ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER?  
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All Forums >> RC Cars, Buggies, Trucks, Tanks and more >> RC Rock Crawlers >> ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? Page: [1]

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ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/18/2006 3:14:12 AM   
WAD



Posts: 131
Joined: 8/14/2005
From: drexel hill , PA, USA
Status: offline 		can you guys explan why electric motors seems to be the way to go instead of nitro for crawlers?
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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/18/2006 7:02:44 AM   
f150dan


 

Posts: 2344
Joined: 1/28/2003
From: Jonesboro, TN, USA
Status: offline 		Nitros, usually don't have enough torque at low RPM's to rock crawl very well. You can still do some crawling with them, but they mainly use momentum or wheel speed to get over stuff.

Since nitros have to rev up alot more to make enough power, they will quickly burn up clutch's while crawling. They also need airflow to cool them down, so they don't do very well at low speeds for a long time. And they have a tendancy to load up with fuel if they are idling for extended periods of time. You need to rev them up ever once in a while to clean them out and keep them running smoothly.

You can still make a nitro crawler, but IMO its hard and more expensive to go that route.

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/18/2006 4:10:16 PM   
Anomie



Posts: 3612
Joined: 4/15/2005
From: Livermore, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Also, it can be very difficult to incorporate reverse into a nitro drivetrain.

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/18/2006 4:24:41 PM   
Dale Gribble



Posts: 3784
Joined: 9/17/2003
From: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Status: online 		Agreed... Nitros don't make good crawlers compared to electric. The guys at my LHS are all hardcore rock crawlers and belong to that Rock Crawling Organization (USRCC I think?) and go to the events religiously. They are all electrics.

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/19/2006 11:52:21 AM   
WAD



Posts: 131
Joined: 8/14/2005
From: drexel hill , PA, USA
Status: offline 		Clear as crystal!
Thanks guys!

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/19/2006 6:24:33 PM   
f150dan


 

Posts: 2344
Joined: 1/28/2003
From: Jonesboro, TN, USA
Status: offline 		If I had the money, I would try putting a big thumper (4-stroke) motor on a monstertruck. I think that would be a cool project to do anyway. That should take care of the low end power, but you would still have problems with burning clutches though.

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/19/2006 9:10:34 PM   
shortbusjeep



Posts: 339
Joined: 10/28/2004
From: centreville, VA, USA
Status: offline 		the clutch is a big problem, if you stop on a big hill and then try to go again you will roll, not good also you would have to shift in to reverse, also not good, there is lots of play in nitros which is not good for the precision driving required in rock crawling, also it was mentiond before but overheating is a huge problem, even if you can gear it down low enough to have it in the power band at slow speeds you have to have a huge fan or fans running, which means more battery needed, so if you look at the big picture you have a fan, 3 servos, (1 for reverse, 2 for steering), a battery to power all that, a huge tranny to gear it down so low, a motor, a fuel tank, and you can only run it for a tank and then you have to cool it. so electric is the wy to go for many reasons, also gas is loud, messy, and annoying. there is trouble with comps already if you add nitros there wont be anywhere left to have comps.


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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/19/2006 10:58:31 PM   
Vertical3-D



Posts: 1597
Joined: 7/23/2005
From: Myerstown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		it could be done nicely with an x-factor, if you come up with some way to gear it way down(like topping out at 12mph) then the power would amaze, specially if it was a four stroke, also, ever watch a temp gauge on a nitro running low rpm, they drop, when not over half throotle(with proper gearing youd never need more) the temps will drop even moving very slowly, i cool my t-maxx down when it gets to hot by driving very slowly and letting it idle(sounds like crawling to me) would it be a challenge, yeah, would it cost alot, yeah probably, would it be the sickest looking and sounding thing to hit crawling, quite possible...

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/20/2006 9:03:47 PM   
shortbusjeep



Posts: 339
Joined: 10/28/2004
From: centreville, VA, USA
Status: offline 		your not in power band if it is cooling down, motor rpms and car speed are two different things.


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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 1/20/2006 10:51:56 PM   
Vertical3-D



Posts: 1597
Joined: 7/23/2005
From: Myerstown, PA, USA
Status: offline 		the speed was relating to the fact of no aircooling, but my point is that geared down right you could crawl without needing full power, and a computer fan will run on 2 sub c cell easy and would be plenty so either way im just saying it could be done very succesfully.

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 7/7/2006 11:04:11 PM   
byebye


 

Posts: 151
Joined: 7/7/2006
From: Smalltown, PE, ARGENTINA
Status: offline 		Make NO mistakes about it, NITRO CRAWLING won't be for everyone, and it's gonna take, time, thought, and perseverance in the face of all the "naysayers," but giving up is NOT an option!

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 7/8/2006 4:21:17 AM   
dezfan



Posts: 1351
Joined: 2/15/2006
From: Columbia, MO, USA
Status: online 		Personally I can't wait to crawl against one.

Can't wait to destroy it on a competition course.

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 7/9/2006 8:34:56 PM   
mechanicalbob


 

Posts: 69
Joined: 11/7/2002
From: Juneau, AK, USA
Status: offline 		Well I cant wait eather Dez. Just one question what is your final ratio of your truck?

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       Post #: 13

RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 7/9/2006 10:16:47 PM   
dezfan



Posts: 1351
Joined: 2/15/2006
From: Columbia, MO, USA
Status: online 		Steve,

The final drive on my supper is 43 to 1 w/ my current gearing.

Dez

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RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 7/28/2006 4:08:48 PM   
rock bull



Posts: 64
Joined: 7/28/2006
From: st.augustine, FL, USA
Status: offline 		electric motors have gobs of toque on veary low rpm as a nitro would not have.Also a nitro has clutch shoes which will burn up due to the stress on them.

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       Post #: 15

RE: ELECTRIC OR NITRO CRAWLER? - 7/29/2006 4:16:20 AM   
MattHiggins


 

Posts: 41
Joined: 10/17/2004
From: Ridgefield, CT, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: rock bull

Also a nitro has clutch shoes which will burn up due to the stress on them.
To overcome this problem on our engine dyno at work, a steel clutch system was used--problem solved. I can't take credit for it as I had nothing to do with it, but as far as I can tell the steel clutch works like a charm. I'll get more info when I get back to the office next week. The other main concern with nitro crawlers is heat. The problem is also the same on our dyno. Two (I believe) inecpensive brushless cooling fans (look like computer fans to me) solved that problem. That's just some food for thought. Even with those two issued addressed, I don't think (and have never said) a nitro crawler could compete with an electric crawler. I'm not sure why it keeps coming back to that. It would nice if we could keep this civil since it appears this topic is here to stay on this forum.

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