Trucks Need Help Identifying Old T-maxx For Rebuild!

Saddletramp

Member
Dayum, vape much? hahaha

In all seriousness though, I would not have that engine next to those. I know you know this but I'm going to say it anyway. Methanol, the main ingredient in nitro fuel, causes blindness if ingested.

On a side note, I use those exact same 30ml cobalt dropper bottles lol.
Yea. I needed a classy background. This motor is not siezed as I first thought. She's mighty tight. This motor hasn't seen fuel in years. I sat my beer on the floor so I wouldn't harm delicate eyes. I will pull er down and get it sparkling clean. I have mastered vaping and this is my new hobby. I have watched your video on teardown and saved it for future reference. I built and raced drag bikes. I am really familiar with what Nitro can do. I don't beat no tambourine but vaping saved my life. Got the 2.5 pipe cancelled and used the money to get a starter control push button thingy. I am so thankful for your help. I will keep asking questions about it. He obviously ran the car without the pipe on it. No valves to warp but I wouldn't do it. My new theory is that it was some kids toy and it broke. He just gave up on it.
 

Tony

Staff member
Ah, yea you need to rotate the engine counter clockwise (while facing the front of the engine) otherwise the one way bearing (OWB) stop the movement. While turning it CCW, you should feel a nice little 'POP' as it crosses over TDC (your a mechanic, I don't need to explain that one lmao). These don't have rings and are a friction fit with the piston and sleeve.

And you are right, there are no valves to warp, but on these little nitro engines, there is a line that goes from the tuned pipe straight to the fuel tank to provide pressure to help push fuel into the engine. Without the header it can run lean, but with the vacuum that the carb venturi creates, you can tune it without the hose from the pipe to the tank, but you have to keep everything immaculately clean so that there is absolutely no restriction in the fuel flow. Definitely either (when money allows) get a new Traxxas .15 (great warranty as long as you follow their break in procedure) or at the very least just get the .15 header and get this engine running.

I think tomorrow, I'm going to put all of these latest posts into their own thread so that we can separate it from the original thread and make this one your own. Just keeps things a little cleaner and easier to search for future members.
 

Saddletramp

Member
I pulled the wheels and the bearings and seals and suspension is in great condition. The guy was a pig. Not to be confused with a Hog which I ride and is sparkling clean. A big bath and I don't see a need to go any further. I still think I have a win. I am going to tear the motor down and see what I have. My tools are in the shop and I am not motivated to get them in the rain. And like brother Tony says all hail the air compressor. The one way bearing is in great shape and appears to be wet with lube. Should I add a drop of lithium grease. Enquiring minds want to know.
 

Tony

Staff member
Do not add any kind of grease to the OWB. It will cause it to slip. Some do it and it doesn't slip, but you really need a grease with friction modifiers in it so that it will grab when you need it to grab.

And yes, simple green or WD40 and an air compressor are the best tools in the shop lol.
 

Saddletramp

Member
Do not add any kind of grease to the OWB. It will cause it to slip. Some do it and it doesn't slip, but you really need a grease with friction modifiers in it so that it will grab when you need it to grab.

And yes, simple green or WD40 and an air compressor are the best tools in the shop lol.
eBay jungle love. Can't find parts for the 1.5. The head is gone. I will have no choice but to go too the 2.5. my budget for the month of December is gone. Sad turn of events. I have a 2055 servo on the way. Will the carb work on the 2.5. one way bearing, anything.
 

Tony

Staff member
The issue with finding the head is you would need to find the head for the engine you have now which is not a traxxas engine. Because of this, I have no idea what to search for.

This is the header for the .15 engines - Traxxas TRA4940 Exhaust Header 90 Degree, Blue: T-Maxx .15 | eBay

This is the kit you would need to go from a .15 to the 2.5 - Traxxas 4400 Nitro Engine Upgrade Kit from .15 to 2.5 | eBay

This is the head for the stock traxxas .15 engine but likely will NOT fit your engine - Traxxas TRA4052 Aluminum Cooling Head: TRX .15 Engine 20334405203 | eBay

What exactly is it with the head that is damaged? Can you get me a picture of all sides of the engine? This will help with figuring out what engine it has.

Edit: Oh, and no, the carb on your engine will not fit a 2.5. Yours is a rotary and the 2.5/3.3 engines use a larger slide carb (which is where all of the linkages and such come from in the link above). Also, the larger engines use a composite body carb, that .15 is an aluminum body.
 

Saddletramp

Member
Head, complete exaust system.
The decimal point bit me. Being the greenest green noob makes me cry. Now I am not hunting rabbits I found a new head button. Piston and rod are fine. Clean them anyway. I think I can make it run. This months money is gone. But I have much more to do with my new toy.
 

Tony

Staff member
Hey, we all have started out knowing nothing about anything and had to learn to know what we know today. And that is what we are here for.

I'm guessing the threads were pulled out of the glow plug hole? Pretty common. People torque these things down like they are putting wheels on a big rig lol.

And yea, I have seen a lot of people searching for 1.5 since traxxas went to the 2.5 instead of .25 and 3.3 instead of .33. Confusing to those just coming into the hobby and wanting to repair things.
 

Saddletramp

Member
15444063937302009826820.jpg

Hey, we all have started out knowing nothing about anything and had to learn to know what we know today. And that is what we are here for.

I'm guessing the threads were pulled out of the glow plug hole? Pretty common. People torque these things down like they are putting wheels on a big rig lol.

And yea, I have seen a lot of people searching for 1.5 since traxxas went to the 2.5 instead of .25 and 3.3 instead of .33. Confusing to those just coming into the hobby and wanting to repair things.
I have switched to whiskey. I am not going to make you cry. The .15 is no more. No mas, ain't going to do it. Except for the fuel tank I need everything. Glo plug down. 3.3 I like. 2.5 I like. I need everything that isn't in the picture.
 

Saddletramp

Member
Damn, I am very sorry. I didn't mean that to happen. Please don't be pissed. The harder I try the worse it gets. I am sorry.
 

Tony

Staff member
Switched to Whiskey? I went there YEARS ago lol. Why would you make me cry though?
 

Tony

Staff member
Im not stupid, my mom had me tested. You know that last bolt way in the back that won't go in no matter what? That's the day I have had.
I'm lost lol. Not sure what I said that brought that up. I will try to get a parts list tonight, but might be tomorrow before I can make that happen. You will need the engine, conversion kit, flywheel, clutch, clutch bell, clutch bearings, clutch E clip, EZ start if you want to use it otherwise a pull start or a tiger drive, receiver tray, possibly a battery holder if it is not under that cover, new starter motor if yours is bad, and some other things that I can't think of off the top of my head at the moment.

I also cleaned up all of those images and cut it down to one. No worry on that one, it happens.
 

Saddletramp

Member
You are a great man. You have accomplished in one post what I have been trying to find out for hours. Thank you so much.
 

Tony

Staff member
It's my pleasure. Trying to do multiple things right now otherwise I would already have the links for you. Also, this doesn't include anything to get the FWD working again. Not sure what all that part needs without tearing the front diff apart.
 

Saddletramp

Member
That's easy. The front differential is gone. The tranny yoke is there. The axel yokes are there. I have located them on eBay. One of the merchant guys said the 2075 server is much better. He said the .15 is way underpowered. 2.5 is the way to go. I believe that. It may take me a bit to get the truck back to boogie condition but I don't give up. Many years ago I was heavy into slot cars. I built cars for other people who need my help. Free. I did it because I like to help out. I am hoping it's my turn. I am very grateful to you.
 

Tony

Staff member
I will do all I can. Been running like a chicken with his head cut off this morning (crap, it's already afternoon, ugh...) trying to clean things up so I can try to get some videos out. Hopefully some of which will help you out with your truck. I can't do the conversion (sold that truck in the videos years ago) but I will be working on two different 2.5's here soon.
 
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