non-Associated electronics.
What is the difference between a universal dogbone and MIP CVDs?
What happens with different shock oils and pistons?
How would I know which ESC to buy so it would work with my motor?
How do the really good racers start off when they are trying to dial in their cars?
34 I am planning on using a li-poly brand x battery and brand x
brushless motor.
35 Is it safe to run this on damp (not wet) pavement?
36 Why should I get a brushless motor?
39 What is the tape called that you guys put to hold the batteries
down?
40 What is thread-locking compound? And what is it used for?
41 When is the release date? How much will the shelf price be?
42 I have a shock that is slowly leaking oil down the shaft.
What is the best way to correct this?
44 I want to do some hop up's but don't know where to start?
45 Do you offer a 2wd sedan nitro car?
46 What do you suggest to use to clean the nitro cars?
47 Why won't the engine start in cold weather?
50 When are you coming out with a ______ ?
Answers
2 Would you please tell me when should I change my pinion (or
clutch bell) and spur gears and why?
The Complete
Tuning Guide: TC3 says:
The larger the number of teeth, the greater the speed, but it results in
less run time and too many teeth (overgearing) could harm your electrics.
The smaller the number of teeth, the more run time, but you will attain
less top-end speed. (Top-end speed refers to the fastest speed you could
attain.)
Consider changing your gearing according to track length. For larger
tracks, top end would be more important, so try a pinion tooth larger than
the chart following. For smaller, twisting tracks, try a pinion tooth
smaller than the chart.
3 What does AE mean?
AE stands for Associated Electrics, Inc., which is our legal business name. We added more of a racing flavor by using "Team Associated." Thanks for asking!
4 None of your servo horns work with my new servo.
Unfortunately, new servos are coming out all the time from the various manufacturers. We added several servo horns to the kits that fit at the time of the kit's release and a bit later too. We cannot keep up with them all.
5 What is the advantage or disadvantage of using a larger
pinion and spur to achieve the same final/overall gear ratio?
Consider these 48 pitch gears:
69/23 = 7.50
72/24 = 7.50
75/25 = 7.50.
With the smaller spur it will spool up faster, meaning
the motor will get to speed faster and with the larger spur, it will have
more torque.
6 I think the springs packaged with the T-Maxx shock kit (blue
springs) are way too weak for the truck.
The springs that were supplied with the truck measure at 2.550 lbs./in., and the ones that came with our package measure at 2.540 lbs lbs./in. The main difference is overall length so you need to add two of the clips to each shock to obtain the same height.
7 Tell me about the record speed run cars.
The record-breaking TC3 had regular touring car wheels and tires. Tires were 1386 and firm inserts. The body was a ProtoForm Super Speedway body used mainly for high speed Oval racing. The high speed RC10L3 Oval car included an extra long chassis with slots to hold all the batteries. Tires used were high speed cap tires used for oval racing made by Jaco tires. The body was a ProtoForm Nissan that was narrowed to fit the chassis.
8 The electric kit's differential
isn't staying tight. If I drive it out of the garage, a few seconds later,
the differential has worked itself loose. I have tried to tighten it and
every time it keeps coming loose.
If the diff keeps working loose, it could be that you have the differential assembly installed in the transmission backwards. The screw that you tighten the diff with should be on the same side as the spur gear and the T-nut is on the left side when you are looking from the back of the truck.
9 All four shocks leak oil by the
shaft.
You are over-filling the shocks when you bleed them. Try using a little less fluid. In almost all cases where we have someone having troubles you describe, this is the cause.
10 I need help on the differential,
if I tighten it too much the wheels spin in the same direction but if I
loosen it up only one of the wheels spin when I twist them by hand.
Tighten the diff till it stops and then loosen it up 1/8th of a turn.
11 Is there any kind of gas
conversion kit that I can get for my kit?
We have no conversion kits or suggestions for converting from electric to gas or gas to electric on any of our kits.
12 How can I get the over-spray on the outside of the body off?
Use denatured alcohol or O'Donnell racing fuel. Both work fine!
13 My diff spins differently, first together, now
always different directions.
They usually will spin together till the spring in the diff sets and then once it's set and readjusted you will see that the wheels will turn in opposite directions.
14 What's the total length of the #1600 Factory
Team Shock Set for Traxxas T-Maxx?
Fully extended the shocks measure 4.5"
15 Where else can I get bodies for my kit?
Pro-Line has a large selection. To see more go to www.pro-lineracing.com/. Also, try a local hobby shop or track here.
16 I'm not sure how to gear my car. Which pinion
and spur do I start out with?
Go to our Gearing page and you'll find suggestions for gearing a variety of Associated kits.
17 Where can I sell my R/C stuff?
We have a place on our site just with you in mind! Go to our R/C Links page and you'll find several links there where you can advertise your equipment!
18 How do I become a retailer of your
products?
Contact us by the Help Form and give us your state (or country if outside the U.S.) and we'll give you contact info of a distributor near you.
20 I am not good when it comes to
painting bodies.
We have several places you can consider. We have a few pre-painted bodies available here. Or go to our R/C Links page and check out the Body Painters links. They will paint your design for a fee.
21 I want to go faster and get
lower lap times.
You have stated the desire of every true racer! But to answer simply, to go faster you must practice, practice, practice! Then when you have consistent lap times (not crashing and are driving smoothly), then start making changes according to the tuning tips in the back of the manual. Run copies of the setup sheet and mark it up with your changes. Then time your laps with a stopwatch again to see if you have gotten faster. If not, then go back and make a different change and use the stopwatch again. This is what all experienced, successful racers do to go the fastest. One of the most important, and very difficult, things to remember is that faster is not always better, but controlling the car is.
22 Can anyone address the
gear pitches? What does 48 and 64 mean, and how and when is each type used.
In the R/C
hobby we use mostly 32/48/64 pitch gears. The pitch has to do with the size
of the tooth, not how many teeth, on the gear. 32 pitch gears are the
largest pitch with fewer teeth per inch. Less teeth per inch means the teeth
are larger and therefore stronger. The disadvantage is you have fewer
adjustment options over a specific range of drive ratios. Also the pressure
angles of the teeth as they mesh is greater so these gears tend to be less
efficient and noisier. We use this pitch for our off road gas truck because
of the power the engines can develop--which is enough to rip the teeth off
48 or 64 pitch gears.
With 48 pitch gears the teeth are a little smaller but still
strong enough for electric off road applications. These gears are a little
more efficient and quieter because the pressure angles between the teeth
meshing is improved, which makes the gears more efficient and quieter. You
also have a 50 percent increase in gearing options over 32 pitch gears.
64 pitch gears are more common for on road racing where you
do not run into a lot of rocks. (Rocks can damage the teeth on 64 pitch
gears easily.) Also the teeth on 64 pitch gears are so small that they are
not strong enough for off road applications where the teeth have to be able
to handle the shock loads that occur when you land after a jump. Because of
improved pressure angles, again, 64 pitch gears are quieter and more
efficient beyond 48 pitch gears. You again have a 50 percent increase in
adjustment options over 48 pitch gears.
23 I would like to know if I could get one of
your Team Associated banners for the track.
We sell our Associated banners at an affordable cost. If you are a track owner with major races, then contact us directly for more info.
24 How do I choose the correct off road tires
for different tracks?
The basics are as follows. The harder the surface the smaller the pin or spike on the tire. If the surface is soft or has a loose layer on top the tire pin or spike will become longer to try and get down to the harder surface below. The more traction the surface has the harder the tire compound can be. If there is less traction then you have to try softer compounds. Except for these basics it a matter of trial and error.
25 I need info about Yokomo
products.
Associated does not sell Yokomo products.
Contact them at:
Yokomo
17951 Skypark Circle,
Suite K
Irvine, CA 92714
USA
Web site:
http://www.YokomoUSA.com/
26 What do people mean when they speak of a "blue groove" track condition?
It means the dirt track surface has turned a dark color because of all the rubber laid down on the track by the tires.
27 How can we identify what model our car is so we can order the appropriate manual?
Get back to us with the following info:
Is it buggy, or truck, or
on road?
Is it gas or electric?
Is chassis aluminum, or molded plastic? If aluminum, what color?
The shock bodies are what color?
The plastics are colored mostly black or white?
Is it 1:10 scale, or 1:12 scale, or 1:8 scale? Give us its overall length if
you dont know. You may also find it helpful to look at the spare parts in
the
Catalogs
section and see if the drawings match anything on your vehicle.
28 I have a question about my
non-Associated kit and non-Associated electronics.
Associated cannot answer questions regarding other manufacturer's products. For best service, we suggest you contact the kit or part manufacturer. They will be more knowledgeable about their products.
29 What is the difference between a
universal dogbone and MIP CVDs?
The CVD (Constant Velocity Drive, made by Moore's Ideal Products) is more efficient while running, and also stronger. Also, you can take apart the CVD's, but not the universals.
30 How can I be sponsored?
At the next major race you attend where Team Associated is participating, introduce yourself to whoever is representing the Associated factory. Or send your racing resume to the address at bottom.
31 What happens with different shock oils and pistons?
When using one particular piston and changing only the shock oil, you can control the dampening characteristic of that piston. For example, pistons with different size holes, pistons that have a larger or smaller outer diameter, or even pistons that have several holes, all have different dampening--which is controlled by the speed of the piston going up and down inside the shock body. A piston with smaller holes and a piston with slightly larger holes that feel the same dampening size will work differently on the track. The smaller hole pistons will make your car jump and land better from jumps. The bigger hole pistons will not allow your car to jump as well and when your car lands from that jump it might tend to bottom out the suspension more. So when you see drivers changing pistons as well as oil, they are trying to find a perfect balance in handling.
32 How would I know which ESC to buy so it would work with my motor?
Running an electric speed control will make your car work more efficiently. To choose the right one, read this page.
33 How do the really
good racers start off when they are trying to dial in their cars?
When the factory drivers go to a major race, the first thing they concentrate on is getting around the track with your standard setup without crashing. From there, tire choice is next. Finding the right tire is extremely important. Lastly is suspension setup. During all of these changes it is important that you have someone time your laps. This will let you know if the changes you made have boosted your speed or not. So when qualifying starts, you hopefully have the best setup for you.
34 I am planning on using a li-poly brand x battery and
brand x brushless motor.
Well, anytime you add more power to a drive train (especially 3-4 times more with your intended motor) than the car was designed to handle, you run the risk of breaking parts. The drive train has worked reliably when other racers have added more power, but that doesn't guarantee your car will work well with the more powerful motor.
35 Is it safe to run this on damp (not wet) pavement?
It's never safe when water is around, no matter how little it is.
36 Why should I get a brushless motor?
One advantage of a good brushless motor is the lack of maintenance
needed. The Reedy NEO One has no brushes, no springs, and no commutator to
cut. Its completely-sealed design provides maintenance-free performance in
any racing environment, onroad or offroad. This frees you to spend more time
working on other aspects of your setup.
37 Which motor, pinion, and battery should I use for the max. performance in speed, acceleration, and top end?
Regarding pinion: Do want the fastest speed for acceleration (get a pinion gear with fewer teeth), or fastest speed as in top end (get a pinion gear with more teeth)? You can't have both. If you depart from the stock setting, you'll improve on one but lose the other.
38 What is rollout?
Rollout is the measurement that tells you how many times the motor shaft completes one full rotation per one complete turn of the wheel. For more information, click on Search on the home page and type in "rollout".
39 What is the tape called that you guys put to hold the batteries down?
It is electrical tape or electrician's tape. It's made to be
non-conductive. It's dull black and rubbery.
40 What is thread-locking compound? And what is it used for?
It is a liquid that helps keep screws from vibrating loose. Do not apply it to screws installed in metal parts, though.
41 When is the release date? How much will the shelf price be?
For current release dates of announced items, and manufacturer's suggested retail pricing, please go to the New Products page. For shelf price, please call several shops.
42 I have a shock that is slowly leaking oil down the shaft. What is the best way to correct this?
When the shock begins to leak as you have described it is best to rebuild your shocks.
43 What type of conditions warrant the use of an anti-roll bar and what benefit does the anti-roll bar provide?
Anti-roll Bars (aka Sway Bars)
Without anti-roll bars on a high traction surface, a car’s weight will be
thrown from one side or the other as it turns (chassis roll), which can make
it less controllable. The anti-roll bar ends are attached to the suspension
arms and the midpoint of the bar is fixed to the bulkhead. The anti-roll
bars’ restriction of excessive upward arm movement stabilizes a car from
excessive chassis roll. (That’s why they are called anti-roll bars.)
Chassis roll creates uneven traction. How? As you turn left without
anti-roll bars, the weight rolls to the right, puts pressure on the right
tire, and removes pressure from the left tire. So excessive chassis roll
will reduce steering control in the front, for a tire merely skimming cannot
steer well.
When should you add an anti-roll bar kit to your vehicle? You should
consider getting a kit if you run on a smooth surface with high traction. If
your car oversteers or understeers, you should consider adding anti-roll
bars to the front or rear. (Your car oversteers when the rear tires start to
skid through a turn, causing a tighter turn than normal. Your car
understeers when the front tires start to skid through a turn, causing a
wider turn than normal.)
A car using anti-roll bars on a high traction surface will tend to have less
chassis roll, make the car more responsive to cornering, and give you more
control.
Anti-roll bars are generally used on smooth, high-traction conditions.
Anti-roll bars on bumpy tracks don’t allow your suspension to work
independently, and make your vehicle difficult to drive.
When either of these two conditions are met, you should consider anti-roll
bars:
a) If you are driving on a high traction track and your car oversteers, use
the front anti-roll bar only. This will stiffen the front during cornering
(keep the tires glued to the track), giving the car consistent steering
throughout the corner.
b) If your car is understeering, try a rear anti-roll bar. This will keep
the rear of the car from rolling, which in turn will transfer more weight to
the front of the car, gaining steering.
Anti-roll bars can come in several configurations, depending on the vehicle.
In some cases, you may have more than one anti-roll bar thickness to choose
from to adjust the pressure. In other cases, a "blade" anti-roll bar will
give you several tuning possibilities in one blade.
Anti-roll bar kits:
#9635, B4/T4
#31057 TC4
#3960 TC3/NTC3
#6201 RC10 buggy, front only
#6351 RC10 buggy, rear only
#8826, DS, front only
#8872, DS, rear only
#8875, NDS, rear only
44 I want to do some hop up's but don't know where to start?
People get hopups for a variety of reasons. You first start by deciding what you want to accomplish. Do you want to go faster? To look cool? To gain better performance for racing? Each of these will turn you in a different direction. To go faster, avoid metal and learn about gearing. To look cool, get the blue metal parts. To gain performance, get a variety of shock oils, springs, and pinion gears, and get a tuning guide to understand tuning.
45 Do you offer a 2wd sedan nitro car?
Our 4WD sedan, the TC4, can be converted to 2WD by removing the main driveshaft that connects the two transmissions.
46 What do you suggest to use to clean the nitro cars?
Denatured alcohol works very well and seems to be the most popular.
47 Why won't the engine start in cold weather?
The engine will start-- you just have to adjust your fuel mixture. The engines in R/C cars are very air sensitive. Colder weather means you have to richen the fuel mixture.
48 When I turn on my XP2 radio, it beeps constantly and will not operate the truck. The light on the front says "full".
Please visit the following link for repair.
http://www.rc10.com/misc/jaguar/index.htm
49 The first time I got the engine to crank I broke it in the way specified. The next time I tried to run it it would not crank. I tested the glow plug, and none of the coils glowed orange.
Make sure that the igniter is charged. They can run down fairly quickly if you are not careful. Recharge and then check your glow plug once again. If the glow plug does not light up, then replace with the appropriate plug. We use a McCoy #MC59.
50 When are you coming out with a ______ ?
When we announce a new product, we include the most current release date in the New Products section. We don't give release dates for items we have not announced.
51 I purchased a new body for my car and was hoping to get tips on how to drill the holes to match the posts while getting the wheel wells on correctly.
We create holes with a body hole reamer. You might find this tool still on the market. You punch this tool through the Lexan part way, and then twist it. As it twists, it cuts a circular opening. The tool tip is conical, so the opening keeps getting larger depending on how long you keep twisting.
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