Well it's a Hacker X20 ESC, so it should be pretty good quality. I have been using it for months with no problems at all. Perhaps the heat from the solder killed it? I don't know. I just know that it doesn't work at all now. The motor mounts a good 12-13 inches away from the battery. I was trying to bring the ESC leads into the rear end of the battery hatch. I was able to run the ESC leads to the front of the hatch and get it to just barely reach (with the ESC wires completely stretched out). I am using a Hacker A20-22L motor. It works great on that plane.

I've flown the Tribute a few times. It's a great flying plane.