BigGrump
Posts: 267
Joined: 4/3/2004
From: Temple City,
CA, USA
Status: online
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My new Tower Terror is two days old.
When it arrived yesterday, my plans were to immediately remove the stock engine and install a broken in .28, since I have several laying around on the work bench. First problem was the screws through the TVP's into the motor mounts were apparently put in with glue or at the least red locktite. I have very high quality hex drivers so I was not worried. I turned as hard as I could and nothing moved. I put a rag around the handle for more grip an one screw came loose. The other three stripped their hex heads. So, for now the idea of changing engines was out the window, because I would not be able to adjust the gear mesh.
Next I removed the stock engine and took it apart. It is a very basic .25 three port engine. I cleaned it and sealed it, then paid special attention to carefully removing the carb and then sealing it and re installing.
I put a re-chargable 5 cell battiry and soldered on deans plugs. At this point I turned on the electrics and the controller. Everything worked the way Tower intended.
In a little while I was out in the front yard starting break-in. To my suprise, it started right up and with about 30 seconds of warm up and a preliminary needle adjustment, it was on the ground and driving around. Put through about 4 tanks. I found I could not stand the flat tires the truck comes with, so using the Tower adaptors, I put a set of Proline wheels and Badlands tires on (23 mm.) Much better now.
After several more tanks today, the engine is to a point where it could be tuned. Pleanty of power once it gets up on the pipe. Soft suspension and quick steering made it a handful in the street.
Later I changed shock oil to 70 weight, changed to an airtronics radio that has some steering coltrol so it can be dialed down. I found the steering servo horn had the streeing linkage in the outermost hole, giving the steering full lock to lock control even with the controller turned down, so I moved the linkage in two holes on the horn so the servo has more leverage, but has to move farther to get full movement at the wheels. Better now in the street, with the steering turned down, it controlls much better.
Overall I first thought the truck was poorly made and drove bad, but now I have a better opinion, it is really getting fun to drive.
The brakes are grabby. Is there something "trick" to do to improve them?
Tomorrow I hope to take it to an open area and find out what it can do.
Right now, I need advise about the engine mount. Should I dremmel off the screw heads and take the TVP's apart to get it out? Or is there some other way I have not thought of. I will try to get a new engine mount from Tower.
I fully expcted the servos to be weak. I have not found this so. Before the truck arrived at my house I had planned to right away request new servos from Tower, but now I am thinking not. They are just TH servos, the steering one says "heavy duty"on it. I do not know if the servos I got are the same as everyone has trouble with. I do know, Twoer does not list these servos for sale on their web site, so I assume they are the problem ones.
Thanks, will keep you guys informed is something changes. I do, however, want to get a high performance Big Block .28 in it as soon as I can.
Dennis
< Message edited by BigGrump -- 5/31/2008 4:10:40 AM >
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Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Cars, Buggies, Trucks, Tanks and more >> RC Monster Trucks >> RE: Tower Hobbies Nitro TOWER Terror MT .25 RTR 
RE: ... - 
My nephew brought a ramp and I must confess I am really poor at jumping, the sharp kick up at the end of the ramp made the Terror want to back flip. It was fine with no throttle being applied, but that is like sweeping water uphill, a lost cause. 
BB