jayjeff333

Hello, i am going to be purchasing a savage XL tomorrow, and i wanted to know if there is anything i should be aware of before purchasing it. Please tell me anything you know about this truck.Thanks

pinkducky

the XL 5.9 is a sucky engine, you prob need to replace it down the line. Go for LRP 30 or Picco .28.

bigwaltc

I agree the XL is a great truck but the 5.9 has a lot of problems [sm=shades_smile.gif]

SLAYERDUDE

Here's a conversation I had with a guy that I saved for other people that I knew were about to get an XL.
It's kind of confusing but it has Tower part #'s because that was the only place he could get parts.
You should be able to tell where he's asking me questions...[&:]

The stock gearing is pretty good with the 3 speed trans.
Once the engine breaks in fully it will start hitting 3rd gear and it is pretty fast!
Don't mess with the shift points until you have about a gallon thru the engine.
16/52 are the stock gears.
16T PN# 77106
52T PN# 77132

Maybe order a spare CB #77106
And a set of clutch shoes #86391 this is the alum shoes.
I don't have much cash so I'm running the plastic shoes off the smaller Savage.
They have been working very well for more than a gallon and cost $8 compared to almost $50 for the alum.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFXU7&P=7
^plastic shoes I run^

I damaged my spur gear before I fitted the engine protector and that's how I chewed up all the CB's.
I now run a 49T plastic spur also from the smaller Savage.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFKM1&P=ML
It's really cheap and it has been on for more than a gallon as well.
I would get a couple of these just to have the extra slipper pads.
Gives a hair more top end and still yanks the wheels if I tune the low end for wheelies.
Guys seem to blow thru these spurs on the stock savage but I guess I'm just lucky or good at setting gears.
I do it by feel, not the paper method.
Engine as square as possible and gears as close as possible with no tight spots when spun.


man you shore know alot about this truck...
so the plastic spur just fit right on? cheap is good lol
Glad you asked that!
You will need the spacer for the center of the gear!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&FVSEARCH=b072
I used a brg in place of the spacer.
Use what you have laying around!

so i should buy a couple of these and when you say for the extra pads to get some more high end
do you mean put to slipper pads together? not sure exactly what you mean!!! sorry bro
It's all good. No, the 49T plastic spurs will come with slipper pads.
This way you will have extra slipper pads and gears just in case.
The slipper pads will work with the stock spur.
If you use the plastic 49T spur instead of the 52T metal spur you will gain some top end.
The only thing the slipper clutch does is absorb shock between the engine and drivetrain when the tires land on jumps etc...

and those clutch also will fit right on...
that's pretty cool because i know you bash yours pretty hard so if it's lasting you it should last me...
Yup, direct fit and cheap!
how long do you thinkyou will get out of the shoes?
Not sure, I'm going to check them tomorrow.
They don't hit as hard as the alum ones but for the price that's okay with me!
Keep the idle as low as possible so the clutch isn't grabbing and you should be good.
They still did a fence backflip!
You will want to check your alum shoes about every 1/2 to 1 gallon of fuel.
They will start to curl over and jam the spring up.
I used an exacto blade to cut the worn stuff off the sides and in the spring groove. Then rubbed the shoes across a file to square the sides.
It's alum so you can cut it with an exacto blade.

ya bud i'v seen all your vids a hundred times...lol

when you say don't mess with the shift point untill it's has 1 gallon tho it...
do you normally have to adjust the shift?
I have only made very minor adjustments to get 3rd sooner since I went to the 49T from the 52T spur gear.
It may not start hitting 3rd gear until the engine is fully broken in.
You will finish break in by 6 tanks, but the engine wil "loosen up" at 1/2 gal or more.
I'm sure you will notice it.

I know this is quite the list, but it's pretty much everything I broke/wore out in 6 gallons of hardcore abuse.
Minus the servo that went out.
And the engine mount and motor plate that should not break if you rig the engine protector.
So you might want to get a cheap spare servo to have on hand. I have a bunch laying around so it was no big deal for me.

LXNGW5 RPM A-Arms LF/RR Savage/X Black 13.79
LXNGW0 RPM A-Arms RF/LR Savage/X Black
They have different colors also. And it was several gallons before I broke one.

LXFKM1 HPI Spur Gear 49T Savage SS
Qty Discount Available
3.89
I would get a couple just for spares.
I will find you the big dollar good spur that I want.

LXFXU7 HPI Teflon Clutch Shoe/Spring Set Savage 25 RTR
Add to Wish List
9.39
Cheapo plastic clutch shoes.

LXLST8 HPI Racing Clutch Bell 16T
Add to Wish List
14.99
Need a spare CB in case the steel spur takes it out.

LXDLC7 HPI Shock Parts Rod End Set Savage 21 (2)
Add to Wish List
5.79
MUST HAVE!!!


LXDLD3 HPI Bevel Gear 13 Tooth Savage 21
Qty Discount Available
11.19
Shim the diffs and you should not need one, but I would get one just to be sure.
If you hear any clicking sounds while braking the front pinion is most likely the cause
and shut it down to inspect before you wipe out the diff!!!
This is the set, I have only needed the pinions
but this comes with the grease and all-
LXWUZ7 HPI Racing Machined Super Heavy Duty Bevel Gear 43T/13T
Add to Wish List
35.99
I broke 3 of these bevel/diff pinions so far but the ring gear is still okay
because I shut it down as soon as I heard the clicking when I hit the brakes. B)


LXDLG8 HPI Screw Shaft M4x2x12mm Black Savage 21 (6)
Qty Discount Available
2.00
LXDLG9 HPI Screw Shaft M5x3x18mm Black Savage 21 (6)
Qty Discount Available
2.00
Get some of these for sure. They like to fall out!


I haven't needed one yet, but here's the dogbones-
Stock Number
HPIC6246 Tower's Low Price 26.19
I bent one but heated and straightened it.

LXDLC5 HPI Upright Set Savage 21
Qty Discount Available
6.69
Steering blocks/knuckles - reversible and haven't bought a new one yet.
Only broke the one recently.

LXMCY0 Dubro Antenna Tubes w/Caps Assortment
Qty Discount Available
5.79
Get some of these or some diff ones for sure!
Keep a keen eye on the antenna!!!
Route it thru the hood or windshield like Xfile, or sheathe it with a rubber lawn tractor battery vent hose like I did!!!
You WILL flip it from wheelies, and if on the street you WILL ruin your radio antenna!!!

jayjeff333

But, if im just starting out the Rc world, my first car ever, would that engine be a good beginner engine? I don't plan to abuse it.

THE BASHER

sell the 5.9 engine as brand new and buy a k4.6

bigwaltc

Yes it will be a great truck for you. You will learn a lot about the Nitro hobby with it. You will just find as you get more experienced that the 5.9 wont be to your expectations and you will want to up grade to a better engine.
Read as much as you can on this Forum you will learn so much.
One thing that you should do is get a 086 pipe for it the 5.9 runs hot and the pipe will make it run a lot cooler and you will get more power with it and it also helps with the half tank lean problem that all x and xl's have due to the fuel tank design.
I love all my Xl's I just don't like the 5.9 [sm=shades_smile.gif]

jayjeff333

So then why dont i just buy a Savage X 4.6 off the bat? Is all the other stuff from the XL better then the X, other then the engine? Is it more worth it to get the Xl and just engine swap?

bigwaltc

I would not buy a 4.6 It is a great engine but for about 30.00$ more you can get a LRP .30 that will beat a 4.6 into the ground [sm=shades_smile.gif]

jayjeff333

So bottom line, you say buy a XL, and for 30$ more or something, i just engine swap?

bigwaltc

I was replying to the guy who said to buy a 4.6 for the XL [sm=shades_smile.gif]

t9dragon

My Feedback: (11)

The main thing you should know is that once you buy a Savage and run it, you will become a Savage Addict......................

jayjeff333

Oh ok, but what should i do? Buy the XL, and swap out the 5.9 engine?

jayjeff333

I Can't wait

wolfie1

Well its highly addictive and a lot of fun lol if your buying it somewhere close to where you stay i am sure they will give you all the technical help you will need. Well i cant speak about the x cause i dont have 1 of those but i have an xl and it is "big" cause i have another 1/8 truck and my xl dwarfs it but i have had a lot of issues with the engine i have had 2 from Hpi on warranty (they are very good like that) and got sick off the 5.9 and bought an lrp30 and it brings the xl into a whole new dimension

jayjeff333

Ok, i think ill do the same. I know they are very good with warranty, so ill use the first engine, blow it, and mforward from there on. Is there anything else i need to know?

jayjeff333

And how much is that lrp.30 engine? And is it better then the 5.9?

bigwaltc

Get it and break it in good and run it you will love it [sm=shades_smile.gif]

jayjeff333

Yea, ill take my time breaking it in, and go slow, because they say if you do that properly, then there should be no problems? And tell me, you never got bored of your XL after a while?

bigwaltc

Are you kidding? I run mine every day that I can [sm=shades_smile.gif]

jayjeff333

Alright, souds good to me. So absolute bottom line, you say what? Buy it, burn that engine, get a new 1?

bigwaltc

That's what I did with my first one. Took about 3 gal before it blew [sm=shades_smile.gif]

wolfie1

Run it on 30% fuel. This next bit may sound boring but it seriously will save you a lot of hassle, heartache and cash in 6 tanks time when you get it spend a little while looking over it just to see how things operate and prob most important of all take all the screws out of the centre drive shafts, engine mountings, on any screw/bolt that goes into a metal part and put a little drop of thread lock on each and do them all 1 at a time, cause if you dont bits will just rattle out with the vibrations

jayjeff333

I am gonna sounds newb, but what do you mean 30% fuel? Isn't it just fill up the tank to the topwith the pink nitro fluid?

bigwaltc

Oh Boy you are new [sm=shades_smile.gif]