Shaft drive vs belt drive
03-08-2007 | 03:48 PM
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From: Bridgewater, NS, CANADA
Shaft drive vs belt drive
I tend to like shaft drive. Belt drive seems to me something that is going to break and could be difficult to find a replacement belt. This is a fine opinion for off-road vehicles, but limits my choices for On-Road vehicles as so many if them are belt-drive. Am I that far out in left field? Any opinions?...which is best, shaft drive or belt drive?
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03-08-2007 | 04:54 PM
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From: N/A, CYPRUS
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
Most of the time people tell me that belt is better, faster, etc, etc...
My opinion is that the belt will break a lot more easier than the shaft. Simply because of the material they are made of. So I decided never to buy a belt driven car. The problem was that I couldn't find a shaft driven GP Touring car. They were all belts!
Then I found the Kyosho
1/10 PureTen GP 4WD
Simply perfect!
My opinion is that the belt will break a lot more easier than the shaft. Simply because of the material they are made of. So I decided never to buy a belt driven car. The problem was that I couldn't find a shaft driven GP Touring car. They were all belts!
Then I found the Kyosho
Simply perfect!
03-08-2007 | 06:23 PM
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From: B,
CA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
I tend to like shaft drive. Belt drive seems to me something that is going to break and could be difficult to find a replacement belt.
My opinion is that the belt will break a lot more easier than the shaft. Simply because of the material they are made of. So I decided never to buy a belt driven car.
My opinion is that the belt will break a lot more easier than the shaft. Simply because of the material they are made of. So I decided never to buy a belt driven car.
I'm no expert on this since most of mine are 2wd offroad, but I have a shaft driven rc18b and a belt driven xxx-s (mostly for drifting but I do both).
The xxx-s definatly has a different feel to it since it has the belt. The belt I think is pretty darn strong. Like I said, I "mostly" drift so it doesn't have as much stress on it but I have had the same belt on for a long time with no problems. Just by looking at it you can tell it's quality. I doubt Losi or any company would cheap out on a part like this.
As far as being a big pain to change the belt when it does break, it would be no different than a shaft driven car. Instead of changing the belt on them, you have to change diff gears since most of the stress is put on them. You have to pretty much take the entire freaking car apart and the diff to change them. I would almost say a belt driven car has a lot less meintinance in that area.
Just my experience so far, I vote belt
03-08-2007 | 09:32 PM
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From: Fremont,
CA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
From what I've read and know, belts are smoother, have better delivery, have more throttle control, but are less durable. Shafts are quicker accelerating because of its more direct drive, more durable (trust me, there is no way you will break a 5 or 6mm aluminum shaft). That's just what i know.
03-09-2007 | 03:47 AM
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From: toronto,
ON, CANADA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
ORIGINAL: Gex_61
Have either of you ever owned a belt driven car. You never know unless you have had one.[&:]
I'm no expert on this since most of mine are 2wd offroad, but I have a shaft driven rc18b and a belt driven xxx-s (mostly for drifting but I do both).
The xxx-s definatly has a different feel to it since it has the belt. The belt I think is pretty darn strong. Like I said, I "mostly" drift so it doesn't have as much stress on it but I have had the same belt on for a long time with no problems. Just by looking at it you can tell it's quality. I doubt Losi or any company would cheap out on a part like this.
As far as being a big pain to change the belt when it does break, it would be no different than a shaft driven car. Instead of changing the belt on them, you have to change diff gears since most of the stress is put on them. You have to pretty much take the entire freaking car apart and the diff to change them. I would almost say a belt driven car has a lot less meintinance in that area.
Just my experience so far, I vote belt
I tend to like shaft drive. Belt drive seems to me something that is going to break and could be difficult to find a replacement belt.
My opinion is that the belt will break a lot more easier than the shaft. Simply because of the material they are made of. So I decided never to buy a belt driven car.
My opinion is that the belt will break a lot more easier than the shaft. Simply because of the material they are made of. So I decided never to buy a belt driven car.
I'm no expert on this since most of mine are 2wd offroad, but I have a shaft driven rc18b and a belt driven xxx-s (mostly for drifting but I do both).
The xxx-s definatly has a different feel to it since it has the belt. The belt I think is pretty darn strong. Like I said, I "mostly" drift so it doesn't have as much stress on it but I have had the same belt on for a long time with no problems. Just by looking at it you can tell it's quality. I doubt Losi or any company would cheap out on a part like this.
As far as being a big pain to change the belt when it does break, it would be no different than a shaft driven car. Instead of changing the belt on them, you have to change diff gears since most of the stress is put on them. You have to pretty much take the entire freaking car apart and the diff to change them. I would almost say a belt driven car has a lot less meintinance in that area.
Just my experience so far, I vote belt
Couldn't have said it better myself
[8D]
03-09-2007 | 05:53 AM
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From: adelaide, AUSTRALIA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
seriuosly if you consider, why would somone create a beltdrive car if he knew that everyone thought that shafts where better. they both have thier pros and cons but in the end end up equal do you know what i mean?
also RCar what are those touring cars you where talking about? i dont realy know why there called touring cars.
also RCar what are those touring cars you where talking about? i dont realy know why there called touring cars.
03-09-2007 | 07:49 AM
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From: grand junction, CO
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
ORIGINAL: denon8wong
From what I've read and know, belts are smoother, have better delivery, have more throttle control, but are less durable. Shafts are quicker accelerating because of its more direct drive, more durable (trust me, there is no way you will break a 5 or 6mm aluminum shaft). That's just what i know.
From what I've read and know, belts are smoother, have better delivery, have more throttle control, but are less durable. Shafts are quicker accelerating because of its more direct drive, more durable (trust me, there is no way you will break a 5 or 6mm aluminum shaft). That's just what i know.
Shafts are more durable. I just hate it when I used to hear my belt XXX4G+ slip
03-09-2007 | 07:56 AM
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From: Orlando,
FL
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
Usually what I hear is that if you race or run on prepared sufaces get belt driven, if you bash or run on unprepared surfaces get shaft driven
so I guess it depends on how you use the car.
so I guess it depends on how you use the car.
03-09-2007 | 12:43 PM
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From: Marietta, GA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
When I used to race 1/8 on road nitro all the brands of cars were belt driven. I had a Serpent Excel. But we cleaned the track surface too. We used a leaf blower and brooms and then set up the track. But of course the track surface had to be clean for traction anyway, not just because we ran belts. But belts will get more power to the wheels than shafts too.
03-09-2007 | 01:35 PM
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From: N/A, CYPRUS
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
We are three friends and we all have RS4 3 18SS. Everything stock, minus the aluminum pipes. I've drag raced a Traxxas 4-tec which is belt and I won. My friend raced for 20 minutes with five serpents, which are belt, and came second, which is pretty good!
I'm sorry, but for me, shafts and belts, are just a way to transfer power to the wheels. And shafts are almost unbreakable.
I'm sorry, but for me, shafts and belts, are just a way to transfer power to the wheels. And shafts are almost unbreakable.
03-09-2007 | 05:04 PM
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From: Oklahoma City,
OK
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
belts just make me think too much of 'vacuum cleaner" and we all know how a belt drive on a vaccum cleaner ends up. Burning up twisted sideways with a bunch of hair and crap stuck in it making a foul burning rubber smell in the living room. heh 
Seriously, though heh why are the high end electric cars almost always belt driven? Is it just for smoother response? I've never owned a belt drive car so I don't have an opinion on this.
Seriously, though heh why are the high end electric cars almost always belt driven? Is it just for smoother response? I've never owned a belt drive car so I don't have an opinion on this.
03-09-2007 | 07:29 PM
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From: B,
CA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
Yes, a shaft is probably stronger than a belt, BUT... say goodbye to your diff gears. I have to replace the gears on my 18b every once in a while. There is no flex in the shaft, so all the stress goes to the diffs.
On a belt driven car, you have one gear on the diff and the belt sits in its track. It's a great setup, the diff gears should last 3 times as long. Although you will hear the belt slip sometimes on takeoffs from a dead stop, which is unpleasant, but it wont or at least a havn't seen it hurt anything. You'd be surprised how much that little bit of flex changes the way it accelerates and handles though. It also sounds a lot smoother.
I do recommend having the belt sealed off. If your racing or driving on a preped track then it doesn't matter but I drive mine on the street in front of my house and a thin layer of dust will get in there. It doesn't hurt anything, I clean it every once in a while. It would probably get ugly if it were not sealed off though. You don't want debris in the belt.
On a belt driven car, you have one gear on the diff and the belt sits in its track. It's a great setup, the diff gears should last 3 times as long. Although you will hear the belt slip sometimes on takeoffs from a dead stop, which is unpleasant, but it wont or at least a havn't seen it hurt anything. You'd be surprised how much that little bit of flex changes the way it accelerates and handles though. It also sounds a lot smoother.
I do recommend having the belt sealed off. If your racing or driving on a preped track then it doesn't matter but I drive mine on the street in front of my house and a thin layer of dust will get in there. It doesn't hurt anything, I clean it every once in a while. It would probably get ugly if it were not sealed off though. You don't want debris in the belt.
03-09-2007 | 07:43 PM
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From: Bridgewater, NS, CANADA
RE: Shaft drive vs belt drive
Yeah, but replacing your diffirentials every once in a while, compared to replacing your belts all the time, which costs more because I've never really looked at how much belts cost?
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