RE: Tower Hobbies Nitro TOWER Terror MT .25 RTR  
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RE: ... - 6/5/2008 3:21:36 AM   
BudBud



Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/21/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: online 		Start here and take a good look! Ofna's page on the "outlaw." They are a couple of years old, maybe four, they were the hot thing before the 28s started dominating the market. I just keep watching them on Ebay, there is one on there now. Also keep watching for Orion and Sportwerks. I am not familiar with the SW V2 and do not know if it is Picco manufature as the carb end bell is smaller and tapered. NitroHouse has parts in stock. I just got a couple of pull starters there last week.


edited to add....


The Piccos are very tough, normally they will have something small wrong with them or nothing at all. You should be able to tell by the anodizing on the head if it is fairly new or not. You may have to spend a little time sealing it up, but the results are well worth it. I have been buying good ones for under 125, most of them have been like new. They are too big for the 21 race buggy class and everybody thinks they are too small for a monster truck. If you want to get a new one, might as well buy an LRP Spec 3 or a Picco 28 for close to the same money. I see nothing wrong with the Hpi K4.6 and the only thing wrong with the F4.6 is the one way bearing is oil sensitive, you have to be careful with high oil fuels in that one. The Axial 28 is the same as the K4.6. There are a lot of good options, but the little Piccos are selling cheap and that is a whole lot of power for the bucks. Just buy a new engine of you are not the tinkering type, but if you want some big rewards for a little time spent, the Picco 26 is a blast. BB

< Message edited by BudBud -- 6/5/2008 3:44:03 AM >

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Doing my best to fill a 55 gallon drum with broken or worn out R/C parts.... 8^)

(in reply to amf66)
       Post #: 1851

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 10:04:29 AM   
BigGrump


 

Posts: 267
Joined: 4/3/2004
From: Temple City, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Some pictures of my 6 day old Tower Terror. The engine is a Collari .32 and the tires are Big Joes on Proline 40 series wheels.


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(in reply to BudBud)
       Post #: 1852

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 12:20:33 PM   
BudBud



Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/21/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: online 		Post some video of that bad boy running when you get a chance! That should be plenty of horse! BB

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Doing my best to fill a 55 gallon drum with broken or worn out R/C parts.... 8^)

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       Post #: 1853

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 5:41:39 PM   
BigGrump


 

Posts: 267
Joined: 4/3/2004
From: Temple City, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I am lucky to know how to post a picture. Not a clue on how to post a video.

The truck runs fine with the .32 engine. With stock 14 tooth clutch bell, and added weight and diamenter of the Big Joes, along with the increase in torque of the engine, the clutch shoes are stressed pretty hard. After several hard launches, the clutch is so hot it starts to slip under full load. In driving this, a little care must be taken and let the clutch hook up (at least sometimes) before applying full torque.


As BB has pointed out, these large truck engines do not have the torque at high rpm's, so a big engine like this appears to run out of steam sooner than the stock engine, but down low, holy cow, can it ever pull hard. Spins the Big Joes like nothing. The engine would easily pull another tooth on the clutch bell (15), but I know it will only make things harder for the clutch.

Probably the best bet overall is the stock wheels and tires because of their diamenter and light weight, but right now I really dig the "street roller" look. Also, with the 70 weight oil in the shocks and wide tires, you kind of have to work at it to get the truck to tip over in turns.... I also have a set of 40 series mashers (chevron tread) that will allow some slip in turns and thereby make the truck even more stable during sharp turns. They just give up a little in forward grip too and about 1/2 inch narrower than the Joe's.

As a point of maintenance, I found the center spur gear is made from a stamping giving it a nice smooth surface on one side, and a substantial burr on the other. The burr lead to excessive noise, jerky slow speed running, and worn brake pad. I took the gear out and smoothed the burr off with a mild abrasive wheel on a dremmel, making the side as smooth as the other.

Much less noise and smoother running and brakeing now. Tower has cut all the corners possible on this truck. Turning into a lot of fun.

Dennis

(in reply to BudBud)
       Post #: 1854

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 8:49:10 PM   
BudBud



Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/21/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: online 		Are you running the stock clutches in it? I use Savage clutches in all of mine, partially because I never could get the stock flywheel off. I have not experienced the clutch issues at all, but all of mine have the stock wheels and tires. I have a set with foams in them and that does help the lateral rolling a little. I would bet your truck leaps like a frog when you hit the throttle! As far as video, just do a You Tube video and post a link to it.

The Axial 32 below is pulling some pretty high rpm and that truck is actually pretty fast. I am running an Ofna 086 pipe on it. It does not have the blistering speed of the little Piccos, but it is very quick and pulls hard. I like the way it carries the front tires when you nail it at about any speed. I should do some pavement videos or packed dirt with that truck as it is pretty impressive to drive. BB

Very rich Axial 28

Hpi 4.6

Axial 32

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Doing my best to fill a 55 gallon drum with broken or worn out R/C parts.... 8^)

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       Post #: 1855

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 8:58:28 PM   
amf66



Posts: 135
Joined: 4/2/2008
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		BudBud, where are you getting the Picco .26s? Ebay? Also, is the Picco .26 the same as the Picco .26 outlaw?

Edited to add:

I am pretty sure the Sportwerks .26 V2 would work because it has the mounting dimensions of a .21 and is just a better version of the original. Was the other 'werks made by Picco?

< Message edited by amf66 -- 6/5/2008 9:09:13 PM >

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Tower Terror | HPI Nitro Rush
I''d rather be bashing...

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       Post #: 1856

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 9:34:59 PM   
BudBud



Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/21/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: online 		I have bought four off of Ebay, one new ion the box and another had been mounted and never run. I think the most I paid was 125 shipped. The new Sportwerks 26 V2 looks like a Picco, but the carb is chromed and the end bell is tapered funny. If it is a Picco 26 with an improved carb, it would be super. I fear that they have sourced a Chinese manufacturer though. The V2 would definitely work, anything made for the 21 buggies should work. The old Werks was a Picco manufactured engine and they scream. Right now there is a Picco 28 with a rotostart on Ebay with a too cheap buy it now. That is a killer engine, maybe the strongest monster truck engine available. Just be sure to buy a pull start or roto start engine and not a buggy or truggy. We cannot bump start out Terrors. I bought a new Orion 26 from A-Main, I think... I caught a special for 99 bucks, that is a steal for that kind of money. Just keep watching, they keep popping up. They have carb issues, mostly sucking air around the endbells and CA glue seems to fix that issue.

Some have sticky carbs, they get hot and the carb slide binds up. There are two issues going on there. Sometimes the idle screw is too wide at the tip for the slot it rides in. I take the screw, chuck it up in my drill and sand the tip on a fingernail block or some 600 sandpaper. We are just removing any burrs or flashing left in the manufacturing process. The other issue is the slide expanding and actually sticking in the carb bore. That is a frustrating deal, but I found a simple solution. Chuck the slide up in your drill and coat it with toothpaste. Run it in and out until you do not feel any tight spots. You may have to go back and do it again, but it will work. We used to use toothpaste to polish gun actions. You can easily clean it up with hot water and WD 40.

They say the Werks V2 is an improved original and it may be, I just do not know. I do know that the Orion 26 Wasp was Picco and one heck of an engine. The new Orion 28 Wasp is improved junk, it is not a Picco. It gets confusing but if you can score one, you will love it. The Picco 28 is a real horse, they normally bring big bucks though. They have the same carb issues that the 26s have.

I think most of the Piccos show up on Ebay because somebody bought one and ran into a tuning-carb issue and got frustrated before they figured it out. BB

_____________________________

Doing my best to fill a 55 gallon drum with broken or worn out R/C parts.... 8^)

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       Post #: 1857

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 9:45:25 PM   
BudBud



Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/21/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: online 		Another note of warning, the Piccos have extremely tight pinch when new and you may have to use a heat gun or hair dryer to get them started. They take over a gallon of fuel to get broken in. You will not just buy a new one and just toss it in with super power. I actually prefer to buy them used, let somebody else fight that tight pinch and hard starting first few tanks. You will reap big rewards when you get it right and I would be glad to help you through any issues you run into. BB

_____________________________

Doing my best to fill a 55 gallon drum with broken or worn out R/C parts.... 8^)

(in reply to BudBud)
       Post #: 1858

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 10:45:17 PM   
BigGrump


 

Posts: 267
Joined: 4/3/2004
From: Temple City, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Actually, the Collari engine I am using has a Savage HPI flywheel and nut. The shoes are Associated MGT composits installed "leading edge". This is the same setup I usually run in my other trucks, however, they are all two speeds or three speeds, giving a lower first gear for starting out. For a while I had the Collari .32 in my Hyper 7 buggy with tires between the buggy and truggy size. Because it is a one speed, like the Terror, I could easily overheat the clutch with repeated hard starts in my front yard.

My yard is narrow enough that all I can do is do a hard start up to about 1/3 top speed then nail the brakes. Doing this over and over again for a tank full, really messes up clutches and brakes. Out in the open, I am sure it would be a different story.

My typical drive when testing the trucks and tuning, is about 2/4 tank on the front grass then the rest in the street. By the time I make it to the street the clutch is blistering hot, so I have no one to blame except myself when it slips.

I also have a Picco .26 that is just a perfect engine. It is in a MMgt3.0 and truely makes it fly. I agree with BB that would make a better engine for the Terror, with just a little less torque at first, then a whole lot more RPM and pull up top. I have two other engines that are similar to that, they are XTM (hobby people) .28 pro engines. For the money they really rip also. I have one in the Savage and one in the MGT. I might try putting the Collari in the MGT and moving the XTM .28 to the Terror, as it has a very strong top end. The XTM engine is the same as the LRP Spec 2. The LRP Spec 3 has even more top end power, but that jewel is in the Losi Lst2, where it trades duties back and forth with a STS .30. I like them both but the Spec 3 is just a little better.

I have never had much luck with aluminum clutch shoes, but I believe there are some pretty good (hard) ones made now. Might give them a try next.

Dennis

(in reply to BudBud)
       Post #: 1859

RE: ... - 6/5/2008 10:45:31 PM   
BudBud



Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/21/2006
From: Salina, KS, USA
Status: online 		I have been studying the V2 Sportwerks while listening to all the tornado warnings going on here in Kansas. This has been a nasty afternoon here in Kansas!

Back to the Sportwerks... it certainly looks like it is a Picco design, the spring between the recoil starter and the one way shaft is pretty unique to Picco as is the recoil starter's slot for the spring. The block ribs all appear to be the same and it definitely has a cool looking heat sink! I will have to try one of those, the price is definitely right.. BB

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Doing my best to fill a 55 gallon drum with broken or worn out R/C parts.... 8^)

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       Post #: 1860

RE: ... - 6/6/2008 1:38:41 AM   
Skeeve


 

Posts: 19
Joined: 6/6/2008
From: Miles, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I'm new to the world of RC...bought my first one about a month ago... It's a Terror...and I've broken plenty on it already! I knew I would, so I'm not disappointed. I knew that learning the truck inside and out would be part of the hobby. Since then, I've purchased a HPI Nitro Rush Evo...that thing runs like a champ after sitting around since '05!

The reason I'm jumping into this conversation is because my lack of experience has caused a fatal error with my Terror. (the Rush is for the wife) I broke in the engine just like I was supposed to, but when it came to tuning the engine, I mistook the Mixture Control Valve for the low speed needle. After tweaking it a bit too much, the mixture valve fell out...somewhere. I see that most of you guys have replaced your engines, but I don't want to spend that much more money on a brand new product. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to part with the stock engine, or even just the valve cheap? Tower Hobbies has had them on back order for a month, and just when I was ready for mine to ship, they pushed the date back again.

Any advice or help is much appreciated.

(in reply to BudBud)
       Post #: 1861

RE: ... - 6/6/2008 2:18:16 AM