Traxxas 1501 Boat User Manual
Contents
1. CHAPARRAL Villain IV OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS COVERS MODELS 1508 1501 INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the new Traxxas Villain IV offshore racing boat This manual contains the instructions you will need to operate and maintain your new Villain IV boat Look over the manual and examine the Villain IV carefully before running it If for some reason you think the Villain IV is not what you want ed then do not continue any further Your hobby dealer absolutely cannot accept a Villain IV for return or exchange after it has been run or after any of the parts bags have been opened kit version Please read all of the Operating Instructions and Precautions before attempting to drive your new Villain IV These instructions are written with the assumption that this is your first radio con trolled model Even if you are an experienced R C enthusiast please continue reading to learn about the special features that make the Villain IV unique Pay special attention to the mechani cal and safety precautions outlined in this manual This manual includes steps for operating the radio system which is only included on Villain IV model 1508 Other models may not include the radio system If you have any questions about your new model then call Traxxas technical support line at 1 888 TRAXXAS or1 800 323 0069 U S A residents only Outside U S call 972 613 3300 Technical support is available Monday thro2. STOP STOP ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL 30 y O E CAUTION The adjustment controls will only turn 1 4 turn left or right from center Do not turn the controls past their stops or they will break Use a light touch when making adjustments Controls damaged by overturning them past their stops will not be covered under the warranty e Adjusting the neutral control First set the Villain IV on its stand turn on the transmitter and plug a fresh battery pack into the speed control Set the throttle trim slider on the transmitter to the middle of its range If the Villain IV s motor is running gently turn the neutral control right or left until the motor stops running and the L E D is off neither green or red e Adjusting the proportional control After setting the neutral control move the throttle lever on the transmitter to full throttle Now carefully adjust the proportional control right or left until the motor is running at its fastest speed and there is a strong green light emitted from the L E D Do not run for more than 30 seconds out of the water or heat buildup could damage the drive system CENTERING YOUR SERVOS Whenever your radio system has been removed for service or cleaning the steering servo must be re centered prior to installing the radio system in the model If the radio system is already installed in the boat disconnect the servo horn from the servo Connect the steering servo to channel 1 on your rec
3. be more unstable in the wind Do not trim the outdrive up on windy days or when running in choppy water If the trim is set to high then the bow will bounce up and down porpoise and the prop may begin to cavitate Loosen nut to vv adjust trim TRIM UP TRIM DOWN As the outdrive is trimmed down the bow of the boat is low ered thus increasing the wetted surface of the boat This will slow the Villain IV slightly but stability and control will be improved Experiment with this adjustment to find out what works best for your particular conditions Make sure the trim angle on both out drives is set the same ADJUSTING THE OUTDRIVE SHAFT END PLAY There should be a slight amount of shaft endplay in each out drive housing To adjust the endplay loosen the grubscrew on the U joint yoke see drawing Pull the propeller shaft until there is no more than 1mm of distance at arrow 2 in the drawing Retighten the grub screw BOAT RETRIEVAL If the Villain IV accidentaly flips over and fills with water it is equipped with foam flotation to help prevent it from sinking Traxxas does not recommend ever trying to swim or wade to retrieve a boat If you have chosen your launch sight carefully downwind the Villain IV will probably drift back to you on its own If there is no wind you will need a tennis ball and a length of string Tie the tennis ball securely to one end of the string and then throw t
4. installing the batteries Insert the batteries into the battery compartment making careful note of the polarity Now slide the battery door back in place OPENING THE TOP COVER The top cover is held secure with 4 plastic nuts A plastic T handle wrench has been supplied to help remove the plastic nuts Removing the top cover provides access to the battery compartment and radio system e INSTALLING THE RECEIVER BATTERIES Locate the 4 cell battery holder on the radio tray inside the boat Insert 4 AA Alkaline batteries into the battery holder making careful note of the polarity Secure the battery holder into its compartment with the rubber band e INSTALLING THE NiCd BATTERY PACKS IN THE VILLAIN IV Place one or two fully charged 6 or 7 cell NiCd battery packs into the front of the boat and secure them tightly with the Velcro straps The battery connectors in the Villain are wired in parallel so that adding the second battery pack will increase your run time not double the voltage Do not attempt to modify the wiring to increase the input voltage or severe damage to your speed control will result Do not connect the battery packs yet e ANTENNA SETUP Locate the metal wire whip antenna Screw the base of the whip antenna into the mount in the top cover Under no circum stances should you ever cut your antenna wire Its length is spe cially tuned to the frequency band and cutting it could severely shorten the
5. radio s range On top of the transmitter insert the chrome telescopic antenna into the hole in the top of the transmitter and screw it down until it stops Do not overtighten TRANSMITTER CONTROLS e THROTTLE NEUTRAL ADJUST The throttle neutral adjust is located on the right of the throttle stick channel 2 It controls the amount of desired forward and reverse travel of the throttle stick It should stay in the down position as shown in the drawing arrow If you change this adjustment your transmitter throttle trim will have to be reset and the electronic speed control may have to be readjusted See Adjusting the Electronic Speed Control CHANNEL 2 e THROTTLE TRIM STEERING TRIM Adjust the throttle trim control so that the motor in the Villain does not run after the battery pack is plugged in Adjust the steering trim so that the Villain will drive straight without veering to the left or right E cHannera gt Some _ CHANNEL1 U N a 2 STEERING TRIM CONTROL THROTTLE TRIM CONTROL CRYSTAL RADIO SYSTEM ADJUSTMENT Your radio system was pre adjusted before it left the factory how ever the adjustment should
6. H TRAXXAS CRYSTAL PART 26 995 BROWN 1 2031 27 045 RED 2 2032 27 095 ORANGE 3 2033 27 145 YELLOW 4 2034 27 195 GREEN 5 2035 27 255 BLUE 6 2036 determines which channel 1 6 that the RADIO SYSTEM will operate on For Each CHANNEL there are two CRYSTALS one for the RECEIVER and one for the TRANSMITTER Of those two CRYSTALS the one marked with the lower number 455 MHZ lower must be inserted in the RECEIVER ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL The ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL is the device in the boat which controls the speed The electronics make it fully digital proportional for precise throttle control at all speeds NICAD Ni Cd These terms stand for rechargeable nickel cad mium batteries These batteries are the most economical and can be recharged up to 500 times NEUTRAL POSITION The NEUTRAL POSITION is the standing position that the SERVO seeks when the TRANSMITTER controls are at neutral TRIM TRIM is the fine tuning adjustment of the NEUTRAL POSITION of the SERVOS This adjustment is made by moving the throttle and steering trim sliders on the face of the TRANSMITTER PREPARING TO RUN e INSTALLING TRANSMITTER BATTERIES Your transmitter uses 8 AA size batteries They should be alkaline dry cells or nicad rechargeable batteries The battery compartment is located in the back of the transmitter To remove the battery door push down and slide in the direction of the arrow Be sure that the switch is turned off before
7. as water a cooling kit part 4 1575 includes all CE N the parts necessary a S 7 to water cool the Villain MOTORS Modified motors are available in reverse rotation for perfect compatibility with the Villain s counter rotat ing props Using approved modified motors will cause significantly increased current draw through the boat s electrical components As the horsepower of your motors increases so should the thick ness of the wires and the quality and current capacity of the speed control and batteries SPEED CONTROLS The ultimate set up is to use a fully pro portional electronic speed control which is designed to handle the increased voltage and huge current draw There are many dif ferent brands of these speed controls available along with many different features such as water cooling reverse capability and thermal shutdown protection Consult your hobby dealer to find which suits your needs and budget Some final thoughts Careful assembly is crucial to obtaining the best results with the high performance Villains This means making sure all the rotating mechanisms operate freely with as little friction as possible The left and right drive systems should be equal to each other If one side runs faster or is adjusted differ ently from the other side the Villain will exhibit inconsistent per formance Experiment with the trim adjustments on the drive units to find which angle offers the best overall performance wi
8. at none of the steering mechanism is loose or binding If the servo operates slowly check for weak batteries Adjust the steering trim control on the transmitter to adjust the servo so that the outdrives are point ing straight out from the back of the boat Also check to be sure that the outdrives do not turn more in one direction than in the other If you cannot align the outdrive refer to the section Centering Your Servos 5 Operate the throttle stick on the transmitter to ensure that the throt tle is operating properly If the propellers start spinning after you plug in the battery or the boat doesn t seem to reach full speed then refer to the directions for adjusting the electronic speed control 6 The radio system should be range tested before each session of running With the radio system on have a friend carry the boat away from you a distance equal to the maximum range you plan to operate the the Villain IV At distance once again test for complete radio control Never attempt to run the Villain IV if the radio appears to be malfunctioning in any way ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL ADJUSTMENT The Traxxas electronic speed control is a fully proportional for ward reverse unit It has two adjustments the neutral control and the proportional control Use a small screwdriver to adjust the controls The speed control must be removed to gain access to the controls Center 1 4 Turn 1 Turn
9. be checked prior to running the Villain IV These instructions are for Traxxas radio systems only If you installed your own radio refer to your radio system s instructions 1 Before you ever turn your radio system on you must clear your frequency Clearing your frequency means checking to be sure that no one else in the area is operating on the same channel as you There are six different channels numbered 1 through 6 Each of the six channels is represented by a color Look at the crystal on the face of the transmitter to determine which of the channels your Villain IV is operating on 2 Always turn the transmitter on first before you turn on the receiver in the boat If you do not the boat could run out of control Slide the transmitter switch to the on position The red light should be on and not flashing A flashing red light indicates weak transmitter batteries Weak batteries will cause the range of your model to be limited and you could lose control CAUTION When nicad batteries begin to lose their charge they will fade much faster than alkaline dry cells Stop imme diately at the first sign of weak nicad batteries 3 Push the switch inside the boat to the on position The steering servo should jump and move to its idle neutral position Keep fingers and obstacles away from the propeller 4 Operate the steering control on the transmitter channel 1 Check for rapid operation of the steering servo and th
10. cking Use the pho tos on the box as a guide for decal placement To apply the long decals Place one end down hold the other end up and gradual ly smooth the decal down with your finger as you go This will prevent air bubbles Placing both ends of the decal down and then trying to smooth it out will result in large air pockets If you do have air pockets slice the center of the pocket with a hobby knife and then smooth out the air To install the chrome rails first sand the chrome off of the attachment points feet of each rail The ABS glue will not stick to the chrome Use the photos on the box as a guide for rail placement Place a SMALL dab of glue on each rail foot and and then place the rail on the boat Hold it in place for about 60 seconds On the long bow rails only place glue on 3 of the rail feet at a time Allow the glue to dry overnight before running the boat LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION Every effort has been made in component design and material selection to make your model as durable as possible Because the model is intended to be a hobby class model and operate at a much higher level of performance than a toy no warranties can be expressed or implied relating to the longevity of the parts Parts will wear out and require replacement If any part of the model appears to be defective or incorrectly assembled when it is new before it is used it will be repaired or replaced at Traxxas discretion This warrant
11. del boats Always choose a launch site which is downwind so that the wind and waves will drift the boat back to you if it should ever flip Running the Villain in salt water is not recommended Damage from corrosion is not covered by the warranty THE RADIO SYSTEM Model 1508 TWO CHANNEL RADIO SYSTEM The radio system in your model consists of the RECEIVER the TRANSMITTER the steering SERVO the ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL and the CRYSTALS It has two channels one to operate the throttle and one to operate the steering Unassembled kits do not include the radio system TRANSMITTER The TRANSMITTER is the hand held radio unit which sends throttle and steering instructions to the model RECEIVER The RECEIVER is the radio unit inside the model which receives signals from the TRANSMITTER and relays them to the SERVO and ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL SERVO The SERVO is the small motor unit in the model which operates the steering mechanism FREQUENCY BAND The FREQUENCY band is the radio frequency that the transmitter uses to send signals to the model The FREQUENCY BAND for radio control vehicles is 27 MHZ mega hertz CHANNEL The 27 MHZ FREQUENCY BAND is divided into 6 CHANNELS so that up to six boats can be operated simultaneously These CHANNELS are referred to by their number and flag color The chart below lists the channels and their flag colors CRYSTAL X TAL The RR Mkts the Plug in device that 27MHZ FLAG COLOR C
12. eiver and the electronic speed control or throttle servo for mechanical speed controls to channel 2 The white wire on the servo cable is positioned towards the crystal Connect the battery cable from the 4 cell receiver pack to the batt terminal on the receiver Place fresh AA batteries in the transmitter and turn the power switch on Slide the throttle and steering trim adjustments to the center position Connect a fresh 7 2V battery pack to the elec tronic speed control and turn the power switch to the on position The servo s will automatically jump to its center position Turn off the power switch in the boat followed by the transmitter The servo is now ready to be installed Be careful not to move the servo shaft when installing the linkages Readjust the electronic speed control model 1508 as described in the previous section 4 RED POSITIVE NEGATIVE ON OFF 4 CELLNG BATTERY HOLDER PART 3170 CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2 BATTERY WIRE COLORS BEE BLACK CHANNEL 1 RED STEERING WHITE SERVO VISUAL INSPECTION Form the habit of visually inspecting the mechanical integrity of the Villain IV before each run 1 Normally some water will accumulate inside the boat Empty any standing water out of the boat between runs Pour any water out the side or front of the boat Do not drain the water out of the back of the boat near the radio system 2 Check the wiring for an
13. he ball over the drifting boat Pull the ball in and try to entangle the boat in the string Pull the boat back slowly to shore If only the bow of the boat remains visible try using a fishing lure with many hooks and a fishing pole Try to snag the lip of the upper deck or drive mechanism with the hooks MAINTENANCE e Keep the Villain IV clean of accumulated dirt and oil e Re oil the motor bushings before each day of running Use an oil made for electric motors such as 3 in 1 Oil e Periodically re oil the bushings in the outdrive housings and the driveshaft tubes There are metal oiling nipples in each drive unit to accomodate oiling the driveshaft tube bushings e Keep all of the screws in the drive system tight STORAGE Drain all water out of the Villain IV and thoroughly dry it before you store it Store the Villain IV with the hatch cover removed so that any remaining moisture will evaporate DETAILING THE HULL If you wish to paint your hull some other color than the factory white then choose your paint with caution Only use paint made for plastic models available from your hobby dealer Test the paint on an inconspicuous and non critical area before painting the entire boat The paint on the bottom must be smooth to pre vent a loss of performance The decals are printed on self adhesive clear mylar Carefully cut the decals out as close to the printed edges as you can Test fit and trim each decal before removing the ba
14. ire constant steering input to maintain a straight course e To prevent spin outs avoid steering sharply at high speed e Always be ready to reduce the throttle if the Villain IV appears to be unstable or chine walking rocking violently from side to side Always reduce the throttle when turning especially in rough water Jumping the Villain IV or towing anything with it should not be attempted e Return the Villain IV to shore at the first sign of weak bat teries The Villain IV will begin to slow and the controls will become sluggish e CAVITATION If the Villain IV is running at full throttle but is only barely moving forward then the propeller is cavitating Try advancing the throttle slowly to get the Villain IV on plane If you are having trouble with cavitation check the propellers for nicks or tangled debris The Villain IV s propellers are specially designed for their application and are very sensitive to any changes or modifications If a prop is damaged it should be replaced ADJUSTMENTS e ADJUSTING THE TRIM ANGLE The outdrive strut on the Villain IV will allow you to adjust the trim angle of the propeller The trim angle changes how high the bow of the boat rides out of the water Setting the trim angle cor rectly will provide the maximum speed and efficiency from the Villain IV As the outdrive is trimmed up the bow front of the boat will ride higher The Villain IV will run slightly faster however it will
15. nd new products which are defective right out of the box All other service will be estimated on an individual basis Be sure to include a return address and a daytime phone number MAIL OR SHIP TO TRAXXAS CORPORATION 12150 SHILOH ROAD DALLAS TEXAS 75228 Villain IV PERFORMANCE TIPS The Traxxas Villain IV in its stock form will run at speeds of approximately 15 18 MPH with the Stinger 20 turn motors Many different parts and accessories are available from aftermar ket manufacturers which can greatly enhance the speed of the Villain When all of the add on accessories are combined with high performance motors and batteries speeds can reach or even exceed 30MPH Traxxas engineers have radar clocked their own test Villains in excess of 30MPH PROPS New props are the least expensive and most beneficial modification you can make to your Villain 1 Octura X447 LH Beryllium copper prop 1 Octura X447 RH Beryllium copper prop 2 Octura OCGCSS prop shafts WATER COOLING Water cooling is highly recommended for all levels of Villain modification and is mandatory for all 12 cell appli cations The cooling system consists of aluminum tubing which picks up water from underneath the boat circulates it through coils wrap ped around the motors and in some cases the speed control and then exits through the side or rear of the boat These systems can remove up to 50 of the heat generated inside high performance boats The Traxx
16. rder to prevent collisions Do not reach underneath the rear of the Villain IV The propellers could spin unexpectedly Always pick up the boat from the front or the side e Because of the many dangers involved with any body of water Traxxas recommends that you never try to wade or swim to retrieve the boat Another section in this manual outlines safer alternative methods for boat retrieval Due to the high performance nature of the Stinger 20 turn electric motors they will become extremely hot during use Do not touch the motor when installing and removing battery packs Most importantly use good common sense when you are around the water to avoid mishaps such as slipping on a muddy bank Always observe water safety rules and regulations REQUIRED EQUIPMENT To operate the Villain IV you will need the following equipment All of it should be available from your hobby shop Some models also require a two channel radio system 1 Small phillips head and flat screwdrivers for adjustments 2 AA size batteries for your radio system 12 3 One or two 6 or 7 cell rechargeable battery packs 1700mah or more is recommended for long run time 4 A charger for the battery pack s WHERE TO RUN Select a body of water which is calm and free of debris tree stumps moss etc Also find a clean stable area of shoreline to launch from The water must be at least 10 inches deep Be aware that some ponds restrict the use of mo
17. th your particular motors and gear ratios Also look for ways to reduce weight and bottom surface drag When all of these ele ments are combined your Villain will be one of the fastest electric V hulls around
18. ugh Friday from 8 30 AM to 5 30 PM Central Standard Time We hope that you will enjoy many hours with your Villain IV PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS If the precautions are followed and your Villain IV is operated sensibly and with care at all times it is exciting safe and fun for you and your spectators Failure to operate your Villain IV ina safe and responsible manner could result in property damage and injury You alone must see to it that the instructions are fol lowed and the precautions are adhered to The Villain IV is not intended for use by children without the supervision of a responsible adult Every precaution outlined in this manual should be followed to help ensure safe operation Traxxas Corporation shall not be liable for any loss or dam ages whether direct indirect special incidental or conse quential arising from the use misuse or abuse of this prod uct and any chemical or accessory required to operate this product e Do not drive the Villain IV at night e Never under any circumstances operate the Villain IV in any water where people are swimming or wading The Villain IV is fast and could cause injury if allowed to collide with anyone Because the Villain IV is controlled by radio it is subject to radio interference from many sources that are beyond your control Since radio interference can cause momentary losses of radio control always allow a safety margin in all directions around the boat in o
19. y frayed wires or loose connections 3 Check the tightness of the grub screws in the collars on the steering linkages in the propellers and in the universal joint yokes connecting the outdrives to the driveshafts Thread locking compound can be applied to these screws to prevent them from loosening 4 Check the mounting of the receiver and servos 5 Check the driveshaft seals for damage Do not attempt to run the Villain IV if these seals are damaged in any way 6 Check the tightness of the propellers Visually inspect the props for nicks dings and warpage Replace if any damage is noticed 7 Check the operation of the radio system especially the condi tion of the batteries 8 Visually inspect the hull for any cracks damage or possible leaks DRIVING THE VILLAIN IV e Select a body of water which is clear of moss and grass Do not drive the Villain IV in extremely rough choppy water or in high wind more than 15 MPH These conditions could cause your Villain IV to flip over The water should be at least 10 inches deep e The Villain IV s steering is very sensitive A slight input on the steering control will have a large effect on the boat When the boat is out in open water adjust the steering trim on the trans mitter until the boat travels in a straight line on its own Note The Villain IV will only travel in a straight line on its own when it is heading straight into or away from the wind Crosswinds will requ
20. y will not cover damage from wear abuse neglect crashes or water The radio system that is provided with the ready to run models is covered by separate warranty on a separate page included in your documentation package The radio system warranty does not cover water damage This model is not intended for use by children without the supervision of a responsible adult Every precaution outlined in this manual should be followed to help ensure safe operation Traxxas Corporation shall not be liable for any loss or damages whether direct indirect special incidental or consequential aris ing from the use misuse or abuse of this product and any accessory or chemical required to operate this product Traxxas corporation reserves the right to make changes modi fications and improvements to this product without notification and which may not be reflected in these documents Upgrades and improvements are not necessarily retroactive Traxxas may not provide improved or updated components free of charge for models built prior to any change in specification e TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE For technical assistance call 1 888 TRAXXAS or 800 323 0069 For orders amp other information call 972 613 3300 If it has been determined that your model is somehow defective return it to Traxxas with a note describing the problem and a copy of the purchase receipt or invoice Remove all batteries Remember that the warranty only covers bra
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search