New Spartan tips n tricks

[marksp]

I'm just about to pull the trigger on a new (Castle equipped) Spartan. As someone new to RC boats, but very familiar with surface RC, I'm looking for guidance/suggestions on recommended upgrades to the boat to get it as close to solid as possible. Dual pick-up rudder? Upgraded cooling lines?

Ideas? Comments?

Cheers

[dag-nabit]

The new Castle setups haven't been on the water long enough to establish for certain where the "weak spots" might be, but based on the what we have discovered about the Spartan thus far.

1. Cooling - upgrade the water jacket to a good quality aluminum one. This has as much to do with the stock one leaking as it does improving cooling efficiency (and it will improve cooling efficiency). Running dual pick up systems is not a bad idea, certainly has it's merits, but might not be necessary with the new, more efficient, Castle setup. The vast majority of RC boats run single cooling loops and run just fine. (I run dual pick ups / independent cooling loops on most of my boats, just saying it isn't an absolute necessity in most cases)

2. Drive shaft - upgrade to a Jeff Wohlt .187 flex cable or .078 wire drive. Even using one of Jeff's .150 flex cables (same as stock size) will be an improvement.

The Spartan is prone to "augering" the grease out of the stuffing tube. Stay on top of greasing the flex shaft at least every second run.

3. Props - I suggest staying conservative on prop selection with the new components. I know not everyone agrees with that, but a couple of the new ESC's have already failed, and since neither Traxxas or Castle seems willing to release information on the AMP rating of the ESC, I think it is good sense to go easy propping up.

The Octura X442 is pretty much a direct replacement for the stock prop, a Prather 215 is slightly smaller diameter but more pitch than stock.

4. additional trim tabs - some Spartan owners are finding that adding a second set of trim tabs, or moving the existing ones to the inside position, helps to stabilize the boat at high speed

Have fun with the Spartan if you buy it.

And welcome to the forum

Kevin

[marksp]

Fantastic! Many thanks!

The new Castle setups haven't been on the water long enough to establish for certain where the "weak spots" might be, but based on the what we have discovered about the Spartan thus far.

1. Cooling - upgrade the water jacket to a good quality aluminum one. This has as much to do with the stock one leaking as it does improving cooling efficiency (and it will improve cooling efficiency). Running dual pick up systems is not a bad idea, certainly has it's merits, but might not be necessary with the new, more efficient, Castle setup. The vast majority of RC boats run single cooling loops and run just fine. (I run dual pick ups / independent cooling loops on most of my boats, just saying it isn't an absolute necessity in most cases)

2. Drive shaft - upgrade to a Jeff Wohlt .187 flex cable or .078 wire drive. Even using one of Jeff's .150 flex cables (same as stock size) will be an improvement.

The Spartan is prone to "augering" the grease out of the stuffing tube. Stay on top of greasing the flex shaft at least every second run.

3. Props - I suggest staying conservative on prop selection with the new components. I know not everyone agrees with that, but a couple of the new ESC's have already failed, and since neither Traxxas or Castle seems willing to release information on the AMP rating of the ESC, I think it is good sense to go easy propping up.

The Octura X442 is pretty much a direct replacement for the stock prop, a Prather 215 is slightly smaller diameter but more pitch than stock.

4. additional trim tabs - some Spartan owners are finding that adding a second set of trim tabs, or moving the existing ones to the inside position, helps to stabilize the boat at high speed

Have fun with the Spartan if you buy it.

And welcome to the forum

Kevin

[mini max]

as a owner of the new spartin, what kevin said is spot on. the x442 is a great all around prop. but DO convert it to duel cooling lines. it runs warm an 6s

[marksp]

OK, got the boat - wow, bigger than I thought! Also have the entire dag-nabit list (above) ordered. Unfortunately, the drive wires are backordered, so no telling when they'll arrive.

Thanks for the help! Appreciate it :)

[dag-nabit]

Keep us posted on how the upgrades progress, and how the boat runs when you hit the water.

Kevin

[Make-a-Wake]

I saw the new Spartan in person when my buddy bought one and hauled it out to the lake....................Unless my eyes are decieving me it said 1800kv right on the motor!! Can this be right???? Why UP the kv and still suggest 6s.............just dont understand Traxxas.....................anyone else notice the 1800 on the motor?

[dag-nabit]

I saw the new Spartan in person when my buddy bought one and hauled it out to the lake....................Unless my eyes are decieving me it said 1800kv right on the motor!! Can this be right???? Why UP the kv and still suggest 6s.............just dont understand Traxxas.....................anyone else notice the 1800 on the motor?

When Traxxas switched the electronics over to Castle built components they increased the kv of the motor from 1600kv to 1800kv. They have still not released any information regarding the specs on the ESC.

This has been much discussed on the Spartan forums since the new release a few months ago.

Kevin

[Rumdog]

Wow. Another inexperienced move by Traxxas.

[Hot wire]

Im still learning the formulas for electrics and running under close supervision. i am running the new castle boat all stock with 6s 5k 50c turnigy batts and turning a p220 prop.My temps never get above 105 on motor, speedo or batts. Is this about par? Whats is all the concern about the motor 1800kv? I dont understand this.

[Make-a-Wake]

1600kv was even a bit high for it........granted that motor was a bare bones china 2 poler with lower quality, but even an experienced boater wont choose more than a 1200-1600 kv for a RACE boat on 6s........WITH a quality motor..............this is a sporting boat and it should be recommended to run on 4s or 5s max in my opinion.

[martin]

40,000 rpm unloaded on 6s on a sport rtr is madness even with a better quality motor.

[Rob DeAngelis]

Kintec racing has a couple good hop ups.... They got a sweet water jacket and drive shaft as well as othe cool stuff...