TRAXXAS X-Maxx Spur and Pinion Maintenance Tutorial

The Traxxas X-Maxx is one of the ultimate 4WD off-roaders, but this high-performance RC also needs the equivalent amount of care. Knowing the trouble spots of a model that you have is critical to maintaining its top condition. 

On that note, a common problem racers encounter with the Traxxas X-Maxx involves the spurs and pinions. It is a simple and easily avoidable issue that can be addressed through preventative maintenance. Before a seemingly small problem escalates into something much bigger and irreversible, let’s go about how we can maintain our Traxxas X-Maxx spurs and pinions step-by-step.

Summary

1. How to Repair your TRAXXAS X-Maxx Tire (Step-by-Step Instructions)
2. Watch and Learn from Following our Video

A Step-by-Step Guide on Spur and Pinion Maintenance

Maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your RC or any scale model in peak condition. Regular maintenance will prolong the life of any kit under your wing and improve its performance. For an RC like the Traxxas X-Maxx that regularly withstands wear and tear, inspection and upkeep are critical. Buckle up, because there will be a lot of steps.

Materials you will need:

• Cleaning brush
• 2 ½ millimeter Allen driver
• Cloth or rag (Preferably with minimal lint)
• Plier

How to Maintain Your Spurs and Pinion Gears

Step One: Take the Cover Off

In taking off the body of an RC, make sure that there is no mud, dirt, or big pieces of debris that might fall in when we remove the cover. Simply undo the lock that is found at the back of the truck to take the cover off.

Step Two: Clean the Inside

After removing the cover, you should always start by cleaning out all the loose dirt and dust. You can use a cleaning brush to scrape the inside of the X-Maxx so that there will be no dirt or debris that will get into the gearbox.

Step Three: Take the Motor Out

Flip the body on its back and use a two and a half millimeter allen key to undo the four screws that are locking the motor in place. While unscrewing the lock, you can also use this time to check the condition of the small components in your RC. In this case, give your screw a good look and see if it needs to be replaced or if it is still in good condition. You can also unplug the motor from the car itself to make sure that the fan wires are not all caught up.

Tip: Put all the screws and smaller pieces in a tray in order to prevent them from going missing or being lost.

Step Four: Examine the Pinning Gear

Look closely at the pinning gear that you just removed; it should be securely in place. If not, tighten the gears to keep it from going too loose. Find the locating pin and examine it closely, do this while lightly brushing and cleaning the inside of the motor mount. We also want to make sure that while we are carrying out the maintenance, that those pins will not be misplaced.

Step Five: Remove the Cover

Once again, use a two and a half-millimeter allen key to undo the screws on the cover plate. After loosening the screw, gently pry up the shaft cover and try not to let any dirt fall in.

Tip: Using an Allen key that is straight and has a handle will make the process so much easier as opposed to using an L-shaped or T-bar Allen key.

Step Six: Extract the Spur Gear

Once the cover is removed, carefully extract the spur gear. Once you are holding the spur gear in your hands, check the quality of the bearings and look for damages if there are any. To test its performance, lightly roll the bearing around and feel if there are any mishaps or bumps that might indicate that a part is possibly broken. 

Step Seven: Clean the Spur Gear

Take the gear and the pin off and give them a good wipe with a cloth or rag, preferably one that does not contain lint, which might get stuck in between bearings. If you see a little bit of discoloration in one of the parts, do not be alarmed; it typically gains coloration after being used for quite some time.

Step Eight: Assemble the Spur Gear

Assemble the spur gear by hand at first and, once you have screwed most of the parts halfway through, tighten it with Allen keys. This will ensure that it will last a lot longer, as opposed to not being cleaned and maintained. 

Step Nine: Putting it back Together

• Before proceeding with the assembly, make sure that you give every nook and cranny a good clean and wipe before it is covered. Give your screws a little brush as well. For the locators and bearings, you have to make sure that we have a nice, smooth mesh.
• Carefully put the gears back into their positions after the inspection. At this point, adding any lubricants to the bearing is not advised, especially when the casing and the gear are not clean enough. In putting back the motor, give it one last check before screwing it with the clean motor case in place.
• It's better to do the screwing by hand, you should not rush these things. The X-Maxx is on the bigger side, so they are easier to work on and give you a lot of control when hand wrenching. Although if you happen to use power tools when working on an RC, make sure that you have it in a low torque setting to avoid stripping the thread when you lose the feeling of it getting tight when you do it by hand.

Watch and Learn! 

Still a bit confused? Watch Brett as he walks you through the process of spur and pinion maintenance.

There you have it! Knowing how to properly repair your RC can give it a much longer life, it is not a waste of effort, especially if it is going to save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

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