This weekend I got a new 4400 battery for my Pzr 4. After about 30 minutes into the first run with it everything was going great until my left track stopped working. Turned everything off checked it out, turned it back on and both tracks ran for a minute then the left stopped again. I tried driving in several directions and over ten minutes or so it would randomly work and then stop again. Any thoughts as to what might be causing this? My first assumption is that the power from the new battery somehow messed with the circuit board.

Hi. I already had similar problems like this and, unfortunately, in all of the cases, the circuit that control the motors, was burned. The easiest way to solve the problem, in my case, was replace the mother board . I've burned out two RX-14 and two RX-18. All of these boards had the same circuit ruined.
You can find the board to be replace yours at www.rscalemodel.com
Thanks,
Jeferson

I kinda thought that was what it is. Any thoughts as to the cause, could the more powerful battery alone have done it?

Hi Congzilla

The battery has nothing to do with the board problems, except in the case you use one with different voltage, say 7 cells 8.4V. I assume that's not your case.
Maybe your gearboxes are too tight and specially the left one. This stresses the whole transmission causing an overcharge and thus overheating the ESC. If your gearboxes are metal, then do a search in the forum for "running-in" and when you have replaced your board do a careful running-in.
Hope it helps

Regards

Battery didn't have anything to do with it. Did you break in your gearboxes?

The gear boxes seem fine, the tank will work properly intermittently.

Then you might consider re-soldering the wires and checking the motors. I've had 3 motors fail over the years. If you haven't broken in the gearboxes, assuming they're metal, don't wait for them to bind up as they wear in and blow your board, do it now.

I'm with Swathy. Even though the gear boxes may seem fine, metal gears are tight and the casting isn't the best. I questioned if I really needed to break in gears when I got mine, and this weekend made a believer out of me and I am glad that I did. I visited my sister and my nephew took out the Bulldog I bought him for Christmas. I didn't break in the gear boxes before giving it to him and tried pushing his tank while it was turned off and couldn't get it to move. Mine will roll with a push by a couple fingers and not much effort. your left side gears may be just a little too tight, or there may be a flaw in the casting somewhere that is causing the problem. Read the FAQ section and give it a try. Not a hard procedure and well worth the time. I looked and couldn't fine a gringing compound anywhere and just used a gritty toothpaste and it worked fine.

You may also consider getting the steel gears that RCCommand offers. $37 and they are pretty awesome, better quality, and quieter from what everyone that has them says.

Sorry to hear you are having problems & good luck with it...

HL is sending out a replacement board for free. During what I am sure will be a month or more wait I plan on properly breaking in the gearboxes and motors. I think I am going to play around with the body as well to get a better seal and a more fitting camo scheme. Any suggestions for sealing where the body meets the hull?

Tower sells foam tape that I use to seal those areas. While not waterproof, it's water resistant and keeps the dust and dirt out. The openings in the lower hull are sealed with clear RTV, all through hull swtiches are relocated topside and sealed too.

When I got the tank for a quick fix, I cut the switch for the smoke off half way and used painters tape to seal all openings from the inside. Right now I just get a slight bit of dust and dirt coming in where the headlight wires come threw which unfortunately on this model is right next to and above the gearboxes.

That's a good idea. A glob of RTV will seal that right up. You might also consider making covers for your gearboxes to keep grease from flying around. 2 liter soda bottle cut to fit and then molded into place with a hairdryer or soldering iron.

Hey Ern,

Do the steel gears have the 3:1 ratio?

Skitt

Right now they have metal gears, steel gears, and metal 3:1 gears. I talked to Bill a week or so ago, and he said that he is getting the 3:1 in steel, but that they were still in production. He said a week or two out still... sounds like the best of both worlds.

http://www.rccommand.com/Tank%20Upgrade%20Parts.php

If you haven't dealt with RC Command, they just don't get any better, and he's here in the states

Thanks Ern....good to know. I have not placed an order with Bill yet, but plan to when I can get several things on one order and save some shipping. My brother is thinking about getting a tank himself........I emailed him both Bills and Phils web sites.

Skitt