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The following section addresses some very basic engine and
radio questions you may have about your S-Maxx. Most questions
arise from simple user errors or minor adjustments that are easy
to correct. If you can’t find a solution for your S-Maxx here, then
visit our Web site at www.Traxxas.com and click on the Customer
Support menu. There you will find a much more extensive and
detailed online troubleshooting area. In addition, you may call
Traxxas Customer Service at 1-888-TRAXXAS (outside the US call
972-265-8000).

Radio system does not work properly:

If the power light on the transmitter does not come on, check
for proper battery installation and that the batteries are new
and/or fully charged. If the power light is blinking, then the
transmitter batteries are weak and should be replaced. See
page 13 for more details.
If the transmitter light is on but the radio is still not
responding, check for proper installation of the receiver
batteries and that the batteries are new and/or fully charged.
Check to make sure the on/off switch on the model is in the
on position. Finally, if there is still no response check the red
and black wires that connect the battery pack to the “batt”
terminal on the receiver (you will have to remove the receiver
cover). Make sure the wires are not pinched or damaged and
that the plug is secure in the receiver. See page 14 for more
details.

Short radio range:

If the radio range appears short, then first check to make sure
the transmitter antenna is fully extended and that the
antenna in the S-Maxx is in place and has not been cut or
damaged. Next, make sure the batteries are all fully charged.
Finally, if you are still experiencing short range, try a different
location. Sometimes there can be interference from various
sources that can cause your radio to malfunction.

Engine will not spin (EZ-Start will not turn the engine):

If neither LED on the controller lights, the EZ-Start battery
could be discharged or improperly connected. Inspect and
recharge if necessary.

If the glow plug LED lights and the motor LED does not, then
the EZ-Start controller is in protection mode. Allow the
controller to cool for at least three minutes. The circuitry
should automatically reset.
Check to make sure the wires are connected to the EZ-Start
motor in the S-Maxx. The red wire should connect to the
positive motor terminal, indicated by a red dot next to the
terminal.
The engine could be flooded. If too much fuel accumulates in
the combustion chamber at start up, the engine will
hydraulically lock. Follow the procedure on page 43 for
clearing a flooded engine.
Check for binding at the engine flywheel. If you are not able to
turn the engine by hand, the engine could be flooded, there
could be binding in the clutch system, or there could be
internal engine damage. (Note: It is normal for the engine to
be extremely tight and hard to turn when the piston reaches
the top of the compression stroke.)

Engine extremely sluggish,  hard to start, and will not idle
during tank 1 of the break in:

It is possible that the factory adjusted break-in settings on
your carburetor are too rich for your geographic location,
atmospheric conditions, or fuel brand. Extremes in
temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and altitude can’t
always be accounted for with a single high-speed needle
setting. The symptoms described above can occur when the
air density is very low such as in high mountainous elevations,
and extremely cold temperatures. Under these conditions,
lean the fuel mixture slightly, 1/8 turn, to see if there is any
improvement in starting and idling. Only lean the fuel mixture
just until the engine will run and idle reliably and then
proceed with the break in.

The contents of different brands of fuel (other than Traxxas
Top Fuel) in combination with extreme atmospheric
conditions can also make the factory preset break-in settings
too rich and cause the symptoms described above. Again, try
leaning the fuel mixture slightly, 1/8 turn, to see if there is any
improvement in starting and idling.

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Troubleshooting Your S-Maxx

Summary of Contents for S-Maxx

Page 1: ...MODEL 5109 OWNER S MANUAL...

Page 2: ...contents 2004 Traxxas Traxxas S Maxx TRX 2 5 TQ 3 Top Fuel EZ Start Ready To Race Ready To Win and ProGraphix are trademarks or registered trademarks of Traxxas Other brand names and marks are the pr...

Page 3: ...by itself Each part of the TRX 2 5 from the air filter on the slide carburetor to the tip on the dyno tuned exhaust system has been carefully engineered to provide maximum power over the broadest RPM...

Page 4: ...al safety or avoiding damage to your S Maxx and related components Special advice from Traxxas to make things easier and more fun Refers you to a page with a related topic Support If you have any ques...

Page 5: ...ally when refueling or stopping the engine Prolonged exposure to the engine exhaust can be harmful Avoid breathing the engine exhaust Always run your S Maxx outdoors in a well ventilated area Never ru...

Page 6: ...EZ Start starting system NiCad battery charger Traxxas Top Fuel 10 quart 5010 20 quart 5020 10 gallon 5060 20 gallon 5070 Fuel dispensing bottle Traxxas part 5001 TRAXXAS 1 5mm hex wrench 2 0mm hex wr...

Page 7: ...ss brace Shock Oil Damper Turnbuckle Throttle Brake Servo Receiver Box Transmission Air Filter Pipe Header Engine see pg 20 for details Pressure Line Fuel Line EZ Start Motor EZ Start Plug Bulkhead Sh...

Page 8: ...ller 9 Turn on the radio system See page 18 Make a habit of turning the transmitter on first and off last 10 Check servo operation See page 19 Make sure the throttle and steering servos are working co...

Page 9: ...ead of the tire 3 Repeat step two at four or five points around the rim until the tire is completely secured to the rim Turn the rim over and repeat the process for the inside of the rim tire Repeat f...

Page 10: ...easy removal Use a hobby knife to lift the corner of a decal and remove it from the backing Carefully position the decal over the desired location and press one side on the body Pull the decal tight a...

Page 11: ...available separately CH 3 CH 2 CH 1 Antenna Throttle Neutral Adjust Steering Wheel Throttle Trim Steering Trim 3rd Channel Switch Power Switch Power Indicator Battery Compartment Servo Reversing Swit...

Page 12: ...tral position The standing position that the servos seek when the transmitter controls are at the neutral setting NiCad Refers to rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries The most economical choice since...

Page 13: ...es The power indicator light does not indicate the charge level of the receiver batteries in the model Use the Right Batteries Your transmitter and receiver use AA batteries Use new alkaline batteries...

Page 14: ...with the screws see sidebar On Off Switch 4 cell battery holder Direct the battery wires through the slot in the battery cover If the wires are not properly routed they may become broken or shorted ca...

Page 15: ...bag with your manuals and documentation 1 Locate the black antenna wire that exits the receiver cover The S Maxx receiver cover is mounted on the top of the chassis near the front 2 Pull the wire stra...

Page 16: ...rigger Change the adjustment by pressing the button and sliding it to the desired position There are two settings available 50 50 Allows equal travel for both acceleration and braking 70 30 Allows mor...

Page 17: ...no steering input at the wheel Servo Reversing Switches The servo reversing switches are located on the front of the transmitter next to the on off switch Moving a switch reverses the direction of the...

Page 18: ...d 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...

Page 19: ...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...

Page 20: ...f 3 Make sure your transmitter antenna is fully extended and then walk away from the model with the transmitter until you reach the farthest distance you plan to operate the model 4 Operate the contro...

Page 21: ...components It is very important that you follow the new break in procedure as closely as possible to achieve the best performance and longest life from your TRX 2 5 Racing Engine Old style break in p...

Page 22: ...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...

Page 23: ...ere the glow plug ignites the fuel The shape of the combustion chamber is designed to promote more efficient burning of the fuel Connecting rod The connecting rod transfers the piston motion to the cr...

Page 24: ...etting enough fuel for the available air Symptoms include engine overheating or the engine runs for a short time and then stalls particularly at high speed This is a dangerous condition that should be...

Page 25: ...ernal engine part that contains the piston The precise fit between the sleeve and the piston creates a seal that allows engine to have the required compression for combustion The sleeve in a TRX engin...

Page 26: ...urge you not to take chances with your engine investment and use the Traxxas fuel made for the TRX 2 5 Handling the Fuel Follow all directions and warnings on the fuel can Keep the fuel tightly cappe...

Page 27: ...g all three pieces of the filter assembly in hot soapy water dishwashing detergent works well Repeat twice 4 Thoroughly dry the parts with a clean towel or compressed air Remember to wear your safety...

Page 28: ...the correct air 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 mad...

Page 29: ...reak in settings Do not readjust your carburetor from the factory settings until after the engine is started and running and you have been able to observe the engine running to assess what minor adjus...

Page 30: ...iCad battery pack not included Use a charger not included designed for 7 2 volt battery packs Charge the battery according to the charger manufacturer s directions 1 Press the tab in the end of the ba...

Page 31: ...being placed on the EZ Start motor If the load becomes excessive the system shuts off power to the motor to prevent costly damage to the motor and the controller This may occur for example if the engi...

Page 32: ...fuel As the engine begins to break in the duration and intensity of the acceleration will gradually increase Sustained high speed running is not permitted until the 6th tank of fuel Perform the initia...

Page 33: ...inutes Tank 3 1 Driving procedure Gently pull the throttle trigger to 1 2 throttle over a 3 second count Then gently apply the brake to stop Count the three seconds out while accelerating one thousand...

Page 34: ...ure 1 4 turn The engine will probably be slightly rich at that setting and you can then retune for performance Always tune for performance by starting rich and moving leaner toward the ideal setting N...

Page 35: ...e the idle speed or clockwise to increase it The idle speed should be set as low as possible while still maintaining reliable running characteristics 4 Reset the throttle trim on the transmitter Fine...

Page 36: ...this reason we cannot give you a definitive temperature range that indicates the best possible engine tuning The temperature gauge can aid you in tuning by giving you a relative indication of how you...

Page 37: ...in damage of any kind The engine could be damaged due to overloads on the engine caused by drivetrain friction or over revving caused by loose or missing parts Don t tow anything with your S Maxx The...

Page 38: ...djusting the Camber Two pivot balls are accessible through the spokes of each of the wheels on your S Maxx From the factory the pivot balls are completely tightened into the suspension arms which give...

Page 39: ...pension travel and ride height Racing on a prepared track or on road use requires a lower ride height and firmer more progressive suspension settings The more progressive suspension settings help redu...

Page 40: ...position is moved from position A to position B Ride height is not affected by changes in the upper shock mounting position Use the chart below to see the effect of the various shock mounting position...

Page 41: ...omes visible holds the two speed mechanism on to the shaft Do not loosen this screw The second set screw is the adjustment screw 5 Insert the 2 0 hex wrench through the clutch drum and into the adjust...

Page 42: ...ery could be discharged or improperly connected Inspect and recharge if necessary If the glow plug LED lights and the motor LED does not then the EZ Start controller is in protection mode Allow the co...

Page 43: ...air filter maintenance or running through water then the internal engine components could wear out extremely fast Engine performance sluggish Engine performance depends mostly on the fuel mixture set...

Page 44: ...its This is extremely important for the life of the engine See page 45 for after run maintenance procedures Inspect the vehicle for obvious damage or wear Look for 1 Loose or missing screws 2 Cracked...

Page 45: ...will most likely start and run for a few seconds as it uses up any fuel remaining in the engine and fuel lines 4 Once the engine stops clean the outside of the engine with compressed air or spray mot...

Page 46: ...Cylinder sealing 32 Decals 10 Differential 7 Drivetrain friction 37 Driving Tips 37 Dyno 23 E mail 4 Engagement pawls 41 Engine TRX 2 5 7 22 26 cutting out 34 break in 21 23 32 driving procedure 33 co...

Page 47: ...Servo reversing switches 11 16 Servos 7 11 12 reversing 11 17 steering 7 11 17 19 throttle brake 7 11 16 17 19 Shipping 4 Shock Mounting Positions 39 40 Lower 39 Upper 40 Shock progression 39 Shock To...

Page 48: ...1 100 Klein Road Plano Texas 75074 1 888 TRAXXAS...

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