Caster ZX-1 Buggy

[vnmsgt]

Figured I start a thread for the ZX-1 buggy to talk about. I just bought one today, a factory kit! Just waiting for it to show up at my house:D I was so impressed with the K8T that I decided to get the buggy too. I think they are some of the best products out there for the money! Just hope the tires are ALOT better than the K8T LOL! Will be racing it soon.

[BigC123]

Hey what's up man just wanted to tell you that the tires that come with the buggy are good and I have used them they look real close to a crimefighter M3 but a little softer, also use a proline molded foam and your good, also if you use the rims they are a little brittle so you need to boil them to soften them up a little other than that they are great. Here is a pick of my car that I race.:D:D:

[vnmsgt]

Are those big bores you got on your buggy. They look like Jammin ones. I have heard of caster coming out with a set since before October but have not seen anything.

Is there anything I should pay attention too on this buggy when I get it so I do not have any surprises when I take it to the track?

[BigC123]

Not Really I have'nt found anything wrong with the buggy, It handles great out of the box. I run 5,7,3 in the diffs and yes those are jammin big bore shocks and I love them. They make the buggy handle great.

[vnmsgt]

sounds great. I have posted in the rcu forums in the zx-1 thread which was pretty big but it seems like nobody posts on the zx-1 thread anymore.

[hakmazter]

That's because some of them are busy making forums, some are busy racing, some are busy building a team, and some are busy trying to find new sponsors. Start putting the word out and get your friends to switch over and get this forum rocking. In theory, it will never be super busy since it is brand specific, but soon, I will get some more forum sections added and hopefully we can get a bunch of people on here sharing tech tips, ideas, racing stories, and information for research and development. In example, the first batch that Cam and I received went out with regular shock towers (i.e. international version) which is perfect for the tracks across the pond and down under. However, over here, we like Jeremy McGrath, Tony Hawk, Travis Pastrana tracks and as a result, we now have an extra set of thicker shock towers included with every kit. As time goes by, we will get these things 100% dialed in. I would say that they are 90% there.

Big Bores are in final design phase, but should be coming out soon.

[hakmazter]

BigC... Buggy looks sweet!

[vnmsgt]

I tried getting my friend to get the K8T but he was not sold on a newer company. He likes to have all the name brands. When he built his mugen he kept bragging about all the adjustments on it and I kept saying my caster has the same and he did not believe till he saw it. One thing I do know is that when I brought out my Caster for the first time and him with his mugen for the first time together we both drove each others and I know he felt really stupid when I had $400 less in my caster and he said my caster turned better and other than that drove the same. I told him to get it and not the mugen. Oh well

[BigC123]

Has anyone heard how Dom did at the Nitro Challenge???

[mikey]

wowow, i think this forums rocks,,,,we can have all the Caster Fans, and also afforable RC user here, enjoy RC as a sports....dam good.

[BigC123]

What's Up Guy's, "caster Racing #1 Let's Rock In 2008"!!!

[BigC123]

:D:cool::cool::cool:

[vnmsgt]

wowow, i think this forums rocks,,,,we can have all the Caster Fans, and also afforable RC user here, enjoy RC as a sports....dam good.

affordable RC:confused::confused: is that cheaper cars or another brand or something?

Also I got a O.S .21 VG I am getting a piston and sleever for my ZX-1R. Figured it should be good for now. I am a pretty good driver and do well with the not so expensive motors. The Picco .28 is the first real good motor I got for the K8T and always used the axial .28RR which I have in my St-RR and go good with it but WOW what a power difference.

[BigC123]

I'll be running a WERKS 28 or a GO TECH 28 don't know yet, haven't desided if I want to run Werks anymore.:cool::cool:

[hakmazter]

I think he was implying that you can get into a Caster for less than a Mugen or some of the other "high end" vehicles as stated in an earlier post about the friend with the Mugen. The Caster is the same caliber as all those, we just chose to make them sell at a little lower price point in hopes that a regular person will choose Caster based on price. It is new to the states and the reputation is not established yet. Those of us that are racers, it is our responsibility to grow the name. When people start talking about Caster Racing and wanting it, hobby stores start buying it, regular consumers start buying it, we grow the business and build even better products, etc.....lol.

It definitely isn't a "cheap" product and it isn't a "cheap" hobby. I am 99% sure he knows both those facts......lol.

However, if anyone feels they underpaid, I will gladly give out my personal paypal address and accept donations, etc..........:D

[vnmsgt]

I think he was implying that you can get into a Caster for less than a Mugen or some of the other "high end" vehicles as stated in an earlier post about the friend with the Mugen. The Caster is the same caliber as all those, we just chose to make them sell at a little lower price point in hopes that a regular person will choose Caster based on price. It is new to the states and the reputation is not established yet. Those of us that are racers, it is our responsibility to grow the name. When people start talking about Caster Racing and wanting it, hobby stores start buying it, regular consumers start buying it, we grow the business and build even better products, etc.....lol.

It definitely isn't a "cheap" product and it isn't a "cheap" hobby. I am 99% sure he knows both those facts......lol.

However, if anyone feels they underpaid, I will gladly give out my personal paypal address and accept donations, etc..........:D

Well I gave my LHS the number and link to become a dealer and he sent it in today to see what he has to do. His name is (Clermont Hobby) clermontmotorsports.com He was wanting to get a Mugen and I told him he can save alot of money by just getting the caster and it is just as good.

[Twisted Caster]

What's up caster drivers, I'm stocked about the 08 season and running for the team, i will help as much as possible and I'm sure i will need help also, hope to see some guys at the races this summer and talk racing, lets have some fun.

[mikey]

welcome to the Team....

[Mr Fusion]

Hey mikey, how big is the diameter of the new big bore shocks you are working on?

When will we see them? I can't wait ha ha :D

[razzor]

I have been running the Caster buggy for a long while now and while they had some growing pains the buggy has improved in leaps and bounds :)
I am currently running the first version of the ZX-1R and look forward to updating to the factory team kit.
Great to have teh US guys running the buggy now and it will lend to new improvements for the future.

[Twisted Caster]

welcome to the Team....

Thanks, proude to be a part of it;)

[vnmsgt]

Finally got my buggy in today:D Will post some pics in the pic forum later. I am dying the wheels and wing red. I bought it new from a person who never built it but did paint the body what looks like a chrome and light red. Looks cool, will see when I post. I think out of all the buggies I have had (Ofna, CEN, LOSI, Redcat) this looks like it is built the best and very durable. Cannot wait to race it next race!

[Mr Fusion]

Sounds cool... def post a pic with the body/wheels...

[vnmsgt]

Will try and do soon. I am working on my truggy right now and will probably post pics tomorrow or the next of the buggy when I get it more together.

[BigC123]

hey did you happen to get that truggy mod done that i posted?

[vnmsgt]

hey did you happen to get that truggy mod done that i posted?

if you mean the longer bolts and nuts and the steering ball joints and rear upper arms, I have not done that yet. I was meaning to ask you if you remember what size drill bit you used?

[vnmsgt]

Well I ran my buggy for the first time this past sunday and its pretty smooth. I think it's alot smoother through rough sections then my 8ight buggy was. I just want to get more steering out of it. To me, my 8ight steered better. I have not adjusted my ackerman to the rear hole yet (still in center hole). Seems right now it has some on power push in the turns. Off power is great. Also seems to stay pretty level in mid air too. I am running 7-10-5 in the diffs right now. I got 30wt in the shocks right now and they seem a little stiff right now, thinking they should loosen up after I drive it a couple more times, feels like I got 60wt in them right now.

Oh CAM I noticed my shock towers I guess are the old ones that just have the different shock position with only one hole cut out and just notches to put the shocks in. I guess that is what you guys are probably going back to right except you are having complete holes drilled out this time? Or am I wrong, these the bad ones? You can see in some of the pics I posted of the buggy on another thread here.

[razzor]

From what i heard the newer towers were slightly taller or shorter.
Hope teh guys can post a pic with the difference.

[vnmsgt]

Well I really ran my buggy yesterday for the first time getting on it and this buggy is TOUGH! It took a beating LOL! (have not driven a buggy for awhile) and nothing broke. After about 4 tanks I was finally getting used to it and was putting down some pretty fast laps practicing. I did some tweaks on friday to the setup and steering and got it alot better than when I broke it in. Soon I will post a vid in the vid section but still trying to figure out my new camcorder!

[Mr Fusion]

Coool..... and thanks for the vids and pics. I know it can be a lot of work.. esp the videos.

[NitroCountryRC]

Hey Guys, just received the new ZX-1R, thought maybe Cam would have assembled that for me(haha). Looks Great!! Can't wait to get it setup and race ready!

[hakmazter]

He hasn't even assembled one for me! Isn't it almost April?

[rrmccabe]

He doesnt know how.

[hakmazter]

nor does he or Dom know how to use this website.....

[vnmsgt]

I was getting my buggy ready to race tomorrow and looking over it and I noticed the rear suspension does not have alot of travel??? I have the lower part of the shock in the inner arm hole and the upper part in the next to last outer hole. My droop screws are not touching the chassis either. Is this normal for this buggy. My friends sportwerks and also Losi 8ight had alot of rear suspension travel. The buggy drives great for me so it is not a problem but I think on a blown out track it could be. Here are two pics, one on the ground the other off the ground.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/casterzx1r002-2.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/casterzx1r001-2.jpg

[hakmazter]

If you push down on it, it goes lower than the second picture right? As in the chassis plate touches the ground? I would assume so and then I will say that what you are seeing is "ride height" On an atv or dirtbike, ride height is important because it changes the center of gravity and also effects damping and rebound to a certain extent. With a r/c vehicle, the lower your ride height the better in regards to center of gravity (less flipping over), however, if you are too low, then rocks, clods, holes, etc... will hit the bottom of the chassis and you will slap going over jumps. I'm not an expert, but it looks good to me if it will go lower with some force. If you add the spacers, it will sit higher. Hope I am addressing the right question....

[rrmccabe]

Are those Caster Shocks? They look blue. If not, is the length rod to rod the same?

[Mr Fusion]

The previous version of the car had blue parts... then silver (bare alum) and from here on out will be either black or the "un-dyed" annod color like the stock chassis and RTR parts.

[vnmsgt]

If you push down on it, it goes lower than the second picture right? As in the chassis plate touches the ground? I would assume so and then I will say that what you are seeing is "ride height" On an atv or dirtbike, ride height is important because it changes the center of gravity and also effects damping and rebound to a certain extent. With a r/c vehicle, the lower your ride height the better in regards to center of gravity (less flipping over), however, if you are too low, then rocks, clods, holes, etc... will hit the bottom of the chassis and you will slap going over jumps. I'm not an expert, but it looks good to me if it will go lower with some force. If you add the spacers, it will sit higher. Hope I am addressing the right question....

Yes it will touch the ground if i push down but I does not have alot of "droop" I guess I could say. The suspension arms will NOT go any lower than what you see in the first pic of it in the air. I just thought they would hang down lower with the droop screws turn out.

[vnmsgt]

Are those Caster Shocks? They look blue. If not, is the length rod to rod the same?

Yes they are. They are some extra Truggy shocks from a first gen K8T I got from a guy who was getting rid of all his extra caster parts from another site.

[vnmsgt]

Ran the buggy today at the track and finally got it to turn like I want it to. I moved the shocks more upright and the steering turnbuckles to the rear ackerman holes and it was great. Not much to really do to this buggy, it is pretty dialed out of the box once you do the diff fluids. That is a good thing!!

[hakmazter]

I'm sure you know it, but if you take those spacers off the top of the shocks, it will "droop" lower.

[vnmsgt]

I'll take a video of the car setting on the ground and then lifting it so you can see. I did have the shock spacers off before but is sat too low for me.

[vnmsgt]

Here is a video. What do you think. I think the arms should hang down alot more. The droop screws are not even touching the chassis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_G5vB92uc

[hakmazter]

ok, now I understand what you are talking about. youtube is sweet. I'll ask Cam if his is set up the same way. I would think that the arms would hang a little lower when it is up in the air. I misunderstood what you were saying and thought you were talking about a problem at rest instead of airborne.

I also am going to look for a pic. Probably will find it tomorrow.

[hakmazter]

http://casterracingusa.com/files/Mike/chassis_droop_mod-lo.jpg

[hakmazter]

http://casterracingusa.com/files/Mike/rear_droop-lo.jpg

[hakmazter]

Those are pics of something a guy did to a Sportwerks Mayhem to modify it. I am not 100% sure that you could do something similar. I need to go get a buggy and truggy so I can see exactly what is going on. I am also not in the engineering department....lol.

[hakmazter]

watched your video again. Where are your shocks mounted on the arms and rear shock tower? If I understand you, my pics won't help at all then?

[vnmsgt]

I have the shocks in the second hole in from outer position on the shock towers. Also,no those pics and mods you posted won't help because my lower arms are not even resting on the chassis at fool droop, the shocks are holding them up from doing so.

[Mr Fusion]

Here is a pic of my car's droop.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t284/teamfusionracing/phonepics037.jpg

[vnmsgt]

Well I found out my problem with the droop not being enough. It was the sway bar!! I removed the bottom of the shocks on the arms and the arms did not go down any farther but the shocks did get longer so I new the shocks were not holding up the arms. Only other thing was the swaybar, I loosened the adjusting screw on the sway bar and the arms fell right down. That was a wierd one considering I never even touched them since I bought the buggy. Well problem fixed and I am happy now. Just like the pic posted above. Thanks for you help guys.?&^

[hakmazter]

I didn't help, if anything, I just confused us all..........lol

[vnmsgt]

Hey everyone I just started a thread on RC universe for this buggy. The old thread only said caster buggy which I think nobody really new what it was so the new one says Caster Racing ZX1-R. Want to get the word out more about the ZX1-R go here http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7308434/tm.htm

[warpig]

http://www.rctech.net/forum/showthread.php?t=167050&page=22

or this...

[mikey]

that is what i thougth, as i have pretty a lot of drop , huh!!

so that scare of me ...^_^

Mikey

[vnmsgt]

Well I just ran the buggy last night after fixing my droop problem and I thought it drove good before, just needed a little more steering..... Well now it is insane. Still ultra smooth and stable but with the rear droop now correct it will turn on a dime. I can easily say that it would out turn my 8ight without a dought. My friend drove it last night who has an 8ight and could not believe how the buggy was. He was easily WAY faster with the caster in just his first tank and he cannot drive a buggy good. He crashes and flips his 8ight about evey other lap and he only flipped the Caster and crashed just ONCE in over a tank of fuel, easily agreed with my that it is a better vehicle. Now it has almost too much turn in. Took me a good 4 laps to get used to how sharp it was (kept turning into the piping LOL!) than compared to before. Amazing what one adjustment will do.

[BigC123]

did you add droop or take it away, and how much does your arms hang down front and rear?

[mikey]

and also i do know one thing about driver the ZX-1R buggy,
is that, no matter whos' ZX-1R out there, you can easiy get on hand and get the feel within 2 laps...etc...and feeel like your own car right away.

[vnmsgt]

did you add droop or take it away, and how much does your arms hang down front and rear?

My problem being fixed added a bunch of droop you could say. I do not have a guage but can take a pic of you want. Before my arms would not droop down hardly at all. The dogbones were practically level.

[BigC123]

I would like to see a pic of your buggy if you could.

[David Alberico]

All,

Just did some testing Friday and raced Saturday. Aside from bottom end trouble on the engine, it is finally right up in the mix.

The track I race on is very big with lots of high speed turns and sweepers, one is very rough since it is a new section of the track. The reason I bring this up is I am running the Ofna big bore shocks on my car. I think for the track conditions on my track they were better.

If anybody has any questions, post em up.

Here is my current setup as of Saturday...

Diffs,

5,7,3

Front

caster arms forward
upper A-Arms down
Ackerman stock, position forward
stock sway bar
Mugen 5T servo saver spring

Shocks Ofna Big Bores, drilled 55, Losi 30wt
Shocks mounted ouside on arm outside on tower


Rear

Antisquat up
3 deg of toe
hubs in lower hole and spaced back
camber inside on tower and #2 in hub
stock sway bar

shocks Ofna Big Bores, drilled 55, 20wt losi
shock mounted outside on arm and outside on tower

Caster servos,
brake bias 50/50
alum clutch with 1.0 springs

[hakmazter]

So how are you doing with the Caster? You like it so far? Any issues that you noticed?

[vnmsgt]

Here is my current setup
Diffs,

7,10,5

Front

caster arms forward
upper A-Arms in upper hole
Ackerman rear hole
stock sway bar
Stock servo saver spring

Shocks stock, ofna 30wt
Shocks mounted outside on outer hole on top shock tower


Rear

Antisquat up
3 deg of toe
hubs in lower hole and spaced back
camber inside lower on tower and upper outer on hub
stock sway bar

shocks stock, 30wt ofna
shock mounted inside on arm next to last outer on top on tower

Hitec 645MG servos,
brake bias 60/40
alum clutch with 1.0 springs

[razzor]

For the guys running the std shocks we found drilling the pistons or changing them to the 1.5mm 2 hole pistons made a world of difference when using 45wt or 50wt oils on a rough or blown track.
Give it a try you might just like it.

[vnmsgt]

For the guys running the std shocks we found drilling the pistons or changing them to the 1.5mm 2 hole pistons made a world of difference when using 45wt or 50wt oils on a rough or blown track.
Give it a try you might just like it.
So if I want to drill them out (never did that before) I would just use a 1.5mm drill bit on the existing holes? Would it hurt the buggy to keep them on a none blown out track? I do not like to change my setups too much I like to find a good medium where it runs good on a variety of tracks.

[razzor]

We drill them out with a drill bit.
Found the shocks to be very consistent and it worked on a smooth track as well as bumpy track with big jumps.
The thicker oil just seems to hold up better and not heat up as much as the thinner oil.

[vr6]

has anyone had issues when they received their buggy. i got my buggy last thursday, i found that the outdrives on both the front and rear were to tight, so my suspension would not drop at all below arms level. my uppers arms were so tight, those wouldn't mover either. i had to but my outdrives on my bridgeport to open the slot wider. only about .005 per side, but still !!!

anyone have any suggestions on setup. i want to run as much of the caster car as i can. i want to run the stock shocks also untill caster releases big bore version themselves. as a team driver in wisconsin, i want to run the car 100% caster.

[Mr Fusion]

I can see the general setup needing some work, setting the front track width so the CVDs don't hit the front diff outdrives etc, but I'm not aware of bad parts causing problems. Never heard of any issues with the outdrives....

[vnmsgt]

Only problem I had was my knuckles pivot balls were screwed in too much into my a-arms causing my front axles to click when you turn the wheels with the suspension at full droop. It went away when I set my camber correctly. Also my rear suspension would not below arms level at all and I found out my sway bar somehow was Way too tight. Loosened it up and the arms fell right down. Check out the setup thread here and I have my setup listed there. Takes VERY LITTLE to get this buggy awesome.

[vnmsgt]

Well ran my buggy today at the local race and did pretty good. No problems at all from the buggy itself, very solid. In the second qualifier I was leading with less than 45 seconds left and the glow plug took a dump on me:mad:, completely burnt up. In the B-main I led the whole main till AGAIN under 45 seconds left and out of fuel????:mad::mad: less than 7 minutes on the second tank and it sucked it dry, refueled and second place got 2 turns in front of me with 1 lap left and I caught up less than a turn behind him but too late. NO A-MAIN:bsflag: Besided that buggy ran awesome. Ran consistent laps all day and with very little crashes and of course beat up on some mugens and jammins! Here are some pics. Did not get any of me running because only friend I had there was pitting for me:(

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/casteratwow003.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/casteratwow002.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/casteratwow005.jpg

[vnmsgt]

I had my friend today drive my Caster ZX1-R and he has raced 8ight's, Mugens MBX5's, X-ray's and Kyosho WC777 and he told me after running a tank or 2 that it was on par with the WC777 in handling, jumping, turning and better at all those than the other's mentioned! All people have to is give this buggy a chance and drive it and they shall see the light!

[mikey]

i think all the caster drivers and customers. all the Caster Fans, are trying to tell everyone Caster Racing is a afforbale racing RC hobby buggy....

RC hobby is a sports in USA, we want to make it more affodable...

man, guy, should try out our Caster RTR , you will be so much happy with you,

almost racing standard, and tell you what, you can totally run the race with the RTR,

[hakmazter]

I'll be racing a RTR pretty quick here. I figure that everyone else needs a slight advantage....

[vnmsgt]

Just got my Go Tech order in and will be putting a .21 7-port Go Tech in it :cool::D. Then comes the boring break in process AGAIN:(
If anyone is interested in some 5-ports let me know!

[vnmsgt]

Well here are some pics of the ZX1-R with the Go Tech! Also put on my JP-3 pipe from my long gone kyosho. Hopefully will break it in tomorrow!

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/GOMOTOR038.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/GOMOTOR041.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/vnmsgt/GOMOTOR039.jpg

[lowlife88]

Bout damng time!!!!!!!:D I think we've had a conversation about the Go Tech's before. LOL As a matter of fact I should have my new crank in for my 5-port and my new 3-port race spec in tomorrow.?&^

[vnmsgt]

Bout damng time!!!!!!!:D I think we've had a conversation about the Go Tech's before. LOL As a matter of fact I should have my new crank in for my 5-port and my new 3-port race spec in tomorrow.?&^

Yes I think we did. Just got done breaking it in and with the needles set at the factory setttings out of the box this thing will SMOOOKE the OS I had in it. I like it the way it is! I cannot imagine when I start leaning it out. BTW Racefactor Industries is DA BOMB!! Whenever I make a order for motors for my store I get them in 2-3 days and called right back after the order to let me know everything is ready and going out! Will be getting a couple Go Tech pipes soon too.

BTW how did the Race go you went to? It was this past weekend right?

[lowlife88]

It's this weekend. We're leaving around 1 or 2 am friday morning. I'm still trying to get everything done! Just not enough time.:( I should have some great pix and hopefully a video or 2 to boot. Wish me luck.

[vnmsgt]

Just put a Hitec 5955 333oz servo in my ZX1-R! Yeah baby! Getting ready for this weekends local race! Just cannot decide if I want to run the buggy or truggy?

[vnmsgt]

I saw this new review of the ZX1-R over at RCtech that was done by myrcbox and it is a great review. I posted a link underneath. I noticed the the ZX1-R KIT he got to review is much different then we got here. It has a painted body, different wheels, captured steering rod ends!!!, oil in the diffs and now the Big Bores too. Is this what the New version of the ZX1-R is going to be when we get them???
http://www.myrcbox.com/review_caster_zx1r.htm

[Mr Fusion]

Pretty close... but I noticed a could things I think will be different.

Ours may have the captured hinge pins, and a different akerman plate. Don't know about the diff oil being preinstalled.

That's one of the new RTR bodies... not sure why that was in the pro kit?

I'm hoping ours get the high downforce wing and new dish wheels.

[razzor]

interesting !!! would be nice to be notified of spec changes so that we are informed when asked about it.

[vnmsgt]

The RTR body is nice but I still think the KIT should come with a clear body, skip the tires and foams too and add the quick change motor mount.

[hakmazter]

I'm pretty sure Mikey sent him a rtr body for a reason....

First one that comes to mind is that we don't know how good of a painter Sylvian is and the pictures probably wouldn't look as good with a clear body.....

I will say this and you can read between the lines....

I had no idea about this.....I got blindsided by it....but I am not going to complain at all...

Whatever Cam says goes in regards to the kits for the U.S. market....

[vnmsgt]

Hey at least it was a great review! Now if it was the other way around...... well lets not think about that and be happy with this way LOL!

[razzor]

review is good and the exposure is welcome.