Your B4 buggy tech support questions answered!

The capacitor is there to help deliver power to the motor under high load applications. It helps keep the batteries cooler, which gives you a higher average voltage.

3 I am thinking of buying a B4RTR. My question is about the batteries. Should I buy the 1100mH or the 3000mH for a buggy right out of the box? and why?

The higher the number (such as 3000), the longer the buggy will run between charges. However, the cells will also take longer to charge.

4 What's the main difference between the B3 and B4?

Your answers are online: b4_comparisons

5 About putting TC3 tires onto a b4.

I have done this w/o a problem on the rear to run onroad. Unbolt your current rims, install a hex adapter onto the axle, install the rim and bolt it on. On the front I installed a set of pan car tires.

6 Should I line the carbon battery compartment with elec. tape?

Lining your carbon chassis with electrical tape is a good idea. The B4 kits have a decal to line the two long sides of the compartment for the carbon chassis, should they get one.

7 Is it important to set the camber with the camber gauge and if its important what it change?

Camber is very important in a race. Proper camber will stabilize your car through bumpy sections, and help you gain traction going straight.

8 What will softening and loosening the rear suspension do?

Softening the rear end will give you an increase in traction and stiffing the rear end will reduce rear traction. If you have more of these questions, you should get the Complete Tuning Guide for your kit. It answers all thee types of questions with photos. Check out the free download Try version to see what I mean. Products > Tuning Guides.

9 What is the difference between a high torque servo, a high speed servo and a digital servo?

A high torque servo moves larger tires. Usually used for monster trucks. The high speed moves the wheels faster. A digital servo uses a FET, similar to the ones in a speed control, to boost the holding power of the servo.

10 Do you know what parts were not stock on the B4 that Easton drove to win the worlds?

It was all stock except for the front axles. Billy cut the threads off the front axles, then drilled and tapped the axles so that he could use a button head screw to hold the wheels on.

11 On the B4 front spindle blocks you can raise or lower them.

When you raise the blocks, the front of the car drops. This will give you better steering into the corner and less coming out. It would just be the opposite if you lower the steering blocks.

12 What are the best hop-ups for a B4?

What kind of hopups you want will depend on your goals--
. Do you want a lot of cool blue aluminum stuff? Then check out the Factory Team section of the web site.
. Do you want to race and can keep from hitting things? Then get as many graphite and carbon parts you can afford--this will make your car a little lighter.
. Do you want high top speed? Get a clutch bell or pinion gear with more teeth. Experiment with different tires.
. Do you want faster acceleration? Get a clutch bell or pinion gear with fewer teeth. Experiment with different tires.
. Do you need more tips on setting up your car to race? Get the Complete Tuning Guide e-Book.
. For info on these parts, go to Products > Parts & Accessories.

13 Why isn't there blue aluminum CVD's for this car? You make them for the tc3 so why not for the B4?

We feel that aluminum is just not strong enough to hold up to the repeated abuse of off road use.

14 I got a b4, and I've heard about the old and new chassis', My question is, how do I know I have the new or the old one?

The brace running behind the servo is the same height as the battery side rail-- that will indicate a new chassis.

15 I just got back into racing. I have an 86 rc10 aluminum chassis, and the gears still purr. Any chance this can keep up with the new buggies?

Your question on competitiveness depends on the experience of the drivers you are going against. One driver of an old RC10 just kept up his careful way through the course, avoided all the super-tricked-out kits, and beat them all. The drivers with the latest and greatest could not control their cars! I would suggest you survey the competition at a local track and see how they are doing, and compare your skills with theirs. If they are mature, level-headed drivers closely matched against other high-level cars, then I doubt you’ll have a chance with your old RC10.

Please remember that in a major race you must first go through qualifying laps. Those laps will match you up with racers of similar skill. You won't race against the best unless your skill puts you among the best to begin with.

16 Does the b2/b3 rear rim fit perfectly on a b4 I know it will fit but r they legal for the width or they don't have the right offset!!

Rears will, the fronts won't. B3 rears on a B4 is too wide to be legal.

17 #9623 Factory Blue B4 Aluminum Inline Axle. How are these axles installed on the car? No instructions came in package. And do they make a big difference?

You will need the inline steering blocks #9577. They do make a difference.

18 I have purchased 9659 steering rack. After fitting it I notice that the protruding edges (where the holes are) are rubbing against the left and right struts of the 9566 Top plate - has the design of the 9566 top plate changed, to accommodate the new steering rack?

You have the rack upside down. Flip it over and you should have no problems.

19 What does timing your motor mean and what does it do and how do you do it and on what motors.

The timing of the motor is usually set from the factory. Increasing the timing will cause the motor to draw more power, which will increase the rpm’s of the motor, but decrease your torque and runtime, and cause the motor to run hot. Decreasing the timing of the motor will do just the opposite. The motor will draw less power, decreasing the rpm’s of the motor, and increasing the torque. The motor is best left the way it comes from the manufacturer, as the timing has been optimized for the best rpm, torque, and efficiency.

20 Are any of your products made in the U.S.A. anymore?

Many AE kits are made in the U.S.A. All AE RTRs are made outside the U.S.A. You brought up an interesting point, though. Some, if not most, American cars include parts made from overseas. Are they still American cars? Toyota makes cars in America. Is it now an American-made car? Is the "American" designation dependent on the company's headquarter location (Detroit or Tokyo), or the parts origination? What percentage of the parts made in the U.S. will qualify it as American-made? Thanks to globalization and cheaper Asian labor, the lines have been blurred. The important thing is: all AE kits and RTRs are designed in the U.S.A., and the standards of quality are set by AE engineers in the U.S.A.

21 What effect do the 30 degree castor blocks have on the B4?

Using 30-degree caster if you need increased steering entering the corners and less steering exiting. It will also be more stable when accelerating through fast bumpy track conditions. If you have questions like these, you should get the Complete Tuning Guide: B4 (see "Tuning Guides" on the home page).

22 What do you recommend as the best method to clean out the bearings?

Put the bearing in a plastic bag with some motor spray, and shake the bag gently to get the dirt out. Cheap and simple!

23 Billy Easton used some sort of a film on the bottom of his buggy to prevent scrapes and that sort of thing.

That is the #6312, chassis protective sheet, $8.50.

24 What a the top speeds of the B4 and T4 with A 14x2 KR

You can’t come by that number scientifically. You’ll need to test it with a speed gun.

25 The Rear shocks leak bad at the bottom, I have done multiple shock rebuilds and always use the Green slime, this is one of the first times i have ever had a fresh install and it leaks after the first run, taken it apart and seals have no cracks and nylon peaces have no burrs, the shafts seem to have a bit more side to side play than the ones on my B3.

It sounds as if you have too much oil in the shock, which when the shock is compressed will force it out thru the bottom of the shock. You should be able to push the shock shaft all the way into the body with no resistance. Then the shock should extend out ¼-1/2 of the way out by itself.

26 What is the difference in handling between in line and trailing front axles

The inline will give you more aggressive steering.

27 Can you tell me why my b4 shocks are leaking. It seems to go out the bottom of the shock. After a day of racing there seems to be a large air pocket in my shocks. There is no sign of oil around the caps.

It is possible that you have too much rebound in the shocks. Continue to bleed the shocks until the shaft does not come out when pushed into the shock body or rebounds very little.

28 Does anyone know where to get an aluminum screw set for my B4?

Click on the Factory Team link to find out what is available for the B4 with aluminum screws.

29 How do you get the b4 from nosediving?

This information comes from the #9656 Complete Tuning Guide: B4 ebook, page 51:
Problem:
Nose diving off jumps
Causes:
Rear springs too stiff
Front springs too soft
Applying too much brake in flight
Not enough acceleration off jump
Rear ride height too high

30 The track that I run on is outdoors, hard packed, slick and bumpy. In your opinion would the inline axles have an advantage over the trailing?

The Team especially recommends the trailing blocks on high-grip or “blue-groove” conditions. Optional inline steering blocks will give the car an overall more aggressive steering feeling. Steering entering and exiting the corners is increased, and straight-line stability is slightly reduced.

31 I was running my B4 RTR in reverse and the Car stopped after about 45 seconds. Once I went forward it would go in reverse again, but would stop after another 45 seconds. Is this normal?

Yes, it is. Reverse is active only for a short period of time.

32 What are threaded shock bodies?

Stock shocks use preload spacers to raise and lower the ride height of the car. Threaded shock bodies replace the preload spacers with a threaded collar. This collar allows finer adjustments than the preload spacers, and is quicker and easier to use. Here’s a TC3 threaded shock body with collar: 3963_body.gif

33 Why is it better if your parts have "Zero flex"?

Flex is bad if you want the car to react instantly. Example: If you push a balloon hard to get it going, it will first absorb your finger (flex) before popping away. If you push a ping pong ball in the same way, it will respond immediately, having less flex. Now imagine the same force against your a-arm, shock tower, and shock combination. With much flex in all three, it would be what the racers call “less responsive.” With carbon parts, the setup would be “more responsive.” Don’t get carbon parts until you are a good driver and have good control (that is, you don’t crash so much), because carbon parts are not stronger than stock plastic, but more rigid.

34 I don't get what will happen if you move the batteries position forward or backward.

If you move your batteries forward, you’ll put more weight forward. This puts more force on your front tires, so in general you’ll get more responsive steering. If you move them all the way back, you’ll put more force on the rear wheels, so basically you’ll get more traction.

35 When I try to install the heavy duty servo saver spring I keep stripping the thread in the lower servo saver.

First install the tension nut to cut the threads into the servo saver, then remove it. Add the spring and turn the nut counter clockwise till you feel it drop into the threads and tighten till it's snug--do not crank it down or you will, as you have found out, strip it.

36 Will the body from the b4 fit on the b3 factory team kit?

It will not fit.

37 Why do some of your factory drivers like to run the dogbones on their b4?

The parts are 9671, 9670. The drivers are saying that you get better side bite with this set up.

38 My new B4 has quite a bit of slop in the steering.

The racers here run the buggy stock. Some slop is necessary in order for the car to track straight. If there were no slop the car would wander when driven in a straight line.

39 What are advantages of using UNOBTAINIUM shock shafts? I know it is smoother but what does that do?

The shafts have superior wear characteristics. They do not have to be replaced as often as a standard shaft.

40 What would you say is a better value for the intermediate driver: a kit or a fully assembled car (with radio and all)?

Does the intermediate driver want to build his own car or not? If he is going to race, and it is a car he hasn’t used before, he should build his own so he understands how to work on it.

41 I just purchased a B4,what hopups would you suggest that I purchase?

If you are new to racing, we recommend running stock until you have good driving skills. Do you want to win more races? Get springs, oils, other tuning options, and the “9656 Compete Tuning Guide: B4 e-Book” for better tuning, and practice a lot.

If you are not racing the kit, then get the stuff according to your goal. Want to look cool? Get the blue aluminum stuff. Want to get as light as possible? Forget the aluminum and get the graphite stuff.

43 What parts will I need to convert from dogbones to CVD's?

You will just need the CVD kit #9599.

44 My son's b4 transmission/motor is noisy and taking a small hit how can i set up the slipper gear and what transmission adjustments can we make?

The differential should be set as the following: tighten till the bolt stops then back it off 1/8th of a turn. To set the slipper, hold both the rear wheels, and then lightly give power and you should see the front wheels come up off the ground. The mechanical setting would be get the nut so there is just about one thread showing and then turn it go in 4 turns. Refer to you manual pages 6 for the diff and 8 for the slipper.

46 Why can I not stop the B4 from going into instant nose dive as soon as you lower the throttle to set up for a landing.

You should not have to have the throttle pegged when landing. Ideally you will land and be on the throttle 25-50%. If you let off the throttle while in the air any car will nose dive. You need to modulate the throttle while in the air to control the level of the chassis never really fully coming off the throttle. If you have to come off the throttle completely or “heaven forbid” brake in the air you gave the car too much throttle while taking off from the jump. If your car does begin to drop its nose then give the car a little more throttle and that will bring the nose back up.

47 What hop ups are there for the b4 to go faster?

To go faster in a wide-open smooth area: Switch to a pinion gear with 1-2 more teeth. Upgrade your ESC to handle a modified motor with few turns and change your stock motor over to a modified motor. Get tires that provide better traction. These steps alone may get you an extra 10mph.

48 How many shims do I need to achieve 0, 3, & or 6 degree wing angles?
Most of the setups that I have seen on the web are set to 6 degrees.

Shims are tapered 3°. With no wing shims, the wing is set at 3°. With the shims turned thin part forward, the angle becomes 6°. With the shims turned thick part forward, the angle becomes 0°.

50 I was making the transmission and noticed that it didn't say to apply any sort of lube to the gears.

Don’t apply any lube to the gears. They are made of a self-lubing material.

51 I'm looking for large truck wheels (& tires) for the front and rear side that will fit on my my RC10B4. Do the truck wheels of the T3 (or T4) fit on it?

You will need the front axles off of the new T4. The rears are the same, all you need is the T4 wheel.

52 What are your team drivers and other guys doing for a transponder mount?

Most guys will still use the old hole in the front windshield to mount the transponder. I also have seen some drivers mount it to a piece of Lexan that was secured to the stiffening wall between the receiver and steering servo.

53 How much longer are the CVD Bones for the B4?

The CVD’s are about 3/8” longer on the B4.

54 The steering rack hangs up on the top plate.

From our experience, the steering will bind up if you tighten the steering bolts too much. Loosen the steering bolts until the steering rack moves freely.

55 Do the rear Losi rims from pro line work on the b4?

On the rear of the buggy you can use Losi or Associated rims.

56 I just got the B4 Carbon Chassis and when I got the one for my B3 there was a warning about the batts and other electronics shorting out on the carbon, nothing came with the B4 carbon chassis. is this not a concern anymore or are there steps I should follow?

Yes you still should. Be careful please. Use the battery box sticker that came with the kit or put electrical tape on the side of the battery compartment.

57 Some believe that switching to carbon parts will limit breakage.

Actually, the molded composite parts have a bit more flex to them. Send us the parts so we can evaluate the breakage. This has been our answer again and again for those who keep breaking the same parts.

58 Now the B4 has arrived what will happen to spare parts availability for the B3?

They’ll be around for the next several years.

59 Do the #1581 & #1582 buggy spring kits include the new brown front, and grey rear springs?

They don’t.

60 How much lighter will the full carbon kit make the car?

We are probably looking at a savings of an ounce or two.

61 What is the transmission ratio?

The B3 trans ratio is 2.4 and the B4 trans ratio is 2.6.

62 I bought factory blue body clips and I love them but they don't fit the front body mount or the battery straps.

63 I sized a B3 Gear cover and it does fit, but if you are using Lunsford Fat Boy motor mount screws you will have to trim a little of the bottom of the cover.

The b3/t3 cover will fit, but needs to be modified slightly to fit correctly...open up the holes a bit and grind where the screws go through.

64 How do you adjust the wing angle on it?

You adjust the wing angle on the B4 with the wing #9587 angle clips. They can be rotated in two different directions, or left off.

65 Are b4 turnbuckles interchangeable with that of the b3

Yes. Front and rear.

66 Do you think that associated will come out with a b3 conversion kit?

There will not be a conversion kit for the B4. It is too different.

67 The manual that came with the B4 does not say anything about lube on the Ball ends. Should I lube the Ball and the Ball ends?

Absolutely not. Please follow the manual as is.

68 How does moving the spindle up and down affect the handling? also what affect will adding or remove bump steer washers have?

Moving the spindle will change the ride height a little. You will want to maintain the correct bump steer spacer in order to keep the bump steer down to a minimum. Deviating from the recommended spacers will only cause the car to become unstable over bumpy sections of the track. Try to keep the steering turnbuckle level with the front suspension arms.

69 Can you provide a general guide for shock oil thickness front and rear in the following conditions ...

- high grip tracks = thicker oil and/or springs.
- busy jump tracks = thinner oil and/or springs.
- low grip tracks = thinner oil and/or springs.

70 Is there any way to mount truck tires on a B4?

You will need to install T4 front axles on your buggy, then mount a set of truck tires and rims on your buggy.