Sharkus' Thunder Tiger ST-1 Home Page
This site is meant to gather helpful information about the TT ST-1 RC Truggy. Most of this information has been extracted from the 200+ page ST-1 owner's thread found on the RCUniverse.com forums.
Overview and Background
Getting Started
Where to Buy the ST-1 in the US:
Stuff You Need:
- Receiver Battery Pack (6 volt flat pack recommended)
- Glow Plug Ignitor
- Nitro Fuel (20% Nitro, 10-15% Oil)
- Fuel Bottle
- Air Filter Oil (get this at your local motorcycle store, much cheaper)
- Spare Glow Plug (McCoy #59)
Stuff You Will Probably Want:
- Starter Box or Roto Start (keep in mind that the roto start should NOT be used until after break-in)
- See following video for an example of a properly aligned starter box.
- After Run Oil (ATF, Marvel Mystery Oil, or WD40 can also be used)
- Temperature Gun
- Differential Fluid of Various Types (1k, 3k, 5k, 7k, 10k)
- Quality Set of Hex Wrenches
Pre-Run Checklist:
Starting the Engine:
- "Gently" extend the pull start completely (you can use the flywheel on the bottom of the car to help). Mark the half-way point with a permanent marker. While pull-starting you should never pull past this mark.
- Heat the engine with a heat gun (or blow drier) before starting. 160 degrees is a good target temperature.
- Prime the engine by holding your finger over the exhaust opening and pulling the pull start until you see fuel enter the carb.
- Attach your ignitor and give it a good pull (or two or three) to start the engine! You may need a little throttle as well (have a friend help the first few times). If it is still too difficult to turn-over during the initial break-in, you can try slightly loosening the glow plug. Tighten it once the engine has started.
Here's a picture that shows how I like to start my ST-1. I use my right hand to pull the starter, while using my left hand to hold down the back of the truck. My left thumb feathers the throttle as necessary.
Breaking in the Engine:
Tuning the Engine:
There are lots of good tutorials and videos around. I'll post my favorite(s) after I build up some experience and see which work best for my ST-1.
Advanced Topics
Richard Saxton's Steering Mod
This is one of the most popular mods for getting the ST-1 ready to race. Start with the following instructions and I will post my personal before and after photos when I complete this mod on my car.
- http://www.truggyracers.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17753 (you will need to register to see the forum post)
Here are the parts required from A Main Hobbies (you can probably find these at you LHS as well):
Differential Fluids
The ST-1 has three differentials; front, middle, and rear. From the factory the differentials are lubricated with a bit of grease. While this is okay for playing and bashing, it is a good idea to fill them with differential fluid. There has also been reports of ST-1 RTR's missing grease in one or more of the differentials. This causes extra strain and wear of the differentials.
There are various viscosities of differential fluid available. The higher the number, the thicker the fluid. Thicker fluid causes more power to be transfered equally between booth wheels. Completely locking a differential is possible using a differential putty.
A good starting point for differential fluids seems to be 5k front, 10k middle, and 1k rear (as recommended by the ST-1 Pro instructions). However, there is no right or wrong answer. An in depth guide to differential setup can be found here: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7220011
You may also find http://www.gesilicones.com/gesilwizards/blending/fluid2.html?SMSESSION=NO useful to mix diff fluids (same brand recommended) to get the perfect weight.
Sealing the Engine
Sealing your engine can eliminate a lot of tuning problems. Often engines are difficult to tune because of small air leaks. I had noticeable leaks around my carborator in my engine. A very straight forward guide (with lots of pictures) to sealing a nitro engine can be found here:
Dremmel-ing the Head
The heat-sink on your engine should have notches in it to help cooling (like the following picture). If they don't exist you can add your own with a dremmel...
Recommended Hop-Ups
- Wing and Extension - (extension is almost always back ordered)
- Pipe Upgrade - 2035 Tuned Pipe
- Engine Upgrade - TBD
- Servo Upgrades - ACE DS1015
Commonly Requested Replacement Parts
- Glow Plugs: McCoy 59,
- Bodies that Fit "Easily": JConcepts MGT Body, MBX5T Crowd Pleazer Body
Misc Information
- RCUniverse.com ST-1 Owner's Thread
- Thunder Tiger USA Phone Number: 949-900-3300
- Thunder Tiger Home Page