Factory Team dissapointments

[B3 Bomb]

I open up my ae FT T3 and find rubbersealed ballbearings. Where are the good ball bearings? I ave been running my factory team b3 for a while and after one season they feel gritty? Does anyone know how to clean these. The good teflon sealed ones could be taken apart to be serviced but I am lost on these? can anyone help?

[FactoryTeam Guy wannabe]

Rubber sealed bearings are "supposed" to be maintence free. But As for taking them apart for cleaning I am not sure if you can. I know I was also dissapointed to see rubber sealed bearings in the FT kits.......

[rc10gt_bb]

How are you sapposed to clean teflon sealed bb's. I just soak them. Are you saposed to use a bearing blaster?

[SteveP]

Rubber sealed bearing are much better in my opinion. The fact that you got a whole season is rather amazing compared to what you can expect with Teflon or metal-shielded bearings given the same amount of maintenance (nothing). The rubber seals can be carefully removed with a dull mini flathead screwdriver. Remove both seals clean the bearings, and pop the seals back into place.

[B3 Bomb]

my first year into r/c I had a b3 team with teflon bearing and they were still smooth when I sold them with no matinence. Oh well. Is rcca going to look at the green sheilded bearings from Bocca?

[Conman]

You wouldn't think that one of these "Factory Team" cars would have any problems, would you?

[B3 Bomb]

problems...examples???

[B3 Bomb]

The only other thing that could be improved is the tires they spec. The bowties hook up on no track I live near. the rtr comes with better tires. oh well it is still a great kit

[2nd Gear]

You can take out the rubber seals and clean the bearings with bearing blast.After you clean them oil them with a light oil and reapply,To take them out use a hobby knife but take your time and make sure you dont cut the seal with the knife,You should be able to get many seasons out of your bearings if you make sure you keep them smooth.

[JP]

Thats funny...the bow tie tires are probably the most common used off road tires. They are the tire of choise of all the tracks I have been to, and all the tracks I heard around me...I'd like to thank AE for including such great products in their kits, ESPECIALLY those tires...saved me $15.

[SteveP]

B3 - Whatever amount of time you got from the other bearings, you should be able to get more service out of rubber sealed bearings, all other things remaining the same. Teflon and metal shields both have a small gap around the inner race that can allow small debris to get in the bearing.

[SteveP]

BTW - It's hard to pick the right tire for EVERY track. The Bow-Ties are a very popular tread for most tracks. They don't work as well on our local track, but I know they do work well on tracks in the surrounding area.

[SrSpeedy]

I live in FL.

We have about ten tracks within 100-150 miles of me, and we have a strong State Series. I have been to all of these tracks many times, under varying conditions, and have never seen a track condition that Bowties worked on.

I do not think I have ever seen anyone race with them. Our home track is high bite/blue groove; they don't work on that. And on loose loamy tracks, the Team Losi red Step-Pins work better.

What conditions do you think they work good on???

See ya....

[doublet]

Every one at our track uses bow ties, hole shots, or losi t or x-2000's and our track is moist packed clay/dirt mixture and the tires mentioned hook up the best. So I think bow ties are for wet or semi slippery dirt conditions. I may be wrong............