Looking to get into the world of radio-controlled crawling and take on the toughest terrain? The Redcat Gen 8 RC Crawler is one of the most capable off-road crawlers to start you off with. With a whopping good rating on Amazon, the Redcat Gen 8’s performance is off the charts, making it well worth the high costs.
However, it isn’t completely free of flaws by any means.
The most common Redcat Gen 8 problems include – motor disconnection, receiver issues, & incompetent servos. There are a few financial issues associated with it as well since the replacement parts aren’t too cost-effective.
But is the Redcat Gen 8 still worth it despite the problems? And are these problems severe or easily fixable? Let’s figure out the answers to these questions in today’s write-up.
Redcat Gen 8 RC Crawler Common Problems
Let’s go over some of the prominent issues of the Redcat Gen 8 right off the bat. During our research, we collected info from hundreds of reviews from multiple online forums.
And according to these reviews, the most common problems of the Redcat Gen 8 include –
Memory Foam Tires
The tires are actually the best part of the Redcat Gen 8. But they do need some extra maintenance which is bothersome at times.
For instance – they’re amazing in marshy lands just like top-heavy crawlers. But after you get back to the base, you have to wash them countless times to get rid of all the mud.
Additionally, the memory foam makes it slightly harder to make decisions on the spot. It almost feels like the tires have a mind of their own – rebounding and analyzing the movements separately with their hive-minded aptitude.
Suspension Flexibility
The 4-link suspension chain is great to keep the framework in one piece. However, the suspensions in the back require some work in terms of flexibility and stability.
The suspension gears are attached to the lower axle employing plastic screws, little ones at that. So, when the crawler jerks a lot these screws are the first line of defense giving up.
Fender Benders
The fenders are awfully fragile with the Redcat Gen 8. And it’s almost infuriating because it keeps the crawler from achieving its true potential.
While taking heavy turns with this crawler, the eventual drop-down will cause the fenders to turn against each other. Without proper suspension, they can bend or break instantly.
Transmitter Modulation
Like the memory foam, the transmitter plays yet another villainous role in assuring instant communication between the crawler and the commander. According to experts online, it’s because the potentiometer is way too sensitive.
Thus, the signals need to be filtered accordingly before taking the final orders. And that’s slightly time-consuming, even though it doesn’t take all that long from a superficial sense.
3D Printable Parts
The Redcat Gen 8 Crawler supports 3D printable parts – which is one of its most promising features. Avid crawlers with a knack for 3D Printing went crazy over this model just for this.
But 3D printers are anything but cost-effective. Especially if you’re investing in one such printer just to cater to your rock-crawling cravings. With a 3D printer, you can churn out ready-to-go replacement parts in less than an hour on the track. And that’s why – the Redcat Gen 8 is somewhat incredibly popular in the competitive arenas.
Despite the numerous perks, the matter of the cost still stays undisputed. Many customers don’t find it fascinating to have to spend hundreds of additional dollars just for emergency replacement parts. There has also been discoursed as to whether some of the parts are intentionally weak to make sure customers have no choice but to replace those parts.
Redcat Gen 8 RC Crawler Problems & Potential Fixes
Redcat Gen 8 Problems | Troubleshooting Guidelines |
| Tire Issues | You can replace the memory foam with the normal foam, but it’s not highly recommended from our end. We’d suggest getting used to the signals to control the tires better. And wash the tires vigorously to get rid of all the slime before placing them on the track. |
| Suspension Issues | Get rid of the tiny plastic screws and use better-quality screws to secure the gears. Make sure to keep the knots flexible enough to help the crawler withstand heavy jerks |
| Transmitter Issues | Replace the transmitter on the crawler. You can try resolving the wiring issues on the transmitter itself to work better with the receiver. But we think it’d be more cost-effective to go for a new transmitter. |
| Fender Issues | Resolve the magnetic issues between the fenders on the framework. Magnetic resonance works better than physical resonance when you’re crawling off-road. |
| Power Issues | Divert power from unnecessary sources if you can live without them. For instance – you can try unhooking the lights or at least some of them to save more power for max energy. |
| Servo Issues | Every crawler expert that you’ll meet will tell you to replace the servo right off the bat. And we concur. The servo is next to irredeemable. For better performance, switch to similar devices such as a KG 30 servo instead. |
Final Verdict
With that, let’s wrap up the overview of the Redcat Gen 8 problems. As you can see by now, Redcat does suffer from a number of mismanagement issues, but that’s just it. The issues are ‘management’ issues, not behavioral ones.
And thus, you can easily fix them up if you’ve got a deeper understanding of how an RC crawler works. The world of RC crawling is an addictive one, to say the least. Without full knowledge of your own models, you won’t survive for too long out in the off-grid courses.
The Redcat Gen 8 is a gorgeous model for beginners, especially if you can afford to spend a few hundred bucks on reformative tactics. So, keep an eye on the tricks we shared in today’s write-up to improve the performance of your personalized green monsters.
You can also get helpful advice in the dedicated online forums. Overall, you’ll find that the Gen 8 has got incredible parts with equally amazing features, making it well worth the billable hours.
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