Mini-T Question

[CeleryGod]

I'm a bit confused by the mini-t motor. Is it a motor similar to the regular 540's? Do you have to true the commutator...change the brushes and all that jazz? Personally I'm too lazy to do all of that, so if that's the case do they sell a brushless version for the mini-t?

[suprapimp22]

The Mini-t Uses a Speed 300 motor or a 370 big block...

With some of them you just have to buy a new motor after a while, some you can change the brushes if you want...i have 50+ runson mine and it still runs strong....

Yes they sell a brushless for it....Check out www.castlecreations.com or http://www.b-p-p.com/ I would get it from B-p-p .....awsome guy...

The mamba brushless ( cheapest) with a ESC is like 140$? That one will hit about 40 mph....The 8000kv Mamba ( Around 200$) i think.....Will do just over 60....I would go with a lehner though, the Mambas have had some serious cogging Issues....I would get the 200$ Lehner/Mamba ESC combo from B-P-P....


Hope this helps...

Chad M

[rccardude04]

The mini-t actually comes stock with a 280 size motor, which is just ever so slightly smaller than a 300 or 370. Most people hop theirs up with speed 300s or 370s and a slightly larger motor plate (racers edge made the one i got).
They are closed endbell kind of like the tamiya/mabuchi motors so there's pretty much zero maintainance on them. Just maybe oil every once in a while if you want to. That's about it.
There are brushless systems sold, but they're not really necessary when starting out. You'd be surprised how fast they are stock.
-Eric

[suprapimp22]

Actually stock, they are very slow....Add a good rechargable battery pack and a new tuned 300 motor and you will be good. Whats your budget and i Tell you what to get to have one kickass mini-t!

[rccardude04]

Well, stock with rechargable pack anyway ...
Not many people actually use the 4-cell holder.
-Eric

[CeleryGod]

I don't really have a set budget for the mini-t, but I need advice on what to upgrades to get first. I would the imagine first stop would be the battery, and I already have a duramax intellipeak digital charger so that should do the trick for charging. But what about shocks, cvd's...etc. What should I do first?

Also, if these things are going 40mph how can they be stable?

[suprapimp22]

Ok i would suggest this route, this is what i did...

Team losi mini-t
Rechargable battery pack

Here is a KAN pack, onne of the best-

http://www.blindbatts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_28&products_id=59

( I have lithium Polymers, you need a special charger though)


Ball bearings
( Increases runtime and speed)
here-

http://www.blindbatts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=162&osCsid=975918b5837addc801360814bde578b9


Beast raptor motor
( The fastest motor gaureenteed aside from brushless, get it at http://shop.one18th.com/product_info.php?cPath=39_55&products_id=168)


GPM aluminum front and rear Shock tower
( I broke 5 front shock towers so i highly suggest aluminum, havent broken one yet)
FRONT- http://www.asiatees.com/display.php?id=247&brand=Team%20Losi&model=Mini-T&pid=239
REAR-http://www.asiatees.com/display.php?id=293&brand=Team%20Losi&model=Mini-T&pid=272


GPM SHOCKS!!!!!
( THESE SHOCKS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN LOSI!! They are threaded and aluminum and dont LEAK!)
Front- http://www.asiatees.com/display.php?id=213&brand=Team%20Losi&model=Mini-T&pid=1
Rear-http://www.asiatees.com/display.php?id=240&brand=Team%20Losi&model=Mini-T&pid=239


UPGRADE ELECTRONICS!

XXL Reciever- http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBJ77&P=ML
Novak Spy- http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCNR7&P=ML
HS-55 http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTX41&P=ML

you will need a good 75mhz FM Radio for these, you can get ones to work with the stock radio of course...

( I fried 3 sets of electronics, and had the servo crap out 5 times :( )



Dont be suprised if the stock motor craps out, its garbage...I would buy the battery pack and motor at the same time. With these you should have a decently fast mini-t, Will be around 23mph...Hope this info helps....If you decide to go brushless lemme know and i will post some info about that!

[suprapimp22]

Wow that post took me like an hour :)

[CeleryGod]

hah, that was a long post! So the shocks from team losi are garbage?

I want this thing to be durable most of all, so I'll definitely get the new shock towers and better shocks. That with the battery pack and new bearings are about all I can afford for now. Later I'll buy a brushless system, and probably a new radio system last.

Thanks for the advice!

[suprapimp22]

Yes, the losi ones are HORRIBLE....About 9/10 people's Leak like crazy, 3 of mine did. They sent out new seals, then only one leaked but still they shouldnt. I havent had any problems with GPM's so far. Have fun!


-Chad M

[mattyk6]

I picked up a batt pack and bearings from unitedrc.com for my first upgrades.

Just ordered the GPM shocks off eBay.

Will probably upgrade the motor next. Not sure what will follow that.

[suprapimp22]

Get the beast motor for sure!!!!!


You really will want the front shock tower aluminum....When you bash you will break it gaureenteed!

[HammerTime2K4]

If the Losi Shocks are so bad, then why did the writers at RCCA all use the Losi Shocks on the Mini-T project trucks? You think the writers of the magazine would use the best option out there...

I just bought them, but haven't had a chance to try them out yet.

Just something to consider...
~Cody

[suprapimp22]

Well they dont mix things up, or probably didnt have Losi's permission 2.....


Think about it, why would team Losi want a competitor's shocks on LOSI'S Truck ALL over RCCA.....Makes sense? I feel sorry if you ordered them, all the people i race carpet with HAD losi's ....and are now switching to GPM.....Losi's damper are a little better until about 4 runs and then the shocks are empty :p

[CeleryGod]

Is it necessary to go Li-po with mini-t's? I would assume 7.4 volts is 7.4 volts, you just get a longer run time right? I'm not a battery expert so perhaps I'm wrong.

Is the beast motor sealed, and will it work with the esc that is with the mini-t? Anyone else have sealed motor suggestions? I'm just too lazy to replace brushes and do much actual maintanence, which is probably why I want a durable basher to mess around with.

[suprapimp22]

The beast IS sealed, you dont have to change the brushed or anything. I have run mine 50+ Times at around half an hour a run....Still going strong.....


The Beast will work with the stock ESC.

Yes LI-PO's help alot in mini-t's because they are ALOT lighter than Nimh or Nicad.

The voltage isnt what determines the run time...Its the Miliamps ( Mah) The higher, the better. For example, I have Thunder power 2 cell 7.4v 1900 Mah Lithium batteries....With 1900 Mah i can get around 1 1/2 Hours of HARD running....With NImh or Nicad you can get no were near that.....

LI-PO's are nice to have but also very dangerous if not charged properly. You also need a charger that is able to charge them, i use the Great Plaes Triton....Works great.

I guess its all up to you, you can get A great planes triton and 2 thunder power 1900mah's like i did for around 190-200$.....Hope this helps..


-Chad M

[mattyk6]

I've heard and read countless times about the losi oil shocks and a couple guys at the local track have them. And everyone will say the same thing, they leak. You can make them work, but why would you want to go through all that trouble when you can just order the GPM shocks and be worry free?

[suprapimp22]

Exactly :)