Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / February 2004

1.  i'm going through 1 pinion every 3 weeks.  everything is set up as
it should...it's just that i'm running 2 packs a day (about an hour
run time per pack), everyday, off road, on a TB01.

i'm currently using the .6 pinions and spurs.....would switching to
the .4 type result in less wear....assuming is keep the same ratios?

i seem to hear than only the on road drivers use the .4 types.

2.   would switching to a steel pinion help more (as the current are
aluminum)?

i'm not worried about the damaging the motor with a steel one since
i'm using the 540 Mabuchi it came with and i purchased two more extra
540s of the same type....

which leads me to my last question....

3.  each of these "silver can" 540s is about $15.  cheap.  

the upgrade motor i'm looking at is a Trinity Monster Horsepower Pro
(stock, not mod)....but if i add to the cost of the motor aand a lathe
(i'm not making a trip to the LHS everytime i need the com cut and
brushes replaced....which would probably be often), brushes, solder
gun ('cause i'm guessing that's how the brushes are attatched), and
some springs for the brushes.....the Moster ends up costing about 10
times the price of the Mabuchi.

and while i keep hearing over and over again that the Moster will give
me more top speed and make the car go fast....my interest is not in
speed....the car is currently geared well for the track in the back
yard (61 spur/19 pinion) which has a lot of tight turns through which
the car drifts....the only two straights are about 25 feet
long...max....so.....

and i NEVER plan to race.  which is why i built the track in the back
yard......

would it be better to buy the $15 540 or step up to the Monster and
have higher RPMs but inccur having to cut the com often and replace
brushes?

and how often would i have to do that?

TIA