Page 2 - Introduction; Brushless Power System. This manual; Traxxas Support
• T R A X X AS Introduction Thank you for purchasing a Traxxas electric model equipped with the new Velineon ™ Brushless Power System. This manual covers the Rustler ® VXL Stadium race truck, the Bandit ™ VXL buggy, and the Stampede ® VXL monster truck. The Velineon Power System lets you experience ...
Page 3 - T R A X X AS • 3; Before You Proceed; Your hobby; Refers you to a page with a related topic.; Support
T R A X X AS • 3 Before You Proceed Carefully read and follow all instructions in this and any accompanying materials to prevent serious damage to your model. Failure to follow these instructions will be considered abuse and/or neglect. Before running your model, look over this entire manual and exa...
Page 4 - • T R A X X AS; Safety Precautions; Important Points to Remember; Batteries and Battery Charging; Speed Control
4 • T R A X X AS This model is not intended for use by children under 8 years of age without the supervision of a responsible and knowledgeable adult. Gearing and battery choice ( see LiPo Batteries, right) effect the skill level of the model. See chart below. All instructions and precautions outlin...
Page 5 - T R A X X AS • 5; Required Tools and Equipment; Tools, Supplies and Required Equipment; Supplied Tools and Equipment
T R A X X AS • 5 Required Tools and Equipment (sold separately) 8 AA alkaline batteries 6 or 7-cell NiMH battery pack with Traxxas High-Current Connector NiMH battery charger (peak detecting type recommended) see sidebar Tools, Supplies and Required Equipment Your model comes with a set of specialty...
Page 6 - • Traxxas; Anatomy of the Rustler VXL
6 • Traxxas Anatomy of the Rustler VXL Half Shaft Brushless Motor (Velineon ™ 3500) Transmission Spur Gear Pinion Gear Slipper Clutch Electronic Speed Control (VXL-3s) Battery Compartment Battery Hold-Down Receiver Upper Chassis Plate Antenna Mount Suspension Arm (Front) Front Body Mount Front Bumpe...
Page 7 - Traxxas • 7; Anatomy of the Stampede
Traxxas • 7 Half Shaft Transmission Spur Gear Pinion Gear Slipper Clutch Electronic Speed Control (VXL-3s) Chassis Battery Compartment Battery Hold-Down Receiver Front Body Mount Antenna Mount Suspension Arm (Front) Bulkhead Front Bumper Front Shock Tower Steering Servo Shock (Oil Damper) Turnbuckle...
Page 8 - • Traxxas; Anatomy of the Bandit
8 • Traxxas Anatomy of the Bandit Half Shaft Brushless Motor (Velineon ™ 3500) Transmission Spur Gear Pinion Gear Slipper Clutch Electronic Speed Control (VXL-3s) Battery Compartment Battery Hold-Down Receiver Upper Chassis Plate Antenna Mount Suspension Arm (Front) Front Body Mount Front Bumper Fro...
Page 9 - T R A X X AS • 9; Quick Start: Getting up to Speed; Apply other decals if desired.
T R A X X AS • 9 Quick Start: Getting up to Speed The following guide is an overview of the procedures for getting your model running. Look for the Quick Start logo on the bottom corners of Quick Start pages. 1. Read the safety precautions on page 4 9. Detail your model • See page 10 For your own sa...
Page 10 - 0 • T R A X X AS; Gluing Tires and Decorating Your Model; Applying The Decals
10 • T R A X X AS Gluing Tires and Decorating Your Model Applying The Decals The main decals for your model have been applied at the factory. The decals are printed on self-adhesive clear mylar and are die-cut for easy removal. Use a hobby knife to lift the corner of a decal and lift it from the bac...
Page 11 - T R A X X AS • 11; The Traxxas TQ Radio and Velineon Brushless Power System; Your model is equipped with the Traxxas TQ Radio System.; tq transmitter; VXL-3s ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL; ESC/Motor Wiring Diagram
T R A X X AS • 11 The Traxxas TQ Radio and Velineon Brushless Power System Your model is equipped with the Traxxas TQ Radio System. The Traxxas TQ Radio System is a 2-channel system that provides high-power output up to a quarter mile. Your model uses one servo and an electronic speed control. tq tr...
Page 12 - Radio and Power System Terminology; The TQ Radio and Velineon Power System
1 • T R A X X AS Use the Right Charger The most convenient type of charger is an AC peak-detecting charger that plugs directly into an AC wall outlet. It contains special peak-detection circuitry that automatically shuts the charger off when the battery is fully charged. If you’re using a 15-minute ...
Page 14 - 4 • T R A X X AS; Power System Batteries; The Traxxas High Current Connector
14 • T R A X X AS Power System Batteries Your model is equipped with a state of the art, high-performance power system. It is designed to be able to flow large amounts power with least amount of restriction. The benefits are drastically increased speed and acceleration. However, this places extra de...
Page 15 - T R A X X AS • 15; Installing Transmitter Batteries; Remove the battery compartment door by pressing the tab and; Installing the Battery Pack; A piece of foam is installed in; Rustler VXL and Bandit VXL; Stampede VXL
T R A X X AS • 15 Installing Transmitter Batteries Your TQ transmitter uses 8 AA batteries. The battery compartment is located in the base of the transmitter. 1. Remove the battery compartment door by pressing the tab and lifting the door up. 2. Install the batteries in the correct orientation as in...
Page 16 - 6 • T R A X X AS; Setting up the Antenna
16 • T R A X X AS Spray a little window cleaner on the antenna wire to make it easier to push through the antenna tube. Don’t shorten the length of the antenna wire. Its length is tuned to the frequency band; cutting it could severely shorten the radio system’s range. Don’t push the transmitter ante...
Page 17 - T R A X X AS • 17; TQ Radio System Adjustments; There are two settings available:; TQ Radio System Controls; Channel
T R A X X AS • 17 TQ Radio System Adjustments In addition to the electronic throttle and steering trim controls, your radio system features throttle neutral adjustment and servo reversing switches. These are preset at the factory and should not require further adjustment. Throttle Neutral Adjustment...
Page 18 - 8 • T R A X X AS; TQ Radio System Rules
18 • T R A X X AS Remember, always turn the TQ transmitter on first and off last to avoid damage to your model. TQ Radio System Rules Each time you prepare to run your model, you must clear your frequency to be sure no one else in the area is using the same channel as you. There are six possible cha...
Page 19 - T R A X X AS • 19; Verify that Low-Voltage Detection is turned on:; Adjusting the Electronic Speed Control; VXL-3s Specifications
T R A X X AS • 19 VXL-3s Battery Settings (Low-Voltage Detection Setting) The Velineon VXL-3s electronic speed control is equipped with built-in Low-Voltage Detection. The Low Voltage Detection circuitry constantly monitors the battery voltage. When the battery voltage begins to reach the minimum re...
Page 20 - • T R A X X AS; See page 27 for Advanced VXL-3s features.
0 • T R A X X AS Patent-Pending Training Mode (Profile #3) reduces forward and reverse throttle by 50%. Training Mode is provided to reduce the power output allowing beginning drivers to better control the model. As driving skills improve, simply change to Sport or Race Mode for full-power operation...
Page 21 - T R A X X AS • 1; Driving your Model; About Run Time; see; mAh Ratings and Power Output
T R A X X AS • 1 Driving your Model Now it’s time to have some fun! This section contains instructions on driving and making adjustments to your model. Before you go on, here are some important precautions to keep in mind. Allow the model to cool for a few minutes between runs. This is particularly ...
Page 22 - • T R A X X AS; Adjusting Gear Mesh; Basic Tuning Adjustments; Camber
• T R A X X AS Once you become familiar with driving your model, you might need to make adjustments for better driving performance Adjusting Gear Mesh Incorrect gear mesh is the most common cause of stripped spur gears. Gear mesh should be checked and adjusted anytime a gear is replaced. To set the ...
Page 23 - Adjusting the Slipper Clutch; to the center “0” position.; Stampede VXL Wheelie Bar Set-up; Each setting can offer different; Tighten
T R A X X AS • 3 on hard, dry surfaces. In loose dirt, a tire with large spikes should perform better. See your parts list for accessory wheels and tires. Adjusting the Slipper Clutch The model is equipped with an adjustable slipper clutch which is built into the large spur gear. The purpose of the ...
Page 24 - Maintaining your Model; The following procedures should be taken
4 • T R A X X AS Maintaining your Model Your model requires timely maintenance in order to stay in top running condition. The following procedures should be taken very seriously. Frequently inspect the vehicle for obvious damage or wear. Look for: 1. Cracked, bent, or damaged parts 2. Check the whee...
Page 25 - Troubleshooting
T R A X X AS • 5 Troubleshooting The following section addresses some very basic ESC and radio questions you may have about your model. Most questions arise from simple user errors or minor adjustments that are easy to correct. If you can’t find a solution for your model here, then visit our website...
Page 26 - Advanced Tuning Adjustments
6 • T R A X X AS Gearing One of the more significant advantages to your model’s transmission is the extremely wide range of available gear ratios. Changing the gearing allows you to fine tune the speed of the model and control the temperatures of the battery pack and motor. Use a lower gear ratio (n...
Page 27 - T R A X X AS • 7
T R A X X AS • 7 The VXL-3s has built-in Sensor Motor Backup Protection to prevent damage if the sensor leads or phase leads become disconnected. If a sensor lead becomes damaged or is disconnected, the VXL-3s automatically switches to sensorless brushless operation. The VXL-3s also features Sensor ...
