FTX RC VANTAGE 2.0 1/10TH SCALE 4WD ELECTRIC POWERED READY-TO-RUN OFF ROAD RACING BUGGY Owner’s Manual

FTX RC VANTAGE 2.0 1/10TH SCALE 4WD ELECTRIC POWERED READY-TO-RUN OFF

ROAD RACING BUGGY

Congratulations on your purchase of the FTX ‘Vantage 2.0’ electric off road car.
This 1/10th scale model has been factory assembled and all electrics installed and set up to make it the easiest possible introduction to the sport of driving RC cars.

WARNING: Read the ENTIRE instruction manual to become familiar with the features of the product before operating. Failure to operate the product correctly can result in damage to the product, personal property and cause serious injury. This is NOT a toy and must be operated with caution and common sense.
Failure to operate this product in a safe and responsible manner could result in damage, injury or damage to other property. This product is not intended for use by children without direct adult supervision. It is essential to read and follow all the instructions and warnings in the manual, prior to assembly, set-up or use, in order to operate correctly and avoid damage or serious injury.

Safety Precautions and Warnings

• You are responsible for operating this model such that it does not endanger
  yourself and others, or result in damage to the product or the property of others.

• This model is controlled by a radio which is possibly subject to interference which can cause momentary loss of control so it is advisable to always keep a safe distance to avoid collisions or injury.

• Age Recommendation: 14 years or over. This is not a toy. This product is not intended for use by children without direct adult supervision.

Carefully follow these directions and warnings, plus those of any additional equipment associated with the use of this model, chargers, ESC and motors, radio etc.

• Never operate your model with low transmitter batteries.

• Always operate your model in an open area away from cars, traffic or people.

• Never operate the model in the street or in populated areas.

• Always keep the vehicle in direct line of sight, you cannot control what you cannot see!

• Keep all chemicals, small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children.

• Although splash-proof the car and electronics are not designed to be subjected to extended moisture exposure or submersion.
  To do so will result in permanent damage.

• Avoid injury from high-speed rotating parts, gears and axles etc.

• Novices should seek advice from more experienced people to operate the model correctly and meet its performance potential.

• Exercise caution when using tools and sharp instruments.

• Do not put fingers or any objects inside rotating and moving parts.

• Take care when carrying out repairs or maintenance as some parts may be sharp.

• Do NOT touch equipment such as the motor, electronic speed control and battery, immediately after using your model because they can generate high temperatures.

• Always turn on your transmitter before you turn on the receiver in the car. Always turn off the receiver before turning your transmitter off.

• Keep the wheels of the model off the ground, and keep your hands away from the wheels when checking the operation of the radio equipment.

• Prolong motor life by preventing overheating conditions. Undue motor wear can result from frequent turns, rapid change of direction forwards/backward, continuous stop/starts, pushing/pulling objects, driving in deep sand and tall grass, or driving continuously up hill.

Contents:

• FTX Vantage 2.0 RTR Buggy
• Transmitter: 2.4ghz Steerwheel
• Charger: USB 500mA Charger
• Battery: 1800mAH 7.2v

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR OPERATION

Tools required for building and maintenance:

WARNING!
Do not use a power screw driver to install screws into nylon or plastic materials.The fast
locking may heat up the screws being installed that may break the molded parts or strip the threads during installation.

Additional items needed for operation:

4 pcs AA Alkaline Batteries

IMPORTANT!
Check that all screws and nuts are tight before each use.

Aerial Assembly.

Uncoil the aerial wire carefully so as not to kink or knot it in anyway , and first be sur e to insert the wire up through the top chassis aerial mount hole fr om below. Pull the rubber tube cap off the aerial tube and push the wir e all the way thr ough the aerial tube until the first 5mm of wir e shows out of the other end. Fold the wir e down over the end of the tube and be sur e to insert the rubber tube cap so that it traps the protruding wire to hold it firmly in the tube. Push Aerial tube into mounting hole in upper chassis until firmly seated. Bundle any excess aerial wir e neatly away from rotating components on the chassis.

Charging/Installing the Battery.
Always store your model with the battery pack unplugged and removed. Always charge your battery away from the vehicle. The included USB charger will take approximately 3.5 hours to charge a discharged 1800mAh battery.

• When charging the Red LED will be solid.
• When the battery is fully charged the Green LED will be solid.

To install a charged battery, remove the body clips and remove the bodyshell. Remove the battery retainer clips, insert battery and reinstall the retainer with the flat side facing the battery and re-insert clips. When connecting battery and turning car on, ensure it is off the ground, with wheels away from objects.

IMPORTANT! Notes on Battery use:

• Always allow the battery cool after use, before recharging.
• Always inspect the battery before charging.
• Any bare wires, split heat shrink or leakage is a sure sign of abuse.
• Never attempt to charge dead or damaged batteries.
• Do not disassemble the battery or cut the connector wires.
• If the battery connector gets hot enough to melt there is most likely a serious problem with your model, drive line, battery wires or speed controller. Find and correct the problem before installing another charged battery pack.
• NEVER charge the battery unattended in case of overcharging, you need to be able to monitor the battery during charging Charge away from flammable objects and on a non-flammable surface in case the battery becomes too hot.

RUNNING YOUR CAR

1. TURNING ON THE RECEIVER OF YOUR CAR
   The ESC Receiver switch is located under the bodyshell of the model. Switch on the ESC/Receiver Switch as shown in the picture.

2. TURN ON THE RADIO CONTROLLER
   Switch on the power switch on the radio controller. Your radio is bound with your car automatically.

3. CHECK STEERING PERFORMANCE

4. To keep the car running straight, keep the streering wheel centered.

5. Turn the steering wheel to the right to allow the car to right.

6. Turn the steering wheel to the left to allow the car to turn to the left.

7. CHECK TRIGGER RESPONSE
   PLEASE NOTE: THE MODEL SWITCHES BETWEEN
   FORWARD AND REVERSE INSTANTLY FOR SLOW SPEED MANEOUVABILITY. EXCESSIVE USE OF THIS FEATURE CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION AND ESC DAMAGE.

   • A. Pull the trigger back to accelerate, release it to decelerate.
   • B. To stop running your car, release the trigger to neutral.
   • C. Pushing the trigger forward activates reverse.

8. TUNING THE STEERING TRIM
   STEERING TRIM BUTTONS
   Gently pull the trigger to allow your car to run slowly. Meantime, tune the steering trim to allow the front wheels to be aligned by pressing the left or right buttons. The neutral position of the trim adjustment is identified by a long beep.

9. TUNING THE THROTTLE TRIM
   THROTTLE TRIM BUTTONS
   Throttle Trim is used to set the idle speed of the car, by pressing the left or right buttons. The neutral positionof the trim adjustment is identified by a long beep.

10. TO TUNE THE STEERING DUAL RATE CONTOL DIAL
    STEERING D/R KNOB
    The dial marked ‘ST/RD’ on the transmitter controls the amount of servo travel. You should adjust this to give maximum steering without straining the servo. Turning the dial clockwise gives more travel and turning it anti- clockwise gives less travel.Set the Steering Dual Rate Control Dial to a minimum first.
    To set the desired steering wheel level increase it again whilst decelerating your vehicle.

11. STEERING/THROTTLE REVERSE
    STEERING REVERSE:
    To reverse the direction of servo travel, please press and hold the ‘ST R/N” button for steering (CH1) or “TH R/N” for throttle (CH2) for a few seconds until you hear a beeping sound, then release the button.
    THROTTLE REVERSE:
    Allows you to electronically switch the direction that the motor operates in relation to the throttle trigger. For example, if you pull the throttle trigger to
    accelerate forward but the model goes in reverse, flip the Throttle Reverse switch to make the model accelerate forward.

Getting Started

Switch on transmitter. Hold vehicle clear of the ground, connect battery pack and switch on receiver. Bind the Transmitter and receiver if required.
Test the transmitter to check control of the vehicle with wheels off the ground. Start driving slowly and if the vehicle does not go straight, adjust steering trim dial
on Transmitter. For the very first run use the throttle gently, to gradually bed in the motor brushes and help the driver become accustomed to the vehicle’s behaviour and controls.

PLEASE NOTE:
Although the electronics are waterproof the rest of car can be subjected to damage if running in excessively wet or submerged conditions.

After Run.
Switch off the receiver power, switch off the transmitter and lower the aerial. Disconnect the battery and remove it from the vehicle, allow it to cool before recharging. If you have a second charged battery all ready to use, still allow the vehicle to cool slightly before continuing.

Regular maintenance.
Frequently check the whole vehicle for loose or missing fixings. Use thread lock on any replacement screws into metal threads.
Frequently check rotating parts are free from grass, string etc. that might bind their motion and overstress the motor or speed controller. Remove the wheels occasionally and check behind the mounting hex for obstructions or anything that might have been wrapped around the axle and caused extra drag. Check the gear mesh frequently and remove any stones or grit from gear teeth to prevent premature wear and damage. If the motor moves, or is removed for maintenance/exchange, the gear mesh will need to be set. Simply slacken the motor retaining screws and adjust the motor
until there is just discernable backlash between pinion and spur teeth. If the gear is too tight or too loose the gears will be noisy and could be damaged. Shock absorbers will wear prematurely if used in dirty dusty conditions. Replace oil and seals as required to keep a smooth dampening action.

Troubleshooting guide.

• Short Runtime:
  Battery damaged/not charged Motor dirty or brushes worn Drivetrain binding

• Sluggish Action:
  Motor dirty or brushes worn Bind in drive train Battery running low on power

• Motor/ESC overheat:
  Over-geared Binding transmission. Seized axle bearing. Motor binding

• Motor spins but vehicle refuses to move:
  Gears damaged. Gears loose on shaft. Slipper clutch too loose. Drive shaft broken or missing.

• Poor Range or fails to operate:
  Transmitter batteries low Vehicle Battery Low. Transmitter switched off Transmitter/receiver aerial not extended.
  ESC switched off or battery not connected. Loose connectors/wires. Water damage. Model electronics are not waterproof.

Warranty

Due to the nature of this product and potential use FTX warrants it to be free
of material and workmanship defects when new. FTX will at its sole discretion repair or replace defective components free of charge within 30 days from date of purchase. This warranty does not cover wear and tear, crash or impact damage, modifications, component water damage failure to perform maintenance or damage from improper use. Proof of purchase date will be required to action any warranty claims. In no case shall FTX’s liability exceed the original cost of the purchased kit.

Instructions for disposal.
Environmental Protection Notes & WEEE The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol shown here, which may be found on the product itself, in the operating instructions or on the packaging, is in accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. Individual markings indicate which materials can be recycled and re-used. You can make an important contribution to the protection of our common environment by re-using the product, recycling the basic materials or recycling redundant equipment in other ways. When this product comes to the end of its useful life, you must not dispose of it in ordinary domestic waste. Many electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps to save natural resources and
also reduces the environmental and health impacts that are linked with sending electrical goods to landfill.

The correct method of disposal is to take it to your local collection point for recycling electrical and electronic equipment. You can go to recycle- more.co.uk for details of locations.
Alternatively FTX can offer our customers free take-back of their WEEE on a like-for-like basis when they buy a new Electrical or Electronic product from us. For example, if a customer bought a new radio system from us or a dealer, we would accept their old radio and prevent it going into a landfill site by disposing of it safely. Customers must return their old WEEE item to us within 28 days of purchasing their new item. Remove batteries from your device and dispose of them at your local collection point for batteries. If you don’t know the location of your nearest disposal centre,
please enquire at your local council office.

FTK is an exclusive brand of CML Distribution, Saxon House, Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4AD England.
E-mail: info@ftt-rc.comm

References

• Everything you need to know to Recycle More

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