Finally! Xtra Speed "Steel #45" AR44 gears - They feel great!

[Ambis]

The old thread about the "bad" one-piece Xtra Speed gears is here. I thought these deserve their own topic, since these are far from the world of horribad that those one-pieces are.

This thread is about
Xtra Speed Steel #45 Helical Spiral Gear & Pinion Gear Set 30T / 8T For Axial SCX10 II #XS-SCX230075.

Ok so I haven't driven these yet, that I will do tomorrow after work.

But my god how great these feel! 20$ (per axle) for a set of gears that look and feel exactly like the proper Axial AR44 gears (which will probably be somewhere around 35$?). These ones are definitely machined, not cast.

I took a video of how these spin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCfU...ature=youtu.be
(NOTE: The driveshafts are not attached to the t-case )

It was impossible to have the one-piece gears run this smooth. I tried to shim the old ones every which way, but still they would roll in one direction fine, but with the other direction they would bind really bad.

With these, I just put maybe 0,4mm worth of shim opposite to the ring gear and nothing for the pinion, other than completely prevent it from moving inside/outside. And they are almost like butter smooth.

The set weights in at about 22 grams, and with a vanquish steel locker, around 36 grams (without screws).

I am really looking forward to seeing how these hold up after some 10 hours of runtime. (This rig weights in at about 4,5 kg with battery.)

I have really high hopes for these to function and last like the Axial ones do. Lets hope for the best!


Click for larger image

[JatoTheRipper]

Gears must be hardened. Obviously the old style was not.

[Ambis]

Just ran a pack with these. My god these work great. I can't say anything about durability after one pack, but now the truck feeled like it moved much more freely.

[thurlo]

I posted these on another forum page and everyone stuck their noses up at them. Seems like many on here do the same. I am interested in hearing how they hold through future packs. I have quite a few xtraspeed parts here and there along with their complete scx2 axles and have been very happy with everything so far.

Keep us posted! Maybe some pics after 5 or 6 packs?

[Ambis]

Originally Posted by thurlo

I posted these on another forum page and everyone stuck their noses up at them. Seems like many on here do the same. I am interested in hearing how they hold through future packs. I have quite a few xtraspeed parts here and there along with their complete scx2 axles and have been very happy with everything so far.

Keep us posted! Maybe some pics after 5 or 6 packs?

I will! I'm very curious myself too. I'll take them out from the rear and clean them properly to see what kind of wear they have, if any.

[malickie]

Definitely be keeping an eye on this thread. I am quite curious to see how they perform and what wear they may have after a few packs through them.

[LiqrSicc]

I was a little confused. I guess Xtra Speed is the brand. Is there any change in drive ratio with these gears?

[mikebecher]

Originally Posted by LiqrSicc

I was a little confused. I guess Xtra Speed is the brand. Is there any change in drive ratio with these gears?

No, these are the same as stock with a ratio of 30t/8t.

[Reyhn]

What drive shafts are those?
They are the first non-stock ones I've seen, but can't find them anywhere. Are they homemade?

[Ambis]

Originally Posted by Reyhn

What drive shafts are those?
They are the first non-stock ones I've seen, but can't find them anywhere. Are they homemade?

PROPELLER SHAFT (5mm to 5mm) - Scale Designs International

You can also have them with 4mm output in any or both ends, just look at the other products in the category. 5mm is the default with Axial etc.

I have them in my Gelände 2 and that RCModelex/china Jeep, and they work perfectly.

They look kinda weak, but they hold up incredibly well. I know a guy who ran some 5-6 kg 6x6 with that between the rear axles with no problems. I did too, but my 6x6 didn't weigh that much. Zero problems.

Edit: Well, my gelände 2 lost it's tiny cross pin at an event because the sleeve that captures the pin came undone and the pin fell off. But a buddy managed to find it still Just make sure everything is always properly tightened up properly, and these will last beautifully.

But that's enough OT for the topic!

[Reyhn]

Thanks a lot! That's really clever!
I've been looking at upgrading the drive shafts, so I'll try the same setup as you with these gears while I'm at it!

[LiqrSicc]

I have helicals in some of my higher end 1/8 racers and they roll super smooth. I'm sure these won't be any different. My stockers have been pretty solid and I run them pretty hard. I'd love to see how they hold up after a few weeks. Keep us posted!

[Ambis]

Just a quick update. I showed the Jeep to my work collegue and just out of curiosity I opened the four screws holding the diff cover to see/show whats up.

Ok, I have only driven one pack, but my god, there were absolutely ZERO signs of ANY wear. Granted, too early to call it, but first signs are promising

[thurlo]

Anymore up dates?

[Ambis]

Originally Posted by thurlo

Anymore up dates?

Tomorrow Today was the first comp day of the season in Finland and I'm too tired to go get the trucks from the car and check.

But I have opened the axles a few times, and never seen ANY wear.

[Traulus]

It seems that this company its starting to get better and better and low cost.Thats nice

[MattySlimz1987]

Good to know, the machine work looks great. Seems XtraSpeed IS getting better. Using better machining process' and better hardening techniques.

[Traulus]

And the most important,keeping the prices low

[ik632]

You shimmed them during install, but how do you think they would feel if not shimmed? I would guess that 80% of people installing them won't shim them at all.

[Ambis]

Sorry all, forgot to check the gears.

Originally Posted by ik632

You shimmed them during install, but how do you think they would feel if not shimmed? I would guess that 80% of people installing them won't shim them at all.

Not very well, I guess. It depends on the drive shafts how far they let the pinion go into the axle. I think the shim for the locker is not maybe even needed, but the shims on the outside of the pinion shaft make all the difference.

The offset design on the teeth makes the it so that the ring gear wants to pull in the pinion in one direction and push it outwards in the other.

Since the axles are opposite ways at each end, one will work fine (going forwards) by pushing the pinion out, but the other axle wants to suck it in, probably causing havoc with the teeth.

But then again, this is only my theory. People run the Axial gears without shims most of the time, and they report little or no damage to the teeth.