SWB Double-Loc Servo Arm for Hitec 5745MG Steering servo

Submitted by RobMob

When the 5T was released, HPI included a new aluminum servo horn for it’s steering servo that matched the length of the plastic servo horn included with the 5B. I have been using the Hitec 5745MG steering servo with the included blue aluminum servo horn. The two problems I have with this horn is that it is not as long as HPI’s and it has a tendency to come loose on occasion.

After seeing HPI’s new aluminum horn, I began a quest to find an aluminum one that had the same length and would fit fit the Hitec servo.

SWB Manufacturing makes what they call Double-Loc Servo Arms for Hitec, JR and Futaba servos in varying lengths and syles.

The 1.25″ Half-Arm is the perfect match to the HPI aluminum arm.

This review is for the Hitec Double-Loc Servo Half-Arm, but the Futaba version will actually work for the stock HPI steering servo which is made by Futaba.

What you get:
In the packaging you will receive the servo horn along with the screw and nut for the nut. You will need the screw from your servo in order to attach the horn to the servo itself.

Note that the pic is for a 1” horn, the packaging is the same for the 1.25”

Installation:
This is what set this horn apart from the stock blue aluminum horn that most guys run when using the Hitec 5745MG. To install you will do what you normally do with any other servo horn line it up and push the horn until it seats completely down. On this little guy, you will only be able to push it down so far before it won’t go any further. It is a tight fit to say the least. From here you could use an arbor press to push it down all the way. Or you can just put the screw into the horn and proceed to tighten it down. The horn will be pressed into place by the screw. This worked on both of my installations. Use a drop of blue loctite on the clamping screw and install it with the supplied nut. Once installed, you will notice that there is zero movement of the horn on the servo splines.

To install the ball end, simply put it in the desired hole and tighten it down. The threads in the horn are smaller than the ball end threads, but since the horn is aluminum and softer than the ball end, it will thread itself in just fine. Be sure to install the nut on the back side to secure it.

Testing:
The thickness of the horn is the same as the blue aluminum one you get with the 5745MG servo which is much thinner than the new HPI aluminum horn. This means much less rotating mass the servo has to turn.

Note that since the horn is thinner than the HPI aluminum horn, the issue of the ball end hitting the top plate is eliminated when using the top mounting hole.

The first day of testing was at the Thunder Valley 8th scale off-road track. I ran a 10 minute practice, two 10 minute heats and a 12 minute main.

The horn performed flawlessly and was still secure.

Before I sat down to write this review, I wanted to be sure of my initial finding so once again I made my way to Thunder Valley only this time it was a practice day on the new 5th scale track. On this day I ran 4.5 tanks of fuel through my 5T.

Once again the horn performed flawlessly and showed no signs of bending or loosening.

Comparison Pic

The SWB Double-Loc Servo Arm gets a 3-Thumbs up from me.

It is a great alternative to the HPI arm for guys running the Hitec 5745MG steering servo.

Different lengths are available for other applications as well. I picked up a few 1” long arms to use on my crawler steering servos which tend to come loose after running.

You can order direct from SWB Manufacturing or from Esprit Models where I ordered from for $10.00 each plus shipping.

Be sure to tell them HPIBajaTutorials.com sent you.