Traxxas 5509, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...owners manual MODEL 5509 ...

Page 2: ...total performance and satisfaction not just with your truck but also with the company that stands behind it Thank you again for going with Traxxas We work hard every day to assure you the highest level of customer satisfaction possible We truly want you to enjoy your new Jato 3 3 We know you re excited about getting your new Jato on the road but it s very important that you take some time to read ...

Page 3: ...wanted then do not continue any further Your hobby dealer absolutely cannot accept a Jato for return or exchange after it has been run Warnings helpful hints cross references Throughout this manual you ll notice warnings and helpful hints identified by the icons below Be sure to read them An important warning about personal safety or avoiding damage to your Jato and related components Special advi...

Page 4: ... careful not to touch the parts especially when refueling or stopping the engine For outdoor use only Prolonged exposure to the engine exhaust can be harmful Avoid breathing the engine exhaust Always run your Jato outdoors in a well ventilated area Never run the engine indoors Do not operate your Jato at night or anytime your line of sight to the model may be obstructed or impaired in any way Neve...

Page 5: ... chargers may also be used with very good results For more information see Use the Right Charger on page 25 NiCad or NiMH 7 2V battery pack Philips screwdriver TRAXXAS Suspension multi tool Glow plug and wheel nut wrench 1 5mm L wrench 2 0mm T wrench 2 5mm T wrench U joint wrench Shock wrench Turnbuckle wrench 4 way wrench Required Tools and Equipment sold separately TRAXXAS Recommended Equipment ...

Page 6: ...Half Shaft On Off Switch Antenna Mount Access Plug for two speed adjustment Pipe Hanger Receiver Box Engine Shut off Clamp Roll hoop Spring Pre load Adjuster Steering Servo under top plate Disc Brake Brake Tension Adjuster Charging Jack Fuel Pull Ring Steering Block Wheel Spindle Front Axle Caster Block Steering Bellcranks Rear Camber Link Front Camber Link Rear Shock Tower Front Shock Tower Brake...

Page 7: ...nd connect a charged 7 2 volt battery pack in the EZ Start controller 9 Turn on the radio system See page 15 Make a habit of turning the transmitter on first and off last 11 Range test the radio system See page 16 Follow this procedure to make sure your radio system works properly at a distance and that there is no interference from outside sources 12 Fill the fuel tank See page 22 Use your fuel d...

Page 8: ...g the Tires and Decorating your Jato 3 3 1 Remove a wheel from Jato using the 7mm end of 4 way wrench 2 Use your thumb to push the side of the tire away from the rim Place one or two drops of CA glue into the opening and release the tire Capillary action will draw the glue around the bead of the tire 3 Repeat step two at four or five points around the rim until the tire is completely secured to th...

Page 9: ... Battery Channel 1 Channel 2 TQ Transmitter Optional Charge Jack for optional NiMH battery pack Jato has a provision for a built in charging jack so you do not have to remove the battery pack from the model The wire for the charging jack is supplied with the factory harness and is stored inside the receiver box It is not installed in the charging jack to prevent inadvertently charging alkaline bat...

Page 10: ... nickel cadmium The original rechargeable hobby pack NiCad batteries have very high current handling high capacity and can last up to 1000 charging cycles Good charging procedures are required to reduce the possibility of developing a memory effect and shortened run times NiMH Abbreviation for nickel metal hydride Rechargeable NiMH batteries offer high current handling and much greater resistance ...

Page 11: ...t does not indicate the charge level of the batteries installed in the model Jato 3 3 11 The Traxxas TQ Radio System CH 2 CH 1 Use the Right Batteries Your transmitter uses AA batteries Use new alkaline batteries or rechargeable batteries such as NiCad or NiMH Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in your transmitter Make sure rechargeable batteries are fully charged according to the manufacturer s instr...

Page 12: ...attery holder in the rear compartment and plug in the 5 cell RX Power Pack and plug in the 5 cell RX Power Pack 3 Install the 5 cell RX Power Pack into the mid battery box 4 Replace the mid battery box cover being careful not to allow the wires to be pinched by the cover and secure it with the body clip Traxxas TRX Power System optional The optional Traxxas TRX Power System can be purchased separa...

Page 13: ... over tighten or crush the antenna wire against the top plate 5 Fold the top of the antenna wire over the top of the antenna tube Slide the antenna sleeve over the tube to retain the antenna wire Now slide the antenna tip onto the top of the antenna tube Never cut or shorten the antenna wire 6 On the transmitter always fully extend the telescoping antenna when running your Jato Make a habit of hol...

Page 14: ...l roll freely Do not use the throttle trim to raise or lower the engine idle speed Make the idle speed adjustment on the carburetor Electronic Steering Trim The electronic steering trim located on the face of the transmitter adjusts the neutral center point of the steering servos when the servos are at rest Adjust this control to make the model drive straight with no steering input at the wheel Se...

Page 15: ...lp to prevent your Jato from receiving stray signals from another transmitter or other source and running out of control Always have the transmitter and receiver turned on before you start the engine Never turn the radio system off while the engine is running The on off switch in the model only turns the receiver on and off It does not turn off the engine Always use new or freshly charged batterie...

Page 16: ...oking down at model the front wheels should be pointing straight ahead If the wheels are turned slightly to the left or right slowly adjust the steering trim control on the transmitter until they are pointing straight ahead 6 Operate the throttle trigger on the transmitter and check for rapid operation of the throttle servo When the throttle trigger is pulled back the carburetor should open slide ...

Page 17: ...ry important to perform regular routine maintenance The number one cause of premature engine wear and failure is lack of care and maintenance Break In The TRX 3 3 Racing Engine is manufactured to exacting tolerances and requires a specially designed break in procedure to accomplish the final precision fitting of the internal engine components It is very important that you follow the new break in p...

Page 18: ... head EZ Start Drive Unit EZ Start Motor Engine Mount Low Speed Needle Throttle Arm Clutch Bell Flywheel Carburetor Air Intake Fuel Intake High Speed Needle Idle Speed Screw EZ Start Plug Positive Wire Negative Wire Fuel Line Fuel Tank Tuned Pipe Pressure Line Ground Wire Glow Plug Wire EZ Start Controller Crankshaft Crankcase Engine Shut off Clamp Air Filter Housing ...

Page 19: ...Crankcase The engine s body that contains all of the running mechanical components Crankshaft The main shaft of the engine that holds the reciprocating assembly Cooling fins The cooling fins are milled into the cylinder head and crankcase and cause heat to be drawn away from the engine Heat is removed when it dissipates into the air passing across the cooling fins It is important to keep the fins ...

Page 20: ...e creates a seal that allows the engine to have the required compression for combustion Port Ports are openings in the sleeve that allow atomized fuel to enter the combustion chamber and burned exhaust gases to exit The shape and location of the ports are a large factor in controlling the engine timing and power output Priming Manually causing fuel to move from the fuel tank up to the carburetor T...

Page 21: ... reality there are practical limitations Engines are designed to run best within a range of nitro percentages How the engine is ported the size of the combustion chamber and other factors determine how much nitro can be efficiently used in the engine The TRX 3 3 Racing Engine responds exceptionally well to a maximum of 33 nitro returning cooler temps more power and a smoother throttle response For...

Page 22: ... filter assembly firmly to the side to release it Do not pull straight up 2 Disassemble the filter Pull the rubber air filter neck out of the filter body With the base removed the foam element is visible in the bottom of the filter body Pull out the foam element 3 Clean the filter parts by thoroughly washing all three pieces of the filter assembly in hot soapy water dishwashing detergent works wel...

Page 23: ...r fuel ratio Warmer air is less dense fewer air molecules and therefore needs less fuel to maintain the correct air fuel ratio The tuning needles are there to adjust how much fuel is made available for the carburetor to mix with the available air atomization The Fuel Mixture Needles The amount of fuel metered and atomized by the carburetor is controlled by the two mixture needles the high speed ne...

Page 24: ... until after the engine is started and running and you have been able to observe the engine running to assess what minor adjustments may be required to compensate for fuel temperature and altitude Adjustments are usually made in 1 8 or 1 16 turn increments If the engine sticks at TDC see page 27 for instructions on freeing the engine The Idle Speed Screw The idle speed screw controls the closed po...

Page 25: ...uded The engine glow plug is heated automatically by the EZ Start system eliminating the need to keep up with a separate glow plug igniter The voltage to the glow plug is kept constant regardless of the load placed on the starter by the starter motor The Glow Plug LED light emitting diode on the control unit indicates glow plug continuity The Motor LED indicates the status of the EZ Start electric...

Page 26: ...eliver enough power to crank the engine over at the appropriate RPM to keep the piston from sticking at top dead center TDC A new engine will typically have a tight fit between the piston and the top of the sleeve This is a tapered fit and a tight piston sleeve fit on initial startup is desirable for those who want the best performing engine Make sure you are using a good quality battery pack that...

Page 27: ...op dead center TDC Top dead center is the position where the piston is at the very top of the tapered sleeve Occasionally an engine can get stuck at this position This is most likely to happen on new engines during break in but can also happen at other times If the engine is stuck at TDC use the following procedure to release the piston from the sleeve 1 Remove the glow plug using the included too...

Page 28: ...l break in on a large flat paved surface Jato is very fast and by tanks 4 and 5 you will need plenty of room for the truck to run in Apply all throttle and braking actions gently Abrupt acceleration or braking could cause the engine to stall unnecessarily Special break in fuels are not recommended Use the same fuel you plan to use everyday If possible avoid breaking in the engine on extremely hot ...

Page 29: ...nd count Then gently apply the brake to stop Count the two seconds out while accelerating one thousand one one thousand two and then stop Repeat this starting and stopping procedure until the second tank of fuel is nearly empty 3 When the fuel tank is nearly empty shut off the engine and let it cool for 15 minutes Tank 3 1 Driving procedure Gently pull the throttle trigger to 1 2 throttle over a 3...

Page 30: ...ot Make sure that you monitor the engine s temp closely for the first couple of tanks until you get the right amount of cover for the cooling head This will of course depend on your current weather conditions Adjusting the cover up and down exposing more or fewer cooling fins is a convenient way to regulate engine temps For owners that do not have access to a temperature probe a drop of water on t...

Page 31: ...y powerful Remember to apply the throttle gradually to prevent wheelies or loss of control Continue this procedure until there is no longer any performance improvement If any one of the following conditions occurs the fuel mixture is already past the maximum safe lean setting 1 There is no longer any performance improvement 2 The engine begins to cut out at high speed Danger 3 There is a sudden lo...

Page 32: ...tion that has the most influence on engine temperature is air temperature Expect the engine temperature to vary almost in direct proportion to air temperature Assuming you tuned the engine for the same maximum performance each day the engine will run about twenty degrees hotter when it s ninety degrees outside than it would in seventy degree weather For this reason we cannot give you a definitive ...

Page 33: ...th drive train damage of any kind The engine could be damaged due to overloads caused by drivetrain friction or over revving caused by loose or missing parts Don t tow anything with your Jato The engine is cooled by airflow created by speed Towing creates a high load on the engine and at the same time limits cooling of the engine due to low vehicle speed If your Jato gets stuck stop driving immedi...

Page 34: ...ons may require stiffer springs When changing springs on Jato it should not be necessary to re adjust the spring pre load The accessory springs have been designed so the ride height should be the same before and after changing springs Optional springs available from Traxxas are listed below Refer to your parts list for a complete part number listing Higher rate springs are stiffer Springs can be i...

Page 35: ...ll become less viscous at higher temperatures and more viscous at lower temperatures Operating in regions with cold temperatures may require lower viscosity oil From the factory the shocks are filled with SAE 30W silicone oil Only use 100 silicone oil in the shock Replacing Shock Oil For easier service the shocks should be removed from the vehicle and disassembled to change the oil 1 Remove the lo...

Page 36: ...f the swaybar If the vehicle is suffering from oversteer or understeer you can adjust the front and rear swaybars separately to cure the handling problem Stiffen the front swaybar or soften the rear swaybar to cure oversteer Soften the front swaybar or stiffen the rear swaybar to cure understeer Securing the sway bar links closer to the fulcrum pivot point of the bar will provide a firmer setting ...

Page 37: ...is completely eliminated Do not over tighten the slipper nut or you could damage the slipper bearings pressure plates or other components Adjusting the Two Speed Transmission Jato comes equipped with an adjustable two speed transmission When the shift point on the transmission is adjusted correctly it will maximize acceleration and improve drivability Use a 2mm hex wrench to adjust the shift point...

Page 38: ...ghtening the spring will reduce the servo saver action and provide more solid steering especially in extremely rough environments However as the servo saver spring is tightened protection for the servo gears is reduced Consider tightening the servo saver spring when using more powerful aftermarket steering servos or servos that have metal gears Steering System Linkage Precise installation and adju...

Page 39: ...ghten these fasteners or you may damage the brake disc or pads Loosen each of the shoulder bolts by 1 turn Brake Linkage Adjustment When correctly adjusted the brake linkage spring should barely touch the rod guide when the servo is in neutral position radio system on closed throttle This will ensure no brake drag during operation of the vehicle The brake adjustment knob can be turned counter cloc...

Page 40: ...engine maintenance Inspect the connecting rod after 3 gallons of fuel have been used Slipper clutch pads friction material Under normal use the friction material in the slipper clutch should wear very slowly If the thickness of any one of the slipper clutch pads is 1 8mm or less the friction disc should be replaced Measure the pad thickness using calipers or measuring against the diameter of the 1...

Page 41: ...ngine and fuel lines 4 Once the engine stops clean the outside of the engine with compressed air or spray motor cleaner Once the engine is clean and dry remove the glow plug power wire glow plug and air filter 5 Open the throttle fully and spray a one second burst of WD 40 into the carburetor and into the glow plug hole Caution Wear safety glasses to prevent spray from getting into your eyes If yo...

Page 42: ...ke rod end from the brake cam Remove the 3x10 shoulder screw and detach the brake bell crank from the transmission housing 2 Remove the 3x12 buttonhead machine screw from the molded chassis brace behind the radio tray 3 Disconnect the throttle return spring from the molded chassis brace 4 Remove the two 4x18 countersunk machine screws the two 3x15 countersunk machine screws and the four 3x8 counte...

Page 43: ...acers in the rear stub axle housing where it joins with the lower suspension arm Keep in mind this is a fine tuning adjustment Unless you are a very experienced driver looking for that extra edge the factory wheelbase setting should prove to be fine for most applications Down Travel Limiters optional An optional kit is available separately for installing suspension down travel limiters on the fron...

Page 44: ...nloaded wheels on the inside of the turn have the least traction and tend to spin up to extremely high rpms Higher viscosity thicker oil causes the differential to act like a limited slip differential distributing more equal power to the left and right wheels Jato will generally benefit from higher viscosity oil when racing on low traction surfaces From the factory the differential is filled with ...

Page 45: ...g 33 tips 33 E mail 3 Engine TRX 3 3 see also Carburetor sluggish 29 break in 28 tank 1 6 29 winter break in 30 factory needle settings 24 flooding 27 high altitude operation 29 priming 28 revving 33 shut off clamp 6 18 26 shutting off 26 starting EZ Start 25 26 starting for the first time 28 top dead center 27 tuning 30 by temperature 32 Exhaust 28 EZ Start 18 25 controller 18 cush drive 25 drive...

Page 46: ...wheel 9 Storage 40 Supplies 5 Support 3 Suspension 34 ride height 34 shocks 35 springs 34 tuning 34 Suspension arm 6 Swaybars 36 Throttle arm 18 Throttle neutral adjust 9 14 Throttle return spring 6 Throttle trigger 9 Throttle trim 9 10 14 16 Throttle brake servo 6 9 16 Tire gluing 8 Tools and equipment 5 accessory 5 12 required 5 Transmission basic tuning 37 gear ratio 44 two speed access plug 6 ...

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Page 48: ...owners manual 1 100 Klein Road Plano Texas 75074 1 888 TRAXXAS 060515 MODEL 5509 ...