10 RC Newbie Mistakes To Avoid - RC Driver

We’ve been in the RC hobby for a long time, no really, a looong time and have seen a lot of new people enter the hobby while hanging out at shops and tracks. Over the years we’ve seen common recurrences in newbie mistakes. So in order to help future newbies get into the hobby with ease we made a list of ten mistakes to avoid. These mistakes to look out for cover both electric and nitro RC vehicles. Some tips are things to remember right off the bat while others are things you should always keep in mind, even if you eventually hit the race track. Our mission is to help you be prepared in the RC hobby and after watching this video we hope it leads to more RC fun.

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#RCCars #RCTrucks #RCDriver

[justinwoodall]

3 Things you have to Know:
#1: IT WILL BREAK!
#2: You can fix it!
#3: Something else WILL BREAK!

[Gavs_rc_hobbies]

I couldn't agree more about supporting your local hobby shop. Its just a shame that there are some hobby shops that aren't so 😕

[Fearborne]

Newbie mistake:
Breaking chassis on a Redcat the 2nd day u have it
Taking the entire thing apart and stripping every single screw in the process
Buying a new aluminum frame
Finiding out it won't fit
Giving up on RC
Never touching the car again
Come back 3 years later seeing the remote and now ur back into RC

[teslacybertruck]

Top mistake.



Handing over your remote

[mrballpython]

I inherited my grandfather's RC traaxas from the early 2000's. It's called the traaxas e15 I believe and it has a super strengthened body and shocks. I love it it's insanely fast and agile! But after a week of using it the old batteries finally gave out.

[rayk]

I really could have used this with my first nitro car. It was a corvette ZR1 from Tamiya and boy, did I make some mistakes. Like you said I fired it up, smoke was pouring out, so I let it run a few minutes with 20% fuel and (on a stand) did a few full throttle pulls. Adjusting the needle valve until it sounded like it should and then on the ground for some top speed runs. Funny thing, over the distance of a half mile, I went through a gallon of fuel running it back and forth at full throttle. The head was glowing red when I was done. I thought it was normal. Never ran again once it cooled off. Replaced the motor, had the shop break it in, then came home and ran it into a sewer because I put old batteries in the receiver. Locked at full throttle, bloop! Flooded ZR1. Life experiences...

[jhewitt]

in regards to fires caused by battery charging, I have found a great combination...
mix a 1:1 ratio of cornstarch/baby powder and baking soda, (a total minimum of 2 cups) and keep in an air tight container next to your charger, no mixing water, just pour directly onto the battery enough to fully choke it and kill the chemical reaction causing the fire

[joshriver]

TO HELL with reading the manuals! Thats no way live.
deal with consiquences later

[benwachtel]

My local hobby shop doesn’t like to help unless I’m buying things...

[megagadgetmad]

Is it me that watches these things even though you been in the hobby for a while

ps:thanks for all the like

[blazenjestergames]

It’s been a long time since I ran an RC over 20 years tbh and now my kids want to get into it so this video was a good help even though I have many years experience running RCs I’m starting back at the basics and working my way back up myself thank you for this video !

[wordreet]

My little piece of advice for beginners.
"Do not use a ball end hex key" when finally tightening motors bolts and grub screws in pinions or screws in metal parts. The ball end is not designed for maximum torque applications. Use a plain hex key, and if you have a tricky angle to work with, use a simple 90 degree hex key (Allen key) if you can. The plain 90deg key can apply more torque than you can with a "driver handle", and is less likely to damage itself or the socket in the screw. Use a drop of thread lock in all metal parts when you can.

[filmgaming]

Also, don't run your rc's in wet conditions unless you have to the time to properly maintain the vehicle.
I didn't do this with my first rc, and now rust has gotten to every screw

[robertb.]

I cannot believe there are people out there who don’t think to charge their batteries before the first use. 🤦‍♂️

[nicholasmapes]

Love the last lesson... I purchased a car for my nephew (9yo), and went right to my local shop, without hesitation. He helped me find the right truck for the youngster to start with.

[jiakabery]

I love the last tip the most. I always go to the same hobby shop I went to first in 1986. If they don't have it I check the other local shops. IF they don't have it I go for A-Main or the manufacturer. That's the way it should be. If you have a local shop, support them first.

[rcfrenzy]

One of the biggest mistake I see is people using red loctite! Our hardware is tiny, blue loctite is sufficent 99.99% of the time in the RC world. When you use red loctite you're casing yourself a huge headache when that screw needs to be removed!

[torredcat]

Newbie mistake #1 for nitro rc cars always turn the controller on before the car!

[LordPrometheous]

My biggest mistake was thinking after 35 years without an R/C car, that immediately buying an Arma Typhon 6S (70+mph) was a good idea. I did get a Tamiya Lunchbox that day as well, so at least I used common sense there. The Arma is just too dang fast for me, even with the slower pinion gear, until I can get to a track.

[Reindeer]

Newbie Mistake #11 - DON'T forget the Loctite! Any metal fastener to metal part needs the Loctite if you don't want to see parts fall off your vehicle while driving it!