Driving on the Beach ?

[Bashfull]

Hi, I am awaiting delivery of my first RC vehicle. An Associated RC10 T4 Kit. Also ordered a brushless motor set up. Once I get it put together, I would like to drive it around on the beach. But I am wondering if this is just asking for trouble, in terms of the fine particles of sand messing up the works. :eek: Thanks in advance for your replys.

[dalejrfan8]

Well you dont have to worry about sand getting in your motor since you have a brushless one. I would keep an eye on the tranny. I dont think you would have any problems but its not sealed so you may get some small particles stuck in there. Other than that i think you will be good. Make sure that after you are done that you give your truck a throuogh cleaning.

[Bashfull]

Thanks, dalejrfan8, I have no idea what this tranny looks like yet, but having sand get in it certainly does'nt sound like it would be to good for it. Do you think it would be possible to some how seal it some way ? At least as a temporary measure while I am driving in the sand.

[RCBASHERFREAK50]

I have a FT B4... just put some thick grease on the bearings on the case.....it will be good.... I run on the beach all the time

[Bashfull]

Thanks, Basherfreak50, I can't wait to start chasing Seagulls.

[rocknbil]

But I am wondering if this is just asking for trouble, in terms of the fine particles of sand messing up the works.

Welcome aboard Bashfull! :D

It's not just the motor you'd have to be concerned about, it's everything else too. Search this site for "sand," you'll find the opinions and comments on running in sand are pretty equally balanced between "don't do it" and the ever-annoying "Never Had a Problem." :D

Bottom line is go for it but watch closely, clean meticulously afterwards, and look for developing problems related to the wear on the parts. Sand can be ruthless.

Additionally, especially for a racing machine like the T4, sand is the second highest drag surface to run your RC on - grass being the first. This is an issue because high-drag surfaces put excessive strain on the motor/electonics, even a brushless, causing overheating and in extreme cases toasting the motor and ESC (not sure what will go down with a brushless.) You can hear it in the motor - streak across a dirt surface and onto grass or sand, listen how the sound of the motor changes, it's really working hard once it moves to the grass or sand.

Gear down on high drag surfaces (smaller pinion) and be on the alert for overheating problems, clean often and well, and you'll be fine.

[Silent Scope]

Your first car and already a brushless? Daymn son!

[Bashfull]

I know Silent Scope, My first car, and a brushless motor. Your probably thinking that when it comes to RC, that ol' Bashfull has more money than brains. Well actually, I have more credit than brains. :p

rockinbil: Thanks for the welcome and for the advice. Like most things related to RC, I had no clue about the possible problems from driving on grass.

Unfortunately, around where I live with the exception of some lawn areas and the beach they have pretty much covered over all the dirt with asphalt or concrete. On second thought I haven't been to the beach lately. :eek:

I may have to take another look at those on-road cars. :rolleyes:

[SS Pede]

It is possible to get a little grit inside a brushless motor. I opened up my SS5800 for the first time recently and is was a little dirty in there. It wasn't anything major though, so I wouldn't freak out about it. Sand is big enough that I don't think it would get in too easily. Just be aware that even BL motors aren't 100% sealed.

[Rtsbasic]

I am taking my T3 with me on holiday next week to the coast, it'll be hitting the beach there. It has a brushless system, what I've done to protect the motor is put small peices of tape over where the bearings are, and covered the two motor screws not being used with tape. Where the cables go into the motor also has blue tac around it, the motor is as sealed as it'll ever get.

The drivetrain on these cars are pretty well sealed, you should see if RPM make a gear cover for your car, made a large difference to my T3 in terms of how much stuff gets behind the cover. Take the front wheels off after every run to check the wheel bearings and knock any sand out, ideally do the same for the rear hubs as well. If the car starts to get louder than normal look at the spur gear and check for bent teeth, and check all the bearings for grit/check the gearbox.

Only other change I've done to my car is I'm using Masher 2000 tyres, which have a pretty deep tread pattern and are massive compared to standard size tyres. Hoping it'll get traction on the beach well enough with them (hooks up on every other surface brilliant). If your going to use it on a beach regually look into "sand paddle" tyres, just never use them on anything except sand otherwise you destroy them.

Think thats about it, my controller is completely sealed (Waterproof) so getting sand in it isn't an issue. My friend is taking his car with a brushed system, that has a balloon over the motors endbell to reduce the amount of sand getting into it, and a sealed type can with no vents.

[ProMatchRacing]

Welcome aboard Bashfull! :D

It's not just the motor you'd have to be concerned about, it's everything else too. Search this site for "sand," you'll find the opinions and comments on running in sand are pretty equally balanced between "don't do it" and the ever-annoying "Never Had a Problem." :D

Bottom line is go for it but watch closely, clean meticulously afterwards, and look for developing problems related to the wear on the parts. Sand can be ruthless.

Additionally, especially for a racing machine like the T4, sand is the second highest drag surface to run your RC on - grass being the first. This is an issue because high-drag surfaces put excessive strain on the motor/electonics, even a brushless, causing overheating and in extreme cases toasting the motor and ESC (not sure what will go down with a brushless.) You can hear it in the motor - streak across a dirt surface and onto grass or sand, listen how the sound of the motor changes, it's really working hard once it moves to the grass or sand.

Gear down on high drag surfaces (smaller pinion) and be on the alert for overheating problems, clean often and well, and you'll be fine.

Is driving in grass for long periods bad? I have a Savage and run it at a near by soccer field all the time but it's probably not as bad for monster trucks. My friend also drives his xxx-nt with me and he's even taken it down to Mexico to drive on some dunes. He didn't have any problems but then again it was nitro.

[Fluke]

depends which kind of grass too.tall/thick grass is no good for engines,i experianced that but soccer type fields are good.

[NotWalkinBlind]

Bash, you should glue some styrofoam floats on the body in case you have radio problems and the thing ends up screaming into the surf.
:D

[mugenX5]

Dirt WILL find it's way into the brushless motor.

I'd run the truck one time and then check to see how much dirt is in the diff.

Another thing to keep an eye on are the electronics and screws.
As you know salt likes to eat metal.

[Ace_Rider]

Hey
If u have the spare time. You should go and look on the internet for shields. like what the jato has, so that sand doesnt go under the body.and by the way.Sand will get everywere.but if u clean it after every pack or 2 u should not have any problums.

[Bashfull]

Thanks for all the tips, guys. I also have on order a pair of Proline Sand Paws. Judging from the picture they have some unbelievably aggressive tread on them. Although I have to admit, that after hearing from all of you about this sand stuff, I am having second thoughts about running the truck in the sand, at least while it is still brand new.

Notwalkinblind : I already planned for a possible radio failure and plan to attach lead weights to the bottom, that will modify it into an RC10 SUB4.

[Ace_Rider]

LOL.. nice job. but i think the paddles would act like a lil propeller. soo if u do get out in the water just "Paddle" it to shore:)

[MI-Ofna-man]

I have an ofna buggy and put the Pro-Line "sling shot's" on it when I recently made a trip to the beach and it throws the sand 6ft high. Roosters coming from all 4!!! oh yeah and if ya get into small rocks be careful it throws them 12ft behind and it hurts!!! I had no trouble with the sand just made sure to clean it out very good and have a compressor ready or one you can use shortly after. I will try to post some pixs of my buggy with the paddles..

Have fun and be safe !!!!

Dont get caught running the gulls over you might get in trouble with the law !!!!!

[Bashfull]

WOW, throwing sand and rocks 6 to 12 feet in the air, sounds like too much fun to pass up.

I was wondering, about how you guys go about cleaning your cars, and a compressor, sounds like the best bet, unfortunately thats not in the budget right now.

Any way, I promise not to actually hurt any Seagulls, unless they attack first. :D

[SS Pede]

I mostly clean with this (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFWJ4&P=ML) . It does a great job of cleaning off the dirt. It's best to use it on smaller moving parts though. Axels, bearings, drive shafts, etc. Not much point in spraying it all over your truck just to get the dust off. :)

[Bashfull]

Hey Thanks SS Pede, I can't afford a compressor right now, but I think I can come up with $ 3.99 for a can of that stuff.

[SS Pede]

Depending on how much you use it, a single can may not last too long. But it's a good product. It works great.

[ElectricThunder]

Sand and RCs are fun! Just check the truck, and clean it out after 2 or so runs, and it should be fine. BL motors aren't sealed, and DO NOT like water, so definitely stay away from water... :eek: Ummm...paddles will give better traction in sand, and when running on sand, loose sand is much tougher on the motor than packed, wet sand. Don't expect the same speeds you'd normally get on dirt when running on sand. Other than that, have fun and tear up the beach!:D

[Bashfull]

Thanks guys, I saw that Tower Hobbies has a special on that motor spray ( 3 cans for $ 10.50 ) so that might be the way to go. I kind of hate to give those guys a plug, after my last phone conversation with them, :mad: but they do seem to have low prices.

Any way, I have the Novac SS+ and the 5800 Brushless motor that I intend to put in the truck, if Tower ever ships it to me. :(
What do you guys think about the idea of my getting a semi cheap brushed motor just to use when I run the truck on the Beach ? :cool:

[ElectricThunder]

The 5800 can handle it. I've run it on the beach in a T3 with M2K's and it did fairly well (with crap 1500mah packs that went bad a few runs after I got there). But a cheap 20 turn stinger motor would be cheap insurance I suppose.:D If I were you and got the stinger, I'd run higher cell counts with it for the fun of it though.....:D