The differential gears were dry, and had some wear, but they look to be still okay. I greased 'em up good and reassembled the unit. The other gears in the tranny case itself look fine. In fact, the only gear that looks a bit ragged is the big drive (spur?) gear. It will be replaced.

Anyone know if HPI is still honoring the Rush frame swap-out? This one is bent; not badly, but it will need to be straightened, and doing that will weaken it. A new one is only $30, but if I can get one for return shipping, what the hey...

I called HPI Friday, but I guess it was their every-other-Friday off. I'll try them again today.

Thanks for the additional tips. I'll hit the clutch inner surface with some 220 wet-or-dry paper to break the glaze (couldn't find the wire brush for my Dremel). When I didn't see a liner, it kind of threw me. Guess I've been fooling with helicopters too long...<G>

Steve