Questions About the Lightning
 

I am planning to pick up one of these 1/10 onroad cars, but first I would like to get some information. To those of you who currently own a Lightning, and also to any of the Redcat vendors who support this forum, perhaps some of you would be kind enough to answer a few questions. I have owned many, many R/C vehicles, from a Losi Mini-T to a HPI Baja 5B. I am not so much interested in whether you think the Lightning is a good car or not. Everyone has their opinion about that, and I am planning to find that out for myself. (I understand fully well that this is a $150 car, not a $700 pro racer.) But here is what I am curious about:

1) Is there any common problem area or weak component that everyone knows will break very soon and is something I should have on hand from the get-go?
2) Do I need to be concerned about various "versions", so that I don't wind up with an "old" car that does not have the latest improvements or newest components?
3) Are standard 26mm onroad sedan/touring wheels and tires compatible and does the Lightning use a 12mm hex?
4) Are standard 200mm onroad sedan/touring bodies compatible?
5) Is the SH .18 engine a direct drop-in replacement for the VX .16?

This seems to be a very active forum and the vendors seem quite willing to get involved. Thank you very much, in advance, for any information you can provide.

Cheers,

Hank

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

1) as long as your not a noob (which your not) there shouldnt be any real weak point that anything will break unless you hit something
2) i think there is only one version of the lightning but i could be wrong
3)im not sure about the tires, but it is a 12mm hex
4)200 mm bodies will fit, and i know that justin did put a 190mm body on his too
5)and yes the sh will be a direct replacement

i actually dont own a lightning (yet) but my answers should be accurate from my knowledge cruisin around the forums, are you gonna be racing it or just bashing around (curious)

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate the information. I was hoping to also hear from folks who currently own a Lightning, or perhaps even a vendor or two, who would ultimately be more familiar with this car. Any definite info would be most appreciated.

And in answer to your question... this would not be my choice for a serious race vehicle... it is destined to be just another parking lot basher.

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

I say if ur not a newbie then redcat has a great deal going on right now for the RTM... and i have 2 lightnings love them both what is ur plan for using the lightning? racing, drifting etc...?

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

Thanks for your opinion. Glad to hear that you love both your Lightnings. As I said before, this will be just another parking lot basher.

I would still really like to find the answers to the questions I originally posted. Anyone that could provide some concrete information... I will be forever in your debt.

Just thought of another one... has the clutch bell/clutch spring issue(s), regarding stripped gears and broken clutch springs, been resolved in the newer versions of this car? I have been doing some research through the various threads on this forum, and came upon this http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5132243/tm.htm It is an old thread and I don't really know if it is still applicable to the Lightning. Anyone know about this?

Thanks again.

Hank

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

Yes they come with a steel spur gear and nylon clutch shoes and a better spring now. They used to come with an aluminum clutch bell and aluminum clutch shoes. Needless to say, but I will anyway, the heat that was produced from this realy realy bad combination warped the and at times ballooned the clutch bell and stripped the spur gears. However I recomend a single speed transmission in place of the 2 speed, the shifters tend to stick badly because it's not a closed transmission. You end up stuck in second gear ALOT, lol.

Coincidently were running a sale on all the redcat cars on our website, Free shipping and free starter kit with all the redcats.

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

Thank you for the tip about using a single-speed tranny. Do you have a link to what is needed to do the conversion? And thanks for the heads up about your ongoing sale. I don't need a free starter kit, but free shipping is always cool. Since you are a vendor, sounds like you know this car pretty well. Anything else you can tell me? As I said, I have a lot of experience... everything from mini electrics to 1/5 scale gassers, and a whole bunch of nitro stuff in between. Guess my curiosity has just gotten the best of me and I want to see what one of these inexpensive cars is all about. Thanks for anything you care to share about Redcat Racing in general and the Lightning in particular.

Cheers,

Hank

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

if you know how to mesh you will be fine, i havent stripped a gear in months, it still looks like new. and my origional clutchbell and spring worked great, but i upgraded both for better performance, you could too, then it would relieve the problem from ever happening.

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

They dont come with a steel spur as allabout stated. I believe he meant to say steel clutchbell. I sold a ton of the lightnings in my local hobby shop. We also use them to drift. THe most common parts that break, if you crash (which does happen) 02013,02015,02014 and some spare dog bones 02003.
Also plan on upgrading the servo's. Yes any 12mm hex rim. There are a ton of them out there. For example, I have a pack sitting right here on the counter from ofna, 8.00 for 8 rims. Cant beat it. Any hobby shop or online shop will have them.
We have had pretty good luck with the 2 speeds on the lightnings lately. 02045 is the replacement 2 speed clutch. The springs and shoes have been upgraded and we have not had a problem.
Any other questions feel free to ask. oh by the way, the vx16 for the lightning is pretty good. Its geared right and kicks butt.

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

Hey guys, thanks for all the info. You've all been a big help.

Chubbysdad... what is your shop that you mention? You seem quite knowledgeable about this car. You mention your shop, but not its name. Is it online, or just brick and mortar?

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

the clutch bell and clutch spring should be changed right away to hpi or somthing else cause there not very good and i own a lightning i have 3 other cars and this is the only one i have had problems with on break-in it ran really good when i was done breakin it in i took it out the next day and it would hardly stay running settings werent changed or anything from the last run ive tried everything to get this thing running i just gave up engine is done i think wither that or its stuck in second gear i just shelfed it

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

slate, I had both. My rent went up to 4,000 a month so I temp closed and moved everything home . We raced these at my store every week. Very good cars for the money.

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

oopps ya, sorry that was a miss type, I ment to say seel clutch bell, glad some one caught that.

They come with a steel clutch bell instead of the old aluminum ones. actauly the single speed transmission would the 5126 from the shockwave. the whole single speed 2 speed thing is also a matter of opinion. personally I got tired of it getting stuck in second gear and it happened frequently, so we changed ours over to a single speed and it seemed to handle better for drifting.

RE: Questions About the Lightning
 

yeah when we drift, we just tighten down the grub screw and lock it in 1st.