Rockcrawling gears

[rockready4x4]

I have a Emaxx and want to gear it low. I want the batteries to last longer when crawling. What kind of gears do i need to run to gear it way down? My emaxx is basically stock, with the exception of a few things like custom made skid plate I made from stainless steel, aftermarket black wheels, springs, and powerpole connectors, and i just want a capable crawler without putting much money in it. I was wondering, do the front diffs come locked from traxxas?

[Mad Scientist]

Both diffs are open from the factory. And to gear it down, you are going to want a smaller pinion gear and a larger spur gear. A Lathe Motor will help slow it down, add torque, and increase runtime as well. You could also look into a GD600 reduction unit to further gear it down. Search for "GD600" and you will find a lot of info on them - It is an airplane reduction unit, and can be found at Tower Hobbies. It needs a little modification to work on a crawler. Check in the Vendors Forum, I am pretty sure someone may be selling them already modified, at a reasonable price.

[AdamF]

Originally Posted by rockready4x4

Ii just want a capable crawler without putting much money in it.

That's going to be difficult. With the stock IFS/IRS and chassis, it suffers from too short of a wheelbase and lack of articulation. You won't be able to climb anything very tall, although it will get around smaller rocks OK.

If you gear it way down to use as a crawler, it becomes pretty useless as a general purpose basher. So what you end up with is a marginal crawler and a worthless basher.


So, if you don't have the money to spend to make it a capable crawler, I would keep it as is. Otherwise, lock the arms out and 4 link it with a custom chassis.

[TwistedCreations]

read the sticky at the top of this section

[rockready4x4]

I just want it to be able to climb hills and go over stuff longer than a couple minutes, because of its high gearing. Its fun flyin around in 2nd, but it just uses to much battery doing it. Besides, i have a stadium truck for bashing anyways, although its in peices right now.

[donkeykong]

try a 55t lathe moter and a 10 pinion, also switch to a single battery i get plenty of run time and since you are only running a single battery you get the second battery after the first runs down. If you lock the diffs make sure you up grade the axles to either cvd or revo shafts.

[Jeepjunky]

I agree, Read the sticky at the top, there is some great info on setting up your stock Emaxx. Then when you want to go the next step,

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15894

It's all on this web site, just keep useing that Search button and have FUN!

Randy

[BC Electric]

You might want to check somethings out, I get alot more than couple of minutes on my stock E-Maxx with 3300 gp batteries, and these are not the best batteries out there. I do find that these batteries tend to go Out of Balance rather fast, hence the cheaper price on packs made of them, but that is an easy fix.

[rockready4x4]

ok thanks.

[mazdaparts]

If you want to keep it semi stock I would use stock titans, 9 tooth pinions, 72 tooth spur gear tightened all the way down, some Associated MGT tires, raise the suspension up but don't use any shock spacers, and last but not least a good high torque metal geared servo. That way it you want to go race or bash you can convert it back and have fun. On a side note I question your couple of minutes of runtime. Use some 3300 or bigger batteries. When I raced my EMaxx I had some modified motors, 17/72 gearing, and locked in 2nd gear. I always had atleast 8 minutes of runtime during race (full throttle, brake, full throttle, ect., ect.) conditions. I was using GP3300 packs. I had 1 pair of matched and 1 pair of loose cells I bought off of ebay. I couldn't tell a difference between the packs. That reminds me of something else. The charger you use also makes a difference in runtime. I recommend a digital charger that has adjustable settings. I use a Duratrax Pirahna Digital charger. $50 at Towerhobbies.

[rockready4x4]

Well, now that i think about it, its more like 5-7 mins in 1st on steep hills the whole time. I use 1500 batteries.

[AdamF]

Well shoot, use something with a higher capacity like 3300 or more

[John Deere]

Slap a 3300 Pro Match mathed packs in there and then you will be doing something longer than 5-7 minutes. LOL. 1500 packs suck compared to any 3300 pack even if the pack is on its last leg they would out performe the 1500. I am in the same boat as you right now as far as running this thing stock and wanting to climb everything. the biggest thing to mine that I have done, is just race it up as tall as I can, just to do it, and flip tires around, I use 3700 pro match packs, and have locked the diffs front and rear, alot easier to just put a spool in there than having to JB weld it. Me I JBed it. cheaper. I am also gonna run a 9t pinions on mine speacking of that I gotta send that guyt a pm. Good Luck with whatever you do.