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Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/2/2008 9:46:15 PM   
Foxy



Posts: 8682
Joined: 3/23/2005
From: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Status: offline 		Well, finally ready...

I have exactly the same performance issues as Hellya had. The engine just does not rev with this thing for a pipe. The performance is 'just' acceptable. Try to focus on the handling.

The high speed is wound right down til the spring stopped it. I'm gonna buy the carson pipe hellya recommended, and see what happens. I hope it opens up a bit with more tanks through it.

Also, bear in mind that the video will be much higher quality than youtube when posted on the review.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK2jzhmN36c

Pipe...

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< Message edited by Foxy -- 6/2/2008 11:09:56 PM >

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/2/2008 9:49:03 PM   
Foxy



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From: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Status: offline 		Oooooops, wrong vid. Edited. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK2jzhmN36c

< Message edited by Foxy -- 6/2/2008 9:50:18 PM >

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 1:40:18 AM   
badz



Posts: 2181
Joined: 8/14/2004
From: Syracuse, UT, USA
Status: offline 		the power seemed typical for the stock pipe, it did seem to handle well but thats hard to determine when it's not really putting out much power with the sluggish performance from the stock pipe....the gear noise is pretty odd on those they sound like they are constantly rattling around. I'm curious as to how well that tiny stock air filter performs also, you snap any photos after running it that day? You had some good dust kicking up wonder if the engine digested any or the air filter actually did its job.

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 1:54:46 AM   
hellya


 

Posts: 3854
Joined: 2/18/2005
From: Bonney Lake, WA, USA
Status: offline 		Badz take a look at my photos in my thread...the stock filter isnt very good.... esspecially if you run it in grass.... draws air from the rear cloges easy and chokes the engine


Looks like you had some fun in the sun Foxy

< Message edited by hellya -- 6/3/2008 2:06:28 AM >

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 3:08:51 AM   
clubin



Posts: 726
Joined: 6/21/2006
From: North of Wpg., MB, CANADA
Status: offline 		That jingling has got to be adressed by the mfg. it is annoying. Deffinetly more power would be better, well put together vid Foxy.

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 8:51:57 AM   
Foxy



Posts: 8682
Joined: 3/23/2005
From: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Status: offline 		I'll get some photos of the filter and carb, cos I too am curious if it has eaten any of that dust, which is finer than flour. It's a really good test, that dusty area, as you can see, it throws up CLOUDS! Temp on the day was 38*C (100*F), and summer hasn't even really got going here yet. It's gonna be a hot one this year. Expecting 46*C plus (114*F) beginning of august.

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 10:34:23 AM   
HaveBlue



Posts: 852
Joined: 1/3/2005
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		I hate the jingling too, that makes it sound cheap but even more so I dont know if its just me , but that engine seemed to be labouring with the 4WD..seems like it needs to be opened up to suck some air and then a good pipe to let it unwind

To me it seemed to be a bit better in hellya's video when it was retuned, but then again I think hellya modified things a bit, like de stuffing the exhaust box and I dont remember if he did anything further(+ I'm to lazy at the moment to go back over that thread..I'll do that later)


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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 10:41:58 AM   
dimag093



Posts: 110
Joined: 6/16/2006
From: Larisa, GREECE
Status: offline 		The buggy definitely lacks of power.That engine struggles to move the car .Needs a pipe the least
I expected more grunt from that 36mm bore
Other than that,it looks like a smooth run.Jumps will clarify balancing

ps: Jingle bells - Jingle bells.......

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 11:20:33 AM   
Foxy



Posts: 8682
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From: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Status: offline 		I think I managed to squeeze a touch more speed out of it than hellya's first couple of vids, but there's no doubt it's labouring.

Another point I forgot to mention... that surface is much looser than the surface hellya was running on, so the diffs are unloading, again making it slower. It's a significant point that. Most of the wheelspin is coming from whichever front wheel is the lightest at the time. What this car really needs, is sealed oil filled diffs, with 20,000 in the front, 50,000 in the center and 10,000 in the rear, and a pipe. Then it would rip.

Watch the video without sound, and it looks much faster, seriously. The sound of the engine labouring deceives the brain into thinking it's going slower.

< Message edited by Foxy -- 6/3/2008 11:23:54 AM >

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 11:31:35 AM   
QIK-RX4


 

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Joined: 2/25/2008
From: Townsville, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		As most of us here in Aust found out. Lock the centre diff and you will solve the problems of it off loading to the front. As you put more power into it you will find it ends up becoming front wheel drive. Then you will find the bearings will die and the plastic diff housings will flex and then you will be where all us titan owners are....... Waiting for alloy upgrades....

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 11:39:50 AM   
Mudgy



Posts: 153
Joined: 4/22/2007
From: Gosford, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Mate I watched with the sound down and up - that donk is far from singing.
Even with sound off, I still reckon a 1/8 buggy or truggy would kill that. Sure, it's big, and scale speeds, blah blah, I see a slow car. just my 2c, don't attack me for this, its Horses for courses, whatever floats yer boat.
Good bang for your buck

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 12:24:49 PM   
HaveBlue



Posts: 852
Joined: 1/3/2005
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		the engine is a larger bore engine which is moderately under ported with restrictive breathing both in and out, while gains are availble to help it unwind a bit the immediate problem arises in balancing the distribution between the front and rear drive.. maybe what foxy suggested for the diffs might do the trick(a make shift viscous solution?).probably will help to an extent..

The fact that you are on a loose surface makes the performance of the engine even less attractive because if its loosing grip and neither diff is locking than the engine should be free to rev or at least alleviate the larbouring by unloading to the free wheel, at least a little...it didn't seem to this at all its almost like it peaks power(under ported for capacity)and then flat lines which I believe is indicatative of engine thats stiffled and wants to breathe


**The motor issue isn't a big headache.. you can get reasonable performance from the base unit without having to go to another engine**..but I would like to get the buggy to sort that one out..comeon smartech where is it!!!!

I got a couple of idea on the diff bias..but I'll save that for later



< Message edited by HaveBlue -- 6/3/2008 12:29:39 PM >

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 1:08:28 PM   
Foxy



Posts: 8682
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From: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mudgy

Mate I watched with the sound down and up - that donk is far from singing.
Even with sound off, I still reckon a 1/8 buggy or truggy would kill that. Sure, it's big, and scale speeds, blah blah, I see a slow car. just my 2c, don't attack me for this, its Horses for courses, whatever floats yer boat.
Good bang for your buck


No, I completely agree with you, out of the box it is a 'slow car', no two ways about it, and the review text concerning how it drives (which I have now finished, another 1600 words) reflects that. The review will be updated later today.

It needs a pipe, maybe a better filter, and something done about the diffs. As you correctly say though, none of this changes the fact that it's a good value car. The purchase of a decent tuned pipe is something we all expect no matter which car we buy, but I still urge Smartech to do SOMETHING about the out of the box performance, which is 'sluggish', though not entirely unacceptable.

< Message edited by Foxy -- 6/3/2008 1:20:15 PM >

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 1:19:10 PM   
Foxy



Posts: 8682
Joined: 3/23/2005
From: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: QIK-RX4

As most of us here in Aust found out. Lock the centre diff and you will solve the problems of it off loading to the front. As you put more power into it you will find it ends up becoming front wheel drive. Then you will find the bearings will die and the plastic diff housings will flex and then you will be where all us titan owners are....... Waiting for alloy upgrades....


Your diff case flexing is also due to the large wheels. If you lock the diffs completely with those monster wheels, AND put a strong motor in it, I'm not surprised some of the plastic parts are starting to give. As I say, rather than locking (which I will do if I have to), I'd rather try to find some kind of viscous solution, cos a little centre diff action is desirable. Anyway, time will tell, I will continue to improve the car, wherever possible using genuine Smartech options, and I'll keep you all updated.

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RE: Smartech Thunderbolt review video... - 6/3/2008 1:52:03 PM   
QIK-RX4