Kagama Any good servo replacements for Kagama 4 (UK) - Cheaper but good?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
This is the one he's always mentioning
1000019353.webp
 
If I were buying I'd get one of these two depending on my budget:

-AGFRC A73BHLW V2 €67
Brushless, steel gear, 0.110sec/[email protected] and high quality. AGFRC are the OEM for Reefs and Perfect Pass servos.
Reliably easy to find replacement gears.

-9imod BLS-HV40KG-180 €25
Brushless, metal geared (steel, alum & brass), 0.085sec/[email protected]. Heard good things about this 9imod brushless line in particular for budget servos. The speed/torque ratings are likely less accurate than AGFRC's.

Internals of both:

H595fe2055c21437daa72dc4551734cd4m.jpg_720x720q50.webp


944741033512534018 (1).webp
 
Last edited:
Nelson.81 said:
Above or 9imod popular budget servo’s or agfrc not cheap but in the buy once category
Click to expand...
Check out AFRC they are actually made by AGFRC, internally they are clearly made in the same factory, identical logic boards, identical application of black silicone goop and kapton tape, same version numbers on the PCB silkscreen, AGFRC logo imprinted on the plastic bits.

I've seen the inside of i9mod servos are the soldering on the lead and pot wires is horrifying. Same deal for PTK servos, the internal build quality is awful.

EDIT I have a few PTK servos and after I fixed up the internal soldering they are alright. But I won't be buying any more of them.
 
I too recommend the AGF RC servos, but please note that the A73CHLW servo is rated for 1/10 scale use.

AGF won't guarantee servos if they are used for a purpose other than that specified in the blurb.

In the UK, if you buy via SMD Direct - headed by legendary Jamie Booth, you are likely better protected dealing with the retailer directly.

'Billdelong' describes a situation where his 80 series servos failed in a 1/8th buggy and AGF wouldn't honour the warranty. So always check the specs! And don't hold your breath expecting the same consumer rights you are accustomed to in the West - when you wind up buying direct with the manufacturer from the East. Facts!

However, to avoid predicaments - 81BHMW are specced for 1/8th use and are more servo than anyone would ever need in anything Corally makes. They are an excellent mid price servo. I haven't had any fail.
 
Yup 9imod 👍 cheap, fast and strong, had a 9imod 45kg in my Kagama then moved it onto the Maxx truck and it's taken a fair old beating since September last year and still going strong.

Got my one off AliExpress took about a week to arrive.
 
Horatio said:
I too recommend the AGF RC servos, but please note that the A73CHLW servo is rated for 1/10 scale use.

AGF won't guarantee servos if they are used for a purpose other than that specified in the blurb.

In the UK, if you buy via SMD Direct - headed by legendary Jamie Booth, you are likely better protected dealing with the retailer directly.

'Billdelong' describes a situation where his 80 series servos failed in a 1/8th buggy and AGF wouldn't honour the warranty. So always check the specs! And don't hold your breath expecting the same consumer rights you are accustomed to in the West - when you wind up buying direct with the manufacturer from the East. Facts!

However, to avoid predicaments - 81BHMW are specced for 1/8th use and are more servo than anyone would ever need in anything Corally makes. They are an excellent mid price servo. I haven't had any fail.
Click to expand...

Good info.
Taking warranty criteria in mind is definitely sound advice.
I have to pay fully double locally so I take my chances.
 
Horatio said:
It would be a very fast servo indeed! 😎 23kg is plenty in a buggy. 👌👍
Click to expand...
Awesome and thank you. Not sure what else I can upgrade on the Spark from all I’ve done at this point but a motor ESC. To be honest I have no problem with what’s in it stock
 
For a warranty / after sales servicing you cannot beat Promodeler. They are the only hobby servo manufacturer I know of that you can send a servo to for refurbishing even out of warranty. They will replace the PCB and motor if that has burned for some reason and it costs significantly less than a whole new servo they have a section on their website where you select what servo and pay for the service, then send it in. They also have a potentimeter replacement service. On some brushed servos they can also replace just the motor (only the ones where the motors are not soldered directly to the PCB otherwise they have to do a hot section replacement because of the potting compound they use on the PCBs)
 
Atomic Skull said:
For a warranty / after sales servicing you cannot beat Promodeler. They are the only hobby servo manufacturer I know of that you can send a servo to for refurbishing even out of warranty. They will replace the PCB and motor if that has burned for some reason and it costs significantly less than a whole new servo they have a section on their website where you select what servo and pay for the service, then send it in. They also have a potentimeter replacement service. On some brushed servos they can also replace just the motor (only the ones where the motors are not soldered directly to the PCB otherwise they have to do a hot section replacement because of the potting compound they use on the PCBs)
Click to expand...
Promodeler servos look to be very well engineered. It seems they're offering up a very small part of their business (robotics and military stuff) for hobby use. Essentially, milspec servos. Ones which can be serviced. 🤩 All good stuff. If I had an option to buy one, I probably would.

The reality for most of us outside of the US is that sending a $120 servo half way around the world, insured, to get serviced isn't usually going to be logistically feasible. Unless of course Promodeler are paying - which obviously, they aren't. It's a logistical thing that's really only ever going to occur once - basically when non-US customers import their purchase into their own country. It ain't getting sent back, ever.

Oh - and if you use the Promodeler website - it doesn't calculate shipping costs. Which is just plain weird in 2025. They even tell you this up front, so they're not exactly inviting people to buy them from outside the US. You're buying them from a chap called John. He must be busy!

I've looked to see if anyone sells them retail, but sadly - they don't in the UK, it seems.

There's the rub - if you believe you have a warranty issue and your purchase is with the factory direct, it's a whole different ball game. You are almost entirely at the mercy of the manufacturer. Worst case scenario - they have your cash, your product and write you up a nice fat bill - which must be paid before they send anything back. 🤣 Plus, there's the time it takes getting stuff through customs.

Thankfully, Futaba, KO, Tekin, HiTec and Sanwa also offer servo servicing - but via your retailer. If/when you need it. Which in 40+ years - I haven't (not for servos).

When servos break with me, it's usually well out of warranty or it's 100% my fault, which in either case, I'll just fix it myself, or replace it.

My imported servos - like AGF and Proteks - are usually cheaper to buy imported, but there has to be a realistic expectation of any implied warranty when you make that decision. Example, my brand new, sealed, Protek 170 SBL servo was bought for £85, including tax and shipping - imported from the states via an eBay auction I won. The UK retail price is £170. That's a whopping $230 😬 thus a saving of 50%, even after import duties. So that's a win.

With my most recent AGF purchases, they have been from a UK based retailer. 100% safe in the event of a warranty issue - but full price - about £75.

But this compares favourably with the importing a similar servo from China via Ali, which isn't as cheap as it used to be - are people noticing that?

If you live in the US, Promodeler servos look like a decent option, provided you spec one that works off BEC.
 
I’m definitely not going to use one other than BEC plug in, maybe if I was more serious but then I’d be doing things totally different than the ways I’ve gone. A little faster w more torque is all I need for now, I get it if your racing etc but for general fun bashing that’s over complicating things far as I’m concerned. Same in jets some guys spend hours programming which I’ve done also but very very rarely now. Only my twin 80 F14 and that’s only due to swept wings.
 
shortround9191 said:
I’m definitely not going to use one other than BEC plug in, maybe if I was more serious but then I’d be doing things totally different than the ways I’ve gone. A little faster w more torque is all I need for now, I get it if your racing etc but for general fun bashing that’s over complicating things far as I’m concerned. Same in jets some guys spend hours programming which I’ve done also but very very rarely now. Only my twin 80 F14 and that’s only due to swept wings.
Click to expand...
Well that's the thing. If you have to power your servo separately or add a capacitor, it's not ideal on a 1/8th scale rig - it's just extra weight, more wiring and more space taken up with stuff. On a 1/10th scale rig, it's just not feasible at all.

On aircraft, there's so much space it wouldn't matter.

My AGF's and Proteks just work as is. No drama. They give way more than I need on 6 volts, so they are operating well within their limits. In the case of the AGF, these handle up to 8.4 volts.

All entirely hypothetical, because I never put more than 6 volts through my receivers anyway.
 
Same here on 6volt, not that the Spark doesn’t steer bad a little more speed torque would be nice the Kagama4 since I did the Spark rack with Lee spring for what I and the kids do with it is perfect. I have a extra TC servo and for it will just replace stock and where the Spark is my main is the only reason I’d like a little more on the steering
 
How about this?

https://himodel.com/radios/Corona_BL2068HV_88g_60kg_Large_Torque_All_Metal_Servo.html

https://himodel.com/radios/Corona_BL1029HV_82g_50kg_Large_Torque_All_Metal_Servo.html

Can't say what the internal wiring is like like as Corona fills the space where the logic board and wiring is with potting compound so that the hot section is entombed in an immovable block of epoxy. EDIT: It's silicone potting not epoxy potting.

EDIT found the picture from this RCG thread: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3994193-Corona-BL1029HV-servo-50KG-Sneak-Peak

IMG_6652.webp
 
Last edited:
Back
Top