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4 • JATO 3.3

This model is not intended 
for use by children (minors)
under 16 years of age 
without the supervision 
of a responsible and 
knowledgeable adult.

All instructions and 
precautions outlined in this 
manual should be strictly 
followed to ensure safe 
operation of your model.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Not a Toy! For Expert Drivers! 
This product is capable of 
extreme speed and acceleration! 
It carries our expert skill level 
rating (5) and is only intended 
for highly experienced drivers. 
Experience with nitro-powered 
radio controlled models is 
required. The driver must 
exercise all caution and accept 
full responsibility for their own 
safety, and the safety of others 
nearby. Full-speed operation 
requires a large, smooth running 
area free of obstacles and 
closed off to pedestrian and 
automobile traffic. 

Skill Level = Myriad Semi Bold

1 2 3 3+ 4 5

bluehighway font

For Expert Drivers

Choose the Model That is Right For You.

For individual Models

No previous experience with radio controlled models is required.

Models require a minimum of setup, maintenance, or support equipment. 

Previous experience with radio controlled models is mandatory. These 

models are capable of high speeds, requiring experienced driving control. 

Models require detailed setup, and/or maintenance procedures with required 

support equipment. 
Previous experience with radio controlled models is mandatory. 

These models are capable of very high speeds and require an even higher 

level of skilled driving control. Models require detailed setup, and/or mainte-

nance procedures with required support equipment. 

For Expert Drivers Only.

 This product is capable of extreme speed 

and acceleration! It carries our highest skill level rating and is intended 

for expert drivers only. Experience with nitro-powered radio controlled 

models is required!

Previous experience with radio controlled models is recommended.

Models require a higher level of setup, maintenance, or support equipment. 

No previous experience with radio controlled models is required.

Model requires a minimum of setup, maintenance, or support equipment. 

Previous experience with radio controlled models is mandatory. This model is 

capable of high speeds, requiring experienced driving control. Model requires 

detailed setup, and/or maintenance procedures with required support 

equipment. 

Previous experience with radio controlled models is mandatory. This model is 

capable of very high speeds and requires an even higher level of skilled driving 

control. Model requires detailed setup, and/or maintenance procedures with 

required support equipment. 

For Expert Drivers Only.

 This product is capable of extreme speed 

and acceleration! It carries our highest skill level rating and is intended 

for expert drivers only. Experience with nitro-powered radio controlled 

models is required!

 Previous experience with radio controlled models is recommended.

Model requires a higher level of setup, maintenance, or support equipment.

BELOW TEXT HAS BEEN UPDATED on 3-14-07
Kent wants maintenance text to be at the END of the paragraph.-- KB

All of us at Traxxas want you to safely enjoy your new Jato. Operate your 
Jato sensibly and with care, and it will be exciting, safe, and fun for you and 
those around you. Failure to operate your Jato in a safe and responsible 
manner may result in property damage and serious injury. The precautions 
outlined in this manual should be strictly followed to help ensure safe 
operation. You alone must see that the instructions are followed and the 
precautions are adhered to. 

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

•  Jato is very fast! The Jato is intended for experienced users with a high 

level of skill. The TRX 3.3 Racing Engine is extremely powerful and may 
require skilled driving to maintain control. Children under 16 years of 
age and inexperienced drivers should not operate the Jato without the 
supervision of a responsible and knowledgeable (experienced) adult.

• 

Model engine fuel is dangerous and highly poisonous.

 Always follow all 

directions and precautions printed on the fuel container. Model engine 
fuel is poisonous to humans and animals. Drinking the fuel can cause 
blindness and death. Handle with care and respect.

•  Model engine fuel, especially when in a fuel dispensing bottle, may look 

like a cool drink to a child. 

Keep all fuel out of the reach of children at 

all times. Do not place fuel containers on the ground where children 
can reach them while you are driving.

•  Model engine fuel is flammable. Never allow smoking, sparks,  

heat or flame in the presence of fuel or fuel vapors.  

•  The engine, brakes, and exhaust system may become extremely hot 

during use. Be careful not to touch the parts, especially when refueling or 
stopping the engine.

•  Prolonged exposure to the engine exhaust can be harmful. Avoid 

breathing the engine exhaust. Always run your Jato outdoors,  
in a well-ventilated area. Never run the engine indoors. 

•  Do not operate your Jato at night, or anytime your line of sight to the 

model may be obstructed or impaired in any way.

•  Never operate your Jato in crowds of people or busy pedestrian areas. 

Jato is very fast  and could cause injury to those unaware of its presence. 
Keep small children at a safe distance away from the operating area.

•  Because Jato is controlled by radio, it is subject to radio interference from 

many sources beyond your control. Since radio interference can cause 
momentary loss of control, always allow a safety margin in all directions 
around your model to prevent collisions. 

•  Do not kink the antenna wire. Kinks in the antenna wire will  

reduce range.

•  The engine can be loud. If the noise makes you uncomfortable, wear ear 

protection. Be considerate of your neighbors by not running your model 
early in the morning or late in the evening.

•  Do not cut the antenna “stinger” or any other part of the antenna wire. 

Cutting the antenna will reduce range.

•  Extend the antenna as far as possible for maximum range. Wrapping or 

coiling the antenna wire should be avoided. 

•  Do not allow the antenna wire to extend outside the body without the 

protection of an antenna tube, or the antenna wire may incur crash 
damage that could reduce range.

• 

Most importantly, use good common sense at all times.

BATTERIES AND BATTERY CHARGING

Your model uses rechargeable batteries that must be handled with 
care for safety and long battery life. Make sure to read and follow all 
instructions and precautions that were provided with the battery 
packs and your charger. It is your responsibility to charge and care for 
the battery packs properly. In addition to your battery and charger 
instructions, here are some more tips to keep in mind.
•  Use the supplied chargers to charge the included battery. See 

Charging the EZ-Start Battery” on page 21. 

•  Never leave batteries to charge unattended.
•  Allow the battery pack to cool off before charging.
•  Do not use battery packs that have been damaged in any way.
•  Do not use battery packs that have damaged wiring, exposed wiring, 

or a damaged connector. 

•  Children should have responsible adult supervision when charging 

and handling batteries.

•  Only use approved chargers for NiMH battery packs (such as  

Part #2921 or the Traxxas TRX Power Charger, Part #3030X). Do not 
exceed the maximum charge rate of 1 amp.

•  Do not short-circuit the battery pack. This may cause burns and severe 

damage to the battery pack

•  Do not burn or puncture the batteries. Toxic materials could be released. 

If eye or skin contact occurs, flush with water.

•  Store the battery pack in a dry location, away from heat sources  

and direct sunlight.

•  Nickel Metal Hydride batteries must be recycled or disposed  

of properly. 

Recycling Your Traxxas Power Cell NiMH Battery

Traxxas strongly encourages you to recycle your Power Cell battery 
when it has reached the end of its useful life. 

Do not throw your 

battery in the trash.

 All Power Cell battery packs display the RBRC 

(Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation) icon, indicating they are 
recyclable. To find a recycling center near you, ask your local hobby 
dealer or visit www.call2recycle.org.

1

Summary of Contents for 5507

Page 1: ...owners manual MODEL 5507 ...

Page 2: ...y support possible Jato is about experiencing total performance and satisfaction not just with your truck but also with the company that stands behind it Thank you again for going with Traxxas We work hard every day to assure you the highest level of customer satisfaction possible We truly want you to enjoy your new Jato 3 3 We know you re excited about getting your new Jato on the road but it s v...

Page 3: ...th your question at support Traxxas com Join thousands of registered members in our online community at Traxxas com Traxxas offers a full service on site repair facility to handle any of your Traxxas service needs Maintenance and replacement parts may be purchased directly from Traxxas by phone or online at BuyTraxxas com You can save time along with shipping and handling costs by purchasing repla...

Page 4: ...are driving Model engine fuel is flammable Never allow smoking sparks heat or flame in the presence of fuel or fuel vapors The engine brakes and exhaust system may become extremely hot during use Be careful not to touch the parts especially when refueling or stopping the engine Prolonged exposure to the engine exhaust can be harmful Avoid breathing the engine exhaust Always run your Jato outdoors ...

Page 5: ...ips screwdriver Soldering iron For more information on radio system batteries see Use the Right Batteries on page 10 Glow plug wrench Extra glow plug 1 5mm L wrench 2 0mm T wrench 2 5mm T wrench U joint wrench Shock wrench Turnbuckle wrench Suspension multi tool 4 way wrench Foam air filter oil and extra oiled air filter element 8 AA alkaline batteries Traxxas Top Fuel see page 18 Small flat blade...

Page 6: ...alf Shaft On Off Switch Antenna Mount Access Plug for two speed adjustment Pipe Hanger Receiver Box Engine Shut off Clamp Roll hoop Spring Pre load Adjuster Steering Servo under top plate Disc Brake Brake Tension Adjuster Charging Jack Fuel Pull Ring Steering Block Wheel Spindle Front Axle Caster Block Steering Bellcranks Rear Camber Link Front Camber Link Rear Shock Tower Front Shock Tower Brake ...

Page 7: ...nd should be installed prior to running the model Follow the directions in the wheelie bar bag or turn to page 34 Learn to use the correct starting procedure for your TRX 3 3 5 Install batteries in the transmitter See page 11 13 Break in your engine See page 23 Jato requires 4 AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries for the transmitter Follow the break in instructions exactly to ensure the best perf...

Page 8: ...ckel cadmium The original rechargeable hobby pack NiCad batteries have very high current handling high capacity and can last up to 1000 charging cycles Good charging procedures are required to reduce the possibility of developing a memory effect and shortened run times NiMH Abbreviation for nickel metal hydride Rechargeable NiMH batteries offer high current handling and much greater resistance to ...

Page 9: ...n Off Switch Receiver 4 Cell Battery Holder Channel 1 Steering Servo Channel 2 Throttle Servo Optional Charge Jack for optional NiMH battery pack Jato has a provision for a built in charging jack so you do not have to remove the battery pack from the model The wire for the charging jack is supplied with the factory harness and is stored inside the receiver box It is not installed in the charging j...

Page 10: ...y box carefully positioning the wires into the slots so that they will not be pinched when both battery covers are reinstalled 5 Replace the rear battery compartment cover and reinstall the four screws Replace the mid battery box cover and secure with the body clip Mid Mounting Optional 5 cell RX Power Pack only 1 Remove the body clip that secures the mid battery compartment cover and remove the c...

Page 11: ...itter and receiver to bind to one another the receiver in the model must be turned on within 20 seconds of turning on the transmitter The transmitter LED will flash fast red indicating a failure to link If you miss it simply turn off the transmitter and start over Always have the transmitter and receiver turned on before you start the engine Never turn the radio system off while the engine is runn...

Page 12: ...id operation of the throttle servo When the throttle trigger is pulled back the carburetor should open When the throttle trigger is pushed all the way forward the brake should lock 7 Once adjustments are made turn off the receiver on your model followed by the hand held transmitter Range Testing the Radio System Before each running session with your model you should range test your radio system to...

Page 13: ...he ranges are exaggerated for illustrative purposes Decreased Steering Sensitivity Negative Exponential By turning the Multi Function knob clockwise the steering sensitivity of the model will be decreased Note that a relatively large amount of steering wheel travel results in a smaller amount of servo travel The farther you turn the knob the more pronounced the effect becomes Decreased steering se...

Page 14: ... premature engine wear and failure is lack of care and maintenance BREAK IN The TRX 3 3 Racing Engine is manufactured to exacting tolerances and requires a specially designed break in procedure to accomplish the final precision fitting of the internal engine components It is very important that you follow the new break in procedure as closely as possible to achieve the best performance and longest...

Page 15: ... head EZ Start Drive Unit EZ Start Motor Engine Mount Low Speed Needle Throttle Arm Clutch Bell Flywheel Carburetor Air Intake Fuel Intake High Speed Needle Idle Speed Screw EZ Start Plug Positive Wire Negative Wire Fuel Line Fuel Tank Tuned Pipe Pressure Line Ground Wire Glow Plug Wire EZ Start Controller Crankshaft Crankcase Engine Shut off Clamp Air Filter Housing ...

Page 16: ...engine s body that contains all of the running mechanical components Crankshaft The main shaft of the engine that holds the reciprocating assembly Cooling fins The cooling fins are milled into the cylinder head and crankcase and cause heat to be drawn away from the engine Heat is removed when it dissipates into the air passing across the cooling fins It is important to keep the fins clean of dirt ...

Page 17: ...s the first level of air filtration for the engine The majority of dirt and debris will be stopped by this filter Clean re oil and replace this filter after every hour of run time Always use both the pre filter and primary filter Primary filter The inner air filter element in a two stage air filter This provides a second level of air filtration after the pre filter removes the majority of dirt and...

Page 18: ...l limitations Engines are designed to run best within a range of nitro percentages How the engine is ported the size of the combustion chamber and other factors determine how much nitro can be efficiently used in the engine The TRX 3 3 Racing Engine responds exceptionally well to a maximum of 33 nitro returning cooler temps more power and a smoother throttle response For those who want to run high...

Page 19: ...ill be damaged Engine damage or wear due to dirt ingestion is easy to detect and one of the top causes of premature engine failure Air Filter Cleaning Instructions 1 Remove the air filter from the carburetor bore by pulling the entire filter assembly firmly to the side to release it Do not pull straight up 2 Disassemble the filter Pull the rubber air filter neck out of the filter body With the bas...

Page 20: ...e carburetor is controlled by the two mixture needles the high speed needle and the low speed needle The low speed needle is used to meter the fuel used by the engine at idle and low rpm part throttle engine speed The high speed needle is used to meter the fuel when the throttle is open from part throttle to wide open throttle WOT Two needles on the TRX 3 3 Racing Engine provide precise control of...

Page 21: ...Jato The EZ Start consists of a hand held control unit and an on board motorized starter Power for the EZ Start system comes from a 7 2 volt rechargeable battery pack installed in the hand held control unit The engine glow plug is heated automatically by the EZ Start system eliminating the need to keep up with a separate glow plug igniter The voltage to the glow plug is kept constant regardless of...

Page 22: ...charged may not deliver enough power to crank the engine over at the appropriate rpm to keep the piston from sticking at top dead center TDC A new engine will typically have a tight fit between the piston and the top of the sleeve This is a tapered fit and a tight piston sleeve fit on initial startup is desirable for those who want the best performing engine Make sure you are using a good quality ...

Page 23: ...l the 6th tank of fuel Perform the initial break in on a large flat paved surface Jato is very fast and by tanks 4 and 5 you will need plenty of room for the truck to run in Apply all throttle and braking actions gently Abrupt acceleration or braking could cause the engine to stall unnecessarily Special break in fuels are not recommended Use the same fuel you plan to use everyday If possible avoid...

Page 24: ...e 3 When the fuel tank is nearly empty shut off the engine and refuel From here on you do not need to let the engine cool between tanks Tank 4 1 Driving procedure Gently pull the throttle trigger to full throttle over a 3 second count Then gently apply the brake to stop Count the three seconds out while accelerating one thousand one one thousand two one thousand three and then stop Repeat this sta...

Page 25: ... temp closely for the first couple of tanks until you get the right amount of cover for the cooling head This will of course depend on your current weather conditions Adjusting the cover up and down exposing more or fewer cooling fins is a convenient way to regulate engine temps For owners that do not have access to a temperature probe a drop of water on the cooling head around the glow plug area ...

Page 26: ...ounterclockwise and retest This setting will extend engine component life Low Speed Fuel Mixture Adjustment The low speed mixture is always set after the high speed needle is correctly adjusted The low speed mixture is set using the pinch test 1 Once the engine is warm do several high speed runs to confirm that the high speed needle is set correctly 2 Bring the vehicle in and pinch closed the fuel...

Page 27: ...tion that has the most influence on engine temperature is air temperature Expect the engine temperature to vary almost in direct proportion to air temperature Assuming you tuned the engine for the same maximum performance each day the engine will run about twenty degrees hotter when it s ninety degrees outside than it would in seventy degree weather For this reason we cannot give you a definitive ...

Page 28: ...th drive train damage of any kind The engine could be damaged due to overloads caused by drivetrain friction or over revving caused by loose or missing parts Don t tow anything with your Jato The engine is cooled by airflow created by speed Towing creates a high load on the engine and at the same time limits cooling of the engine due to low vehicle speed If your Jato gets stuck stop driving immedi...

Page 29: ... are listed below Refer to your parts list for a complete part number listing Higher rate springs are stiffer Springs can be identified by dots of color on one end Ride Height Jato s ride height can be adjusted by turning the spring pre load adjusters on the shock bodies Turn the adjusters to the left to raise the ride height Turn them to the right to lower the ride height When adjusting spring pr...

Page 30: ...lti tool 3 Empty the used shock oil from the shock body 4 Fill the shock with new silicone shock oil up to the top of the shock body 5 Slowly move the piston up and down always keeping it submerged in oil to release the air bubbles Let the shock sit for a few minutes to allow any remaining air bubbles to surface 6 Slowly thread the upper cap with the installed shock bladder onto the shock body wit...

Page 31: ...TEM Jato has a very sophisticated bellcrank steering system with geometry that is designed to completely eliminate bump steer Bump steer occurs when the steering angle of the front wheels changes as the suspension moves up and down through its range of travel Suspensions that have bump steer make it difficult to drive in a straight line over bumpy terrain Jato tracks true no matter how rough the c...

Page 32: ...e pads Do not over tighten these fasteners or you may damage the brake disc or pads Loosen each of the shoulder bolts by 1 turn Brake Linkage Adjustment When correctly adjusted the brake linkage spring should barely touch the rod guide when the servo is in neutral position radio system on closed throttle This will ensure no brake drag during operation of the vehicle The brake adjustment knob can b...

Page 33: ...can be rolled forward and back until the set screw becomes visible 4 Insert the 2 0mm hex wrench through the clutch drum and into the adjustment screw 5 Turn the adjustment screw 1 8 turn clockwise to raise the shift point shifts later Turn the adjustment screw counter clockwise to make Jato shift sooner Be careful not to loosen the adjustment screw too much or you may cause the screw and spring t...

Page 34: ... be replaced when they no longer seal effectively loss of compression Symptoms include the engine being difficult to start when warm stalling when warm and stalling when throttle is suddenly closed to idle Replace the wrist pin and G clip whenever the piston and sleeve are replaced After run Procedure You must perform after run maintenance on your Traxxas engine whenever the model will be stored f...

Page 35: ...e blue glow plug wire to the glow plug 7 Reconnect the EZ Start controller 8 Do not prime the engine Pull the throttle to 1 2 throttle and push the EZ Start button The engine should start immediately Piston stuck at top dead center TDC Top dead center is the position where the piston is at the very top of the tapered sleeve Occasionally an engine can get stuck at this position This is most likely ...

Page 36: ...removed 1 Disconnect the brake rod end from the brake cam Remove the 3x10 shoulder screw and detach the brake bell crank from the transmission housing 2 Remove the 3x12 buttonhead machine screw from the molded chassis brace behind the radio tray 3 Disconnect the throttle return spring from the molded chassis brace 4 Remove the two 4x18 countersunk machine screws the two 3x15 countersunk machine sc...

Page 37: ...st the wheelbase by repositioning the spacers in the rear stub axle housing where it joins with the lower suspension arm Keep in mind this is a fine tuning adjustment Unless you are a very experienced driver looking for that extra edge the factory wheelbase setting should prove to be fine for most applications Down Travel Limiters optional An optional kit is available separately for installing sus...

Page 38: ...red to the wheel with the least traction You may notice this when making sharp turns on slick surfaces The unloaded wheels on the inside of the turn have the least traction and tend to spin up to extremely high rpms Higher viscosity thicker oil causes the differential to act like a limited slip differential distributing more equal power to the left and right wheels Jato will generally benefit from...

Page 39: ...ll represent what you wish to be the servo s maximum travel the Steering Percentage or Braking Percentage functions will not override the End Point settings Steering and Throttle Sub Trim The Sub Trim function is used to precisely set the neutral point of the steering or throttle servo in the event that simply setting the trim knob to zero does not completely center the servo When selected Sub Tri...

Page 40: ...een four times repeatedly 4 Press SET once The status LED will blink green once repeatedly 5 Press MENU once The status LED will blink green twice repeatedly 6 Press SET The memory is now selected to be deleted Press SET to delete the model Press and hold MENU to return to driving mode Failsafe Your Traxxas radio system is equipped with a built in failsafe function that returns the throttle to its...

Page 41: ... you enter a menu you always start at the top Press MENU to move down the menu tree When you reach the bottom of the tree pressing MENU again will return you to the top SET Press SET to move across the menu tree and select options When an option is committed to the transmitter s memory the status LED will rapidly blink green BACK Press both MENU and SET to go back one level in the menu tree EXIT P...

Page 42: ... LED blinks Press SET red LED blinks x3 Press MENU twice red LED blinks x3 Turn steering wheel to desired max left and right travel x8 Press SET to save each position Turn steering wheel to test settings IF END POINTS ARE OK Press hold MENU returns to driving mode IF END POINTS NEED TO BE CHANGED Press SET and repeat steps 6 8 To reset the END POINTS of STEERING servo to defaults Press hold MENU g...

Page 43: ...creen Real Time Telemetry When you equip your model with sensors the Traxxas Link dashboard comes to life showing you speed battery voltage RPM and temperature Set threshold warnings and log maximums minimums or averages Use the recording function to document your dashboard view with sound so that you can keep your eyes on your driving and not miss a single apex Manage up to 30 Models with Traxxas...

Page 44: ...owners manual 1100 Klein Road Plano Texas 75074 1 888 TRAXXAS 120213 KC1435_R01 MODEL 5507 ...

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