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Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:28 pm
by 8rad
Does anyone have the instruction sheet or a scan of U742P Short Suspension arm mod kit for Top cat?

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:04 pm
by moozo
If your after a manual try retromodelisme website.

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:35 pm
by Coelacanth
moozo wrote:If your after a manual try retromodelisme website.
Link?

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:14 pm
by 8rad
Not the manual. The instructions that came in the kit. Like this:

Image

But for U742P.

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:39 pm
by 8rad
LOL.....Never mind. I should have checked my files first. I had it all along.

What a donkey! :lol:

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:36 am
by CNA75
What is the benefit of this modification? I think I have this mod tucked away somewhere waiting for when I put my Topcat together. Does it add much over the existing set-up?

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:32 am
by 8rad
Well, the Topcat was notorious for having horrible understeer. So Schumacher released 2 kits to fix this. U7410 was the steering enhancement kit which increased the caster and shortened the steering links. U742P was the narrow suspension arm mod. It moves the hub inwards about a half inch. Not having compared the different setups on track I cannot attest to the actual handling differences.

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:43 pm
by Bormac
Jeremy the factory stock Topcat was terrible to drive. The car needed these kits to work as you mentioned the car had shocking understeer (to the point the car wouldn't take a corner-LOL).
Between the 2 kits you got increased steering throw, narrower front end and REDUCED castor. I have driven and tested all of the later released parts and they make a significant difference to the car on the track.
Innitialy I tried to drive the car in stock form but after a couple of years worth of vintage meetings I had given up. On went these parts and coupled with the factory rear sway bar and shorter wheelbase rear arms the car drives a whole lot better.
Now the car is fast and corners nicely but the next challenge has been to find a way to help the car recover from the bigger jumps a little better. In my opinion the 'ratio' of the suspension pivot rockers are all wrong and makes the front suspension feel very light. Almost always the front end bottoms out quite hard so its a real challenge to set the car up for a flat flight on any decent jump.

Still, the Topcat is iconic to any true schumacher fan and I will always have a soft spot for it :mrgreen:

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:37 pm
by Mad Racer
I have done the shorter arm mod and found it really better.

Still has understeer but a lot better. With the shorter arms the suspension is a little stiffer due to less leverage .

The front springs aren't right and the rocker ratio is wrong . The next step is to use progressive springs like Traxxas do on the revo. I haven't sourced a spring yet but was going to try a traxxas spring one day. I retained the stick pack set up but had to relocate the battery holder & steering servo to run li po's

I run a 13t EZ Run set up and goes really well.

Still the Top Cat is one of the smoothest rides i have. Jumps really well

Re: Schumacher Topcat U742P Mod kit instructions.

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:41 am
by phoenix
If anyone would be interested in selling one of these mod kits, please contact me.

Thhanks !