More power desert truck

[GDAWG]

Hi new to the r/c world and am looking to get some more torque and speed out of this truck. I have seen videos of these things pulling wheelies on hard accell and that is what i want. Can this be aceived with a brushed motor? Was looking at a 15t motor at my lhs (trinity motor) but he could not tell me if this would be faster than what came stock. My local hobby shop does not carry my truck so he did not have a lot of info on it. Thanks in advance. I bout a 14 and 12 pinion gear to try will this make a diff.?

[Alan]

The DT comes stock with the LM-32K motor, what Trinity 15t motor is it? And how much? You can pick up a Losi 4800KV Brushless combo for $149 and not have to worry about motor maintaince again.

[GDAWG]

The motor was 60.00 canadian they want 250 for the brushless the wife will kill me if i go brushless at the moment. Doen't the brushless require new esc? To work for another 150 u.s. ? THE MOTOR WAS A 15T SPEEDGEM

[GDAWG]

The lm32k shows in revolutions but not the turns? Of the motor and the way he explained it to me the 15t motor will be more powerful than say a 16t etc is this correct?

[Alan]

It's $149US for the combo - http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_911/products_id/23655/n/Team-Losi-1-10-Xcelorin-Brushless-ESC-Motor-Combo-4800kV
You will notice difference between the stock and the Speed Gem. The lower the Turns the faster the motor, the stock esc can handle down to a 12t i think but I wouldn't go under a 15t brush motor unless for racing and it will keep the esc happier than running a lower turn motor

[GDAWG]

If i install the pinion gears what can i expect performance wise more torque?

[packhntr]

GDAWG, Torque wise the motor that the Desert Truck comes with has almost none. I have one...that was the first thing to go. I too ran a 15t double.....it was GREAT! Run time was cut a little, but the power was fantastic! I have since upgraded to a Tekin RSPro 8.5t brushless setup and it is even better. Much more expensive than a simple motor upgrade, but fun nonetheless. Alan is right in that a brushless setup will eliminate most maintenance. He is also correct in the difference between a speed gems (machine wound) motor and a good hand wound motor....If you can swing it, get the hand wound!

[Brian]

packhntr is right the stock motor just sucks. 15t motor theoretically would proivde more torque but not sure about speed. brushless is ultimately the way to go, thats where the wheelies are coming from, that and lipo. however you if you want a cheap temporary upgrade, you can get losi 12t 550 motor <http://www.losi.com/Products/Features.aspx?ProdId=LOSB9498> and some lipo (if dont have some already). be sure get a esc with low voltage cut off tho if you want to run lipo.

[Matt Sunderlage]

I got a Novak 8.5 in my DT and It is AWESOME!!!!:)

[GDAWG]

So it sounds like i need to go brushless for sure thanks for the input guys. What about changing pinion gears down to the 14 or 12 tooth. I asume i will see more off the line and lower top speeds is this correct? Will droping the pinion down cause shorter or longer battery life thanks for your input.

[Mauler5000]

Yes with the lower pinion you will have more acceleration and less top speed.I ran a 19t team checkpoint money motor in my desert truck and it was a blast. I now have brushless and wouldnt ever go back to brushed. If you want an inexpensive brushless system, look up the ezrun systems. My friend just got one for $80. I personally run an orion vortex system with a 2770 kv motor with an 18/87 gearing and it is pretty fast and handles the track very well.

[dirtracer]

I have the desert truck i went with the 7500kv xecelorin brushless combo and LOVE it I can go full throttle and make this thing do a back flip from a stand still!! I also turn it down and change my tires and other settings and race it on saturdays. Like i said i love it.:D:eek::cool:

[fubar447]

Mate
I to run a DT with a Speed Passion Drift manager Combo 9.5T All up cost $120 Aust. Couple with a 7.4 volt 5000mah 30C lipo battery and you have a weapon. until you fix the motor, ESC and the battery I would not bother with gears

[Justme]

To answer your gearing question, DON"T! You will want to throw the truck in the trash, it will be that disappointingly slow, unless of course you want to go rock crawling with it.

Deal with the truck as is until you save the money to buy the brushless combo and don't look back. Keep looking on ebay where you can find a good deal on used BLs or you can check out these guys; http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/StoreFront I have had great dealings with these people in the past.

It is always best to support ypor local Hobby shop, but if you are short on funds or hiding something from the wife..............................:D

[snoking]

I ran a DT last winter in Arizona in our RV Park. I installed a Castle Sidewinder 4600 BL near the end of the season. This summer getting ready to return to AZ I bought two 5000 2s 20C lipo's and all I can say is WOW! I have the PC USB interface and have everything turned down and it still would wheelie over on its back at around 20MPH. So I installed a Speed T wheelie bar. I bought a Speed T roller on ebay for 91 bucks and it will be the BL truck this winter. I will re-install the epic 15T and stock esc in the DT and run my 3300 NiMH batts in it, moving the velcro'd receiver between the trucks. We found the the Proline Switch tires worked good on our paved oval. I got a set of these tires (click) (http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/the-28135/LOSA17686B-320S-Smasher-XL/Detail) to try also. Cool looking at least. Price is right anyway.

We run for a couple hours each day, so we are hard on tires and parts. Offered to Losi to test things, but they did not reply.

BTW, I think the stock DT motor is a 14T. Do not go below that or our ESC will say bye bye.

We play ruff and go thru a lot of small parts. A-Frames, front bumpers (Now using RPM), kick plates, tie rod ends etc.

Chris

[snoking]

SO, here is my plan for the New Speed T roller I bought on ebay, DT Diff, my Castle Sidewinder with CMS4600 motor, 5000 2S 20C lipos, tires, RPM front bumper, Robinson idler gear, Carbor Fiber parts as they are replaced, ESC tuned to the track on the laptop via Castle Link, 17 pinion and 86 Kevlar spur, Radio and receiver from the DT. If I can find tires that will get this around the corners and can keep the front end down, I think it will be a winner. With Lipo's being very light in weight, that does not help.

Our track is a small paved oval that is slippery, as they mopped top coating on it last year.

Why does the Speed T come with such lame tires?

Chris

[packhntr]

Unless you are going to be running in a class that makes it mandatury to use a DT diff, DON'T! The speed T comes with a CR ball diff already....minus the balls! All you will need to do is get a set of Losi 3/32" carbide balls and install them where the locker ring is! And to use a DT diff, you need to purchase a DT tranny case too....along with the diff. It is cheaper, easier and much better to just make the ball diff complete! If you need, Losi has the parts explosion on the website....download it and print it off.
As for the Speed T tires, the truck is ment for on road only...so they work for on road use. The kevlar spur is the way to go...I blew the teeth off my DT stock spur soon as I went brushless. As for radio, you don't NEED a DT radio....find a good one that you like and use it. Futaba has just come out with a 2.4g 2PL that is quite nice for around $100! For a servo, a Futaba 3305 is awsome....about $35 metal gears high torque....not the fastest though. I am using a BLS451 (about $110) and loving it! Don't use a "stock" servo...like a futaba 3003...they're not going to hold up long.

[snoking]

Unless you are going to be running in a class that makes it mandatury to use a DT diff, DON'T! The speed T comes with a CR ball diff already....minus the balls! All you will need to do is get a set of Losi 3/32" carbide balls and install them where the locker ring is! And to use a DT diff, you need to purchase a DT tranny case too....along with the diff. It is cheaper, easier and much better to just make the ball diff complete! If you need, Losi has the parts explosion on the website....download it and print it off.
As for the Speed T tires, the truck is ment for on road only...so they work for on road use. The kevlar spur is the way to go...I blew the teeth off my DT stock spur soon as I went brushless. As for radio, you don't NEED a DT radio....find a good one that you like and use it. Futaba has just come out with a 2.4g 2PL that is quite nice for around $100! For a servo, a Futaba 3305 is awsome....about $35 metal gears high torque....not the fastest though. I am using a BLS451 (about $110) and loving it! Don't use a "stock" servo...like a futaba 3003...they're not going to hold up long.

I did not want to support two different diffs so, I ordered the DT case and another DT diff for it. I already have a spare DT diff, so it will go in either truck. Last winter we had a Speed T in our race group and even with the balls installed in the Speed T diff the guy had handling issues on our paved oval. I am going to share the DT radio and receiver between the Speed T and my DT for now. I was looking at the Futaba radio. I will tear the front end apart and locktite all the nuts on the ball studs on the steering arms and servo.

Chris

[packhntr]

Sounds good Chris! I didn't know you already had a spare diff.... That makes a big difference. As for handeling with a ball diff....I swear by them....raced a XXXT and XXX for years. For teh nuts, you shouldn't have to loctite them on...if the nylon insert is not holding them on securely, replace them. It's safer than accidentally melting the plastic with the loctite! Had that happen once a long time ago...never again! Keep the rubber side down!

[snoking]

Well every DT that came out to our track was undoing the ball studs in the steering until we took them all apart and loctited the nuts. Seem turning the steering back and forth just loosens them without loctite.

Chris

[snoking]

Well every DT that came out to our track was undoing the ball studs in the steering until we took them all apart and loctited the nuts. Seem turning the steering back and forth just loosens them without loctite.

Chris

Got the Speed T roller last night. Went thru the steering linkage and found things not that tight from the factory. Loctited the ball studs, installed a RPM front bumper, the Castle Creations Sidewinder with 4600KV motor, and the just rebuilt tranny out of my DT while I wait for the new tranny case. It has and Robinson idler already. The ST one can go back in the DT. Drats street is wet in front of the house, no traction.

Chris

[newborne_99]

hey whats the cheap upgrades u woud make to a stock desert truck. This is going to be my first rc so i dont know much and also what battery would u suggest for the desert truck. thanks again and if anyone live in RI let me know.

[GDAWG]

okay so bit the bullet and bought a brushless set up. got a novak 4.5t motor with the gtb esc and got it installed and ready to go turned the power on and went to accell nothing. on light accell it is fine but as soon as the power is turned up the thing dies. Now what i have determined or at least i can see is that the reciever light goes out when full power reqeusted from trottle. if i wait a second light comes on and ready to go until full throttle again. what have i done wrong do i need a new reciever? help me please

[snoking]

okay so bit the bullet and bought a brushless set up. got a novak 4.5t motor with the gtb esc and got it installed and ready to go turned the power on and went to accell nothing. on light accell it is fine but as soon as the power is turned up the thing dies. Now what i have determined or at least i can see is that the reciever light goes out when full power reqeusted from trottle. if i wait a second light comes on and ready to go until full throttle again. what have i done wrong do i need a new reciever? help me please

You need a better battery! A BL will kill a small or weak battery. Can you creep into the throttle? Or will it spin up off the ground?

SNOKING

[GDAWG]

Can creep into the throttle to about half way any more and it cuts out
i am running venom 3000 nimh so you think a better battery would suffice?

[snoking]

Turn down punch, timing and/or start power if the ESC is tunable. I ran RS 3300's with my sidewinder detuned. Is your battery getting old and tired? Or go lipo! And get the SDT wheelie bar!

[Danny]

Can creep into the throttle to about half way any more and it cuts out
i am running venom 3000 nimh so you think a better battery would suffice?

I would say that is most definitely a battery problem, a setup like that would need really good nimh cells, but would still benefit from lipo.

Also I think a 4.5t motor is just too high a kv for the DT
Will most likely get quite hot, have short run times and be uncontrollable.