Kyosho MP-7.5 sports

Radio Control Car Action, Feb 2002 by Vieira, Peter

Kyosho assembles the Sports' servo-saver for you; it is the usual cam-and-spring bellcrank arrangement. It's adjustable, but good luck turning the knurled adjustment wheel once you've installed it. An aluminum drag plate turns on bushings and provides three Ackerman positions for the threaded tie rods. The use of threaded rods in lieu of turnbuckles is an acceptable cost-cutter, but the cheap Z-- bend wire linkage that joins the bellcranks to the steering servo really doesn't belong on an 1/8-scale buggy.

ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES. The Sports includes Kyosho's latest GS-21R pull-start engine, which wears a new, larger-surface-area heat-sink head. The engine breathes through a very nice foam air filter, and Kyosho even includes a wet-weather cover for it. Exhaust is routed to the great outdoors (take that, Mother Nature!) via a bolt-on manifold and an unusual, multi-piece cast tuned pipe. A 2-shoe clutch engages a steel clutch bell, and the engine is fed by a 125cc fuel tank that is more than a plastic box. It has a neatly integrated drip channel that routes spilled fuel out through the bottom of the chassis, and a clever splashguard keeps oily fuel out of the front brake system.

BODY, WHEELS AND TIRES. The Sports' attractive lo-spoke wheels are molded in the same vivid green as the dual-element rear wing. Medium-- compound W-5651 multi-pin tires are included, but foam inserts are not. The body is the same as on Kyosho's other MP-7-5 models, and it's arguably the best-looking stock buggy body going. I had mine painted by Zegers RC Graffixx. BUILDING & SETUP Tc TiPS Since Kyosho assembles all three of the Sports' diffs for you and even installs them on the chassis, building time is significantly decreased, but there's still plenty to build! It will go more easily if you follow these tips.

LOSE THE Z-BENDS. While you're picking up your Sports at the hobby shop, spring for an OFNA throttle-linkage kit and a spare linkage slider to replace the Z-bend brake linkage, and get an OFNA steering-linkage kit to replace the Z-bend steering linkage. ADD FOAM INSERTS. The stock tires will work much better with foam installed; I like Pro-Line's 6195-00 "firm" inserts, but any insert will be an improvement on "flat" tires.

STEP 12. Install the camber pivots now instead of waiting until step 15. It's more difficult to install the pivots after the shock tower has been installed, as the manual suggests.

STEP 15. According to the parts legend, the 3mm E-rings are black, but they're actually silver (at least, they were in my kit). Match the E-clips to the scale drawing instead of relying on color, and you'll be sure to grab the right E-clips. STEP 38. The "Collar (black)" required for shock assembly is easily mistaken for a black metal washer. It's actually a plastic washer from the shock parts tree. STEP 40. The preload collars require 3x12 screws, and the kit includes small- and large-head versions. Use the small-head screws.

THE CLASSIC NITRO TIP Apply thread-lock to all the linkage setscrews, engine-mounting screws, manifold bolts and any other screws that thread into metal parts. YOU'LL NEED