Hi everyone!

I got the Redcat Monsoon XP 2 weeks ago, it's my first nitro RC. I'm very pleased with it up to now (10 fuel tanks including break-in). Lock-tite is my new best friend! Went to ride with a friend, he has a Team Associated Monster GT SE. Altough he has a 2 speed tranny and a similar engine, the Monsoon goes a little faster and handles much more cornering (of course, being a truggy).

Now the fun begins of upgrading the machine. Unfortunately, there's only one RC store in my area, where they basically laugh out loud when you ask for anything about a RC bought on the internet, since they don't have any Redcats. Then, when I told them that I paid 300$ for a RC that compares to some he sells at 700$ (his lowest-priced...), he's just pissed off and tells me to have fun looking at it break. So I don't have much "live support" for parts and accessories.

So I need help/counseling on how to/where to find/is it possible for a few improvements. Therefore, any suggestions, links, prices or comments would be appreciated.

1- I'm looking for a second set of wheels/tires more suited for asphalt. The size used doesn't seem to be very common. I wouldn't mind going a little bigger/wider. Any brands that could fit or would be appropriate choices? Glued-on the wheels or could I get something to keep the wheels after the tires are gone?

2- I'd like to get a 2-speed transmission. Altough performance is really good (easy to drift on asphalt), a little more puch at the start and a little more top speed would kill the competition I have. But, basically, I just love the shifting sound when accelerating...

3- The brakes. Compared to the Monster GT, stopping power is much lower. Maybe it's my tuning, but I gave it all I could. Is it possible to fit dual-disc brakes for font and rear? Or simply installing better disk/pads? (compatibility? brands?) Or is it basically a servo matter?

Those would be the first things I would like to check out. Thanx for any help/comments!

Patrick

You can get parts from:

[link=http://www.allaboutfunhobbies.com]www.allaboutfunhobbies.com[/link]

[link=http://www.clermontmotorsport.com]www.clermontmotorsport.com[/link]

[link=http://www.redcatracing.com]www.redcatracing.com[/link]

As far as the guy in the hobby shop ignore his ignorance and don't patron his store from now on, as a matter of fact I would go as far to suggest that you make a point of letting them know how unhappy you were with there service and you will be sure to let others know how they treated you, there is no excuse for them to act like that.

It comes with duel front and rear brake pads. You need to get a high torque servo, like a Hitech 645mg or something like that, the stock plastic gear servo just doesn't have enough torque.

There are no 2 speed trans for the car. Unless you can figure out a way to adapt a trans from some other car or brand.

As far as tires, or rims, you need to look for 17mm hex hub rims like these [link=http://allaboutfunhobbies.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_4_76]http://allaboutfunhobbies.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_4_76[/link]

and tires like these [link=http://allaboutfunhobbies.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_4_82]http://allaboutfunhobbies.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_4_82[/link]

Thanks for the links!

The problem with the hobby store in my area, it's the only one, so the only place to buy fuel and emergency replacement parts/tools... So I don't want to get shot on sight if I tell them to stop screwing with me!!! But you know how it is in Quebec: a lot of union workers, everybody has almost free education and healtcare... There's no pride or will to work harder and better than the others, like in the US, and for those who have it, they get moved aside. So no customer service, no extra customer care, especially if he bought elsewere!!! Anyway my Monsoon is painted with the American Flag, and I keep it clean! That will teach them! (I'll be out of the country in a few years...)

For the brakes, there is in fact 1 disc for front and 1 disc for rear. I was thinking about installing 2 discs for front, and 2 discs for rear. I've seen this in a picture somewhere on another brand RC, the servo and attachment seem to be the same but are able to press on two "dual discs" to appy brake on a total of 4 discs. I wonder if there are any brands or items like that that I could buy that I would know for sure to fit on the monsoon. Or at least, to know if a brand (like HPI for example) of replacement discs of higher quality could fit on the Monsoon instead of re-buying from Redcat. But then again, if you tell me that a better servo would serve me better than (better discs / 4 discs) for the same price range, then a new servo it will be!

Too bad there's nothing to convert to 2-speed... I wonder if it's really complicated. I'll look how it works on the Monster GT and see what I could do.

For the wheels, there's a lot of nice ones out there, but most of them are bolted on at the outer edge of the wheel, whereas my wheels are bolted deep inside the wheel (is that the offset?). So if I want a wheel bolted flush, is there an adaptor that can be screwed between the wheel and the truggy? Or am I stuck with wheels bolted deep inside? And how about those Beadlock wheels wich do not require glued tires? Are they any good?

Thanks again!!!

Patrick

yes proline has the half inch off set. I have them at my store but not on the site yet.

Ya the Axial bead locks on the rims page are killer. Ya never have to replace your rims when you get a set of tires and you should be able to mount the rims up with no offset or the way you want the nut flush instead of deep inside, with out the adapters. Oh, ya you are right about the brake thing, I'm sorry. You should be able to replace the setup on the monsson with a Hurricane or Ofna 4 disk setup, I say should because it's pretty much a standard setup.

All right! after much time shopping for parts, here's what I'm looking for. Since it's a package and not everything is listed on your websites (including shipping to Canada...), would it be possible to get a quote for the lot or the parts you are able to get? Then I could ask if you would make an ebay listing for me... Anyway I don't know if you can do such a thing (time, cost, ...) but since you have been very helpful, I would be glad to buy from you and thank you for the extra customer care given when replying to my posts by buying from one of your stores. Anyway, here it is:
-81028 (brakes)
-01001 (adapter for cross wrench)
-A set of 4 Proline 40-series Road Rage tires with foams
-4 Axial Beadlock 17mm 40-series wheels, black chrome.
-Hex adapters 17mm-17mm to compensate for the offset that I have on the Monsoon wheels and that I won't have anymore with Axial wheels (to keep about the same track width)
I would like to order this week if possible.
Of course I have seen the prices of some of those parts on your websites and on ebay listings, so I'm sure that we can make a package deal for all of this! Anyway I'll be back for more parts as crashes may occur

Thank you very much!

I would also like to know.

I would get these wheels too. Clermont hobby talked me into getting the same ones and there great.