Fighting back the muddy condition, yet still keeping a level profile at speed

Xray revise and refine the lighter, sleeker XT8-09 Truggy

The Xray XT8 has proved itself to be an extremely capable truggy, as the design comes straight from the award winning and European Champion buggy, the Xray XB8. Crafted and designed by the hands of Hudy Juraj for top level racing, the XT8 is race proven and competes with the very best at the highest level.

Whilst the XT8 has DNA from the XB8, Xray havent just done a direct copy and stuck on longer suspension arms, oh no, as the XT8 is very much a truggy, and optimised for it. The drive train has been perfected with a gear ratio particularly suited to the larger wheels and tyres used. The suspension has been designed for the additional travel and strength needed. The C of G and overall weight have both been kept as low as possible making this a very race tuned beast that just wants to hit the track, hard.

Hand me downsWhen you are trackside at big race meetings or Nationals you will

notice the top sponsored drivers sitting under their logo emblazoned gazebos. They arent just there for show you know, and its the feedback they give to the manufacturer that helps them tweak and alter their models to keep them bang up to date and fix any possible shortcomings. You, as a customer, get the proceeds of this work in either factory upgrades or higher spec updated versions of the model. Xray have done just that with the 2009 spec XT8-09 even though its hard to think how they could have improved the original, but they have and there are over 20 improvements. These are aimed at improving reliability, strength, handling and weight reduction.

ABOVE: High quality parts used throughout the diff assembly for extra reliability over extended periods

ABOVE: No leakage from suitably filled diffs, I waited a week just to check. Perfect

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By ColIn long

XT8-09 TRUggy

When Less equaLs More

BELOW: Hudy spring steel diff out drives. The shorter bevelled edge version is for the front

BELOW: Hudy spring steel CVJs used throughout for increase driveline efficiency

LEFT: The XT8 09 version replaces several previously aluminium parts with lighter graphite parts

LEFT: Ali wheel hubs look like they have been left out for the mice. Weighing just 4 grams each you can see the high level of attention being paid to weight reduction

The Xray XT8-09 gives you the confidence and ability to hold a tight line through a corner

KIT qUalITyThis is the first Xray kit I have built, and although Ive had friends

constantly bleating about the quality of the kits and how it can save you money in the long run because they are stronger and the parts last longer it never really sunk in until I saw one first hand, up close and in detail. So it would seem that the higher initial asking price is often repaid over the lifespan of the model, and having now experienced the quality I can quite believe it! From the moment you open the box you will be happy that your hard earned money has been well spent.

The instructions are really high quality with easy to follow guides and very clear information. You will get many seasoned racers purchasing this type of kit, yet Xray have included the sort of information you just dont tend to get any more, perfect if you are new to all this. For example, you are shown clearly how to build the shocks and how to remove the trapped air. They mention that you only need to half fill the diffs with the indicated diff oils, great information Ive never been given before. The order of build is perfect, the pre-labelled parts packs are easy to reference to the instructions and you are never left with bits all over the place awaiting that particular section of the manual. If you finish that section of the build and have bits left, you have screwed up and had best recheck your work.

To the rear of the manual you have a great set-up guide with loads of handling information, to the extent that this manual would be handy

even if you dont own this particular model, just for the basic geometry theory and the effect certain changes have on a vehicle! There is a supplementary slip detailing the changes to the build for the 09 spec, which affects the shocks, front turnbuckles and shock towers. Its nothing complicated, but well worth a flick through prior to the build.

wHaTs wITH THe 09 veRsIon?So whats new for the XT8-09, what goodies have Xray chosen to add

to an already great racing truggy?All together there are over twenty individual parts making up the

improvements to the XT8-09. The chassis has been worked on to provide a solid platform for which to mount the components, weight distribution has been improved to help handling and the 3 mm thick Swiss 7075 T6 aluminium is hard coated to resist the knocks and scrapes it will have to endure on the race track. The driveline is now complete with the super strong Hudy spring steel, which has enabled the driveshafts and out drives to be reduced in thickness because of the sheer strength of these special steels used. This of course reduces weight and as its in the drive train the inertia and momentum is reduced giving more instant power reaction, which affects both acceleration and braking equally.

The XT8 had Swiss 7075 T6 CNC machined shock towers, steering plate,

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upper deck, radio and centre diff plate and while there was nothing wrong with these parts, the 09 version sees them replaced with much lighter graphite parts. These have similar strength properties, but at a fraction of the weight. As the shock towers are amongst the highest part of the truggy any weight saving here will have an instant effect on the handling. The plastic front upper arms have been replaced with Hudy spring steel turnbuckles, again reducing weight, but also improving strength at the

same time. Hudy spring steel is used throughout the model providing the very best quality you can get.

The wheel hubs could be mistaken for a new brand of cheese as the hard coated aluminium components weigh in at just 4 grams each, having been drilled as much as possible to reduce weight in the driveline. They have a +5 mm offset and will accept all the most common truggy wheels. The shocks have now got an even bigger bore size for an excellent quality feel, very smooth once built. Im not a fan of building shocks, but have to say these were very straightforward.

The fiddly G-clip that keeps the piston shaft rubbers in place has been replaced by a screw on aluminium cap which makes shock construction and rebuilding much less fiddly and removed the hunt around on the grass looking for the clip as it flicked away during a rebuild.

The engine is treated to a new seat, now sitting on extended aluminium mounts, running almost the entire length of the engine to act as a chassis brace to lessen flex which could otherwise place a huge strain on your clutch bearings. The fuel tank has had a new pressure cap added, giving a better fit due to a one-piece, specially profiled lid seal. Finally your clutch now comes with hard clutch springs to push power up the rev range by delaying the bite point that little bit further for a more immediate bottom end punch out of slow corners.

THe BUIldAs Ive said, the manual is very clearly laid out, and as long as you follow

the step-by-step guide the build will be very straightforward. This kit almost fell together, all the parts were there, even a small spares pack was included with an assortment of screws, grubs and a spare E-clip. The total build time is going to be around 4-6 hours so do it over a few nights.

You start by building all the diffs, just be sure to take note as the front out drives differ from the rear; the front versions are a little longer and have a rounded edge. The kit comes with 7,000 weight oil for the front and rear, and 10,000 weight for the centre to prevent all the energy being diverted to the front axle when the back end bites into the track, so this is going to give the truggy a neutral setting.

Above: Look, no E-clip! Hub pin is captured using a washer and screw

Above: Braced to perfection, the plastic braces still allow the chassis to move enough to aid traction when the racing gets rough

Above: Ultra smooth steering, with a firm servo saver built in

LEFT: You may want to do this bit first, gluing your brake pads onto their backing plates can seriously slow you down

Above: Even the centre diff brake assembly was treated to a graphite deck

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XT8-09 TRUggy

BELOW: Bling bling, almost too good to use. The longer engine mount reduces chassis flex around the engine

BELOW: Radio tray is removed with just seven screws, PT holder acts as wire tidy

ABOVE: The shocks were easy to build and maintain, and just soak up the bumps on the track

ABOVE: Excellent big bore threaded ali shocks include an over boot to keep the shaft and seals clean no matter what the weather

BELOW: Another cracking paint job by TelsShells, giving me a simple but instantly recognisable track presence

I built the diffs a week before I got to construct the rest of the model which gave me the opportunity to look for leaks, but I can tell you that they were sealed better than a ducks bottom. And thats tight! You are provided with ample shims when building the diff housings and the instructions invite you to use them as you need to obtain the best gear mesh all the information you need is clearly laid out in the manual.

Once you have the diff housings completed you get to mount the arms. The lower pivot pins are held in place with E-clips, although thankfully they are only used here. The outer hub pivot pins are attached more cleverly with a washer secured with a screw stopping the pin from sliding out. Id have liked to see quick release diffs for the 09 version, as this really helps when tuning on race day. The Xray XT8 09 model is fully ball raced as you would expect, and the only part missing bearings was the brake assembly. I measured the bushing and its a non-standard bearing size so it will need a slight redesign to be ball raced if you so desired. The front and rear towers are braced to the chassis with arched plastic which you may have thought would have been updated to graphite, but from what Ive read that would have reduced the necessary chassis flex and upset the handling characteristics.

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RRCi feaTUReXT8-09 TRUggy

I built the new XT8-09 with all my current power plant and radio gear so I could feel the improvements of a decent chassis, and it was more than obvious straight away

When building the centre brake housing you will need to glue the brake pads on to the shoes with a thin CA adhesive, so watch carefully with the orientation here, once glued you wont get them off again. I personally cant see why they are not glued from the factory; its an annoying part of the build and can hold you up. You may want to break open that bag and do them first so they have dried firmly once you get to that stage. You are then invited to install the engine and fuel tank

along with the side guards. You will need to make a small cut out on the side guard to attach the

exhaust outlet protector, but this can be done neatly with a craft knife or Dremel.The radio tray can be removed quickly from the XT8-

09 with just seven screws, which is great for cleaning in and around your precious servos. The cabling is kept tidy and is held in place by the transponder mount, which will hold both PTs and handout transponders. The radio box is large with two access lids, one for the stick type battery pack and the other for the receiver. There is lots of space inside so be sure to pack out the space with some foam to prevent damage to the components within once your truggy starts to rock and roll on the race track.

The lexan bodyshell arrives clear and will need cutting and spraying. I was lucky enough to have mine sprayed by TelsShells and to great effect. I wanted a simple design with a noticeable difference from the front to the rear as this speeds up recovery after an accident as you can instantly spot your direction even if you are right at the back of the track. The shell covers the bodywork well and managed to keep much of the internals clean by deflecting most of the flying debris thrown up by the front wheels and other truggies on track with me. I had no problems with the build throughout, the kit and instructions are of very high quality and make you feel very confident about your purchase.

RaCe TImeI had no time to test drive the XT8-09 before its baptism of

fire in the Truggy Nationals. Im a monster truck racing covert so racing a truggy has been a learning curve. My previous truggy was a very dated design and was coming to the end of its life. I have never found racing a truggy easy and of late have been going backwards in the championship rather than climbing the table. Its been a mixture of my driving skills, but also reliability from an aging truggy. The Xray XT8-09 was loaded up with exactly the same engine, radio gear and servos I had been

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XT8-09 TRUggy

The alloy clutch gives a strong bite allowing for good drive

from the corners

QUICK SPECClass: 4WD 1/8th Nitro TruggyType: Self-assembly Chassis KitManufacturer: XrayPrice: 469.99 RRP

ReqUIRed To CompleTeRadio gearServosEngineExhaustFuelBattery pack

dIslIKesCould do with quicker access diffsCVD pivot pins come loose

lIKesQuality manualEase of constructionParts quality and strengthGreat handingHudy steel partsSuperb big bore shocksSupplied fuel filter and tube clips

ConTaCTRCDisco.com

and www.teamxray.com or call Greg Hill on his business mobile

07989 225502

running previously to help me appreciate just how much better the XT8 could be. Apart from going around in a small circle in my garden the truggy had no run time, nor had I had the chance to work on the set-up, so this race test was going to be raw in the extreme.

My first outing in heat one got off to a decent start, only hampered by my steering. The truggy was so much more responsive I was simply not able to judge the turn-in point. It really does respond incredibly well to direction change, so much so that it took me by surprise. With that mastered it was time to push harder, and I found that the XT8 simply loved the jumps, and for the first time I felt really confident to start attacking them all, and knowing the Xray was strong gave me the confidence to push it even harder. The set-up was as good as I needed, just a few steering servo trims to get the straight line running perfect.

About half way through my heat I started to pass other drivers, which was something that I havent experienced for a good while. My confidence started coming back and I simply couldnt wait for heat two where I would be dialled in and ready to pounce. However, an engine failure rather ruined it for me. Luckily another engine was ready to go, but heat three was more about getting the engine settled in. I was gutted, finally a top truggy in my hands which hadnt missed a beat, but let down by my first complete engine failure! So as you would expect I was in the last final, not an uncommon place to be fair. However, I simply knew the Xray was capable of so much more in my hands and I aimed to prove it in my 20-minute final.

No luck again though, an engine cut on the line meant a pit lane start was needed. This went well though and Id passed many crashed truggies by the third corner and crossed the line 5th of the 16 truggies in my final. I held position for a few laps and then started to push for the 4th bump up position. Push I certainly could, I started to hold a consistent line and could feel myself

attacking the track in a way I never could before. Then halfway through the final, of which I simply knew I could and would have bumped, the XT8 slowed showing signs of failing drive. Rather than overheat the engine my pitman rushed out on track to rescue the stricken truggy.

On investigation the pin in the CVJ had come out. Another was also loose, but the grub screw was still very secure with Loctite on both. So how had they come loose? Well after a chat with some Xray guys they advised when building, to screw the grub right through before inserting the pin. This will ensure the grub was not just tight within the fixing, but able to fully clamp the pin. It would be helpful if the pin was flat spotted to remove the problem altogether, but its a point to take care when building.

Checking the rest of the truggy over, everything else was perfect. The truggy held up well to everything that I had chucked at it. Its not in the hands of a pro, it was in the hands of the sort of racer that runs a truggy week on week at clubs around the country. Ive had many models of all types and classes, but never an Xray. Its of the very highest quality, from the instructions to the finished kit. If you are thinking of updating your truggy to one of the 2nd or 3rd generation you simply cant go wrong with this. If its your first, then you are buying a faster lap time right away. With a top driver at the helm and top kit installed this is a championship winner for sure. In the average Clubmans hands (mine) it will reignite your love of racing. I was losing interest in the truggy class having had a run of bad luck so far, with a bunch of reliability problems trackside, but after the time I had with the XT8-09 I just want to get racing again as soon as possible to finally prove to myself just what Im capable of with a decent truggy at my disposal. RRCi

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RRCi feaTUReXT8-09 TRUggy