Official HPI Hellfire Thread
#1852
Junior Member
<span style="font-size: larger;">Hey I just recently purchased a HPIHellfire a few months ago, I haven't gotten a chance to fire it up tilltoday, I love the truck but I would like some ppl that have experiencewith this specific model to assist me. I would like to know which partsare the most vulnerable or I should upgrade/strengthen regardless. Ihave alot of experience with RC cars. I have been out of the hobby forabout almost 2 years now. Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks~</span>
Thanks~</span>
#1854
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From: .....,
NY
Ive found the hellfire to be pretty durable right out of the box. The steering servo needs upgrading though and different tires depending on the surface you are running on.
#1855
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From: Gold CoastQueensland, AUSTRALIA
Finally got badlands on my old HF. She goes good with my Os28, JP3 and a hitec 7955 i ordered still to install.
#1857
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From: toms river, NJ
has the hellfire been redone since this or does it still have these minor flaws
?? ty
Tom
?? ty
Tom
ORIGINAL: Roscco
Guys, i'm going to buy one of these on pay day
, but this is making me nervous[
].
Is taken from a guy called CRSMP5 over on RCZ
http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/s...ge=1&pp=25 (bottom of page 16)
"keep a eye on the inner most hingpin braces.. they are unsupported.. so jumping th etruck, due to captured hingpins, bends the front brace with no bad jumps or anything, and the rear one falls off the bulks.. they are not keyed into the chassis like everythign else is, they are unsupported to prevent bending like on a real race truggy, and is the worst design screw up ive ever seen.. it only took me 10 tanks of fuel, 6 on pavement, 4 on track to find these issues.. when looking at a way to resolve these 2 issues, i relized that via HPI's brain dead engineers there is no easy solution other then a new chassis and braces being keyed into it as you cannot add bolts and holes due to the milled out aluminum and such.."
He mentioned he'd found flaws in the design, and was reluctant to say what they were incase he was wrong. Seein as he posted this, i guess he found out he's right.
His next post is offering it for sale, somethings not right somewhere.
Any thoughts ?
Guys, i'm going to buy one of these on pay day
, but this is making me nervous[
].Is taken from a guy called CRSMP5 over on RCZ
http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/s...ge=1&pp=25 (bottom of page 16)
"keep a eye on the inner most hingpin braces.. they are unsupported.. so jumping th etruck, due to captured hingpins, bends the front brace with no bad jumps or anything, and the rear one falls off the bulks.. they are not keyed into the chassis like everythign else is, they are unsupported to prevent bending like on a real race truggy, and is the worst design screw up ive ever seen.. it only took me 10 tanks of fuel, 6 on pavement, 4 on track to find these issues.. when looking at a way to resolve these 2 issues, i relized that via HPI's brain dead engineers there is no easy solution other then a new chassis and braces being keyed into it as you cannot add bolts and holes due to the milled out aluminum and such.."
He mentioned he'd found flaws in the design, and was reluctant to say what they were incase he was wrong. Seein as he posted this, i guess he found out he's right.

His next post is offering it for sale, somethings not right somewhere.
Any thoughts ?
#1858
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From: .....,
NY
The hellfire hasnt changed since it was released.
Im not really sure what hes talking about in that post. The only problem Ive had with mine was a broken eccentric bushing. But I had been jumping it pretty high with some pretty bad landings. The K4.6 engine isnt the best but aside from that the truck is solid.
Im not really sure what hes talking about in that post. The only problem Ive had with mine was a broken eccentric bushing. But I had been jumping it pretty high with some pretty bad landings. The K4.6 engine isnt the best but aside from that the truck is solid.
#1860
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From: Gold CoastQueensland, AUSTRALIA
[quote]ORIGINAL: nicholasheydrich
Its the RTR version
The RTR does have a few issues:
Weak shock towers and braces (plastic)
Diffs wear out quick. Make sure you shim them asap
Purple front suspension plate bends easy
Eccentric bushings pop out to easy
The mid range needle can fall out of the k4.6ho engine and front bearing can leak
It will develop alot of slop after time
Screws are poor quality and strip easy
Better servos
I still bash mine hard. I got one new and ended up buying a another used hf for spare parts.
The main thing i would do is shim the diffs and ensure the mid range needle doesnt fall out (locktite it or plumbers tape)
I eventually upgraded to CEN diffs which are heavy duty. My hf has bent snapped shocked towers and braces but is still ok to bash with. You definately need better servos.
If you are gunna race you will need better tyres but honestly the rtr hf isnt a racer.
Post some photos if you can and bash hard and enjoy!
Its the RTR version
The RTR does have a few issues:
Weak shock towers and braces (plastic)
Diffs wear out quick. Make sure you shim them asap
Purple front suspension plate bends easy
Eccentric bushings pop out to easy
The mid range needle can fall out of the k4.6ho engine and front bearing can leak
It will develop alot of slop after time
Screws are poor quality and strip easy
Better servos
I still bash mine hard. I got one new and ended up buying a another used hf for spare parts.
The main thing i would do is shim the diffs and ensure the mid range needle doesnt fall out (locktite it or plumbers tape)
I eventually upgraded to CEN diffs which are heavy duty. My hf has bent snapped shocked towers and braces but is still ok to bash with. You definately need better servos.
If you are gunna race you will need better tyres but honestly the rtr hf isnt a racer.
Post some photos if you can and bash hard and enjoy!

#1861
Junior Member
<font size="4"><font size="3">Ok so those are the parts I should watch & or upgrade on the Hellfire-,
You have a Cen Genesis yourself yes? is it the 1st gen or the Limited Edition?
</font></font>
You have a Cen Genesis yourself yes? is it the 1st gen or the Limited Edition?
</font></font>
#1864
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From: .....,
NY
These links are for a savage but the process is the same. Hope this helps
http://www.savage-central.com/module...ic&t=55122
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.hpisavageforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17401#post17401</span>
http://www.savage-central.com/module...ic&t=55122
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.hpisavageforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17401#post17401</span>
#1865
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From: Gold CoastQueensland, AUSTRALIA
ORIGINAL: nicholasheydrich
<font size=''4''><font size=''3''>Ok so those are the parts I should watch & or upgrade on the Hellfire-,
You have a Cen Genesis yourself yes? is it the 1st gen or the Limited Edition?
</font></font>
<font size=''4''><font size=''3''>Ok so those are the parts I should watch & or upgrade on the Hellfire-,
You have a Cen Genesis yourself yes? is it the 1st gen or the Limited Edition?
</font></font>
I would just initally check/shim your diffs, upgrade your servos (if they are the original servos they wont last long) and keep an eye on that mid range needle. It will fall out if it becomes loose.
Also check all the grub screws in the drive train as they come loose and fall out. They need locktite.
Check the hellfire thread on truggy racers.com. It has alot of good info just like rcu.
#1866
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From: hollywood,
FL
RTR Hellfire was made with some super duper cheap chinese metals. I can drill through all the cups and drive shafts with any bit. Can't do it with hot bodies parts. I buy the HBD8T drive train parts and put them in my truck- lasts way longer with less play
#1867
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From: Gold CoastQueensland, AUSTRALIA
[quote]ORIGINAL: 3130pembroke
RTR Hellfire was made with some super duper cheap chinese metals. I can drill through all the cups and drive shafts with any bit. Can't do it with hot bodies parts. I buy the HBD8T drive train parts and put them in my truck- lasts way longer with less play
[/q
The HB spiral ? diffs or the cen diffs are a must upgrade. You are correct, alot of the HF parts are made of weak material.
But i got one new 3 years ago, got another used for spare parts 1 1/2 years ago and now ive just got another used ss with an lrp 28. Iam gunna sell the lrp and put my os28, badlands, 7955 hitec, jp3,cen diffs on the ss and use the others for spare parts.
Id love to buy a new style truggy but the price in Australia is way too high. I only bash now so the HF does ok (as long as i have the spares!) for my needs.
After the new year gunna grab a modded os28 or modded picco.
RTR Hellfire was made with some super duper cheap chinese metals. I can drill through all the cups and drive shafts with any bit. Can't do it with hot bodies parts. I buy the HBD8T drive train parts and put them in my truck- lasts way longer with less play
[/q
The HB spiral ? diffs or the cen diffs are a must upgrade. You are correct, alot of the HF parts are made of weak material.
But i got one new 3 years ago, got another used for spare parts 1 1/2 years ago and now ive just got another used ss with an lrp 28. Iam gunna sell the lrp and put my os28, badlands, 7955 hitec, jp3,cen diffs on the ss and use the others for spare parts.
Id love to buy a new style truggy but the price in Australia is way too high. I only bash now so the HF does ok (as long as i have the spares!) for my needs.
After the new year gunna grab a modded os28 or modded picco.
#1871
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From: hollywood,
FL
looking at that ackerman thinking that must turn like a school bus- I modded a new plate from scratch years ago could not imagine getting around any track without it........
#1873
The HF does turn like a truck. No ackermann plate in the world will fix it, unless you can find one which is wider by about 5mm on each side. At full throw, compare the front wheels to any other truggy. The inside wheel turns too much. The fix is to eliminate the excessive ackermann action. Use longer tie rods and relocate the attachment point farther out by about 5mm or so. Been a long time since my conversion, but it's proved to be cheap, simple and effective.
#1874
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From: hollywood,
FL
the top three holes are the stock positions and i made it slightly wider, and reward. Ackeman is changed by the angle of tie rods to carriers i don't know why people talk about length. the arc motion of the bellcranks is what changes angles which in turn causes ackerman of steering.
#1875
ORIGINAL: 3130pembroke
the top three holes are the stock positions and i made it slightly wider, and reward. Ackeman is changed by the angle of tie rods to carriers i don't know why people talk about length. the arc motion of the bellcranks is what changes angles which in turn causes ackerman of steering.
the top three holes are the stock positions and i made it slightly wider, and reward. Ackeman is changed by the angle of tie rods to carriers i don't know why people talk about length. the arc motion of the bellcranks is what changes angles which in turn causes ackerman of steering.
I think you need to do some serious reading. You are wrong.
http://www.rctek.com/technical/handl...principle.html
Pay particular attention to the discussion on angled steering arms. In the example given, moving A closer to B benefits the HF.
Ackermann is needed, but too much (ie Hellfire) is counterproductive. Compare any of the top truggies or buggies with the HF. The difference is obvious. No one runs as much Ackermann as the HF. The outside tire on the HF runs too wide. And remember, the outside wheel is more important than the inside for steering (more weight, more traction). A wider steering plate would work, but it would have to be fabbed.
I've done the mod. I know it works. Anyone that does not do the mod is doomed to have a truggy that steers like a tractor. But good luck to all you tractor drivers.








