MODEL 57076-4 owner’s manual
INTRODUCTION 3 BEFORE YOU PROCEED 4 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 6 TOOLS, SUPPLIES AND REQUIRED EQUIPMENT 7 ANATOMY OF THE SPARTAN 8 QUICK START: GETTING UP TO SPEED 9 TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM 17 ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL 19 DRIVING YOUR MODEL 20 ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL 22 MAINTAINING YOUR MODEL 24 TROUBLESHOOTING 25 TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE The Traxxas Spartan raises the bar for reliable, high-performance RC boating.
BEFORE YOU PROCEED Carefully read and follow all instructions in this and any accompanying materials to prevent serious damage to your model. Failure to follow these instructions will be considered abuse and/or neglect. SUPPORT If you have any questions about your model or its operation, call the Traxxas Technical Support line toll-free at: 1-888-TRAXXAS (1-888-872-9927)* Before running your model, look over this entire manual and examine the model carefully.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Speed Control Your model’s electronic speed control (ESC) is an extremely powerful electronic device capable of delivering high current. Please closely follow these precautions to prevent damage to the speed control or other components. • Disconnect the Battery: Always disconnect the battery or batteries from the speed control when not in use.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS • Do not operate the charger in a cluttered space, or place objects on top of the charger or battery. • If a battery gets hot to the touch during the charging process (temperature greater than 140°F / 60°C), disconnect the battery from the charger and discontinue charging immediately. • Always store battery packs safely out of the reach of children and pets. • Do not short-circuit the battery pack. This may cause burns and severe damage to the battery pack and create the risk of fire.
TOOLS, SUPPLIES AND REQUIRED EQUIPMENT For more information on batteries, see Use the Right Batteries on page 12. Recommended Equipment These items are not required for the operation of your model, but are a good idea to include in any R/C toolbox: • Safety glasses • Traxxas Ultra Premium Tire Glue, Part #6468 (CA glue) • Hobby knife • Side cutters and/or needle nose pliers • Philips screwdriver • Soldering iron Your model comes with a set of specialty metric tools.
SPARTAN OVERVIEW Rudder Support Water Cooling Jacket Traxxas High-Current Connector Flex Cable Housing Steering Servo Battery Strap Channel Hull Motor Propeller Nut Propeller Rudder Arm Steering Linkage Receiver Box Drive Strut Trim Tab Rudder Support LED Light Pipe Stuffing Tube Seal Electronic Speed Control Drive Dog Battery Strap Trim Tab Turn Fin Hatch Mount Water-Cooling Tube Collet Turn Fin Rudder Propeller Propeller Nut SPARTAN • 7
QUICK START: GETTING UP TO SPEED The Quick Start Guide is not intended to replace the full operating instructions available in this manual. Please read this entire manual for complete instructions on the proper use and maintenance of your model. The following guide is an overview of the procedures for getting your model running. Look for the Quick Start logo on the bottom corners of Quick Start pages. 1.
TQi RADIO SYSTEM & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM INTRODUCTION Your model includes the latest Traxxas TQi transmitter with Traxxas Link™ Model Memory. The transmitter’s easy-to-use design provides instant driving fun for new R/C enthusiasts, and also offers a full compliment of pro-level tuning features for advanced users – or anyone interested in experimenting with the performance of their model. The steering and throttle channels feature adjustable Exponential, End Points, and Sub-Trims.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM To prevent loss of radio range do not kink or cut the black wire, do not bend or cut the metal tip, and do not bend or cut the white wire at the end of the metal tip. Correct No No No Resistance - In an electrical sense, resistance is a measure of how an object resists or obstructs the flow of current through it. When flow is constricted, energy is converted to heat and is lost.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM Your model is equipped with the newest Traxxas TQi transmitter with Traxxas Link™ Model Memory. The transmitter has two channels for controlling your throttle and steering. The receiver inside the model has 5 output channels. Your model is equipped with one servo and an electronic speed control.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM If the status LED doesn’t light green, check the polarity of the batteries. Check rechargeable batteries for a full charge. If you see any other flashing signal from the LED, refer to the chart on page 26 to identify the code. INSTALLING TRANSMITTER BATTERIES SELECTING BATTERIES FOR YOUR MODEL Your TQi transmitter uses 4 AA batteries. The battery compartment is located in the base of the transmitter. Your model does not include batteries or a charger.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK Spartan uses hook-and-loop straps to secure the batteries. To install the batteries, simply loosen the straps, slide the battery pack beneath them, and tighten the straps to hold the batteries snugly against the battery tray’s foam pads. They should be tight enough to prevent the batteries from sliding, but should not be pulled excessively tight.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM RADIO SYSTEM CONTROLS • In order for the transmitter and receiver to bind to one another, the receiver in the model must be turned on within 20 seconds of turning on the transmitter. The transmitter LED will flash fast red indicating a failure to link. If you miss it, simply turn off the transmitter and start over. TUR N GH RI T • Always turn on the transmitter before plugging in the battery.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM USING THE RADIO SYSTEM The TQi Radio System has been pre-adjusted at the factory. The adjustment should be checked before running the model, in case of movement during shipping. Here’s how: 1. Turn the transmitter switch on. The status LED on the transmitter should be solid green (not flashing). Range-Testing the Radio System Before each running session with your model, you should range-test your radio system to ensure that it operates properly. 1.
TQi RADIO & BRUSHLESS POWER SYSTEM Setting Up the Antenna The receiver antenna has been set up and installed from the factory. The antenna is secured by a 3x4mm set screw. To remove the antenna tube, simply remove the set screw with the included 1.5mm wrench. When reinstalling the antenna, first slide the antenna wire into bottom of antenna tube until white tip of antenna is at top of tube under the black cap.
ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL The VXL-6s Marine speed control is factory set and should not require any adjustments. These instructions are provided for your reference. Transmitter Adjustments for the VXL-6s Marine speed control Before attempting to program your VXL-6s Marine electronic speed control (ESC), it is important to make sure that your transmitter is properly adjusted (set back to the factory defaults). Otherwise, you may not get the best performance from your ESC.
ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL 5. Return the trigger to neutral and allow the prop to stop. Note that there is no programmed delay when changing from reverse to forward. Use caution to avoid slamming the speed control from reverse to forward and vice versa. This could result in driveline damage. 6. Push the trigger away from the grip to apply reverse throttle. The LED will go out, then glow at full throttle. (Note that reverse throttle is only about 15% of forward throttle. This is normal.) 7.
DRIVING YOUR MODEL Now it’s time to have some fun! This section contains instructions on driving and making adjustments to your model. Before you go on, here are some important precautions to keep in mind. • Use extra caution when traveling into the wind and/or against the direction of waves. The added pitch motion caused by driving into cresting waves, combined with wind blasts, tends to lift the boat out of the water further and might cause the boat to blow over backwards.
ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL Optional Accessory: Machined Aluminum Trim Adjusters For the most precise trim adjustments, Spartan can be outfitted with machined aluminum trim adjusters. These install using the existing trim tab mounting holes, so no drilling is required. Once installed, the adjusters’ stainless steel screws can be used to make fine trim settings. Once Spartan is trimmed to your preference, corrosionresistant nickel-plated nuts hold the adjustment.
ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL Adjusting the Drive Strut Spartan has a surface-piercing prop, meaning the prop is not fully submerged when the model is at speed. Varying the depth that the prop is submerged will alter the model’s performance. The stock setting is 4mm above the lowest point of the hull. To adjust prop depth, loosen the drive strut adjustment screw and angle the strut down. The minimum setting is approximately 2mm above the bottom of the hull.
MAINTAINING YOUR MODEL Always wear eye protection when using compressed air or spray cleaners and lubricants. Water Cooling Diagram Your model requires maintenance in order to stay in top running condition. The following procedures should be taken very seriously. Form the habit of visually inspecting the mechanical integrity of the model before and after each run. Inspect the model for obvious damage or wear: • Normally, some water will accumulate inside the boat.
MAINTAINING YOUR MODEL Radio Tray Removal 5 Spartan’s unique power module allows you to easily remove 1 the motor, drive system, and 4A electronics as a unit for easy access to the hull interior. With 5 the power module removed, you can easily work on the drive system or electronics without the entire hull taking up your bench space. To remove the power module, follow these steps: 1. Loosen the drive cable collet. Using the two 10mm wrenches supplied, grip the collet base and collet clamp.
TROUBLESHOOTING The following section addresses some very basic questions you may have about your model. If you can’t find a solution here, you may call Traxxas Customer Service at 1-888-TRAXXAS (U.S. residents only). If the model stopped suddenly: • Release the transmitter trigger immediately. Do not try and “force” the model to move. Refer to the Boat Retrieval section on page 19 for recovery.
TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE Your Traxxas transmitter has a programmable Multi-Function knob that can be set to control various advanced transmitter functions (set to Traxxas Stability Management (TSM) by default, see page 16). Access the programming menu by using the MENU and SET buttons on the transmitter and observing signals from the LED. An explanation of the menu structure follows on page 28. Experiment with the settings and features to see if they can improve your driving experience.
TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE Failsafe Your Traxxas radio system is equipped with a built-in failsafe function that returns the throttle to its last saved neutral position in the event of a signal loss. The LED on the transmitter and the receiver will rapidly flash red.
TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE TRAXXAS LINK MODEL MEMORY Traxxas Link Model Memory is an exclusive, patent-pending feature of the TQi transmitter. Each time the transmitter is bound to a new receiver, it saves that receiver in its memory along with all the settings assigned to that receiver. When the transmitter and any bound receiver are switched on, the transmitter automatically recalls the settings for that receiver. There is no need to manually select your vehicle from a list of model memory entries.
TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE Press MENU to move through options. Press SET to select an option. MENU TREE The Menu Tree below shows how to navigate through the TQi transmitter’s various settings and functions. Press and hold MENU to enter the Menu Tree, and use the following commands to navigate through the menu and select options. MENU: When you enter a menu, you always start at the top. Press MENU to move down the Menu Tree.
TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE x8 Set Multi-Function knob for STEERING SENSITIVITY (Expo) Press/hold MENU green LED blinks Press SET red LED blinks Press SET to confirm green LED blinks (x8) Set Multi-Function knob for THROTTLE SENSITIVITY (Expo) Press/hold MENU green LED blinks Press SET red LED blinks Press MENU to confirm red LED blinks (x2) Set Multi-Function knob for STEERING DUAL RATE (%) Press/hold MENU green LED blinks Press SET red LED blinks Press MENU twice red LED blinks (x3) Set Multi-F
TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE The Traxxas Link Wireless Module is sold separately (part #6511). The Traxxas Link application is available from the Apple App store for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and on Google Play for Android devices. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or the Android device are not included with the Traxxas Link Wireless Module. For more information about the Traxxas Link Wireless Module and the Traxxas Link application, visit Traxxas.com.
owner’s manual MODEL 57076-4 6250 TRAXXAS WAY, McKINNEY, TEXAS 75070 1-888-TRAXXAS 160315 57076-4-OM-EN-R01
