Serpent SRX8 GTE LWB Race Roller - User Manual

The Serpent SRX8 GTE LWB RR is a 1/8 scale electric on-road race roller, designed for competitive RC racing. This model is factory assembled and set up, offering a robust foundation for both aspiring and experienced racers.

Function Description

The SRX8 GTE LWB RR is a high-performance remote-controlled car built for on-road racing. It serves as a "race roller," meaning it comes pre-assembled with the chassis, suspension, and drivetrain, but requires additional electronic components (transmitter, receiver, ESC, motor, servo, batteries) to be fully operational. Its primary function is to provide a stable, responsive, and tunable platform for competitive racing on various track conditions.

Important Technical Specifications

The car is designed to achieve speeds in excess of 80 km/h (50 mph). It features a long wheelbase (LWB) chassis, which generally contributes to greater stability and slower, more predictable reactions compared to a shorter wheelbase. The chassis design incorporates state-of-the-art 1/8 scale chassis design principles, leveraging years of racing experience from Serpent.

Drivetrain and Differentials: The model includes front, center, and rear differentials. The gear differentials can be tuned by changing the oil viscosity:

• Lighter oil: Creates a looser differential, increasing rear traction on acceleration but also leading to more understeer.
• Harder differential (thicker oil): Decreases rear traction on acceleration but allows for more on-throttle steering. The spur and pinion gears are crucial for correct gear mesh, with a recommendation to use a piece of notebook paper between them during assembly for optimal spacing.

Suspension System: The suspension features adjustable components for fine-tuning performance:

• Springs: Softer springs result in more sag, chassis roll/lean, and dive, offering a less responsive car, which can be beneficial on low-grip surfaces. Harder springs reduce sag, body lean, and dive, making the car more responsive, suitable for high-grip surfaces.
• Shock-angle: The angle of the shocks affects suspension feel. More vertical shocks feel harder, while more horizontal shocks feel softer.
• Oil: The viscosity of the shock oil dictates dampening. Thinner oil provides softer dampening and slower response, while thicker oil offers harder dampening and faster response. Dampening can also be adjusted by using different pistons with varying numbers of holes.
• Anti-roll bars (Front and Rear): Softer anti-roll bars lead to more sag, chassis roll/lean, and dive, resulting in a less responsive car but potentially more steering (front) or more rear traction and stability (rear).

Steering and Handling:

• Front Camber: More negative camber in the front increases steering but also increases the possibility of traction roll.
• Rear Camber: More negative camber in the rear increases rear grip, which can also lead to more understeer.
• Front Caster: Adjustable with optional caster blocks. Less caster reduces steering but also decreases possible traction roll.
• Rear Toe Adjustment: Adjusted with suspension blocks (optional). More toe-in increases traction and stability but reduces speed. Less toe-in decreases stability and traction but increases speed.
• Front Toe Adjustment: Adjusted with track-rods. More toe-in increases steering but reduces stability. Toe-out increases stability but reduces steering.

Chassis and Body: The chassis is a long-wheelbase design, contributing to the car's stability. The body can be personalized with decals.

Usage Features

• Race Roller Concept: The car comes as a "race roller," meaning it's pre-assembled but requires the user to install their preferred electronic components (motor, ESC, servo, receiver, transmitter, batteries). This allows for customization based on individual preferences and competition rules.
• Affordable Entry: Positioned as a good entry point into RC racing, offering a balance of performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Upgradeability: Fully upgradable to high-end competition specifications, allowing users to enhance performance over time as their skills and needs evolve.
• Designed by a World Champion: The model was designed, tested, and raced by Billy Easton, a World Champion, ensuring a high level of performance and engineering.
• Quick-Start Guide: Includes a quick-start section for rapid setup, covering essential steps like battery installation, radio system setup, and initial checks.
• Safety Guidelines: Emphasizes safe operation, including running in designated areas, being aware of hot parts, avoiding dark conditions, and parental guidance for users under 16.

Maintenance Features

Regular maintenance is crucial for optimal performance and longevity:

• Shock Absorbers: Check for smooth operation and air bubbles. Clean and refill with 100% pure silicone oil as needed.
• Tires: Replace worn or damaged tires. Clean tire surfaces for better grip.
• Wheel-axles and Driveshafts: Remove wheels, check axles, driveshafts, and adaptors for dirt, play, and pins. Clean thoroughly and lubricate touching parts with grease or oil.
• Differentials: Check differentials and gears for wear and dirt. Clean as needed. Verify smooth operation by turning wheels in opposite directions; gritty feel indicates a need for silicone oil replacement.
• General Cleaning: Advised to clean the car immediately after use. Do not use water, methanol, thinner, or other solvents.
• Storage: Store the car in a dry and heated place to prevent corrosion of metal parts.
• Wet Conditions: Avoid using in wet conditions to prevent corrosion. If driven in wet conditions, ensure all electric equipment is waterproofed and all moving parts are dried immediately after use.
• Pre/Post-Operation Checks: Always check the mechanical status and battery charge before operation. After use, inspect parts for wear or fractures and replace as necessary.

The manual also provides access to a full assembly manual online via the Serpent website for detailed building instructions.