I purchased a HS5735MG and it failed after 10 minutes on the bench, and it was quickly replaced by Hitec under warranty, no big deal. I now just had another Hitec servo model HS5945MG digital 100$ servo fail after 3 months of mild operation. I need the address to Hitec warranty department for round number 2 please.

I have no doubt they will replace this one also, but that isnt the point now, I am now waiting on parts for time #2. I would spend 200$ for a servo that would last longer than 3 months under a practically no load condition.

I will not purchase anymore Hitec servos, as I see the high end type fail multiple times under a one year warranty period. What happens when the warranty expires?

I don't think so, TODD. Take a look at this.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...95&forumid=149]

Todd

Not sure why your servo failed, but if you think JR servos will hold up longer your in for a rude awakening...

There are many reasons these servos fail, generally it's the application and or set-up. Incorrect ATV or end-point settings, lack of vibration isolation and such.

The 5735 is a not a high end servo by most standards as it uses a standard motor verses a coreless motor, although is does use a digital amplifier. These have proven to be exceptional servos.
we've been using these since they were first released, never a problem.

The 5945 has also proven to be an exceptional servo. I/we have yet to have a failure with these servos. I have over a hundred of them in service, none of them have ever needed service. I can't say that about JR's 8411's.

It's possible you got a bad one and or it's possible you overlooked something in the installation and or the setup. All things fail, even the best products have a failure rates.

Hitec warranty is 3 years, I believe.. Worry not about Hitec taking care of you. Hitec will bend over backwards to make you happy.

I had started with one 5735 and 2 5945. I have but one 5945 that hasnt crapped out. Of the 3 servos I have 2 of the 3 have failed.

I have a JR-R1 Radio and am very capapable of setting end-point adjustment , servo throw, ETC. The Failure isnt because of my in-ability to set my radio up correctly. I am using it in a 1/5th scale car.

If you guys have 100+ 5945 without a single failure- get ready for #1, think if this had been in a 40% plane fellas.

By the way the 1/5th scale that I was using this 5945 in was used for less than a half gallon of gas, since the servo was brand new. Also, it was only being used as a front disk brake supplement, and was only actuated upon brake application, which happens rarely in a 1/5th scale, do to the excellent engine brake of the 23CC 2 cycle engine. So my only point is that it was being used in a VERY mild application, far from keeping a wing surface in place for extended amounts of time such as in a 40% plane application.

Mike Mayberry, any time your ready I need the address of Hitec warranty as I would like to limit my down time to a minimum.

Steve do 5 people make up the majority?


To what "dont think so" are you refering?

Todd

The 100 plus Hitec 5945, 5925 and 5735's are in 33 and 40% models. Been using them for two years or better. Did the same with the other's too many failures, moved on to servos that haven't failed thus far. I also like the ability to program the servos for the application.

Who know's, these are simply mine and other's experiences yours may vary.

Hitec RCD USA, Inc.
12115 Paine St.
Poway CA, 92064
Phone: 858.748.6948
Fax: 858.748.1767

is that address to the warranty dept.?

The servo that failed is the one on the right, in this picture. It was set up on channel 3 (front disk brake) which was mixxed with channel 2 (throttle/rear disk brake). at 88% of ch. 2's 100% full range. Sub trims are all at 0. ch 1 is set at the middle on the main trim, the steering is at 4 clicks to the right. Travel adjust on the steering is:L=85% R=78% throttle F=73% B92%. Channels 1&2 are reversed, and channel 3 (aux) is in the normal position. I am using the SPCM modulation.

Anyone see any red flags as to possible problems with my setup?

Yes... Attention to Customer Service Department

Thanks

Todd- Sorry to hear about the problems. The Hitec service info is posted at the top of this forum http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...27&forumid=149

Here is my take on this as I have experience in 1/5th scale as well as all other types of R/C cars and racing. A 22 pound car going 60mph+ takes a lot of braking power. Sometime the load on the servos is so much that their life is greatly reduced. The digital servos do have more holding power but they also draw more current. In 1/8th scale on-road where speed and traction are at their highest the standard coreless servos are lasting up to two seasons, but when people started switching to the digital versions from any manufacturer, 3 months was about it. In that class now almost everyone just runs coreless (non-digital) only. This is what we currently recommend for throttle and brakes in all gas and nitro applications.

Hitec is looking into ways to make the digital servos more durable for throttle and brake use in the larger size cars like 1/8th and 1/5th and hope to have a new line of digitals out in the future specifically for that market.

Mike..

Is it ok to use a 5945 for steering in a 1/8th buggy?

What servo would you recommend to replace the 5945? I am not familiar with non-digitals with comparable specs. Also understanding I am running a 25pound model 60+MPH and it has to be as safe as possible. To have a front brake servo failure at 50MPH would almost certainly result in major damage to my car, at the least, and anyone around it at the time at the most.

Todd- The digital servos are holding up well in 1/8th off-road steering because there is not as much traction as 1/8th on-road. Our team driver Gene Hickerson used 5945's in his 1/8th buggy to finish 13th at the IFMAR World Championships in 2002.

I would use the 945's http://www.hitecrcd.com/Servos/hs945.htm for throttle and brake in your 1/5th scale race car. The 5735 is still OK for the steering, they have been holding up well.

Mike.

It looks as though according to Mike Mayberry, the problem with the 5945 isn't the servo......its my application. Something I hadn't found out until 3 months after the purchase upon failure and this thread.

I have no doubt Hitec will handle the warranty issue, but that wasn't my major inconvenience. The major issue for me then and now is this: I now knowingly have spent 100.00 on a servo that will last 3 months in my particular application. Hitec my warranty it every 3 months gladly, but I am the guy who has to cut the zip ties, completely disassemble my servo tray and radio system, and re-assemble it, only to know in roughly 3 months I get to do it again. I would follow MM instructions and switch to a non-digital for my application, but I have spent so much money on my Hitec Digitals, I seriously don't have the extra 200 it will take to buy another set (i need 2) to replace them.

Lets give this problem the acid test. I have 2 HS5945MG that will continue to come in on warranty. Mike Mayberry, do you think Hitec will swap my two HS5945MG servos out for a new set of servos (non-digital) that will work better in my application with similar performance to the 5945? I would be happy to pay, or be refunded the difference.

Some might think I didn't do my homework before buying the 5945, but everything I saw said it was strong, fast, and good, no-where did I see "DO NOT USE THIS FOR BRAKES IN A 1/5TH SCALE) actually quite the contrary, they were recommended.

Funny how good can come from bad. I was looking around at how I could get the 5th scale operational without the failed 5945.....I had a extra 5735 and noticed with a little trimming I could make it fit.

Mike Mayberry, I know you said not to use a digital servo but will the 5735 work for a front brake only?? It has TONS of power, and flexes the 8MM chassis when activated! Look at picture for the new arrangement... It works miles better than the 5945 so I hope this application will work...

The 5735 has a much beefier motor and a heatsink so it should be OK. That is what I have set up in my car but I don't have much track time on them to know for sure.

Mike.

OK, I also switched out the 5945 for a 625 on the rearbrake/throttle, and to be honest the rear disks dont need much grip and the throttle is easy to operate, so it seems to work fine. Maybe the 5945 was just over kill on the rear brake/throttle, I just dont need 180ozin, 100ozin is fine....and the 625 is quiet too!

Let me know how it all works after you get some time on them.

If you have been racing 1/5th scale for any amount of time I am sure you have seen many servos burn up no matter what the brand. It is just one of the harshest applications due to the size, weight and speed of the cars.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you in the future.

Mike.

Will do Mike, I think the difference with the 5th scale is the fact that when the front brakes are applied, the servo really doesnt have a movement to apply the brake, it simply pulls the cables and as soon as its tight, its like having a steering servo end-point incorrectly set, and the servo is using almost full power against the stop. I think any servo would yell "uncle" at some point.......

Bingo!!!

Having read this I must first admit I know nothing about these cars, but have a suggestion to remove the strain of the servo.
How about fitting a suitable spring in between the servo arm and your break mechanisms, strong enough to activate your breaks but under the servo rating. Servo can then apply the breaks and if it needs to travel any further the spring just stretches instead on stalling and overloading the thing.

I had a throttle servo that I had over ranged burn up at full throttle 80KPH boat (JR digital) I found out they just dint handle that.

It is absolutely imperative to have all rigid linkages due to the huge amount of force needed to brake 25LBS from 60+MPH., also placement would be next to impossible due to the scarce space that is available. Also the liability of having a weak point in the brakes like a spring standing between you and a car that could easily kill someone doesn't exactly excite me either. Unless......I wanted them dead! lol