<span style="font-size: medium">i just purchused a gst7.7 2010 editionif that makes a diff(im a newbie kinda, i have tinkered around with it a little) i already got extra parts didnt go alum yet ,2 lipo hump batt for reciever ,lipo battfor radio diff body for it for later after learning the truck much bigger servo for steering did get the rear steer kit for it figured it would be good for cookies going to make a lock out for it so it dosent have to be used all the time ive been reading alot of older threads just wondering what major upgrades these need

not worried about alot of alum ups because the plastic can take absorbtion little better than alum rather break a plastic arm then something harder to change well at least at first

anybody have any good suggestions for me would be much appreciated (((please no negative nancys)))</span>

Biggest improvement would be a mega servo for steering. 300 oz or bigger

i do know that the guys at cen run 30% werks or byrons fuel .
Glow plugs:  short hot or short medium hot,   if you use McCoy   MC59   use 2 copper rings
top end: 31/2 turns out               with your own touch
bottom end: flush                        with your own touch
fuel filter: du-bro #2305  optional

you NEED to change the clutch compressor springs to the  HARD  NICKEL  #GS099 as soon as the gold wear out. about 1 to 2 gallons fuel.pg6

O.K. now go in your manual to the second and third adjustments  ( pgs:  6 and 8  )  cross them out and don't look back.. the actual settings are

2nd speed:  set screw = flush with the clutch shoe
                       springed  = 21/2 to 3 turns out                         with new springs    

3rd speed:   set screw = flush then a 1/4 turn in
                       springed  = 6 turns out                                       with ne w springs

keep in mind that the piston sleeve is NOT a pinched sleeve.  its a new type

 All this info came from days and hours of sitting on the phone with CEN.  So, YES! direct from CENracing 
if for any reason you need tech support from them ask to talk to Andrew.   He's the best they got And he's willing to help.  He's cool!!!

Unfortunately i've only got to drive mine maybe 3 times but those 3 times were awesome. I got mine for Xmas2009.

#1 thing to know is there is a 60day warranty..

<span style="font-size: medium">i thank you for tour input fellas i have to go get fuel tommorrow and start thr break in process i did end up getting a 300oz servo for steering and using 208oz for gas/break and a k&amp;n air filter for it thinking about taking out baffels to get little more sound little more powergot the meterial to build custom rollcage for it plan on starting that tonightgot anymore idas or helpful hints people let me know appreciating the help thanks </span>

One very important thing. If you mess with the shift servo, very carefully set your end points. If you over travel, it will snap the shifter arm. It is a pain to replace. Would have been nice if that arm was metal, rather than plastic.

The K&N Filters can hurt your engine. They have problems with letting in to much dirt which can hurt your engine. When I had mine, I took out the baffle in the exhaust, it gained a bit of power.

<span style="font-size: large">so pissed finaly got to run truck to break in first two tanks at idle went great with 45min to hour between tanks only adjustments was to lower idle third tank ran 3/4 of it then stalled did not over heat running about 210 now engine is seized up cant pull cord at all wasent even running lean had it a little rich for break in now im stuck and have no idea what to do need help i am a mechanic and these are not to much diff but no idea what to do with it followed break in destructions to a tee even put baffle back in and put oem air cleaner back on for break insomeone please help</span>

So you ran the break in recommend positions of the high speed 3-4 turns out and the low speed 1.5-2 turns out (I don't remember the exact numbers off hand)? If its seized you can go the route of rebuilding it or go warranty. I would call CEN. They are pretty good about replacing motors if you are in the break in period and have problems.

i don't know about your break-in process but mine was 4 tanks at idle 5th tank slow driving 6th tank tuning..

I've had nothing but problems with my 7.7 since i got it. i haven't drove it more than 5 times. any time i try to deal with cen they do nothing but call me a lier and downgrade me including the manager Kenny Wu.  However; they have replaced my center differential, steering servo and rear drive cup.  

the sieze problem just happened to me. it was the connecting rod that shattered and trashed my piston and the inside of my crank case.  they told me to send it in and they would replace it and now i can't get them to send it back.  i've already went to a lawyer and we are filing a law suit.

but for you it might be a different story. you might not have any problems with them. i would definately call in  and make sure you tell them you are under warranty ( if you are ) and if you aren't under warranty don't even bother calling them. you can get a new engine on ebay for $155.

Good luck!

You called a lawyer over $155???? I call foul!! If the lawyer s real he would tell you to buy a new motor and dont waste his time!!!! wow!!! not flaming, but what has come of this society?????

I agree. Try getting support and if there is any resistance just buy another motor.

Is a 155 dollar motor worth a law suit? Sounds like the cheaper option is to buy a new one.

its not about just $155! i also have a $400 phone bill. and i've never been treatedso badin my life and i will be the last person that the people at cen talk to like that. when my lawyer is done with them they will have a new outlook on customer service. there isn't one person there thats worth dealing with. and after i dishout$400 dollars for a truck i would think that good customer service should not be a problem?

See, its people like you who would let them treat you likes#%t and b$#&amp;h about it and do nothing!!!! Which lets CEN think its ok to talk and treat people the way they do? Someone has to do something about it and that person is me!!!!!!!!

Well then Mr. Hero of the Day,, spend your thousands over $555. Being treated badly is apart of everyday life. It might not be fair, but it is a fact of life. If you want to spend thousands because your feelings were hurt, then go right ahead, be my guest!! But I would bet those thousands your little crusade wont make a bit of difference to a hill of beans.

I would love to follow along as your case is heard(by the courts) so would you please post your docket number here so I can see how it goes. It would set a fantastic precidence(sp) for the rest of us poor misguide individuals who get treated poorly by some company. Wow!! could you imagine what it would be like if we all could get satisfaction for being treated badly and gettng our feelings hurt!!! You could change the world!!

so you'rea genius that likes to hear himself!!!! get a life!!! Obviously you're one of the people that likes to treat people like s#$t and don't want it to impact you!!!

But i'm sure that the next person who don't get treated like crap from cen and actually gets taken care of might appreciate someone going to the extent to makesure it don't happen to them.
like i said You are obviously one of the people who deal with it then b#$%h about it anddo nothing. Hey i'm happy for you!
never did i askfor your ignorantopinion anywaysnor remember saying a damn thingto you in the first place. Seriously why bother responding? but, you know you're going to anyways because you like tohear yourself. I don't know why what i'm doing is bothering you so much!!!do you work at CEN? if not mind your own business. but i guess when a person doesn't have a life, everything is your business.

It is nice to know that what i'm doing is already impacting someone, because your panties are in an uproar!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

Ok cool!! but I still would like to follow your case,, Mind PM'ing me the docket Number if you have one?? Or ever get one??

<span style="font-size: large">TALKED TO KEVIN AT CEN HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL I WAS USING(TRAXXES TOP FUEL POWER PLUS) SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT FUEL IN THESE ENGINES SAYS IT LEAVES A SEDIMENT IN SLEAVE CAUSING IT TO SEIZE UP AT FIRST HE THOUGHT THE CONNECTING ROD BROKE BUT I PULLED MOTOR APART AS HE TOLD ME BEING CAUTIOUS OF WARENTY I DIDNT REALLT WANT TO BUT ROD OK LOOKING THROUGH THE EXHAUST PORT I NOTICED A NEEDLE LIKE WIRE POKING UP AROUND THE PISTON SO I THINKING THE RING WAS BAD ON THE PISTON TO BEGIN WITH THAT TO ME IS WHAT SEIZED IT SENDING IT IN TO GET FIXED LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS</span>

These engines do not have rings. The wire like piece must be something else. Maybe a sheared piece or something got in from the outside.

The wire ring you are referring to is the Wrist Pin Retainer wire.. That has been a problem with these engines and that why CEN will replace it. I have seen this problem before and it almost always happens during break-in. At the time of assembly the wire is not seated completely in the groove and when the engine is started and warmed up the wire comes loose and always gets hung up inside the exhaust port.. Just do what they suggest and send it in and they will send you a new engine.. No fault of CEN's as they buy these engines from a third party supplier..

I have no clue what the wrist pin retainer wire is, so i'm just wondering if you could let me know? i've had my engine apart and seen nothing, buti wasn't looking for it either. so i'm curious because i'm obviously going tohave to get aanother engine and ifi have to look for that before it becomes a problem i will. unless i just so happen to get mine back from cen. Just so we are clear!! i love the gst and wouldn't get rid of it just because of poor customer service. as a matter offact i'm going to get the ME 10 TR as soon as it comes out. i just wont call cen for anything. the gst is my first rc. now i have 2 traxxas rustlers but still don't know anything about them. so please let me know what it is. thanks.

dogman, do you work for cen? maybe a tech? just wondering!!

Duuh, I forgot about the wristpin retainer. There are little pieces of wire circular shaped that go at each the end of the pin that connects the piston to the crankshaft. Here is a picture of one, not for the CEN, but you get the idea:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXLBV9&P=7


Sad to say that I have two GST's. Got the chassis and they were pretty good and rebuilt them last summer and put new engines in them and just finished the heat cycles on one of them and ran out of weather. I still have aluminum foil on the head. Thanks for the heads up on the wrist pin problem, I hope to be past that stage with mine.

thanks. makes complete sense.    i didn't have any problems with my engine and it ran great. i cant wait to stomp a mud hole in these revos, savages, tmaxxs and all the other mts ( mini trucks). i live in illinois and the weather is just breaking. was at the track yesterday and it was packed. cant wait!!!

nitro-rob:  did you put the stock engines back in them or a different engine all together?  i'm also looking for a different one to get for the next time i have problems with my engine.   I talked to andrew at cen and he said he has one that he put a .28 in.  so i'm just looking around

i'm looking for ways to make my truck faster so if anybody knows any please let me know. i've been thinking about doing the voodoo thing, with the piston sleeve.   any info would be appreciated. thanks 

I put the 7.7 in it for no other reason that I would like to see what that big engine is like. I don't plan on being too creative with my CEN trucks (one is for sale already) and just want to play with one for a season or two. Based on the weight of the truck I imagine a pretty strong .28 would need to be put in it to get it to haul.

yah, i hear that!!

I got my engine back from CEN today. completely taken apart with no screws or bearings. they are a joke!!! i wish i lived in cali. its alright though because i'll be the last one laughing, i hope!! LOL!!!

You've got that one right.Over the years CEN has shown over,and over again that they really dont give the slightest care about who they rip off,and I dont see their "its always customer error"attitude changing due to this incident or any other.I do like some CEN trucks,but they are alot more complicated than most and require more skill and knowledge to keep running.If you dont have years of experience in this hobby,then CEN isnt for you.A very high number of these trucks do come defective,but Ken Wu is as unpredictable as the wind.It just depends what kind of mood he is in on that day,as to weather he is willing to help or not.

27,its funny because I can remember asking this guy the EXACT same questions a few years ago.Over time,I have seen numerous members ask TRD these questions.Why,because everytime anyone has anything negative to say about CEN,this guy sticks his chest out like a game rooster and defends CEN with his life.At one time I thought he owned CEN because he sure acts like it.I havent been around in a while and thought that just maybe TRD had grown out of this behavior,but he will,and is going to launch personal attacks against anyone that has a negative thing to say about CEN.Obsessive compulsive behavior???[8D]