Serpent 960 Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

1/8TH SCALE 4WD COMPETITION CAR

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The Serpent 960 is the next evolution of Serpent’s hugely-successful 950 lineage, combining ultimate performance into a single package. The Serpent 960 was designed to be a world champion, while still being easy to use, assemble, and set up. You are now part of the worldwide network of Serpent drivers, which gives you superior technical support and access to many benefits that only Serpent drivers can enjoy.

The Serpent 960 offers many of the same specifications and features that made the Serpent 950/950R into top-competition racecars. Continuously pushing the performance envelope, Serpent’s engineers have added many new and innovative features that can help take your Serpent 960 into the winner’s circle: stronger reinforced components, easier roll-centre adjustment, redesigned braking system, improved rear suspension design, adjustable rear anti-roll bar, optional throttle servo positioning (laydown or upright), new improved shock absorbers, and new receiver pack configuration.

INSTRUCTIONS

Serpent’s long tradition of excellence extends to their instruction manuals, and this instruction manual is no exception. The easy-to-follow layout is richly illustrated with 3D-rendered full-color images to make your building experience quick and easy. Following the instructions will result in a well-built, high-performance racecar that will soon be able to unleash its full potential at the racetrack.

This instruction manual has been divided into sections that will logically lead you through the assembly process of your Serpent 960. Follow the assembly steps in the order presented to ensure that no problems occur during assembly. Each step indicates all the fasteners and small parts used. Bag numbers identify the kit bag(s) that contains the appropriate parts.

SETUP

In certain assembly steps you need to make basic adjustments, which will give you a good initial setup for your Serpent 960. Fine-tuning the initial setup is an essential part of building a high-performance racecar like your Serpent 960. The separate Serpent 960 Setup Book is an excellent resource for making adjustments on your Serpent 960 and understanding the concepts behind those adjustments.

EXPLODED VIEWS AND PARTS LIST

The exploded views and parts lists for the Serpent 960 are contained in a separate Serpent 960 Reference Guide. The exploded views show all the parts of a particular assembly step along with the Serpent part number. The parts lists indicate the part number and name of each part for easy reference when ordering.

SAFETY

Included with your Serpent 960 kit is a document entitled “Read This First” that covers safety precautions for the assembly and use of this product. We strongly recommend that you thoroughly read and understand that document, and follow all the precautions.

1.0 FRONT ASSEMBLY 4

2.0 REAR ASSEMBLY 9

3.0 RADIO PLATE ASSEMBLY 14

4.0 RADIO PLATE MOUNTING 17

5.0 GEARBOX ASSEMBLY 21

6.0 CENTAX ASSEMBLY 23

7.0 FINAL ASSEMBLY 26

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

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Length after assembly

USING THE MANUAL

Each step contains a variety of numbers, lines, and symbols. The numbers represent the order in which the parts should be assembled. The lines and symbols are described below.

LINE / SYMBOL

DESCRIPTION

Assembly path of one item into another

Group of items (within lines) should be assembled first

Direction the item should be moved

Glue one item to another

Press/Insert one item into another

Connect one item to another

Gap between two items

SERPENT.COM

The printed instruction manual included with your Serpent 960 kit is very complete, though due to continuous product development, more up-to-date information is provided at our Serpent.com web portal. This state-of-the-art R/C technology portal is where Serpent racers from all over the world meet and exchange their ideas, and share useful information and experiences about their Serpent cars.

All information about the Serpent 960 is accessible from the Serpent 960 product page on Serpent.com. You can access this page by going to the Products section, and

then search for the ‘Serpent 960’ product name. From the Serpent 960 product page you will find the very latest information about your Serpent 960: reports by team drivers and other experts, tips and tricks, FAQ, forums, setups, image gallery, downloadable files, and even streaming video of the Serpent 960 on how to further improve the car. The latest version of the instruction manual (including team and racer tips, and part lists and option lists) will be made available as downloadable PDF-files and online viewable pages under ‘i-Manual.’

Apply graphite grease (GR), threadlock (TL), CA glue (CA) or Serpent’s One-way Lube (OW). (Items not included.)

OW

Step number; the order in which you should assemble the indicated parts

1

Refer to Serpent 960 Setup Book - Section A: Basic Setup

Refer to Serpent 960 Setup Book - Section B: Advanced Setup

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STEP 1.1

BAG 1

STEP 1.2

BAG 2, U1, G12

U14

12x21mm

1.0 FRONT ASSEMBLY

1

2

1

2

3

1

Add spacers as required to reduce endplay of outdrive shafts.

Change the position of

BOTH

eccentric hubs to adjust front belt tension. Both hubs should have the same position.

Tighter

Default

Looser

OW

Front

G20

M4x12mm

OW

G20

U14

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STEP 1.3

G21

M4x16mm

STEP 1.4

BAG U1

B13

3.5x13mm

STEP 1.5

BAG 3

H16

M4x4mm

2

1

2

4

3

5

6

Completed assembly

1

U6

6x13mm

R5

5mm

R7

7mm

G21

B13

U6

H16

R7

R5

Learn about front roll center adjustment

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STEP 1.6

BAG 4, U1, G20, E10

E10

M3x6mm

STEP 1.7

BAG 5, 6

H13

M3x12mm

3

1

2

4

2

4

3

1

Assemble both front lower arms using the indicated steps.

5

0.5mm

2mm

Wheelbase spacer (4mm)

U5

6x10mm

H16

M4x4mm

H19

M4x10mm

U5

G19

M4x10mm

E10

U5

H19

G19

H16

H13

Preload Collar

Set front downstops and wheelbase

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STEP 1.8

E29

M3x18mm

STEP 1.9

BAG 7

H16

M4x4mm

STEP 1.10

BAG 8, U10, E10

E10

M3x6mm

1

4

3

2

3

2

1

5

2

1

4

3

Assemble both front upper arms using the indicated steps.

Assemble both steering blocks using the indicated steps.

4mm

2mm

1mm

Spacer Placement

Press spring into end of front axle until it snaps into place.

3 x caster spacers

1 x wheelbase spacer

4

2

Press anti-roll bars into mounts far enough so the bars do not bind when the suspension is compressed.

1

H17

M4x6mm

P10

2.5x22mm

U14

12x21mm

H17

E29

H16

E10

U14

P10

Set front anti-roll bar

Set Caster and wheelbase

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STEP 1.11

BAG 9

STEP 1.12

STEP 1.13

E10

M3x6mm

IMPORTANT! Ensure the front suspension moves up and down freely without binding.

15mm

18mm

Assemble L & R steering rods:

86.5mm

E18

TOP

BOTTOM

E18

M4x8mm

E10

1

2

Set front track-width and camber

Set front toe

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STEP 2.1

BAG 10,11

G11

M3x8mm

STEP 2.2

BAG 12, U1, G20

H16

M4x4mm

2.0 REAR ASSEMBLY

2

3

4

8

6

4

8

3

9

5

7

2

6

7

3

5

2

P9

2.5x20mm

H22

M5x4mm

U8

6x15mm

1

Roughen the metal plates with sandpaper before gluing

U5

P9

G11

P9

U5

6x10mm

H22

U8

G20

M4x12mm

H16

G20

1

Left Block

Right Block

H22

5

Note orientation of front inserts. Ensure BOTH inserts have the same position.

Learn about rear roll center adjustment

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STEP 2.3

BAG 13, U1, G20

E18

M4x8mm

STEP 2.4

BAG 14, E10

E10

M3x6mm

1

2

3

4

5

1

3

6

5

4

Change the position of BOTH eccentric hubs to adjust rear belt tension. Both hubs should have the same position.

Looser

Default

Tighter

Note orientation of rear inserts. Ensure

BOTH inserts have the same position, and that they match the positions of the front inserts (see step 2.2)

Front

3

4

G22

M4x20mm

P10

2.5x22mm

U14

12x21mm

G20

M4x12mm

H19

M4x10mm

2

Assemble both rear lower arms using the indicated steps.

Thread set screw until ush with bottom of arm.

G22

E18

P10

G22

U14

G20

G21

G20

G21

G20

E10

H19

G21

M4x16mm

Set rear downstops

Learn about rear roll center adjustment

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STEP 2.5

H16

M4x4mm

STEP 2.6

BAG 15, 16, U1

P10

2.5x22mm

STEP 2.7

3

4

2

1

4

3

Note orientation of front and rear inserts. Ensure BOTH inserts have same position.

Press spring into end of rear axle until it snaps into place.

Assemble both rear upper arms using the indicated steps.

Assemble both rear hubs using the indicated steps.

U14

12x21mm

U15

15x24mm

2

Insert foam into wheel axle to reduce driveshaft play.

H16

U15

U14

P10

20mm

18mm

16.5mm

Front

TOP BOTTOM

Apply thread lock to the inside of the aluminium spacer

Learn about rear camber rise adjustment

Set rear track-width, camber and toe

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STEP 2.8

BAG 17

H8

M3x3mm

STEP 2.9

STEP 2.10

P12

3x12mm

2

1

3

1

3

2

4

Slide pivot shafts through ballbearings one at a time. Center the anti-roll bar assembly before securing in place with collars.

1

2

3

4

5

Assemble L & R linkages

50mm

R5

5mm

1

H16

M4x4mm

U3

5x8mm

U3

H16

H8

P12

R5

4

Set rear anti-roll bar

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STEP 2.11

BAG 18, E10

E10

M3x6mm

STEP 2.12

BAG 19

E14

M3x16mm

2

1

3

4

Completed assembly

E12

M3x10mm

R2

2mm

2

E13

M3x12mm

E12

E10

E13

E14

R2

Default Rear Body Mount Mounting Position

3

Learn about rear bodymount adjustment

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STEP 3.1

BAG 20, G19

E10

M3x6mm

STEP 3.2

BAG 21

E12

M3x10mm

3.0 RADIO PLATE ASSEMBLY

Note the orientation of the servo mounting screw blocks. Reverse the default orientation to mount a smaller servo.

OPTION 1:

Laydown Throttle Servo

Use the following servo arms with these brands of servos. 23 - Sanwa / KO / JR 24 - Hitec 25 - Futaba

THROTTLE SERVO

Servo output shaft must be towards REAR of the car.

2

1

E14

M3x16mm

G19

M4x10mm

E14

M3x16mm

STEERING SERVO

Servo output shaft must be towards FRONT of the car.

Steering Linkage

45.5mm

2

4

5

6

1

2

3

Note the orientation of the servo mounting screw blocks. Reverse the default orientation to mount a smaller servo.

G19

E10

E14

G19

E10

E12

E14

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STEP 3.3

BAG 22

E10

M3x6mm

STEP 3.4

Securely attach receiver to mounting plate.

Use the following servo arms with these brands of servos. 23 - Sanwa / KO / JR 24 - Hitec 25 - Futaba

Throttle Linkage

36mm

OPTION 1: Laydown Throttle Servo

1

5

1

4

3

2

1

2

3

4

RACING TIP:

To protect the receiver against fuel and moisture, seal the wired receiver into a rubber balloon before mounting it.

E12

M3x10mm

E13

M3x12mm

OPTION 1:

Laydown Throttle Servo

E10

E12

E13

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STEP 3.5

E13

M3x12mm

STEP 3.6

BAG 23

E12

M3x10mm

Securely attach receiver to mounting plate.

1

2

3

OPTION 2: Upright Throttle Servo

RACING TIP: To protect the receiver against

fuel and moisture, seal the wired receiver into a rubber balloon before mounting it.

1

5

4

3

2

E14

M3x16mm

H9

3x4mm

FUEL CAP FITTING PLACEMENT CW tracks: Fitting on RIGHT side. CCW tracks: Fitting on LEFT side.

E14

E13

E12

H9

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STEP 4.2

STEP 4.1

BAG 24, G19, G20

G19

M4x10mm

BAG G19

G19

M4x10mm

4.0 RADIO PLATE MOUNTING

1

2

1

2

3

Servo Saver

Steering Linkage

3

G20

M4x12mm

G19

G20

G19

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STEP 4.3

H16

M4x4mm

1

2

STEP 4.4

BAG D

1

2

Unscrew the bottom half of the pre-assembled shock absorbers.

FILLING

Fill the shock body with the supplied shock absorber oil.

BLEEDING

Let the oil settle and allow the air to escape. Slowly move the piston up and down to release any trapped air bubbles. Repeat as necessary until no bubbles appear.

H16

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STEP 4.6

BAG 25, E10

E10

M3x6mm

1

3

4

Note the upper shock mount holes used.

STEP 4.5

With the shock body lled with oil, slowly screw the bottom half of the pre-assembled shock back onto the shock body.

IMPORTANT! Do not cross thread!

Oil will overow through the built-in bleed channel in the threads.

Front shock

68mm

Rear shock

73mm

2

E10

Learn about shock damping

Learn about shock adjustment (damping, springs, preload)

Set rear shock position

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STEP 4.7

BAG E10

STEP 4.8

BAG G19

A13

M3x13mm

STEP 4.9

G19

M4x10mm

1

3

4

3

1

2

1

2

3

Note the upper shock mount holes used.

2

G19

M4x10mm

L4

M4

G21

M4x16mm

A13

G19

L4

G21

G19

3

Learn about shock adjustment (damping, springs, preload)

Set front shock position

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STEP 5.1

BAG 26

E13

M3x12mm

STEP 5.2

BAG 27

G10

M3x6mm

5.0 GEARBOX ASSEMBLY

3

4

1

2

1

Start with screw head ush with bottom edge of hole. Both screws must be set equally.

TO SHIFT LATER

Tighten both screws equally

3

TO SHIFT EARLIER

Loosen both screws equally

SHIFT POINT

screw

GAP SETTING

screw

GAP SETTING

screw

1st Gear

48 T

H8

M3x3mm

SHIFT POINT

screw

H8

E13

G10

Learn about shift point and shoe gap

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- 23 -

STEP 5.3

G10

M3x6mm

STEP 5.4

H11

M3x8mm

1

3

4

2

6

2

1

4

5

ADJUSTING THE 2-SPEED SHOE GAP

Loosed the two gap-setting set screws to allow the shoes to rest on the drive adaptor.

Install the 2-speed shoes in the 2nd gear drum, but do NOT install the 1st gear.

There should be equal but minimal spacing between the 2-speed shoes and the 2nd gear drum. Tighten BOTH gap setting set screws until the shoes touch the inside surface of the aluminum 2nd gear drum, then loosen BOTH set screws by 1/2 turn each. The 2nd gear should spin freely.

Install the rst gear.

OW

2nd Gear

45 T

U6

6x13mm

V5

6x10mm

P13

3x14mm

R5

5mm

3

G10

V5

U6

P13

H11

R5

Learn about shoe gap

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STEP 6.1

BAG 28

STEP 6.2

6.0 CENTAX ASSEMBLY

1

2

3

IMPORTANT! Use the cone that comes with your engine

1

2

3

Learn about clutch shoes and yweights

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STEP 6.3

BAG 29

STEP 6.4

STEP 6.5

F14

M3x16mm

Large inner dia.

Small inner dia.

1

3

2

1.2mm

1

2

2nd Gear

19 T

1st Gear

16 T

Note inside shoulders

A

B

A B

5.2mm 5.0mm

IMPORTANT! Install thrust bearing plates as shown

F14

Initial clutch spring tension

Learn about clutch spring preload

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STEP 6.6

STEP 6.7

M14

5x10x0.1mm 5x10x0.3mm

Install only the clutchbell and the thrustbearing assembly on the engine crankshaft. Push the clutchbell onto the clutch shoe, and then measure the distance A as indicated.

Pull the clutchbell away from the clutch shoe, and then measure the distance B as indicated.

The clutch gap is A – B; the correct gap is 0.7mm. If the clutch gap is greater than 0.7mm, you can easily calculate the thickness of shims required to set the correct gap: Thickness of shims required (in mm) = A – B – 0.7

For example, using the values A=1.3mm, B=0.3mm Shim thickness = 1.3 – 0.3 – 0.7 = 0.3mm

Place shims between the outer thrustbearing plate and the rim of the thrustbearing carrier as shown.

Thrustbearing

Thrustbearing carrier

Place shims here

Place small shims to remove all but a small amount of end play

ADJUSTING THE END PLAY

U4

5x10mm

U45

5x13mm

ADJUSTING THE CLUTCH GAP

1

2

3

4

Pull

Push

M14

U45

U4

A

B

Learn about clutch shoe gap

Learn about clutch end play

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- 27 -

STEP 7.1

BAG 30

F13

M3x12mm

STEP 7.2

BAG 31, G19

E14

M3x16mm

7.0 FINAL ASSEMBLY

1

2

1

2

Orientation of belt tensioner bearings

Adjust gear mesh to proper gap

G27

M5x12mm

G19

M4x10mm

F13

G27

E14

G19

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STEP 7.3

BAG 32, 33

C5

2.5x8mm

STEP 7.4

E11

M3x8mm

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

6

7

5

3

4

2

8

2

1

2

3

4

5

E14

M3x16mm

H9

M3x4mm

OPTION 2:

Upright Throttle Servo

OPTION 1:

Laydown Throttle Servo

R5

5mm

C5

H9

E14

E11

R5

Use the following servo arms with these brands of servos. 23 - Sanwa / KO / JR 24 - Hitec 25 - Futaba

6

Completed throttle/brake linkage

5

OPTION 1: Laydown Throttle Servo

Servo Arm

Throttle Lever

- 28 -

- 29 -

H17

G19

STEP 7.6

BAG 34, G19

G19

M4x10mm

H17

M4x6mm

Side belt tension adjustment

Looser

Tighter

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

STEP 7.5

BAG 34, G19

Completed throttle/brake linkage

E10

M3x6mm

E11

M3x8mm

1

2

4

3

5

E10

E11

OPTION 2: Upright Throttle Servo

- 29 -

1

2

3

2

3

IMPORTANT! Before installation, check that fuel line and pressure line are free from debris and not blocked.

Mounted foam tires not included

STEP 7.8

G11

M3x8mm

2

1

Securely attach battery pack to mounting plate.

G11

STEP 7.7

- 30 -

Congratulations, you have completed the building of your new Serpent 960 !

To prepare your car for its first run, go to the Serpent 960 Setup Book and follow the setup instructions in Section A: Basic Setup. The setup described there is a good starting point. After rebuilding the chassis, or in case you become lost with your setup, always return to the setup described there.

The Serpent 960 Setup Book also contains detailed information about the numerous setup possibilities available on your Serpent 960, prepared by World Champion Michael Salven.

Serpent Model Racing Cars BV PO Box 180, 2100 AD, Heemstede The Netherlands, Europe

#903147 - Version 1