Naturefreak:

Ordered the same bearings as you mine came today. 10 days from Hong Kong, thats including 2 weekends... Standard air mail ($5.01 shipping) .. Now thats customer Service!! Why can't the other shops do that????

Just thought you might like to know how long it took.....

im in oz in hobart wil be sure to get my parts from you

Phanntom
Thanks that's good news.

The stock brass rings/washers are terrible and I think adding the bearings will help.

Update on the HPI gears:

there is good and bad news. The large diff gear is to big for the stock gear case.
The hpi gears 86014 gear diff bevel gears some are useful.
The pack (stock number above at tower) has 4 smaller gears they can be used to replace the stock gears smartech part #11259.
The rest in the pack I haven't ruled out yet but I'll have to spend some time mix matching.
As far as the pinon gear Hpi part number A857 it seems to be almost an exact fit. However I am using a 5x8mm flanged bearing to make it fit better.
Short version :
the 4 smaller gears in the hpi 86014 work and the pinion gear A857 works, as of now that is all that matches up. I am not done though
I have a few ideas and will experiment over the next few days.
Not sure if it helps anyone, you may want to wait until I'm completely done testing the parts before buying any HPI gears.

Have Fun, Enjoy!!!!!

Well today I actually put the gear case with the Hpi gears in the buggy and did a few test runs in my driveway and back yard. So far so good. Raining so couldn't get to the track to really test it out.

below is the link for the 13t final gear I speak of. I refereed to it as a pinion gear earlier, that's what the smartech version was called.

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTB55&P=7]13T final gear (pinion)[/link]

I also used two of the four smaller gears in the differential gear pack , link below

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXBTA4]diff gears[/link]

The pinion(final?) gear looks to be a lot stronger and has 13 teeth the smartech stock has 11.
The teeth seem to be a bit deeper as well. Time will tell.

I'm actually working on improving the suspension as well. Towers own ST-15 has some similar parts and I ordered the front and rear shock towers as well as the aluminum shocks for the rear. I'm goings to try to combine the shock towers
so I can actually have two sets of shocks for each wheel. I've been having a blast working on this thing and even more fun
bashing on it. IT just needs the suspension beefed up a bit to really jump with the big boys. As I said before the speed is not even an issue anymore ..


Well promised th e wife I would slow down on the spending.
She is actually ok with me buying a truck in march or April if I slow down to a crawl on the credit card.
I've been looking at over 20 different trucks and truggys. I have decided to get the Team Losi LST2.
They have gotten incredible reviews and have everything you need so you are not spending a fortune on upgrades.
I'll keep the smartech for experimenting on.
Right now the LST2 is about 650.00 a little too high but I expect the price to drop by the time I am looking for one in MAR/APR..

Anyway Suppers on...


Have Fun, Enjoy!!!!

I forgot to also mention that the Drive cup that comes with the 13T final gear set also works. The great thing about it it has two holes so you can use two grub screws to secure it to the pinion gear.........



Have Fun, Enjoy!!!!!!

Naturefreak:

Will that drive cup fit on the stock pinion gear? It might be worth getting one just for the 2 holes...

Thanks for the info..

help needed bad just got a excel model winner 3 /sposed to be a smartech car i need a place to get front a arms hopefully someplace that does overnight shipping

Phanntom
Yeah I'm pretty sure it will fit.
Both ends of the pinion gears are the same it's just the gear end that differs.
I would get it this way you have the pinion gear if you need it.

discgolfer72
Not sure you'll be able to find a vendor/supplier that deals in smartech parts that ships overnight.

I have used RC World International and they are the quickest I have come across. Usually if you get the order in during the day they will ship it out and you should have your parts within a couple days. Or you could call or email them and they may ship overnight if you pay for it.. They are a bit pricey but like I said they have fairly quick shipping.

Below is the two sites of theirs I have used. One is through Ebay>>>

[link=http://www.rcworld.us/cproducts_parts/4/2]RC WORLD WEB SITE[/link]


[link=http://stores.ebay.com/RC-WORLD-INTERNATIONAL_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZQ2d33QQfti dZ2QQtZkm]RC WORLD Ebay site[/link]

thanks

yea just got this car in mail today (got about 1 hour runtime then smacked the mailbox /improper set brake) got it for 50 on ebay im really suprised on how well built and how fast this car is for being a cheap knock off

im a vintage elect rc guy and so far for my first nitro im not disastfied

Naturefreak:

So if i'm thinking correctly changing to a 13t gear from a 11t would give you more low end torgue and less speed. Or am I thinking backwords? [sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

Hello just wanted to say I think I may have a cheaper way to the pinion gear problem everybody is having. It has to do with restricting the movement of the main gear. I will test it out some more but do not get any high hopes. I think naturefreak has a good thing going and I don't want to mess that up. Well I'm going to high speed test talk later

your thinking backwards

Yeah I think bradt369 is right. Truthfully I don't notice too much of a difference (speed wise), But I've been running the buggy hard and the gear seems to be holding up.

I have run into some other road blocks, mainly dealing with suspension. The buggy flat out flies but on the oval track or jumps It's
steering/handling is terrible. I've tried different tires,wheels and a while back had upgraded the steering servo.
However I thing the issue is with the wheel cups/bearings and suspension arms. So I lied to my wife, looks like I'm not done
over-stuffing the credit card. Hey maybe she'll give in and let me get the 1/8th LST2 early?? LOL.
I've also been looking at the Savage as well. A bit cheaper but got great reviews also. Savage X is the one that they featured in one of my RC mags.


Anyway back to work on the buggy. Got to get some time in before Football. Eagles fan here.....
As usual I'll share any Mod success with everyone!!!


Have Fun, Enjoy....!!!

hey naturefreak your mods have been a big help to me and i think all of us so keep up the good work and once again thank you for taking the time to help us all

Ok thanks, i was thinking in my head, it still hurts.... I may try that gear next time I order from Tower..

On your handling problem try moving your toe in on your front tires in slightly... So the fronts turn in very little, it seemed to help mine from following every dip in the road. I adjusted mine about 10 times before I was happy. Mine are curved in a fair amount. Much easier to keep in a straight line.. Hope this helps....

You have givin me so much good info I am glad whenever I can help you out.

And in addition to what was just posted. Thanks also.. You have giving me a lot of good ideas, help also...
Don't buy a 1/8 scale car.. Then we'll lose a great help in this thread as you'll go in the wind with the big boys....[&o][&o]

Also I have the Duratrax Shocks (tower #LXVU97) with the Purple springs on mine. The suspension is solid as a rock. I can drop the car from12 inches in the air and it dosn't hit bottom.....

Have fun and don't hit any curbs....

Thats the way it usually is..... He he he Thanks.....

Phanntom
Thanks
I have adjusted the front end and tested it in my driveway and it does seem a lot tighter.
Going to the track today to run it for a bit. Beautiful day here need to take advantage of it.
Winter is fast approaching here and they get nasty up here in NEPA.

Regardless of when I purchase the 1/8 I'll always be around, The buggy will always be a fun project for me. I will always be
testing, upgrading smashing and running up the credit card bills with the buggy!! LOL.

As I said before my present project is the suspension. I do have the duratrax blue Max shocks on the front but I'm using the
stock springs(yellow). I'll have to order the purple as they look to be a bit more firm.
I'm waiting on some shock towers to mount to the buggy that should give it more versatility in mounting more than one set of shocks per wheel. I'm also planning on trying some different front and rear arms to extend the wheels out another inch or so.
I already have found numerous dog-bones that will work with our buggies so now it's just mix matching arms, knuckles and toes...
Still waiting on bearing upgrade kit,I believe it should be here any day now.


That's it for now...

Thanks again , and thanks to everyone for the kind words!!!


Have Fun, Enjoy!!

Good day at track today. Buggy ran great, awesome jumps and the best part no major breaks. The front right dogbone keeps slipping out of the drive cup (which needs to be replaced) when I take a hard turn. I'm taking a small piece of fuel line and putting inside the gearbox drive cup, this will add pressure to the dogbone causing to seat better in the wheel drivecup.
I read this in some RC mag and now it makes sense.
Anyway that was the only issue today.
No goodies today from Fedex,Ups and due to holiday no mail[&o].
I am realizing more and more that if I can find a way to extend the wheels from the buggy it will jump and stay upright more often. I am looking forward to experimenting with the arms. Also still toying with gears to see if we can get a more reliable
gearbox.

That's it for now

Naturefreak

When I ordered the shocks I ordered the package of springs. It came with 2 of each red, blue, yellow and purple. The purple were way stiffer and the yellow ones in the kit were stiffer then the stock yellow ones that came with the shocks.

i too have been thinking of a way to extend the wheels from the buggy too Naturefreak let me know how you go

Got bearings upgrade today in mail. Nothing else!
Changed out brass rings on all 4 wheel knuckle arms with the bearings. Wheels definitely turn much more fluidly.
Went to track after and ran the buggy a bit. Couple old timers at track one with Tmaxx and the other with the revo 3.3.
Buggy kept up with both for a while until started jumping. Flips over too easily, that's the reason I want to extend the wheels a
1nch or so.
Both guys were impressed especially when they found out what it originally was and how much it cost.
however I did explain to them that I had over three hundred in upgrades and countless hours devoted to it.


Anyway getting ready to due the bearing upgrade to both gearboxes, while I have them Apart I want to check on the gears see how they're holding up....


Have Fun, Enjoy!!!!!

Also wanted to mention I picked up a tub of super Tech Extreme pressure multi duty complex Hi temp grease.
Walmart had it for about 3.00 and its a 16Oz tub.
I slap it inside the gearboxes and inside the knuckle arms and a dab on the bearings. Too me it helps keep everything fluid
as well as protects it. I got it about a week ago and so far everything seems to be moving the way it should.

Also wanted to mention that putting the small piece of fuel line inside the gearbox cups definitely makes a world of difference.
The dog-bones didn't slip out once. It also helps tighten up the suspension.


That's it for now back to working on the bearing upgrade...


Have Fun,,, Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

I don't have my smartech buggy anymore, but I thought you guys might enjoy this vid of me and my friends bashing our trucks!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...+physics&hl=en

Hi guys... i just buy a Speedy tiger RC car... what sould i know about it? Is there any engine broking i sould do? What type of nitro should I put in it? speed it goes in reality?

TANKS!