Spur Gear (Newbie question)

[beaker100]

Just reading this magazine that says for maximum speed, install a smaller spur gear.

Is this right?

This goes against everything I have ever been told if it is.

I have always heard the more teeth the less torque, but higher top speed.

[gacjr0]

Bigger pinion = more top speed
Smaller spur = more top speed

Smaller pinion = less speed
Bigger spur = less speed

This is all only to a point, it depends on the power of the motor/battery and the gearing you currently have.

[Nairb]

Yes, as gacjr showed, changing the number of teeth on the spur has the opposite effect of doing the same to the pinion.

[blegris]

Yeah but the bigger the spur gear is the more torque you got. Good for small tracks.

[XXXER]

Think of your mountain bike(if you have one, or your friends, which ever)
The gear in the back is like the spur gear, and the one in front is the pinion, with a bigger out back, and a smaller out front, you get more acceleration, but less top speed, and the biggest up front and smaller out back, you have slower take off, but more top speed.

I forgot to add, when you gear your car higher, using a smaller spur, or larger pinion, you will lose run time, and it is harder on motors, and speed controls, make sure your speed control can handle the higher current amp draw.

[ 04-24-2001: Message edited by: XXXER ]