karooha MB

Right, Took it apart, it seems ok. I think the Brushes will need replacing, so I'll go source some, any suggestions? The Commutator, which if I am right is the piece that the brushes touch, looks ok, to the eye it seems round and is not excessively worn. The internals were lined with a black dust, I assume its from wear and tear, hope it wasn't a grease compound as I rubbed most of it out. I trimmed off the alignment tab on the plastic end cap so I can advance or retard the timing, whilst being careful to mark the original position just incase. Now that its all back together it seems to have slightly eased up on the resistance. Prior to being taken apartt it was locking up, no obvious reason why, but with a little nudge or 20 seconds rest it would move again. I will let you know if this has stopped happening. I like the motor, it seems comfortable in the Monster Beetle, time will tell if the Gears and diff think the same.

Excellent advice from you all, thank you. I have had a look at the motor. The brushes may benefit from a replacement, the Com "looks" ok. I am fairly satisfied the rolling resistance is as it should be, after reading what you all have to say. And it appears the motor timing has been advanced, which is why it will barely move backwards. So, if I'm right, by returning the timing to centre It will be equal (or there-abouts) forward and backward speed. This I dont want, but want to check. I want good forward speed, as I am using HPI paddle tyres on the MB in question, but require a little more power in reverse than currently available. You can see the MB (with a different motor) on youtube ; There are some other vids there of my cars if you fancy it. Thanks for your help everyone, I'll tinker this afternoon and let you all know how it goes.

The motor came with some second hand parts I picked up. I think its safe to assume it could do with a service. It is not grinding, but a symptom is that when I let off the accelorator it seems to want to lock the drive wheels, especially on dirt or concrete, not so bad on grass as the friction helps. The motor is also faily quiet. The black plastic piece is fairly worn, chewed even, around the centre pin. All contacts look ok, I'll pull the brushes out tomorrow and have a look.

Fantastic, thanks for that, I'll give it a try. I knew someone would know.

I have picked up a used Super Stock RZ that I wish to run in my Monster Beetle. It goes well, fairly fast forwards, but it really struggles in reverse. It is binding in some way. Tried it on two MB's, one with LRP Esc, one with a Tamiya 101. Two very different acting ESC's gave the same results, slow reverse. When the motor is out of the car it feels stiff, very clunky, like going over humps when you turn it by hand. I assumed that is because it has more torque than a RS540 Sport Tuned, previously fitted, but now I am thinking there is something not right about it. I have never rebuilt a motor, although I am confident I could if required, as I have run silver cans or Sport tuned until now. Any advice is gratefully received. Peace.

How have those carbon shock supports panned out?

If it costs £20 for the original tree for one part, you may as well get 8 sets of the cheaper Tamiya Servo Saver tree for £2.50 a shot, then you'll never worry again! Crash Crash Crash, wont matter. I have used one on a monster beetle which we all know finds things to hit in an apparently featureless terrain, and it works fine.

I use clear silicon on the beads of the rear hubs of my fastest MB!

Hey there. Of the 3 Mb's I run the noisiest was the one with the Sport Tuned Motor, this may be a quality of them in particular, I dont know. Like yours the gearbox is good, the diff is sound, and all is greased thoroughly. The standard 540's all sound much quieter, and all 3 have the same attention paid to the lubrication and upkeep, and all 3 are in very similar condition. The only visible difference I was able to see was that the teeth on the pinion of the Sport Tuned had worn ever so slightly, flattening on the contact side of each tooth. With my engineering hat on I can see why this would make more noise as it effectively scrapes the grease away. I changed it for a new one and it definitely made an improvement. The plastic gear is unworn miraculously. So you may want to check the pinion, and that it is meeting the gear correctly. As for the tyres I haven't had a wobbly pair, but I can see how that would bug ya! And I gues you are talking about the servo horn section. I too had trouble finding a replacement, infact I had to use a standard 6 hole patern white horn on one, installing the smaller ball ends and suitable cups on the steering arms. I dont see why they couldn't be drilled to accept the larger diameter threads. If you dont know the one I mean I can send a pic. The originals seem increasingly hard to find now. Got any pics of the work in progress? Cheers for now.........

Hello All. Been busy on the modding and customising front, details will follow soon. Question for you all, will a MB take an Acto Power Pink motor? Also will it handle a Dirt Tuned motor?

Hello All. I'm from Crewkerne so would like to meet folks on local bash tracks. I've read about the one up at Matalans, and already use Ham Hill with my Monster Beetles. Just picked up a TT01, FF01, and a TL01, so I fancy some tarmac as well as the off road. Can anyone tell me when the next meet is and where? Cheers, Ben

Hey there chaps. Thought I'd share my current collection with ya. The bug on the Right with the Kamtec shell is my NEW 2010 Scorcher, haven't built the shell yet. Then there is the Blue '79 Scorcher, Then my Red n White Monster Beetle, and finally my MB Rat. Great day at the beach. Check my youtoob footage of the 2010 Scorcher. Search for karooha.

Heres a link to the Youtube video. Hope you like! Off out to shoot some more beach fun now.

My nearly finished SS runner. I have not yet finished the inside, currently it has direct steering, and battery taped to chassis, the Radio box is not yet fitted. The shell is a White MB, Scorcher nose. I will fit the radio box, but I am not entirely sure its needed. Used alsorts of stickers, whatever I had left over, went for a racing look. My sons Frog has the #1 stickers, so I thought I'd use #2. Quite pleased with it, and its given me good insight into the building of the SS. Should help for when my new SS arrives in a week or two!

It looks like a Kamtec shell to me. And yes, I agree, If you only have one Monster Beetle it should be run, if you have two, or more then a shelfer is nice.

Cheers Mooter, glad your happy with the Aluminium Motor Mount. You'll need it with that 8.5T! Scary.

Does anyone know where in UK I can get a set of hex adapters for the MB axles, so I can fi standard wheels? They're all over the web, but from USA and Hong Kong etc. I'd rather not wait a month!

This is the post with the picks of the motor mount. http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?...c=54820&hl=

for one the same as that fitted to mine in the pics its £6. Its excellent. If you want one just send a paypal GIFT payment to ben_crofts@yahoo.co.uk I'll need a full postal address. It'll take a few days, I machine it by hand when the machines are free and so am I, but I should be able to get one to you in a week or there abouts. Cheers, Ben

I've ordered a Kamtec ABS Baja Body, turns out they are only 20 miles from me! so I will be paying them a visit soon. And I have bought some Chrome lights for the red/white MB Shell. Not sure what to do in the way of decals on that one, I like the classic lines clean, but cant help seeing a black number on a white panel with black edges, probably on roof, and doors. I just dunno! Haven't found any lenses yet though. Might just have to buy a window set.

What are good shocks for the MB? I drive on varied terrain, mostly light bashing, some small jumps, soft to firm ground. It has a particularly soft set of tyres on it, and a bad set of hard original shocks. The option to adjust would be usefull. I like the look of aluminium.

Just ordered my SS! OOoooWeeee! I am so chuffed. My girl, she loves me! Roll on Release day. My son and I also built his New Frog yesterday, tested it against my MB, Great fun!

Well I have only good stuff to say about the Mtroniks Sport Tuned 20 ESC. I run it with a Tamiya RS Sport Tuned 540. It is very good. Easy to insatll, 100% waterproof, not that I take it swimming! It has a 50% slow build reverse, which at first I didn't like, but now I am getting used to it. It actually helps to pull it out of spots backwards as it doesn't spin it up. It also works as a kind of brake as it stops the back wheels without throwing it in reverse. About £15 on "go on, take my money" ebay. Works a treat. I fail to see the benefits of the more expensive ECS's. You are still limited to the overall ability of the Monster Beetle at the end of the day, which is by no means shabby, in fact its great, but you know what I mean.

Cheers EB, I've PM'd you.

Think I've finished the shell. Glossed it, may apply some decals/transfers if I can find some nice ones to print out. I have some of that Inkjet Decal paper, so I can design my own. The paint job has turned out ok, I am pleased with it. I wanted a fairly trad shell, no flshy monster truck looks, more of a vintage look. I have also posted a new thread for my Hand Made (by me) Custom Ally motor mount plates. Taking orders. Bin the crappy plastic one, get one o these, it'll last forever! Pics below.