RC10B3 beater upgrades
 

I won an ebay auction and picked up a B3 for $80 after shipping. I want to have a little fun with it. I would like to do lipo and brushless along with some bumpers and anything else it needs, and just beat on it and see how it does.
I heard thunder tiger stills has replacement parts available for repairs, so that's reassuring.
Are there any tips or important pros or cons on this car that I should know?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psurp2bxss.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pshnin9cla.jpg

How would this setup do? I assume it's a 380 motor. The ESC could accept a better sensored motor later, right?
Hobbywing Combo EZRUN-60A-SL Brushless ESC + 9T/3650 4300KV Motor 1/10
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Hobbywing-Comb...=1524268952001
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTMwMFgxNT...9WsG7e/$_3.JPG

That's a perfect setup. I know myself, and many others who used that combo in various RC platforms. That HobbyWing combo was my second brushless system I ever purchased. I can't say enough good things about it. Mine is maybe six years old? I got the 35A combo for a stadium truck and it has just enough to handle the 1/10 ST. The 4300kv is too fast for my tastes nowadays though. I run my RCs on a very loose track; I was always dialing back the speed on that motor to gain control. I've since moved to a 17.5T full sized 3650 brushless motor for my B4, and 3930kv/3300kv in my stadium trucks.

The HobbyWing EZRun combo inspired so many no-name or re-branded versions of it. A bounus...the programming card included with combo. It's great for quickly adjusting the basic items on the ESC so you don't have to do the counting of the LED flashes method. Also, that programming card has been used on all of my HobbyWing knock-offs ESCs. Hurray.

That is a 380 sized motor shoved into a 540 sized finned can. The ESC is only sensorless motor capable.

The Thunder Tiger Phoenix BX II is fully compatible with the Associated B3 buggy. I am 99.9% sure of that ;).

Ah, I looked at so many I got them mixed up. I was really looking for a sensored setup.

Thanks for the reassurance on that combo and the thunder tiger.

Yeah I'm kind of looking for a little "too fast" on this one.


I like this ESC, but I couldn't find the right program card, and motors alone seem pricey.
HOBBYKING® ™ X-CAR 45A BRUSHLESS CAR ESC (SENSORED/SENSORLESS)

http://www.hobbyking.com/mobile/view...dproduct=22602

Maybe check out some of Speed Passion's Reventon series of ESC/motor combos or SKYRC's offerings...
SKYRC Cheetah 1/10 60A Brushless ESC System Combo w/ Sensored 4000KV 8.5T Motor / Program Card #SK-300058-01

Well, if the hobbywing sensorless is smooth enough at low speeds, I would be fine with it. I just don't want a lot or jerky throttle or braking.

I've never encountered any cogging from my HobbyWing EZRun combo. I've used some of the cheapest "bottom of the barrel" type motors I could find with the ESC...also no cogging. Now with my EZRun 60A knock-off/copied ESC (Hobby Power/HobbyFans) and a cheap sensored 17.5T motor...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2164897
(the motor is running sensorless, of course) I may get a slight delay/stutter from a dead stop.

Nice! Yeah, what RustyUs has been saying is 100% true. I'd use an 8.5 in that buggy if I were you for maximum fun and bashing enjoyment. For parts, get all the RPM for that vehicle you can find, especially the front arms. I also suggest Lunsford or upgraded AE turnbuckles and RPM ballcups, as the stock AE ones love to bend even trying to just pop off the ballcups. If you can't find the RPM front arms, just get a large bumper for it.

Turnbuckles; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Associated-R...8AAOSw9r1WCeMj


Ballcups; http://www.rpmrcproducts.com/shop/su...duty-rod-ends/


Bumper; http://tboneracing.net/11015-tbr-rac...associated-b3/

Just ordered a bumper and I have a few leftover rpm cups and turnbuckles.

And I went ahead and ordered the 9t brushless setup.

I had read the finned brushless 540 motors are 380's in a 540 size finned bodies, but if it has enough power then it won't matter to me.
If it's faster than a brushed 15t on lipo I'll be happy.

If those finned motors have enough power for stadium trucks, they'll have some kick on a lightweight buggy. If I had to put an estimated equivalent number on a 9T brushless motor... it would be approx. equivalent to a 12T brushed motor.

Good point.

Well I ordered the Hobbywing EZRUN 60A ESC, 9T 4300KV BL motor.

What is a good battery to fit the car with this setup? 3s lipo, with decent run time and a good fit?

3S...you are in the "need for speed" mode aren't you? To use a 3S pack in the buggy, you may have to modify the chassis with straps. 4000 ~ 5000mah will be a good capacity range. A 4000mah pack will get me 20+ minutes. It will depend on one's driving style also.

I've been looking for straps I can attach to the chassis. I ordered some without any brackets to test fit.
I also have a small 3S 2200 that works really well for filling the need for speed so far and takes up no space or weight.
I was thinking about getting a correct size setup though.

I also ordered a slipper upgrade for the stealth. A B4 top shaft and V2 slipper.

Correct size what?

It sounds like you got a handle on putting together a great tranny. I learned something today, 'cause if you asked me about using a B4 top shaft in the B3 tranny, I would have scratched my head for awhile. I didn't realize the same idler gear goes back to the B2 platform.

I think it goes back to the original stealth

I meant the correct outer dimensions to fit the battery box.

I have a couple different brands of LiPo 2S hard case packs with the same capacity. They are both different sizes and both fit into my buggy using stock battery bar/strap. A normal hard-cased 4000mah 2S LiPo pack will be the same sized as a 6 cell NiMh pack. They average 139mm x 46mm x 25mm (L x W x H). I also run some soft-cased LiPo packs and use battery spacers under the strap for a secure fit.

I got some Velcro straps, and my floureon 2s is a good fit in my t4 I may go with another one of those.

I got the car in today. I'm really impressed. Nice original boxes a few extras , everything in really good shape.
It's a time capsule, and once I replaced the controller battery pack and threw a nicad in it everything worked.

But oh god is it slow. I could outrun this thing. I don't know what that little purple motor is, but it came with a reedy conquest so I may try that out.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps5ngzls7i.jpg

I took the controller apart and repaired the antenna, then I used the original instructions to program the ESC with the transmitter.

The motor was a 12 turn and it appears to have been wired backwards. I repaired some soldering on the reedy and installed it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps8t0rinwv.jpg

The reedy motor works great. I guess the old 12t atom smasher is toast.