Wraith 2 speed...real or knock off rc4wd?

[Stan3535]

AX2 2 Speed Transmission for 1:10 RC4WD Axial SCX10 Wraith Honcho RC Car Black | eBay

Is this actually made by RC4wd? It says from China and says RC4WD? But its inexpensive...

[Brake Weight]

I doubt it's branded by RC4WD. But it's been debated that RC4WD contracts things from China. It may be the same thing but of lesser QC...or it may not be. Or it may just be a copy.

[altd896]

This is why it pays to read carefully ebay ads, it doesn't say anywhere in that ad that it's made by RC4WD or in any way a RC4WD piece, it says "AX2 2 Speed Transmission for 1:10 RC4WD Axial SCX10 Wraith Honcho RC Car"
which in my opinion is a dupe to make it appear in searches looking for the genuine item & immediately makes me suspicious.

It may be a complete repro/knock-off (where you take your chances on the quality/spares) or it could be a back-door sale by the factory that makes for RC4WD, only way you'll know is when they've already got your $$$$$

[Nicolasmj]

Says it has a nylon gear.....

[gottorque]

So you know...
The real RC4WD AX2 does not have the dimples on the front output, rear output or upper bearing recess on the housing. I just looked at the AX2 in my wraith.

I call fake; spend the extra coin for the real one

[Stan3535]

Thanks guys. I'll stay away

[SSD]

2 Speed Transmission Kit for Wraith

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by Nicolasmj

Says it has a nylon gear.....

It says the larger gear is nylon. It also links to the metal gear which is simply the spur gear. It appears all of the gears in the transmission are metal.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy this transmission. RC4WD stuff is Chinese. And it appears their supplier sells to others because stuff that looks exactly like RC4WD is sold by other vendors (RC Modelex, for example).

[azTony]

Originally Posted by SSD

2 Speed Transmission Kit for Wraith

So why a kit and not the whole set up? I am new to this and have been looking at 2 speeds and without having an existing tranny I have a lot more expense to get a complete set up... back to the spread sheet to crunch numbers!

[SSD]

Originally Posted by azTony

So why a kit and not the whole set up? I am new to this and have been looking at 2 speeds and without having an existing tranny I have a lot more expense to get a complete set up... back to the spread sheet to crunch numbers!

Because other 2 speeds are not compatible with the Axial top shaft or Axial gear cover. So you cant use a different brand top shaft and you have to buy a gear cover. The SSD 2 speed solves this and as most users already have a stock transmission they can simply reuse parts they already have to complete the transmision. Thus making it cheaper. Also the SSD output shaft is HD.

[azTony]

Thank you for the clarification!

[SSD]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

I wouldn't hesitate to buy this transmission. RC4WD stuff is Chinese. And it appears their supplier sells to others because stuff that looks exactly like RC4WD is sold by other vendors (RC Modelex, for example).

That is not made by their suppliers.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume a copied product has been copied well.

There are many grades of steel available and the copies usually use cheaper ones for gears and shafts or even cast parts. They probably dont know how to heat them correctly also.

The may even use cast alloys instead of CNC machined aluminum for other parts. Also the copy factories wont be so particular about tolerances, fit and finish etc...

I'm not here to defend RC4WD, just pointing out the real differences in original and copies. Whether it's SSD, RC4WD or VP copies they will all be inferior copies.

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by SSD

That is not made by their suppliers.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume a copied product has been copied well.

There are many grades of steel available and the copies usually use cheaper ones for gears and shafts or even cast parts. They probably dont know how to heat them correctly also.

The may even use cast alloys instead of CNC machined aluminum for other parts. Also the copy factories wont be so particular about tolerances, fit and finish etc...

I'm not here to defend RC4WD, just pointing out the real differences in original and copies. Whether it's SSD, RC4WD or VP copies they will all be inferior copies.

I understand clones can have many differences between the original. But, let's be honest, RC4WD stuff is not the highest quality including the grades of metal that they use.

[Farabomb]

You're nit the first person I heard that from. My friend at the LHS has a RC4WD and hates it because every time he takes it out, something metal breaks on it.