MODEL 24054-4 MODEL 37054-4 owner’s manual
INTRODUCTION 3 BEFORE YOU PROCEED 4 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 7 TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND REQUIRED EQUIPMENT 8 ANATOMY OF THE RUSTLER 9 ANATOMY OF THE STAMPEDE 10 ANATOMY OF THE BANDIT 11 QUICK START: GETTING UP TO SPEED 12 THE TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM 20 ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL 23 DRIVING YOUR MODEL 26 ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL 28 MAINTAINING YOUR MODEL Thank you for purchasing a Traxxas electric model.
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. Before running your model, look over this entire manual and examine the model carefully. If for some reason you decide it is not what you wanted, then do not continue any further. Your hobby dealer absolutely cannot accept a model for return or exchange after it has been run.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS All instructions and precautions outlined in this manual should be strictly followed to ensure safe operation of your model. This model is not intended for use by children under 14 years of age without the supervision of a responsible and knowledgeable adult. No previous experience with radio controlled models is required. Models require a minimum of setup, maintenance, or support equipment. 4 • TRAXXAS All of us at Traxxas want you to safely enjoy your new model.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WARNING! CAUTION! DANGER! FIRE HAZARD! Your model is able to use LiPo batteries. Charging and discharging batteries has the potential for fire, explosion, serious injury, and property damage if not performed per the instructions. Before use, read and follow all manufacturer’s instructions, warnings, and precautions.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (continued from previous page) • ALWAYS charge batteries in a well-ventilated area. • REMOVE flammable items and combustible materials from the charging area. • DO NOT leave the charger and battery unattended while charging, discharging, or anytime the charger is ON with a battery connected. If there are any signs of a malfunction or in the event of an emergency, unplug the charger from the power source and disconnect the battery from the charger.
TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND REQUIRED EQUIPMENT Your model comes with a set of specialty metric tools. You’ll need to purchase other items, available from your hobby dealer, to operate and maintain your model. SUPPLIED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT 2.5mm “L” wrench 4-way wrench 2.0mm “L” wrench 1.
ANATOMY OF THE RUSTLER Half Shaft Upper Chassis Plate Steering Block Battery Hold-Down Chassis Rear Shock Tower Caster Block Traxxas High-Current Connector Rear Body Mount Electronic Speed Control (XL-5) Camber Link Front Body Mount Motor (Titan 12T) Suspension Arm (Front) Transmission Spur Gear Front Bumper Pinion Gear Front Shock Tower Slipper Clutch LED Light Pipe Suspension Arm (Rear) Receiver Box Antenna Mount Steering Servo (under Upper Chassis Plate) Camber Link Servo Saver (not
ANATOMY OF THE BANDIT Half Shaft Electronic Speed Control (XL-5) Upper Chassis Plate Camber Link Battery Hold-Down Wing Mount Hole Rear Body Mount Chassis Battery Compartment Suspension Arm (Front) Front Body Mount Motor (Titan 12T) Transmission Front Bumper Pinion Gear Front Shock Tower Spur Gear Slipper Clutch Receiver Box Suspension Arm (Rear) Rear Shock Tower Shock (Oil Damper) Antenna Mount Steering Servo LED Light Pipe (under Upper Chassis Plate) Turnbuckle (Tie Rod) Servo Saver (not
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.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM INTRODUCTION Your model includes the TQ 2.4GHz transmitter. When powered on, the TQ 2.4GHz will automatically locate and lock onto an available frequency, allowing multiple models to be raced together without frequency conflicts. Just switch on and drive! The included TQ 2.4GHz radio system has been programmed for your model at the factory and does not require adjustment, but it does have settings you may need to access to maintain proper operation of your model.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO 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. Thermal Shutdown Protection - Temperature sensing electronics are used in the ESC to detect overloading and overheating of the transistor circuitry. If excessive temperature is detected, the unit automatically shuts down to prevent damage to the electronics. 2-channel radio system - The TQ 2.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM Your model is equipped with the Traxxas TQ 2.4GHz transmitter. The transmitter has two channels: Channel one operates the steering, and channel two operates the throttle. The receiver inside the model has three output channels. Your model is equipped with one servo and an electronic speed control.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM INSTALLING TRANSMITTER BATTERIES 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 19 to identify the code. Your TQ 2.4GHz transmitter uses 4 AA batteries. The battery compartment is located in the base of the transmitter.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK SETTING UP THE ANTENNA Place the battery pack into the battery compartment of the model and then place the battery hold-down over the posts. Secure the battery hold-down with body clips in the holes in the posts. Do not connect the battery pack yet. The receiver antenna and antenna tube must be properly installed before operating your model. Follow these steps to install the antenna and antenna tube: Rustler and Bandit 1.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM RADIO SYSTEM CONTROLS Make certain the model’s receiver antenna is properly installed before operating your model. See “Installing the Receiver Antenna.” Failure to properly install the receiver antenna will result in greatly reduced radio range and potential loss of control. • Always turn on the transmitter before plugging in the battery.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM is wired correctly. Before attempting to reverse the throttle channel using the procedure below, you should first recalibrate the speed control. Refer to “XL-5 Setup Programming” on page 20. 1. Press and hold the SET button on the transmitter for two seconds. The status LED will flash green. 2. Move and hold the throttle trigger to the full forward or full brake position (it does not matter which position you choose). 3.
TRAXXAS TQ 2.4GHz RADIO SYSTEM Fail-Safe Your Traxxas radio system is equipped with a builtin fail-safe 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 when the failsafe mode is activated. If fail-safe activates while you are operating your model, determine the reason for signal loss and resolve the problem before operating your model again. to see and control the model.
ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL XL-5 Battery Settings (Low-Voltage Detection Setting) The XL-5 electronic speed control is equipped with built-in LowVoltage Detection. The Low-Voltage Detection circuitry constantly monitors the battery voltage. When the battery voltage begins to reach the minimum recommended discharge voltage threshold for LiPo battery packs, the XL-5 will limit the power output to 50% throttle.
ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL Patented Training Mode (Profile #3) reduces forward and reverse throttle by 50%. Training Mode is provided to reduce the power output, allowing beginning drivers to better control the model. As driving skills improve, simply change to Sport or Race Mode for full-power operation. Tip For Fast Mode Changes The XL-5 is set to Profile 1 (Sport Mode) as the default.
ADJUSTING THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL Selecting Training Mode (Profile #3: 50% Forward, 100% Brakes, 50% Reverse) 1. Connect a fully charged battery pack to A B the XL-5 and turn on your transmitter. 2. With the XL-5 off, press and hold the EZ-Set button until the LED turns solid Green to Red to Off Three blinks Red green, then solid red and then begins D C blinking red (indicating the Profile numbers). 3. When the LED blinks RED THREE Release Solid TIMES, release the EZ-Set button. 4.
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. • Allow the model to cool for a few minutes between runs. This is particularly important when using high-capacity (2400mAh and above) battery packs that allow extended periods of running. Monitoring temperatures will extend the lives of the batteries and motor.
DRIVING YOUR MODEL RUNNING IN WET CONDITIONS Your new Traxxas model is designed with water-resistant features to protect the electronics in the model (receiver, servos, electronic speed control). This gives you the freedom to have fun driving your model through puddles, wet grass, snow, and through other wet conditions. Though highly water resistant, the model should not be treated as though it is submersible or totally, 100% waterproof. Water resistance applies only to the installed electronic components.
DRIVING YOUR MODEL 7. Let the truck stand or you may blow off with compressed air. Placing the truck in a warm, sunny spot will aid drying. Trapped water and oil will continue to drip from the truck for a few hours. Place it on a towel or piece of cardboard to protect the surface underneath. 8. As a precautionary step, remove the sealed receiver box cover. While unlikely, humidity or tiny amounts of moisture or condensation may enter the receiver box during wet running.
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. Tighten The purpose of the slipper clutch is to regulate the amount of power sent to the rear wheels to prevent Loosen tire spin. When it slips, the slipper clutch makes a high-pitch, whining noise.
ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL Rustler Bandit • Fast Acceleration • Short Distances • Small Tracks 14-Tooth Pinion* 90-Tooth Spur 19-Tooth Pinion* 86-Tooth Spur* • Good Acceleration • Good Speed • Normal Conditions 16-Tooth Pinion 90-Tooth Spur 21-Tooth Pinion 83-Tooth Spur • High Top Speed • Long Distances • Hard Surfaces 28-Tooth Pinion 86-Tooth Spur 31-Tooth Pinion 83-Tooth Spur One of the more significant advantages to your model’s transmission is the extremely wide range of available gear ratios.
ADJUSTING YOUR MODEL Strip of Paper Motor Screws Adjusting Gear Mesh Incorrect gear mesh is the most common cause of stripped spur gears. To set the gear mesh, cut a narrow strip of notebook paper and run it into the gear mesh. Loosen the motor screws and slide the motor and pinion gear into the spur gear. Retighten the motor screws and then remove the strip of paper. You should be able to run a fresh strip of paper through the gears without binding them.
MAINTAINING YOUR MODEL Always wear eye protection when using compressed air or spray cleaners and lubricants. Your model requires timely maintenance in order to stay in top running condition. The following procedures should be taken very seriously. Inspect the vehicle for obvious damage or wear. Look for: 1. Cracked, bent, or damaged parts 2. Check the wheels and steering for binding. 3. Check the operation of the shock absorbers. 4. Check the wiring for any frayed wires or loose connections. 5.
owner’s manual 6250 TRAXXAS WAY, McKINNEY, TEXAS 75070 1-888-TRAXXAS 171020 24054-37054-4-OM-EN-R00
