Exotek HD front gearbox housing

[FastMatt]

For those considering buying this, I had to modify the top chassis plate for it to fit correctly.
They didn't make enough clearance for the chassis plate to sit all the way down. I had to file angles on the front and back inside edges.
This was on a baja rey for what it's worth.
I was too impatient during mid build to bother trying to send it back. Should've just spent $5 more on the SSD...
I also had to shim the pinion at least .5mm between the inside bearing and pinion itself, which seems to be a lot to me.
This is my PSA for the day.

[TheLetterJ]

Sorry to hear that. The SSD also uses bigger bearings on the pinion (13 inner, 11 outer) vs Exotek (11 inner... 10 outer?) so even if all else were equal, the SSD bulkhead should hold up better. Hopefully, now that you've made it work, the Exotek unit will prove reliable for you. I know I hate when I feel like I coulda woulda shoulda bought a different part.

On the subject: does the Exotek bulkhead look to you as though it has been cast and then machined, as opposed to being machined from a billet? Maybe it's just the "tumbled" finish, but after seeing another Baja Rey with one locally, it certainly gave me that vibe.

[crunky]

I had the same issue when installing mine in a Rock Rey build. I did exactly as you did, I filed down the underside of that top plate just like your pics show.

As for the inside shims, I simply swapped the one flat washer from one side of the diff to the other.

[FastMatt]

Originally Posted by TheLetterJ

Sorry to hear that. The SSD also uses bigger bearings on the pinion (13 inner, 11 outer) vs Exotek (11 inner... 10 outer?) so even if all else were equal, the SSD bulkhead should hold up better. Hopefully, now that you've made it work, the Exotek unit will prove reliable for you. I know I hate when I feel like I coulda woulda shoulda bought a different part.

On the subject: does the Exotek bulkhead look to you as though it has been cast and then machined, as opposed to being machined from a billet? Maybe it's just the "tumbled" finish, but after seeing another Baja Rey with one locally, it certainly gave me that vibe.

Damn. I wish I would’ve paid attention to the bearing size differences. That alone would’ve made my decision 😢
Hopefully I’ve at least saved a few people from making the same mistake.

I’m 95% sure it’s machined from bar stock. Aside from all the rolled over tumbled edges, it does have tool marks everywhere. Whereas if it was cast, it wouldn’t need much outside machining.

[JatoTheRipper]

Exotek usually has high quality stuff. This is lame. And I also passed on them because they use stock size bearings.

[FastMatt]

I emailed Exotek about my issue to let them know about my disappointment with their product.
Got a response back saying mine has been the only complaint they’ve received about it. They said Losi has probably changed the top plate in some way and that they would look into it and change future batches of gearboxes. However, no offer to remedy the issue for me.

[mass-hole]

What about the Hot Racing Gearbox? It seems to have even larger bearings than the SSD. Anyone running it?

[crunky]

From everything I read about doing the upgraded aluminum housing it's not so much the larger bearing benefactor as much as it's to do with the stock plastic housing flexing and causing improper gear mesh. The aluminum keeps the pinion shaft in place and doesn't allow flex.

Larger bearings certainly are nice, but I don't think it's the end all.

[mass-hole]

Originally Posted by crunky

From everything I read about doing the upgraded aluminum housing it's not so much the larger bearing benefactor as much as it's to do with the stock plastic housing flexing and causing improper gear mesh. The aluminum keeps the pinion shaft in place and doesn't allow flex.

Larger bearings certainly are nice, but I don't think it's the end all.

Agree'd, I am sure the case material change is more important than the bearings. That said, they are basically the same price so if the Hot Racing unit is just as good in all other respects, I'd rather go with the larger bearings.

[crunky]

I got lucky enough to have picked mine up on a trade deal so I couldn't be too picky. When looking up the part number to make sure it would work on my rock rey I found it listed here cheap... ( the original owner of mine had purchased it for a baja rey )
http://dirtcheaprc.com/shop/exotek-r...-gear-box-set/

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by FastMatt

I emailed Exotek about my issue to let them know about my disappointment with their product.
Got a response back saying mine has been the only complaint they’ve received about it. They said Losi has probably changed the top plate in some way and that they would look into it and change future batches of gearboxes. However, no offer to remedy the issue for me.

Often when a company says they've never had complaints about a product before they are lying.

Did you push the issue and ask for a replacement or refund?

[FastMatt]

Originally Posted by crunky

From everything I read about doing the upgraded aluminum housing it's not so much the larger bearing benefactor as much as it's to do with the stock plastic housing flexing and causing improper gear mesh. The aluminum keeps the pinion shaft in place and doesn't allow flex.

Larger bearings certainly are nice, but I don't think it's the end all.

Hope you're right!

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

Often when a company says they've never had complaints about a product before they are lying.

Did you push the issue and ask for a replacement or refund?

I did not even reply back yet, but maybe I should. Then I could maybe have a spare

[crunky]

The exotek unit does use a larger bearing on the top side of the pinion input shaft, stock sized inner.

[mond]

Originally Posted by crunky

From everything I read about doing the upgraded aluminum housing it's not so much the larger bearing benefactor as much as it's to do with the stock plastic housing flexing and causing improper gear mesh. The aluminum keeps the pinion shaft in place and doesn't allow flex.

Larger bearings certainly are nice, but I don't think it's the end all.

Yeah, that's the core of the matter, the plastic case is alarmingly thin, flexes under load/head leading to the mesh going bad and ruining the gears. The SSD bulkhead doesn't look like it's machined out a a higher hardness aluminium but the point is it keeps everything in one place and the fit and finish is spot on.

People have reported issues with bearings in the RR, but that's probably down to Horizon stuffing the RTR and kit with low quality bearings as opposed to size.

[fr8cture]

I bought one of these from the link above. Installed it and everything went together for me no issues.

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