Inspecting a used RC car buy?
07-09-2012, 12:28 PM
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
Inspecting a used RC car buy?
I've been into planes for about 7 years now and can spot problems with them even through grainy Craigslist pictures, but cars are new to me. If I were to be contemplating the purchase of a used nitro car, truck, buggy, etc, what are the common things I should check? Specifically, does a good car engine have that snappy compression at the top like a good plane engine does? How should the shocks feel? What is commonly broken? What kinds of problems aren't obvious?
07-09-2012, 01:41 PM
#3
Moderator
Thread Starter
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
It's a Jato 3.3, at least that's what the seller thinks. He says he got it in a trade and doesn't know anything about it. That's a red flag normally for me by itself, but I have exactly $5 in the item he wants me to give him for it so it's not the end of the world if I have to invest a few bucks into it. I just don't want to get into the thing and wind up spending as much on it as I could have bought a good used one for.
07-09-2012, 01:43 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Posts: 18,082
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
Difficult to tell from pictures, but bearings are always the best teller if you ask me. Someone who looks after their car will keep their bearings healthy, also drivetrain wear, look at pins of dogbones, etc, drive cups, if a set is nearly worn out, the car has been well used.
07-09-2012, 02:35 PM
#5
Moderator
Thread Starter
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
How about inspecting the clutch and transmission? Is there a simple way to see if they are worn or broken without running the vehicle?
07-09-2012, 04:53 PM
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: North West Indiana
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes
on
19 Posts
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
clutch isn't a huge issue as clutch shoes are generally around $10 a set, and outside starting it up there's no real way to tell if the shoes are good or not.
Tranny if it rolls freely should be ok. Its hard to tel outside that without opening it up and looking at how each gears worn
But yea as others said in nitro common place is engine those are usually trashed from my experiences buying used nitros.
Tranny if it rolls freely should be ok. Its hard to tel outside that without opening it up and looking at how each gears worn
But yea as others said in nitro common place is engine those are usually trashed from my experiences buying used nitros.
07-09-2012, 06:21 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tyler TX
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
Well, if you meet the guy, make him run it for a good ten minutes or so and let the engine get hot. If nothing happens, then the engine is *probably* alright.
07-09-2012, 08:24 PM
#8
Moderator
Thread Starter
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
He doesn't have any fuel to run it with and I don't either. I suppose it's cheap insurance to buy some but that would require learning about starting and tuning these things since he doesn't seem to know anything. I get the impression he's impulsive and lazy, which fits the profile of most of the people I buy stuff from. They take the big hit on value and I come along and snatch items up cheap when they get bored with it or realize it's going to require some thought to do the hobby. If he were the sort to get the car all tuned up and ready to go he wouldn't be the sort to let it go as cheap as he is.
07-09-2012, 08:26 PM
#9
Senior Member
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
loose wheels (bearings) cracked rims (impact) loose steering linkage (use and abuse) squeaky shocks (need rebuild) scraped up chassis plate (use and abuse) look for drive shaft wallowing and pinion to spur wear, spin the drive wheels to see if they move separately smoothly (diff)
07-10-2012, 01:33 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kingston UK, but living in Athens, GREECE
Posts: 18,082
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
ORIGINAL: jester_s1
He doesn't have any fuel to run it with and I don't either. I suppose it's cheap insurance to buy some but that would require learning about starting and tuning these things since he doesn't seem to know anything. I get the impression he's impulsive and lazy, which fits the profile of most of the people I buy stuff from. They take the big hit on value and I come along and snatch items up cheap when they get bored with it or realize it's going to require some thought to do the hobby. If he were the sort to get the car all tuned up and ready to go he wouldn't be the sort to let it go as cheap as he is.
He doesn't have any fuel to run it with and I don't either. I suppose it's cheap insurance to buy some but that would require learning about starting and tuning these things since he doesn't seem to know anything. I get the impression he's impulsive and lazy, which fits the profile of most of the people I buy stuff from. They take the big hit on value and I come along and snatch items up cheap when they get bored with it or realize it's going to require some thought to do the hobby. If he were the sort to get the car all tuned up and ready to go he wouldn't be the sort to let it go as cheap as he is.
07-10-2012, 07:41 AM
#11
Senior Member
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
I currently just bought a MGT 8.0 from ebay like that, it worked out for me, he knew ZERO about it, however iv'e bought other MT from ebay and they where so hacked and beat each one would require $200 worth of work to get running again, I got my money back though.
I would walk, if you buy it understand its a huge gamble.
I would walk, if you buy it understand its a huge gamble.
07-10-2012, 05:44 PM
#12
Moderator
Thread Starter
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
Well if I go ahead I'll have $5 invested in it plus some gas by the time I get it home. Like I said above I'm just not looking to spend another $100 to be able to play with it. If the deal even winds up working out I'll let you fellows know how it goes.
07-16-2012, 10:27 PM
#13
RE: Inspecting a used RC car buy?
i would go for it. if you find that its going to take too much money to run, you can always part it out on ebay. im sure you can get your $5 out of it if it doesnt work out. another jato owner would gladly pay more than that for a usable parts car. you sound kinda like me (always looking for a good deal). sometimes its a risk. with only $5 on the line, i would go for it. good luck [8D]
