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I'm helping a friend try to get his LST2 broken in and working properly. This is his first go at nitro and I ran in to him while I was out bashing a few months back. We exchanged names/numbers, then I got a call from him last week... 2 months ago, he had a used t-maxx. 2 weeks ago he bought a brand new LST2.
He couldn't get it running. I went out and we spent a few hours beginning the break-in process. Everything went as I expected. The engine was finicky for tune/idle until about the 4th tank. The day was over (dark) and we left. He called me again today and wanted to know if I could help some more.
We spent the past 2 hours trying to get that thing to shift into second. First, we ran a few more tanks through it breaking it in and getting a decent tune. He had forgotten his manual and I know nothing about LST's other than I want one. He did remember that the 2speed comes from the factory at 5 turns out. So, that's where we started. Then 5 1/4, 5 1/2, 6, 7. Never do we hear it shift, never does the RPM's of the engine change or the does the truck speed up.
In the process of changing the shift point, we had dismantled the two speed entirely to make sure the shoes weren't binding or anything. They didn't seem to be. The only evidence on the shoe cowl (where it should be rubbing when engaging) that it was making contact was a small groove where the screw head made contact. The shoes look brand new, still shiny and the inside of the cowl has no evidence of shoe contact. No rub marks, powder, streaks, nothing. I had also cleaned off all excess oil (about 20 minutes into our session today) off the clutch shoes and cowling with DA.
I just don't get it. I've never had a clutch like this, so it's totally foreign to me. I've had 10 different trucks and 15 engines... but this clutch is kicking my ass.
Even with the clutch at 7 turns out, it would pull a standing wheelie off the line. And it just seems pretty slow. If it is stuck in second or something, then he is really disappointed at it's top speed. His old tired t-maxx could out run it after about 50 feet. I was hoping with that loose of a clutch, it would at least be stuck in second and we could tune down from there.
He doesn't have internet which is why I'm trying to find out info for him. Anything that anyone can think of will be appreciated.
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Mabye when you guys turned in the setscrew for the shift point, you went in too far and crushed something. I've done it before, take that little shift thingy apart and take out the setscrew completely and take out the parts, there should be a spring and a ball (I think) and if they even look a little bit messed up, replace them.
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There isn't any balls, just springs. They appeared ok. I could make the shoes move by hand when I had the clutch in my hand. It didn't feel like it was binding on anything.
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This may sound strange, but check to make sure that the truck isn't in Low gear. The LST/LST2 has a 2 speed trans but ALSO has a High/Low range. The Low range is really a waste, because the truck doesn't like to shift from 1st to 2nd. It is only good for VERY low range torque and pulling. (The LST has GREAT pulling power in low range.)
Once you have made sure about the low/high range gearing, I would suggest going back to the factory settings (5 turns out) and richen up the HSN and LSN a bit. See if there is a defference in the shifting then. If it only loses performance but still won't shift, start leaning out the HSN about 1 hour at a time, and watch performace.
I'm going to double check, but I think the LST/LST2 has 2 adjustment screws for the trans, which both have to be adjusted the same. I will post back when I find out for sure (researching it now).
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Here's the online guide for the LST2. It is a .pdf file, so you need adobe reader to view it. The directions for the 2 speed are on page 6. I was right, there are 2 adjustment screws....
LST2 manual (scroll to page 6)
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Yeah... I tried all that.
The trans is in high speed mode. It was set to low speed initially and I couldn't believe how slow it was. We switched it to high half way through tank one of break-in.
I also downloaded the manual and read it. I did as it said, but it didn't appear to be shifting. I was adjusting both screws.
The RPM's the engine is hitting in whatever gear it's in (I still say it's first) are really high. Way past where I think it should be. Especially when I backed the screws out to 6.5-7 turns. If anything, it should have engaged into second gear right away and bogged the engine down for a few yards, then eventually pick up speed. When in fact, it hits top speed in about 10-15 yards and the engine stops revving because it hits maxx RPM's and the truck stops going any faster. The speed it does go isn't very fast. If it is second gear, the LST has a very slow top speed... My mammoth with a center spur with an Axial 28 and 14T bell is faster... and it's not that fast.
I checked an LST specific forum. Unfortunately, any post referencing the two speed was over a year old and was for the LST, not the LST2.
There's a few things that I found at LSTcentral that I would have tried if I'd had the proper tools. One thing I didn't try though was to slowly roll up to high RPM's to see if it was engaging. Or trying to slowly roll up to high RPM's with the tires off the ground to see if it engages. I'm used to just cranking up to high RPM's in a short amount of time and hearing it kick into second. But with the way this clutch works, it may actually be slipping and not dragging the weight of the truck up to a speed that matches how fast the clutch is spinning.
Also, the suggestion was made to carefully drill out the holes the clutch bolts are supposed to slide in to give them a little more room to move. That's what I didn't have tools for.
Thanks for looking into the problem. I appreciate it.
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I wouldn't suggest drilling out the holes. I remember we had a little trouble with Bottled Beast's LST2, but with a little care in tuning, we were able to work it out.
The LST and the LST2 have the same trans, so any help with one will work with both.
The LSTCentral forums have been pretty much stripped of their better/more knowledgable members. (Problems with Moderators adn advertisers pushed them away). Check out LSTForums.com and PM a guy named 2DMaxxLST. Dennis may have some better suggestions for you, other than what I have mentioned.
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Another thing to make sure of, is the Slipper. The LST2 had a slight problem with the Slipper nut stripping out, causing a problem with top speed. When you replace the Slipper nut, CAREFULLY tighten it down, then back it off 1/4 to 1/2 turn. The LST/LST2 slipper works great, and if you tighten it down all the way, it has been known to snap the Center outdrive shaft.
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Pick up a set of Associated 5-40 Locknuts, for the Slipper nut replacement. They are also the same size as the Shock nuts.
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thenewguy821 Wrote:Pick up a set of Associated 5-40 Locknuts, for the Slipper nut replacement. They are also the same size as the Shock nuts.
I read that stuff there as well. Thanks for the input.
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No problem... The more I have been thinking about it, The more I think that was the cause of Bottled Beast's shifting issues. We found a stronger nut for the slipper, and were able to get it shifting right.
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yea i had major problems with my shifting for a long time. till we put on that better slipper nut. we also had to mess with the tuning for awhile to get it to shift but even after then it hit second as soon as i hit the gas but it moved pretty good for a 13lb truck
looking for something new to buy.... like a lst2 or something let me know what u got..................
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They shift real early. If you just ez on the gas and excellarate easy you will here it shift
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I agree, the LST's do shift early, but in his case, it sounds like it isn't shifting at all. The LST does have a pretty good top speed, when it does shift. He says that his LST2 revs, but seems slow.
The slipper nut is probably the problem. That is the first problem we had to fix on Bottled's to get it to shift right.
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But the slipper spring was fully compressed. It says to back it off one full turn from completely compressed. I thought maybe it was slipping, so I tightened it all the way down and left it. It never backed off.
I don't mean to be shooting you guys down. I was just hoping for a silver bullet to the thing. Either it's something really subtle that I missed, or it's getting hung up on itself.
I probably won't run into the guy again for a couple weeks. I just hope he doesn't blow up his new engine. He's pretty green to nitro.
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