Servo Upgrade for TRX-4 Defender

[deuter]

It’s really required?
How hard/easy is it?
Does it require any additional parts replacement?

The Traxxas 2255 is a easy swap?


Any other recommended servos that are cheaper and perform similar if not better than Traxxas 2255 without requiring any additional modifications.


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[The Borderdog]

Yes, I have one, a power HD 25kg, I can’t give the specs but a huge difference over stock and I also recommend a better quality metal servo horn, I don’t know when it happened but the power HD one eventually stripped out

[Greatscott]

The 2255 (400oz) is a great servo, but it is expensive for what it is. The Power HD 25kg (326oz) servo is a little less powerful, but should be able to handle just about anything you throw at it. Both are waterproof.

If you are still running the stock ESC (XL5-HV) without an external BEC, you will have issues running either of these servos. Given that the ESC's BEC is only rated to 1 amp, more than likely if the servo gets bound up you will fry the BEC, which will kill the ESC. A great cost effective replacement ESC is the HW1080; it has a 3A BEC which is enough for either of these servos.

Replacing a servo isn't difficult.
• Take a picture of how your current servo looks installed.
• Open the RX box, unplug the servo (first slot), pull the servo cord out of the wiring and back to the servo.
• Unbolt the servo horn from the servo
• Unbolt the servo and remove it
• Put the new servo in orientated the same way as the old servo, bolt it down.
• Route the servo wire back to the RX box and plug it in (either of the first two slots)
• Turn on your radio and zero all of the steering controls
• Turn on your truck
• With the front wheels as close to center as you can get them, put the servo horn on. Push the horn on to the output splines
• Turn off your truck
• Put the servo horn screw in and tighten down (bad idea to do this when the truck is on)
• Power the truck back on and check the steering. It is OK if the steering is a little off, you can adjust this at the radio. Use the steering pot on the radio to center the wheels as straight as you can get.
• With the radio, turn the wheels full left and right. With the steering all of the way into the stops there should be just a little bit of servo whine. If the steering is not touching the stops, adjust the expo on the radio until there is a bit of whine. If the servo is whining loudly, back off the expo. Repeat for the opposite direction.
• Your servo is not installed and adjusted, drive it like you rented it!!!

[sarthetrx4]

Would the installation of one of these servos, and associated BEC, have a noticeable effect on battery run time?

[deuter]

Would the installation of one of these servos, and associated BEC, have a noticeable effect on battery run time?

And also would it void the warranty?


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[Unstudded_6.0]

No effect on run time, BEC just ups the voltage and amps to the servo.
And it shouldn't void your warranty, but knowing Traxxas, anything that is not Traxxas brand is "not recommended".
I used 2255 and traxxas BEC for my TRX6. I then switched to hobbywing for my ESC and got rid of the traxxas BEC.

[Greatscott]

The Traxxas BEC is an expensive option, but it works and is, for the most part, plug-n-play, no soldering.

The cleanest and least expensive option is going with the HW1080. But, you have to be careful, the stock RX is only rated to 6VDC, and the HW1080 BEC is selectable between 6VDC or 7.2VDC. Some people have said they are running the stock radio at 7+ volts, but I have fried every stock RX I have tried that with.

No matter what option you choose, you should not see a noticeable drop in run time. Your really only using that higher amperage when the servo is being taxed, would should not be that often, or that long when it does happen.

[RCWilly]

Also, don't forget to swap out the plastic servo horn for the metal one, as it strips out pretty easily.

[deuter]

Also, don't forget to swap out the plastic servo horn for the metal one, as it strips out pretty easily.

May be I order this right away? Any link in which one to get?


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[Unstudded_6.0]

May be I order this right away? Any link in which one to get?


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8247X - That's the traxxas part number.
They are sold everywhere online. There are plenty aftermarket servo horns but I went with traxxas because I had issues with other servo horns hitting the links. the traxxas one does not have clearance issues.

[deuter]

8247X - That's the traxxas part number.
They are sold everywhere online. There are plenty aftermarket servo horns but I went with traxxas because I had issues with other servo horns hitting the links. the traxxas one does not have clearance issues.

I might just wait for it then, thanks dude.


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[The Borderdog]

8247X - That's the traxxas part number.
They are sold everywhere online. There are plenty aftermarket servo horns but I went with traxxas because I had issues with other servo horns hitting the links. the traxxas one does not have clearance issues.

I’d have put one in but couldn’t find one in oz in the interwebs
I’m all for keeping my money in oz

[deuter]

I’d have put one in but couldn’t find one in oz in the interwebs
I’m all for keeping my money in oz

It’s not so much about keeping the money in, it’s more about getting it shipped and delivered right away.
I don’t want to wait 3 months for it to arrive.


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[The Borderdog]

Agreed... I wouldn’t want to either

[Unstudded_6.0]

for all the necessary upgrades, il order domestic. For other not so important parts..I use AliExpress. I dont mind the wait time. I'm paying 1/4 of original prices and free shipping lol.
Besides the longest I've waited is a month. Not too bad.

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[sarthetrx4]

For me here in France, the reality is that everything "RC" has to be imported by someone. I'm fortunate in having a couple of good French on-line shops, one in particular that gets stuff to me in a day or so. But I have used AliExpress for some bits recently. A longer wait no doubt caused by COVID, but sooo cheap compared to the usual European price! So I could live with the wait for the few "non-essential" cosmetic items. But I confess I did a lot of shopping around to get my (Yellow) Defender and in the end it came from the UK, in two days! My wife's (in red) was available here about a month later.

[deuter]

For me here in France, the reality is that everything "RC" has to be imported by someone. I'm fortunate in having a couple of good French on-line shops, one in particular that gets stuff to me in a day or so. But I have used AliExpress for some bits recently. A longer wait no doubt caused by COVID, but sooo cheap compared to the usual European price! So I could live with the wait for the few "non-essential" cosmetic items. But I confess I did a lot of shopping around to get my (Yellow) Defender and in the end it came from the UK, in two days! My wife's (in red) was available here about a month later.

Did you have to shop around to ensure you got the yellow or was it just a good price?


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[Juanmacine]

for all the necessary upgrades, il order domestic. For other not so important parts..I use AliExpress. I dont mind the wait time. I'm paying 1/4 of original prices and free shipping lol.
Besides the longest I've waited is a month. Not too bad.

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I do the same, but I use chinese sellers from Ebay.

[Unstudded_6.0]

I do the same, but I use chinese sellers from Ebay.

Yea Ebay works as well! And the sellers I order from have really good customer service.

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[deuter]

The 2255 (400oz) is a great servo, but it is expensive for what it is. The Power HD 25kg (326oz) servo is a little less powerful, but should be able to handle just about anything you throw at it. Both are waterproof.

If you are still running the stock ESC (XL5-HV) without an external BEC, you will have issues running either of these servos. Given that the ESC's BEC is only rated to 1 amp, more than likely if the servo gets bound up you will fry the BEC, which will kill the ESC. A great cost effective replacement ESC is the HW1080; it has a 3A BEC which is enough for either of these servos.

Replacing a servo isn't difficult.
• Take a picture of how your current servo looks installed.
• Open the RX box, unplug the servo (first slot), pull the servo cord out of the wiring and back to the servo.
• Unbolt the servo horn from the servo
• Unbolt the servo and remove it
• Put the new servo in orientated the same way as the old servo, bolt it down.
• Route the servo wire back to the RX box and plug it in (either of the first two slots)
• Turn on your radio and zero all of the steering controls
• Turn on your truck
• With the front wheels as close to center as you can get them, put the servo horn on. Push the horn on to the output splines
• Turn off your truck
• Put the servo horn screw in and tighten down (bad idea to do this when the truck is on)
• Power the truck back on and check the steering. It is OK if the steering is a little off, you can adjust this at the radio. Use the steering pot on the radio to center the wheels as straight as you can get.
• With the radio, turn the wheels full left and right. With the steering all of the way into the stops there should be just a little bit of servo whine. If the steering is not touching the stops, adjust the expo on the radio until there is a bit of whine. If the servo is whining loudly, back off the expo. Repeat for the opposite direction.
• Your servo is not installed and adjusted, drive it like you rented it!!!

I ordered the Power HD 25 Kgs and will run it stock at 6 Volts with my Traxxas esc and Bec.
I believe that should be fine right?
Will get 23 kgs torque and .16 secs.


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[Gripdog7205]

I ordered the Power HD 25 Kgs and will run it stock at 6 Volts with my Traxxas esc and Bec.
I believe that should be fine right?
Will get 23 kgs torque and .16 secs.


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I have that one. It’s very good for this truck.



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[deuter]

I have that one. It’s very good for this truck.



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Nice, so it’s a direct swap? Nothing else to change right.


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[DerAlteFritz]

I am using the Power HD in my Defender also. The leads are shorter than the Traxxas servo leads, you will need to add a 4" or 6" servo extension cable. Or you can cut the cable from the Traxxas servo and solder a piece of it to the Power HD servo cable.

[BigP]

There is a long wire/cable version for the trx-4. Maybe not in the USA...but in Germany i ordered one.
36cm Cable
Power-HD Digital Servo LW-25MG
Power HD HV Digital Servo LW-25MG

[deuter]

There is a long wire/cable version for the trx-4. Maybe not in the USA...but in Germany i ordered one.
36cm Cable
Power-HD Digital Servo LW-25MG
Power HD HV Digital Servo LW-25MG

There is a TRX-4 version with the longer cable, I doubt the one I ordered is that.
The extension cable is cheap I might just buy that too.


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[sarthetrx4]

I see that the Power HD servo comes with a selection of "horns", but not sure if they are plastic or metal. Are they compatible with the TRX4, or is a good idea to buy for example, the Traxxas metal version? Would the Traxxas version fit the Power HD servo?

Assuming I have an external BEC (which would be the Traxxas 2262), am I right in thinking that the Power HD servo with the longer cable would then just be "plug and play" fitting along the lines of the instructions for the Traxxas item?

[deuter]

I see that the Power HD servo comes with a selection of "horns", but not sure if they are plastic or metal. Are they compatible with the TRX4, or is a good idea to buy for example, the Traxxas metal version? Would the Traxxas version fit the Power HD servo?

Assuming I have an external BEC (which would be the Traxxas 2262), am I right in thinking that the Power HD servo with the longer cable would then just be "plug and play" fitting along the lines of the instructions for the Traxxas item?

My understanding is you don’t need an external Bec with the PowerHD 25, just swap it with the original.


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[Gripdog7205]

I see that the Power HD servo comes with a selection of "horns", but not sure if they are plastic or metal. Are they compatible with the TRX4, or is a good idea to buy for example, the Traxxas metal version? Would the Traxxas version fit the Power HD servo?

Assuming I have an external BEC (which would be the Traxxas 2262), am I right in thinking that the Power HD servo with the longer cable would then just be "plug and play" fitting along the lines of the instructions for the Traxxas item?

I run a Mamba X so I have no need for a BEC. And I run the standard aluminum horn the Sport kit provided. I have many others but standard works great. I built mine so as far as a direct swap, I don’t know, definitely drops right in.


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[Aqualungs]

My understanding is you don’t need an external Bec with the PowerHD 25, just swap it with the original.


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It'll run at the 6v or whatever. Your esc is giving.. You'll be good to go! The metal traxxas servo horn is perfect.
Eventually you could get the HW 1080 and it'll run At 7.4. Good strong servo is one of the most important pieces on my TRx4 sport.

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[BigP]

Dont just switch the hw 1080 to 7,4 Volt.
The stock mini servos and tqi reciever dont like 7,4 volts!

[Juanmacine]

Dont just switch the hw 1080 to 7,4 Volt.
The stock mini servos and tqi reciever dont like 7,4 volts!

Agree with this, prefer to use a high force servo when it works at 6V, other option is to use a bypass and an UBEC for the steering servo when it works at 7,4V.

[Aqualungs]

Dont just switch the hw 1080 to 7,4 Volt.
The stock mini servos and tqi reciever dont like 7,4 volts!

Yes sorry! I have an aftermarket remote and receiver that run at 7.4 volts.

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[Juanmacine]

Yes sorry! I have an aftermarket remote and receiver that run at 7.4 volts.

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Good choice RX, but the micro servos don't admit 7,4V.

[Aqualungs]

Good choice RX, but the micro servos don't admit 7,4V.

I also have a Sport and no micro servos.. Im not good at this lol

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[sarthetrx4]

Based on, and as a result of, what's been said here, I did a little more "digging". The consensus is that the Power HD servo would work without a new BEC, but on the basis of having a stock car (Defender). With the addition of the LED kit and the ESS, plus the additional weight of a few accessories, a BEC is advised.

I doubt very much that I'll be going down the Hobby Wing route - I'm not into soldering and re calibrating etc! - but I may well get Traxxas BEC's for our cars, plus servos and metal horns.

And if the Power HD is literally a "plug and play" fit, that'll probably be my choice.

[deuter]

Based on, and as a result of, what's been said here, I did a little more "digging". The consensus is that the Power HD servo would work without a new BEC, but on the basis of having a stock car (Defender). With the addition of the LED kit and the ESS, plus the additional weight of a few accessories, a BEC is advised.

I doubt very much that I'll be going down the Hobby Wing route - I'm not into soldering and re calibrating etc! - but I may well get Traxxas BEC's for our cars, plus servos and metal horns.

And if the Power HD is literally a "plug and play" fit, that'll probably be my choice.

Cool direction to head in, the BEC is hard to come by.
But you can always disconnect the ESS and the rest should be fine.
I recently had the batt go flat and the defender wouldn’t move but the led was lit bright.
The lights take very less juice.


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