The post-September 2008 XMOD Evo "Street" version starter kits have a fixed crystal. We are not sure why the manufacturer would take a step back in technology, but we have devised a solution to this problem.
It should be noted that this conversion requires an older version of the
XMOD Remote Controller because the remote's frequency crystal is fixed too. You will also need a
lay down crystal adapter to complete the conversion.
Step 1
First, unscrew the screws holding the top cover.
Step 2
Be sure to unscrew the motor screws and antenna screw as well.
Step 3
Remove the top cover from the chassis.
Step 4
This is what you see. Now unscrew the one screw holding the board to the chassis.
Step 5
Pick up your soldering iron and get to work de-soldering the wires. The adjacent image shows the black battery wire being de-soldered.
Step 6
Here is the red battery wire being lifted.
Step 7
Then move on to the black and white servo motor wires.
Step 8
Lastly, you have the tiny servo potentiometer wires (black, orange, and white) to de-solder.
Step 9
You should now be able to remove the board from the chassis. Don't be scared...that's it. Wiggle it on out of there.
Step 10
Now. Flip the board over and find the two prongs belonging to that fixed crystal. This is also where you'll want to clamp it in that vise or helping hands.
Step 11
Grab some solder braid and remove the solder on the two prongs.
Be very careful here! You do not want to
remove solder on any other parts of the board.
Step 12
Use your flat nose pliers and bend the crystal upwards 90 degrees, so it is perpendicular with the board.
Step 13
As you are heating the prongs on one side, ever-so-gently pull the crystal from the other side.
Step 14
TIP: Be patient. Using your soldering iron, heat one prong then the other until the crystal slides out.
Step 15
Now grab that little drill bit and drill out the holes. Obviously, the bit needs to be about the size of the prongs on the crystal adapter.
Step 16
From the top of the board, you should be able to slide the adapter in with no problem.
Step 17
Now on the other side, you need to solder the prongs in place.
Step 18
Put the screws back in on either side of the servo motor, without the top cover.
NOTE: With your new crystal adapter in place, your old top cover will not fit. It is fairly easy to cut out a hole in your top cover to accommodate the new adapter, but for this tutorial, we're going without the top cover.
Step 19
And there you have it! Now you can switch out crystals like you can with pretty much any other hobby-class RC car.