New TripleXT: can't work out the bugs...

[Big Wig]

Let me start by saying I really like this truck! It handles great and is a blast to drive. I wish I had the time,... I would love to race the thing!

The first day I used it I realized that the stock rear tires were completely worthless on my track so I got some Pro-Line Bow Ties and now it hooks up quite a bit better,... I still wish I could get more traction though.

My next problem is gearing,... it's driving me nuts! I'm running a Speed Gems 14t motor and the manual says to start with an 18t pinion. I did this and the motor got real hot after 2 laps. I keep going down on the pinion size and the motor is still smokin' hot. I've gone down from 88-18 to 88-15 and then I even jumped to 86-15 and the motor is still wicked hot. The Losi tech guy said I should be able to hold my thumb on the motor can for 5 seconds - NO WAY!

Mt next problem: I'm already on my second gear cover because the first one developed a large hole (I have no idea how). At some point when I'm driving around my track (usually towards the end of the run) I will get a major "clicking" noise coming from the truck. I can never find the cause but the spur is almost always smoked (I get one run out of a spur gear). I am setting the mesh correctly (I've used the "paper" method and I did a lot of racing back in the 80's as well so I have somewhat of a clue :D ). It looks like little pebbles are getting in and doing damage but I can never find the little buggers. Also, once I clean everything and go for another run (even with the same gears), the clicking is gone! I have an RPM gear cover on order so I hope this helps.

Any help with my many problems would be greatly appreciated!

thanks
Jay

[ 05-29-2001: Message edited by: Big Wig ]

[FilthyPierre]

Wig, when you say the spur is always smoked do you mean literally (i.e. melted), or just ruined ?
Clicking usually means small stones in the spur, I've had that a few times, but after every run ? Do you still get the clicking when you take the motor out and spin the slipper shaft ?

One thing I've noticed with my XXXT (only just built, not run as yet) that the 88 tooth spur is way big and only just fits inside the Losi clear lexan cover. My RPM cover that I use on my XXX buggy doesn't fit on the T with the 88 spur.

I also notice that the Losi gear cover is trimmed to size (on my original XXX buggy it wasn't), and doesn't seal as well as the one on the buggy - I see it has the potential to let in far too much crap....

With the hot motor and ruined spurs, maybe there's a problem somewhere in the tranny. I noticed with mine, with the motor out and spinning the slipper shaft it's not as free-spinning as on my XXX buggy, but I put this down to the fact that the buggy has been run for 6 months and the truck hasn't been run at all, therefore the buggy's worn in and more free-spinning.

Good luck, let me know how you go, I'm interested to find out.

[very low budget racer]

hey good choice with the XXXT, I run mine with the RPM yellow gear cover and I get no rubbing, I actually have my 13x2 over geared stock spur/20t pinion and I gets a little hot but not too much, check your gear mesh, put a piece of paper between the pinion and spur then adjust it, it may look that there is too big a gap but it is perfect.

[DJ BlendeR]

I just asked about that same clicking noise on the XXX-T thread... How should I clean the spur gear, just use some motor spray or what? And I have to say the XXX-T is soo awesome! I got the spec version and even with very little mod it can keep up and beat my friends true ball bearinged XXX-T. Also with your motor, are your brushes really worn? Or maybe even your armature is off-balance, because if you are rubbing alot and ruining spurs every run chances are something might be happening to your motor. I dont know for sure, but my logic dictates it. And maybe try going extremely low on the pinion, like a 12T, do they even make them?? But still I think it is something with your motor or possibly the tranny which is resisting free movement of the motor which creates the heat. I noticed that the clear cover rubs, but after my spur wore away a patch of it, rubbing no longer occurs. And also, out of curiosity where do you live?

[Gutter Ball]

My buddy has the same problems with his Spec Truck. His 88 spur also rubbed out his new RPM gear cover! I dunno why it's running hot, do you have all the capacitators soldered on good? How about the motor wires? A cold solder might be your problem. Or, maybe your diff is too tight.

[Big Wig]

thanks for the replies!

I guess I have a few things to check ;) When I say my spur gear is smoked I just mean wrecked not melted. It always looks like a little pebble or two got in there but I can never find the bugger!

I remove the motor brushes and clean with motor spray afer every run and my brushes look fine. All my solder joints look good too.

Where can I buy an aluminum heatsink motor plate on-line? I think I will get one right away.

I think that the RPM gear cover will cure the clicking,... should I always use an 86t spur or smaller?

As for the hot motor,... maybe my diff is too tight, how can I tell? I adjusted it using the procedure in the manual.

Thanks again
Jay

[ZenLosi]

My motor was overheating on my XXT-CR G+ and I figured out that the slipper assembly had the spur gear set too close to the tranmission housing. The pinion was rubbing on the motor and causing extra heat. I had to space my spur/slipper assembly out a little bit with a washer and, in turn, was able to space the pinion out a bit more. This took care of the problem. (Notice, the motor shaft has some play in it, if you push the motor shaft towards the end bell.) Granted, this was with an XXT-CR G+, but Losi may still have this problem?

Just a thought...

-Zen

[Gutter Ball]

One more thing, check to make sure that the screw that holds the spur is straight as possible. If there is a major wobble, that's probably what is busting your spurs.

[rcracer_xxxt_futaba]

Im running 88/18 with my 11x2 and it works fine. After 4 mins its not very hot. After the 7 min run I gets about as hot as my 87/20 geared p2k after 9 min. I know I have it a little over geared but I normaly run 4 min then run my buggy with a stock motor then I run the rest of the "T". When I first got my truck I ran the clear gear cover and CRACK! It split into two for no reason. And it was making a Nasty sound. I got a RPM gear cover the next week and Got my Dermel and shaved it down alot, not so much that it made a hole.

I would got with the tranny or the gear mesh. Thats what I tink and most everyone else thinks. When I set my gear mesh I always line up where the closest place the teeth meet and set the pinnon tooth half way into the spur.

And the trans. That might be the main reason for the HOT motor.

Neight, N8, Nate, Nathan!~~~~_/)