Mini Rio disappointment

[pribco]

Thanks to all-

Basstronics--I jusy happen to have the wire you mention-

Please give a little more detail on how to attach the wire to the prop/drive dog. Maybe I could solder but am leaning toward the Loctite- what old parts do I reuse, what is their preperation etc.

You mentioned before the first best thing is the wire replacement. Will this help by itself, or is the new motor the big.

I need an order from Tower anyway so I could bury the s/h in that.

In the meantime I will try the high speed hand launch option.

Bill

[Basstronics]

You would need to desolder the current flex cable out of the drive shaft. Then you would need an appropriate sized drill to clean the hole out of solder. If you have a 1/32" drill bit you can just chuck it up in the dremel tool and wallow out the hole of solder. Then the assembly would be as illustrated in the tips section here:

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/inf...mble-shaft.php

The motor provided a very noticeable upgrade.

If you manage to get the stripped set screws out take the collet to the local hobby shop and get some new set screws for it. You will end up with a better collet in the long run. The set screw hex's seem to strip easy on the couplers as they are cheaply made screws. Replace with a good quality steel one.

How many cycles has your battery seen?

Did you sharpen the rudders yet?

[pribco]

Batterys have only a couple cycles--Will give them a workout next week if it ever stops raing.

No on the rudders--will get to it-

Thanks on your help--appreciate it much--Bill

[pribco]

After a mighty struggle got the set screws on the drive loose-pulled the shaft-

Before ordering anything made sure the motor mount screws could be removed.

Ordered new motor, collet and steel set screw (along with a bunch of other stuff I "needed." )Amazing how fast the amount due rises.

Looked at that Loctite stuff-$15 for a few drops--no way- perhaps my neighbor who repairs electronics can solder the wire.

But at least I will have a better motor put in.

[Basstronics]

Yes Loctite stuff is pricey.

I used lead free silver solder when I did mine and a BIG soldering iron.

[Steven Vaccaro]

The stock prop is a problem. A larger diameter prop make a difference but add more load.

[forescott]

The stock battery belongs in the trash. Its too small and inadequate. Get an 8-dollar 2s lipo from hobbyking and double your speed. Or just buy a name brand 7.2v nimh like a duratrax 1600mah.

[skiking1739]

I had the same problem with the mini-rio I bought for my granddaughter. The stock prop just wouldn't plane very easily. Even worse when the battery was about half done.

Another member posted this prop solution, and it has worked very well for us. Jumps on plane quickly and gives about a 10% increase in speed.

Here is the link:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=7358

Turnigy 4mm AquaProp 31x22x14mm.

Hope this helps

[Jesse J]

agree with prop upgrade - does wonders
also on lipo upgrade - but Dad found that if he charged the stock batteries on a good charger instead of the the included one, the packs came to life!

I would try to charge the packs on a quality charger (while you have your cheap lipos and larger prop on the way).

If you go the upgrade route, it will be a continuous chain of items... I would try these suggestions first, then get an all around high performance set up in a different boat.

[pribco]

Put the new motor in today--what a grunt-

Had to cut connecters both the old and new motor, spice the old bullets to the new motor-

New motor slightly smaller than the old, so had to shim a bit so would clamp firmly.

Hole for drive shaft in new collet to small-had to carefully drill to proper size.

Actually worked when done--will try soon--but it "sounds" faster.

Will charge batter on a different charge, and replace prop whn possoble.

Thanks for all your help.

Bill

[wparsons]

Get an x432 plastic prop and it'll be a whole new boat. If you're only running the stock battery and motor, you can also run the prop from a pro-boat shockwave but I would go with the 32mm one.

I got one for a relative, it's now brushless and lipo powered, but here's some stockish video of it.

Bone stock, with a toss to get it moving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo87o8V6qjQ

Stock except for a Shockwave 26 prop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfoCIPS2yrI

And as it sits now, 3600kv 2040 brushless motor, 2s 1300mah lipo and a metal x432 prop, with a wire drive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4NKqB-VDYU

[pribco]

For the life of me I will never understand why a company like Aquacraft continues to put their prop on this boat when a small bit of research would tell them about better alternitives that cost pennies. Guess they think the stock prop "looks" faster.

Same with the wire drive-.

Dopes!!

[Basstronics]

Work good now?

[chummer]

Hmmm...Guess I am just lucky!

I bought 2 of these for my kids a couple of years ago and both of them ran fine. I did not upgrade a thing. I used stock batteries, stock prop, and stock motor. However I did not use the supplied charger so I can't comment on that, never even took them out of the package.

A little patience with COG and stinger angle and away they went.

[pribco]

Basstronics-much better-would like to get the new prop but s/h kills it--$1.50 for the prop, 6.50 s/h!!! Guess that will have to wait for next order.