MODEL 59076-3 owner’s manual
INTRODUCTION 3 BEFORE YOU PROCEED 4 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 5 TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND REQUIRED EQUIPMENT 6 ANATOMY OF THE SLAYER PRO 4X4 7 QUICK START: GETTING UP TO SPEED 8 TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM 14 THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE 28 DRIVING YOUR SLAYER PRO 4X4 29 BASIC TUNING ADJUSTMENTS 34 MAINTAINING AND STORING YOUR SLAYER PRO 4X4 36 ADVANCED TUNING ADJUSTMENTS 39 TQi ADVANCED TUNING GUIDE 2 • SLAYER PRO 4X4 Thank you for purchasing a Traxxas Slayer Pro 4X4.
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 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.
bluehighway font SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 1 2 3 3+ 4 5 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 (minors) under 16 years of age without the supervision of a responsible and knowledgeable adult. Models require detailed setup, and/or maintenance procedures with required support equipment. Previous experience with radio controlled models is mandatory.
TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND REQUIRED EQUIPMENT Your Slayer Pro 4X4 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 Shock wrench 1.5mm “L” wrench Suspension multi-tool 8mm/4mm wrench 2.0mm “T” wrench Extra oiled air filter set (pre-filter and primary filter) 2.5mm “L” wrench Suspension tuning shims and hollow balls REQUIRED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT 4-way wrench 2.
ANATOMY OF THE SLAYER PRO 4X4 TRX 3.3 Racing Engine see pg.
QUICK START: GETTING UP TO SPEED The following guide is an overview of the procedures for getting your Slayer Pro 4X4 running, from opening the box to breaking in and tuning your engine. Refer to the pages indicated for details on each step. Look for the Quick Start logo on the bottom corners of Quick Start pages. 1. Read the safety precautions on page 4 For your own safety, understand where carelessness and misuse could lead to personal injury. 10.
TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 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 Learn terms related to the TRX 3.3 Racing Engine beginning on page 16. No Your model includes the latest Traxxas TQi 2.4GHz transmitter with Traxxas Link™ Model Memory.
TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM Your model is equipped with the Traxxas TQi 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 two servos and a receiver.
TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM If the transmitter status LED doesn’t light green, check the polarity of the batteries. If you see any other flashing signal from the status LED, refer to the chart on page 40 to identify the code. Use the Right Batteries Your transmitter uses AA batteries. Use new alkaline batteries. Do not use rechargeable AA cells to power the TQi transmitter, as they will not provide sufficient voltage for optimum transmitter performance.
TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM RADIO SYSTEM CONTROLS • Always have the transmitter and receiver turned on before you start the engine. Never turn the radio system off while the engine is running. The on/off switch in the model only turns the receiver on and off. It does not turn off the engine. TUR N GH RI T TU • Always use new or freshly charged batteries for the radio system. Weak batteries will limit the radio signal between the receiver and the transmitter.
TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM USING THE RADIO SYSTEM Always use the idle speed adjustment screw (see page 15) on the carburetor to adjust the engine idle speed. The TQi 2.4GHz Radio System has been adjusted at the factory for correct operation with your model. The adjustment should be checked before running the model, in case of movement during shipping. Follow these steps: 1. Turn the transmitter switch on. The status LED on the transmitter should be solid green (not flashing).
TRAXXAS TQi RADIO SYSTEM TRAXXAS STABILITY MANAGEMENT (TSM) INSTALLING THE RECEIVER ANTENNA Traxxas Stability Management or TSM allows you to experience all the speed and acceleration that was engineered into your Traxxas model by helping you to maintain control of the vehicle in low-traction situations. TSM helps provide straight ahead full-throttle acceleration on slippery surfaces, without fishtailing, spinouts, or loss of control. TSM also dramatically improves braking control.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE™ INTRODUCTION Traxxas strongly discourages changing or modifying any part of the TRX 3.3 Racing Engine. Old tech tips and tricks that may have boosted the power of other engines could seriously diminish the performance of the TRX 3.3 Racing Engine. There’s more advanced thinking, development, and testing in the stock parts of your TRX 3.3 Racing Engine than in many aftermarket manufacturer’s performance parts. The TRX 3.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE ILLUSTRATED Two-Stage Air Filter Glow Plug Idle Speed Screw Head Protector Slayer Pro 4X4’s fuel tank is equipped with a built-in sintered bronze fuel filter.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE TERMS TO KNOW You’ll find these Nitro R/C engine terms throughout this section of the manual. 16 • SLAYER PRO 4X4 .15 - .15 or “15” refers to the displacement of the engine. The TRX 2.5 Racing Engine is .15 cubic inches or 2.5 cubic centimeters (cc). The name “TRX 2.5” is derived from the cc measurement. .20 - .20 or “20” refers to the size of the engine. The TRX 3.3 is .20 cubic inches or 3.3 cubic centimeters (cc). The name “TRX 3.3” is derived from the cc measurement.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE High-speed needle (HSN) - Adjusts the carburetor’s fuel/air mixture at high throttle openings. Idle speed - The speed (RPM) the engine runs at when the transmitter’s throttle trigger is at neutral. Idle speed screw (ISS) - Located on the carburetor body. This screw adjusts the idle RPM of the engine. Lean - A running condition where the engine is not getting enough fuel (for the available air).
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE THE FUEL DANGER! Model engine fuel is poisonous to humans and animals. Drinking the fuel can cause blindness and death. Handle with care and respect. Keep it out of reach of small children at all times! While driving, do not leave your fuel dispensing bottle on the ground where a child could have access to it. Follow fuel label warnings. Use the Right Fuel It’s imperative that you use the correct fuel in your TRX 3.3 Racing Engine for maximum performance and engine life.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE Filling the Fuel Tank Use a fuel dispensing bottle (Traxxas Top Fueler, part #5001) to put fuel into Slayer Pro 4X4’s fuel tank. To fill the fuel bottle, squeeze the air out, insert the dispenser tip into the fuel can, and release your grip on the bottle. As the bottle expands, fuel will be drawn into it. To fill your model, pull up on the fuel cap handle, insert the tip of the fuel bottle, and squeeze to dispense the fuel. THE AIR FILTER The TRX 3.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE See page 26 for more information on how air density affects engine tuning. A “turn” refers to tightening (“turning in”) or loosening (“turning out”) mixture needles. A “full turn” refers to turning the needle 360°, so a “1/2 turn” would be 180°, a “1/4 turn” would be 90°, and so on.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE • Slightly lean fuel mixtures deliver stronger, more efficient combustion and more power, but with less lubrication. THE TRAXXAS EZ-START ELECTRIC STARTING SYSTEM Lean • Slightly rich fuel mixtures deliver cooler running and more lubrication but with slightlyless power. Tuning the engine means finding the perfect balance between the two; excellent power to meet your needs while maintaining good lubrication for long engine life.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE 7,12 22 • SLAYER PRO 4X4 If the Motor LED fails to light and the starter fails to operate, then the EZ-Start is in protection mode. Glow Plug Motor Glow Plug Glow Plug Motor Glow Plug Glow Plug If the Glow Plug LED fails to light, the glow plug may be bad, or the glow plug wire may be damaged or disconnected. Motor Glow Plug Motor Each of the two status indicator LEDs on the handheld control unit, the Motor LED and the Glow Plug LED, should light green while starting.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE BREAKING IN YOUR TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE The TRX 3.3 Racing Engine uses a ringless, aluminum-brass-chrome (ABC) piston/sleeve construction. This type of engine design relies on a very precise running fit between the piston and sleeve for cylinder sealing. Engine break-in is necessary to allow the piston and sleeve to develop an extremely precise fit and optimum cylinder sealing. Therefore, proper engine break-in is critical to achieving the fastest, most reliable engine performance.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE High Altitude Operation: If you live in a high altitude region (5000 or more feet above sea level), the lower air density may require you to lean your high-speed fuel mixture slightly from the factory break in settings. Try this if you are experiencing difficult starting or extremely sluggish engine performance at high altitude.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE Winter Break-in Tips During the break-in process, the piston and sleeve wear into each other to form a precise fit. The engine needs to heat up to a temperature around 200 to 215°F to allow the piston and sleeve to achieve this fit properly. A precise fit between these two components is critical for proper compression, and optimum performance.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE When adjusting the lowspeed fuel mixture, it is very important to make several high-speed runs with the model between adjustments to clear out any excess fuel. Perform the pinch test immediately after. If the engine is allowed to idle for a long period of time, it could “load up” with fuel and give you an inaccurate measurement from your pinch test. Higher nitro requires a richer fuel mixture.
THE TRX 3.3 RACING ENGINE Idle Speed Adjustment Once the high- and low-speed mixtures have been set, reduce the idle speed to the minimum reliable idle speed. Remember, this adjustment should be made while the engine is running at normal operating temperature. Always use the idle speed adjustment screw to control engine idle. 1. When the throttle servo is in its neutral position, the throttle slide should be stopped against the idle speed adjustment screw. 2.
DRIVING YOUR SLAYER PRO 4X4 INTRODUCTION Your TRX 3.3 Racing Engine is broken in, the fuel mixture is balanced, and the idle is set…now it’s time to have some fun! Before you go on, here are some important precautions to keep in mind. • Don’t run your Slayer Pro 4X4 in water, mud, snow, or wet grass. It’s tempting, but water and mud are easily drawn through the air filter and will severely damage the engine.
BASIC TUNING ADJUSTMENTS This tuning and setup guide is separated into two sections- Basic and Advanced. Slayer Pro 4X4 does not require any specialized knowledge or understanding of its unique suspension and drive train to perform typical, everyday setup and track tuning adjustments. Adjustment procedures for alignment, spring rate, damping, steering, and ride height are covered in the basic tuning section. Adjustments for the gear ratio, two-speed shift point, slipper clutch, and brake are also covered.
0° BASIC TUNING ADJUSTMENTS Shock Oil The 4 oil-filled aluminum shocks (dampers) effectively control the suspension movement by preventing the wheels and tires from continuing to “bounce” after rebounding from a bump. Changing the oil in the shocks can vary the suspension damping effect. Changing the oil to a higher viscosity oil will increase damping. Lowering the viscosity of the oil will cause the suspension damping to be reduced.
BASIC TUNING ADJUSTMENTS Static Camber Adjustment The wheels can be set to have either positive or negative camber (see illustration below). The camber angle changes as the wheel moves up and down through its range of travel. Static camber is the camber angle at the wheel when the vehicle is set at its normal, stationary ride height. TRANSMISSION TUNING Adjusting the Slipper Clutch Your Slayer Pro 4X4 is equipped with an adjustable Torque-Control™ slipper clutch.
BASIC TUNING ADJUSTMENTS Adjusting the Two-Speed Transmission Slayer Pro 4X4 comes equipped with an adjustable two-speed transmission. When the shift point on the transmission is adjusted correctly, it will maximize acceleration and improve driveability. Use a 2mm hex wrench to adjust the shift point. To make the adjustment, the engine must be off (not running). 1. Shift the transmission into forward gear (shift button down). 2. Remove the rubber access plug from the top of the transmission housing. 3.
BASIC TUNING ADJUSTMENTS STEERING SYSTEM Slayer Pro 4X4 uses a digital servo and a single heavy-duty servo saver for powerful, responsive steering. Adjusting The Steering System 1. Remove the servo horn and steering link from the servo. Disconnect the steering link from the servo saver. 2. Adjust the steering link to be 31.7mm - use “Steering Link Length Template” below to set length). 3. Switch on the power to the receiver and the transmitter. 4. Turn off TSM (see page 13). 5.
MAINTAINING AND STORING YOUR SLAYER PRO 4X4 If the engine is worn or damaged enough to require replacing the piston, sleeve, or connecting rod, consider exchanging your old engine for a brand new engine under the terms of the Traxxas Lifetime Engine Replacement Plan (ERP). It could save you time and effort. Details are in your model’s documentation package. The TRX 3.3 Racing Engine is designed to be easy to rebuild.
MAINTAINING AND STORING YOUR SLAYER PRO 4X4 3. With the fuel tank empty and the throttle at the idle position, try to start the engine. The engine will most likely start and run for a few seconds as it uses up any fuel remaining in the engine and fuel lines. 4. Once the engine stops, clean the outside of the engine with compressed air or spray motor cleaner. Once the engine is clean and dry, remove the glow plug power wire, glow plug, and air filter. 5.
ADVANCED TUNING ADJUSTMENTS SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT SETTINGS Caster adjustment shims (2 front, 2 rear) 10° Vertical Caster Adjustment The caster angle of the front suspension may be used to adjust the understeer (push)/oversteer handling characteristics of the model. Generally, increasing the caster angle will move the truck towards an oversteer condition (more traction on the front tires, less on the rear tires).
ADVANCED TUNING ADJUSTMENTS Bump Steer Elimination Chart The illustrations and the following table detail the position of the outer toe link end for various caster and roll center settings to eliminate bump steer. The shims and the hollow balls used to adjust bump steer are provided with your vehicle. FRONT Outer Toe Link End Setup Caster 5° 7.5° 10° 12.
ADVANCED TUNING ADJUSTMENTS Use higher viscosity (thicker) diff oil for: • More power to the wheels with the most traction. • Racing on low-traction smooth surfaces. • Better performance for climbing on uneven terrain. Using lower viscosity (thinner) diff oil for: • More power to the wheels with least traction. • Racing on low-traction rough surfaces. Never slide the threads on the shock rod past the X-ring seal when it is installed and compressed by the bottom cap of the shock.
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 13). Accessing the programming menu is done 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 41. 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. Setting Lock Once you’ve adjusted all of these settings the way you like them, you may want to disable the Multi-Function knob so none of your settings can be changed.
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 PROGRAMMING YOUR TQi TRANSMITTER WITH YOUR APPLE iPHONE, iPAD, iPOD TOUCH, OR ANDROID MOBILE DEVICE The Traxxas Link™ Wireless Module (part #6511, sold separately) for the TQi transmitter installs in minutes to transform your Apple® iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, or Android™ device into a powerful tuning tool that allows you to replace the transmitter’s button/LED programming system with an intuitive, high-definition, full-color graphical user interface.
owner’s manual MODEL 59076-3 6250 TRAXXAS WAY, McKINNEY, TX 75070 1-888-TRAXXAS KC2316-R02 190425
