Associated Monster GT User Guide
Associated Monster GT User Guide
Contacting Us:
Associated Electrics, Inc.
Customer Support 3585 Cadillac Ave.
Phone: (714) 850-9342, ext. 624 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Fax: (714) 850-1744 USA
Web site: http://www.rc10.com http://
www.TeamAssociated.com/
Tools Supplied
1Additional Equipment Helpful Items
Items Required
Warning:
Do not use a power screwdriver to install screws into nylon, plastic or composite materials. The fast rotation speed can heat
up the screws being installed. They can then break the molded parts or strip the threads during installation.
Fuel Selection
• Choose a fuel from a reputable, brand name company that is approved
for car/truck use. Do not use airplane or boat fuels in your truck.
• Choose a fuel that has a nitro content in the range 15%-30%. Lower
nitro percentages will generally result in a cooler engine running
temperature and therefore last longer before needing a rebuild;
cooler-running engines also generally produce less power. 20%
nitro is the most widely used fuel in these engines.
• Fuel color is for identification purpose only and is not important to
performance or durability of your engine.
• Clean the foam with dish soap & water. When it’s clean, remove excess moisture with a towel
& let the filter dry completely before oiling.
• Apply Associated’s #7710 Foam Pre-Filter Treatment to help keep the dirt out. Dab a small
amount of treatment all around the filter, put the filter in a plastic sandwich bag, and knead it
until the filter is saturated, but not soaked.
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3 Getting to Know Your Radio System
The Monster GT is equipped with a high quality 3-channel
XP3 radio system. The following transmitter terms will be
used throughout the rest of these operating instructions.
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4 Getting to Know Your Truck
Please take a few moments to famaliarize yourself with the Monster GT. The pictured truck below highlights only a few of the
exciting features we have included with your new truck. Many hours have been spent making sure this is one of the Biggest,
Fastest, and Toughest trucks available!
1.
6 Starting Your Truck
Have fresh batteries or a full charge (for rechargeable NiCd and NiMH versions) in your
glow plug igniter.
2. Make sure that your radio system (transmitter and receiver) is ready (See section on transmitter settings and use).
3. Remove the truck body.
4. Add Fuel to the Fuel Tank.
4.1. Use a squeeze bottle to safely and easily transfer fuel to the tank.
4.2. Fill the tank no higher than the bottom of the neck.
5. Turn on the transmitter.
6. Turn on the receiver switch. (continued on page 12)
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7. Prime the carburetor
• Squeeze the primer bulb completely once.
• Slowly squeeze the primer bulb again while watching the fuel come through the line.
• Repeat the above step until the fuel just reaches the carburetor inlet
(see figure).
• Carefully give the bulb another ¼ squeeze (1/8th inch). – BE
CAREFUL NOT TO SQUEEZE TOO MUCH or the engine will
become flooded. Attempting to start a grossly flooded
(or hydro-locked) engine (full of fuel) can cause serious
damage to internal engine parts.
8. Put the glow plug igniter on the glow plug and make sure
that it is seated properly.
9. Start the truck using either the pull-start or hex start
(cordless drill required).
Pull Start - Hold the truck by the handle with one hand
and pull the pull-start-cord with the other. Use quick and short pulls and
make sure that you are only pulling the cord about 10-12 inches. Pulling the
cord more than 14 inches or all the way will damage the pull-start
mechanism. If the cord is difficult to pull or is stuck it is an almost sure sign that
the engine is flooded.
Hex Start – Make sure that your drill is set to the clockwise or forward position. Insert the Hex Starting Shaft to the drill and
tighten the drill’s chuck with the ball end facing away from the drill. BEFORE inserting the Hex Starting Shaft into the dual start
output, squeeze the trigger and verify that the drill is turning the same direction as is shown on the sticker on the pull start
cover. WARNING – Attempting to start the motor by using a counter-clockwise direction could damage the pull-start
mechanism or possibly the engine’s internal components. Insert the ball
end of the Hex Start Shaft into the Dual Start output. Grasp the drill tightly and
squeeze the trigger.
• If the engine becomes flooded: Turn off your truck, and then the
radio. Remove the glow plug
using a glow plug wrench
and then remove the air
filter. Turn the truck over to
allow any excess fuel in the
engine to run out. Turn the
truck right side up. Reinstall
the air cleaner. Slowly pull
the pull-start cord about 8
inches, 5 to 7 times.
Reinstall the glow plug with
the glow plug wrench.
Return to step 7.
10. Continue to pull the cord or squeeze trigger on the drill until the engine starts. If the engine still does not start, try giving the
primer bulb another ¼ squeeze. If the truck still does not start, check the glow plug (see section 6 of the engine manual).
11. Remove igniter from the glow plug.
12. Install the truck body and body clips.
Operating/Driving tips
•
7 Driving & Storage Tips
Your truck is just that, a truck. Therefore, by design, it has a high center of gravity and will require slower cornering speeds to
keep from rolling over.
• Forward and reverse use
• Make sure that the truck has come to a stop before shifting directions.
• Press the reverse button on your radio located near your thumb (see radio section).
• Throttle and brake actuation work in the same directions as when the car is in forward gear (pull trigger
for throttle, push trigger for brake).
• Stop the truck when you would like again to return to normal driving.
• Press the reverse button.
• Your truck has a two-speed transmission. The transmission can be thought of as an automatic transmission that is designed to
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shift when the truck is traveling at a certain set speed. Refer to the “Adjusting the two-speed” section in this manual to adjust
that set point or if your truck does not appear to be shifting correctly.
• The electronic components on your truck are in compartments to keep them from malfunctioning because of dirt and debris
build up. The servos and the compartments housing the electronics are not waterproof. Driving through water could
cause damage and/or malfunction to occur.
• Follow all the caution tips listed in this manual and USE COMMON SENSE! Abusive and rough driving could result in broken
parts.
• The Monster GT can be carefully refueled while the engine is running to extend the run time.
Two-Speed Adjustment
8 Adjustments
1. Your truck’s two-speed shift point is preset from the factory. It should shift into 2nd gear within 12-15 feet on a full-throttle,
standing-start acceleration.
2. If you wish to adjust the shift point, first shut down the engine then open the two-speed access cover on the transmission
case. Align the BLACK adjustment set screw with the opening on the 2nd gear as shown on the diagram.
3. Using a 2mm Allen wrench, turn the black adjustment set screw clockwise to make the two-speed shift later; turn it
counter-clockwise to make the two-speed shift earlier. Only use ¼ turn increments whenever you adjust your two-
speed.
4. Close the two-speed access cover on the transmission case.
5. Be careful not to touch any hot engine components in the area.
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Front & Rear Toe-In / Toe-Out
1. Use a 1.5mm Allen wrench as shown to adjust the front & rear toe-in.
2. Lengthening the Turnbuckles will increase the amount of toe-in, shortening them
will increase the amount of toe-out.
3. The notch on the turnbuckle indicates the side that has the right-hand thread.
Use it as a guide to determine which way to turn the turnbuckle when adjusting its
length.
Ride Height
1. The truck’s ride height can be increased by adding
preload clips to the shocks. Removing preload clips
will decrease the ride height.
2. Compress the spring and insert the preload clips
between the spring collar and the shock body
flange.
Slipper Clutch
1. Use a 7mm nut driver to adjust the slipper clutch.
2. Tighten the slipper nut until the spring is fully compressed.
3. Once you’ve reached the point where the spring is fully compressed,
loosen the slipper nut ¼ turn.
4. Do not run you truck with the slipper nut any looser than ¼ turn
from full spring compression. Setting the slipper too loose may
result in a damaged spur gear.
Radio Adjustments
1. Dual Rate – Push the dial to the right to increase the amount
of steering throw for a tighter turning radius; push the dial to
the left to decrease the amount of steering throw for a larger
turning radius.
2. Steering Trim – Start the truck and drive it forward slowly with no input on the steering wheel. If the truck veers to the right,
turn the Steering Trim knob to the left until the truck runs straight. If the truck veers to the left, turn the Steering Trim knob to
the right.
3. Throttle Trim – With the engine running, the truck should remain stopped (on level ground) when the throttle is in neutral. At
the same time the truck should roll freely in both forward and reverse directions. If the truck creeps forward, turn the Throttle
Trim knob to the left just enough so that the truck stops moving. If the truck doesn’t roll freely turn the Throttle Trim knob to
the right just enough to disengage the brakes.
4. Throttle HI ATV – Perform this adjustment only with the engine OFF and the radio system ON. Remove the air filter from
the carburetor and turn the Throttle HI ATV knob all the way to the left. Pull the throttle trigger all the way to full throttle and
look into the carburetor. You’ll see that the slide valve is not open all the way. Now start turning the Throttle HI ATV knob to
the right until the slide valve fully opens. Do not adjust the Throttle HI ATV past the point where the valve is fully open because
it will strain the throttle servo.
5. Throttle LO ATV – You can use this adjustment to limit your truck’s braking power. Turning the Throttle LO ATV to the right
gives you more braking power; turning it to the left gives you less braking power.
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Adjusting throttle, brake, and FWD/REV linkages
Your truck comes with linkages that are pre-set. At some point it may be necessary to adjust or replace the linkages that connect
the servos to the throttle, brake, and/or transmission. See pictures above for reference.
2. Brake linkage adjustment - only make this adjustment after the throttle linkage has been set up correctly!
a. Turn on the radio and the truck, but do not start the engine.
b. Leave the throttle trigger on the radio set at the neutral setting.
c. Hold the brake lever so the brake is engaged (minimal pressure) with one hand.
d. Using your other hand, turn the plastic brake adjustment nut at the end of the linkage until there is a 1/16” (1.5mm) gap
between the spring and the brake lever when the spring is not compressed.
e. Verify motion of the linkage by pulling the throttle on the radio to full throttle and pushing it to full brakes, check to make
sure that there is full actuation of the slide carburetor and the brake lever.
f. While holding the trigger to full brakes, try to roll the truck forward and backward. It should not roll.
g. Make small adjustments using the throttle TRIM and throttle High ATV if necessary.
Shock Springs
Stiffer springs will give you better handling and higher cornering speed on smooth surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, and hard pack
dirt. Soft springs are better for rougher terrain, rock crawling and jumping. Softer springs will increase the rollover tendency of the
truck at higher speeds.
Optional Gearing
Additional gearing is available for your Monster GT. Additional gearing allows you to match your engine and transmission to your
driving situation. Bigger gears on the clutch bell (or smaller slipper gears) will result in greater top speed, but will have slower
acceleration from a stop (see chart below). If you change the gearing you will need to reset the gear mesh:
1. Loosen (or tighten if engine was removed) the four engine mounting bolts located on the underside of the truck until you can
just slide the engine forward and backward.
2. Slide the engine up to the spur gear until the teeth on the clutch bell are meshed tightly with the teeth on the slipper gear.
3. Move the engine back a little bit (1/32” or 0.8mm). Check the mesh by holding the smaller gear with one hand and rocking the
bigger gear back and forth with the other. The big gear should rock back and forth slightly with little effort. A gear mesh that is
too tight will be noisy, have lower performance and could ruin the gears.
*Some gear combinations may require modification of the spur gear support guard. Look for equivalent ratios to avoid
making modifications. For example, instead of using the 18-52 combination, choose either of the 17-49 or 16-46 combos.
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Performance Parts and Accessories
for the Monster GT! (Available separately from your dealer.
Not included in this kit.)
Factory Team
MGT Performance Parts #1749
25062 MGT Blue Springs, Soft 4.40 lbs. (4)
#25064
25063 MGT Gold Springs, Med 5.10 lbs (4)
25064 MGT Red Springs, Firm 5.95 lbs (4)
25065 MGT Copper Springs, X-firm 6.90 lbs (4) #25400
#25387
25370 14 Tooth Vented Clutch Bell
25372 16 Tooth Vented Clutch Bell
25373 17 Tooth Vented Clutch Bell
25374 18 Tooth Vented Clutch Bell #25063
25378 49 Tooth Spur Gear #25390
Green Slime
Shock Building
Factory Team Apparel Lube
Rear
www.rc10.com/FT
www.rc10.com/FT SP-409 Embroidery:
www.rc10.com
#25385
Associated Long
Sleeve Sweatshirt
SP48
SP-406
( Med. Large, XL, XXL. XXXL)
SP-407