jeffmorris

First time here. I bought the Tamiya Twin Detonator 4WD truck recently and started building it. I ordered a Futaba 2DR 2-Channel AM/2 S3003 Servos 72 R/C radio kit, ball-bearing kit, and oil-filled shocks. I need help choosing an electronic speed control (ESC) for the truck. I can't afford the expensive ESCs. I don't know how fast the truck runs in "first gear" when using the mechanical speed controller. Are the gearboxes already greased?

guver

My Feedback: (325)

Hi, wecome to RCU. The TD is a great truck with lots of hop-up potential too. The esc should have a limit of about 12or 14 turns OR LESS to handle the stock 27 turn motors. They are pretty much universal and you can use even any of the single motor ones and just Y the wires together. The gears are greased from the factory.

Top speed stock motors and 6 cell battery is maybe a bit over 10 mph. A duratrax Streak works nice on a stock set-up and even allows for using more voltage (up to 10 cells) for more speed. That's about the max voltage for the stock motors anyways, but really wakes it up. No reverse though.

jeffmorris

I need both forward and reverse. I'm afraid of buying a wrong ESC and see the truck set itself on fire. I'm using the motors that came with the truck. I thought that an ESC is better than a mechanical SC.

magnat

The ESC off an E-max or E-Savage should do the job??

C.A.R.

Hi there,

Firstly, the user 'Guver' may have thrown you off the trail a bit here. The Twin Detonator doesn't have masses of potential, but it's pretty tough and lots of fun. You've already noticed that the truck is fairly slow as standard. The MSC (mechanical speed controller) will power anything as long as it's kept cool, but you don't want to run the risk of melting it do you?! Tamiya are about to release a new truck on the same platform, but it will have a dual motor ESC. You can purchase the Tamiya TEU-103BK ESC now, and it has a motor limit of up to 2 sport tuned motors. That, combined with changing the gearing slightly will make for a lot of fun.

Chris.

guver

My Feedback: (325)

Since esc's are pretty much universal and you need reverse then any reversing esc with a turn limit of 12 or less will do fine.

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

"it doesnt have masses of potential" Ha! You have not been doing your research then my friend. There are insanely modified td's build around just 2 gearboxes, and even those are modded in some cases!

Pretty much any esc with at most a 15t limit should run the motors fine.

guver

My Feedback: (325)

Whether we agree that it has lots of hop-up potential , we probably all agree that it is dog slow when stock and can very eaily get it's speed doubled.

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

Ya it's slow but it was my first rc and I thought it flew for a while.

jeffmorris

Should I replace the plastic bearings inside the gearboxes with ball bearings? Will the Tamiya TEU-103BK ESC give me variable speeds from 0 MPH to the truck's fastest speed?

cornel4web

yep....TEU-103BU dual ESC will do the job...I ordered one for my CLOD...I was als think on the e-Savage ESC, but finnaly I voted for Tamiya's...

The Hedgehog

Yeah replace the bushing with bearings also....

jeffmorris

I replaced the plastic bearings with ball bearings but I had to keep the metal bearings because I got a pack of 20 ball bearings. I'm not sure if the Tamiya CVA Mini Shock Unit Set II (#50519) is correct for the truck but it was listed on the last page of manual for the truck. The manual didn't list the parts required to make the shock units. The manual listed the parts required to make shock units from Tamiya Low Friction Aluminum Damper Set (#53280). I had to use springs and C-shaped parts from the shock units that came with the truck instead of the springs and C-shaped parts from the shock unit kits. Any suggestions?

paintstikker

Use the clips so you get a little less spring slop in the dampers.

Yes, the CVA is the right set.

jeffmorris

I'm confused about which springs to use. The CVA kit has two sets of springs and one set of springs is too short. The truck came with what I thought is correct length of springs but they're short for the CVA shock units and I had to use the spring clips.

nitrosportsandrunner

a traxxas xl-5 has a 15t modified 540 motor limit(12t 550 modified motor), and you can get it for $35 new on ebay.

The Hedgehog

I think you posted in the wrong thread, this truck takes dual motors. Jeff, how do you like the truck, I am considering a dual motor truck as my next Tamiya.

j.m.

I'm sorry, i'm not familiar with the car, but if it has room for two battery packs, an evx-2 system would be pretty cool.

jeffmorris

With the MSC included with the truck, the lowest speed is too fast. I will have to order the Tamiya TEU-103BK ESC for the truck. A 7.2V battery pack slides into the opening in the middle of the frame and can't accept any other kinds of batteries. I wanted to buy the E-MAXX truck but I didn't like the radio that is held like a gun that's included with the truck. I prefer the radio with joysticks.

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

I know you arent asking me but I will give my 2 cents. Stock it's not good, but ebay can always get you a roller. It's much lighter than a maxx or similar dual motor trucks when running equivelant setups. In order to run some serious power or 12 cells, you need a different chassis, differental gear, and driveshaft upgrade. The stock shocks need to be replaced with oil units and extended suspension with less offset wheels and 4" shocks make it an excellent truck.

jeffmorris

I got the Tamiya TEU-103BK ESC. I removed unnecessary parts from the chassis and installed the ESC. After setting up the ESC, I drove the truck around in my bedroom. The low speed is slower than stock, giving me better control of the truck. Because it was dark outside, I was not able to see how fast the truck run.

paintstikker

BTW, the "low speed" is the first step in the controller, most controllers today run 125 steps, but some are at double digits, though there are some in the 1,300+ step range.

Kitsune

My Feedback: (7)

As far as ESCs go I'm running a Futaba MC330 CR in mine. That's another choice for an ESC that should be able to handle some mild modified motors. At $65 it isn't too bad for price either.

jeffmorris

Do ESCs give you longer run times than MSCs? With the MSC, I get run time of 30-45 minutes. With the ESC, I got run time of an hour.

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

Yes, esc's are more efficient.