Grasshopper Wheel upgrades

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

Hello everyone, I'm very new to Tamiya and RC cars in general, so am looking for any advice. 

I've recently built my very first RC tamiya car (Monster Beetle) and what a beast it is! I just love how it can go on all types of terrain, especially on grass, without a hitch. Overall very happy with it!

My grandad recently got one after seeing mine and choose the Grasshooper, however both him and I are very new to the RC car scene and didn't realise how much it struggles with grass. As that is the primarily terrain he will be driving on, I was trying to find ways of helping his grasshopper out. All I could think is he needs bigger wheels in general, so attempted to put my monster beetle wheels on his... the rear wheels managed to get on ok, but the fronts kept on scraping the 'arm' (not sure if correct terminology) and wouldn't spin around at all. 

So I'm just asking if he would need bigger wheels, what size of wheels he would need and/or something else? Thank you!

 

[ThunderDragonCy 8126]

I think you just need long front axles and the Vanessa's Lunchbox wheels and tyres to go big on the grasshopper wheels. Long axle front knuckles are these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-Lunch-Box-Midnight-Pumpkin-CW-01-Uprights-x2-0555028-10555028-New-/264368423959?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Here's a used set of lunchbox wheels and tyres at a good price

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-Lunchbox-CW-01-Wheels-and-Tyres-/175182184064?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[Juggular 5080]

Yep, grass is tough on RC cars.  You might want to consider getting a 540 motor, and Lunchbox pinion along with wheels and tires. 

Tamiya did not add big tires without lowering the gear ratio.  They made a special pinion for it (BT2 below).  It's long. To get the gear mesh right, Tamiya mounted a spacer (D2).  Unless you have a brushless motor with lots of torque, it would be a good idea to get a Lunchbox pinion and D parts from ebay.  Running it on grass tends to overheat the motor. If you don't lower the gear ratio the motor might not survive.  

(below is the portion that's different from the grasshopper)

 

[Frog Jumper 3807]

2 hours ago, MonsterBeetler0603 said:

Hello everyone, I'm very new to Tamiya and RC cars in general, so am looking for any advice. 

I've recently built my very first RC tamiya car (Monster Beetle) and what a beast it is! I just love how it can go on all types of terrain, especially on grass, without a hitch. Overall very happy with it!

My grandad recently got one after seeing mine and choose the Grasshooper, however both him and I are very new to the RC car scene and didn't realise how much it struggles with grass. As that is the primarily terrain he will be driving on, I was trying to find ways of helping his grasshopper out. All I could think is he needs bigger wheels in general, so attempted to put my monster beetle wheels on his... the rear wheels managed to get on ok, but the fronts kept on scraping the 'arm' (not sure if correct terminology) and wouldn't spin around at all. 

So I'm just asking if he would need bigger wheels, what size of wheels he would need and/or something else? Thank you!

 

The Frog spike rear tires will work better in grass, but not much.

I would recommend increasing to 2.2 size wheels, like the Monster Beetle, or 2.0 size wheels like the Lunchbox.  The 2.2 size is more common, though.

To use the large front wheels, you’ll need to remove to GH front axles from their carriers (pliers) and insert the longer Blackfoot axle in its place.  Alternatively, you can replace the whole carrier with one for the Lunchbox.

With the larger wheels, you’ll want to upgrade your motor.  Download the Hornet manual and see how the 540 is mounted in that car.

As for pinion, you’ll want one with fewer teeth, like a 10t.  I don’t remember if the GH tranny can fit one though…

[SupraChrgd82 1434]

To open the opportunity for 2.2 wheels and tires, there's a few options;

Purchase Super Hornet wheels and rear drive adapters: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/modalpic.asp?img=14.jpg

Purchase the hex conversion kit (trash the front adapters) and use any 2wd buggy wheels that accept 5x11x4 bearirgs: 12mm HEX Adapter 4pcs for TAMIYA Grasshopper/Hornet/Frog/Wild One/Grasshopper 2 | eBay

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice! I've done some browsing on some options and if I went the Lunchbox wheel route, would the pics I've attached be sufficient adjustments to the grasshopper to allow it to run with the bigger wheels? 

 

I've also attached pictures of upgraded motor components if they are necessary. Would the standard grasshopper motor work with the bigger wheels or would I definitely need to get these motor parts? Thank you all soo much again! 

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

1 minute ago, MonsterBeetler0603 said:

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice! I've done some browsing on some options and if I went the Lunchbox wheel route, would the pics I've attached be sufficient adjustments to the grasshopper to allow it to run with the bigger wheels? 

 

I've also attached pictures of upgraded motor components if they are necessary. Would the standard grasshopper motor work with the bigger wheels or would I definitely need to get these motor parts? Thank you all soo much again! 

 

[ThunderDragonCy 8126]

@MonsterBeetler0603 All that will work perfectly. Although to whisper the hop up genie in your ear, for another couple of quid I would get the Tamiya Torque Tuned motor instead of the basic silvercan 540J. It will work perfectly with your speed controller and everything else, but has a bit more oomph for those big wheels. 

[ThunderDragonCy 8126]

@MonsterBeetler0603 and post pics once it's done. Big wheel grasshoppers look so rad

[Kol__ 3387]

@MonsterBeetler0603, welcome mate, that sounds so cool that you and your grandad are RC'ing together! Looks like those mods will be mounting up cost wise. I have a spare 540 motor you can have for nothing, just cover the postage.

Also, they do the Lunchbox wheels in black if you don't want the bright yellow on the Grasshopper. Although, I am fan of Tamiya's yellow wheels! Check out Tony's Tamiya on eBay and the JK-RC website for decent places to buy stuff.

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

14 hours ago, Kol__ said:

@MonsterBeetler0603, welcome mate, that sounds so cool that you and your grandad are RC'ing together! Looks like those mods will be mounting up cost wise. I have a spare 540 motor you can have for nothing, just cover the postage.

Also, they do the Lunchbox wheels in black if you don't want the bright yellow on the Grasshopper. Although, I am fan of Tamiya's yellow wheels! Check out Tony's Tamiya on eBay and the JK-RC website for decent places to buy stuff.

Yeah, I built mine with my Dad and then helped my grandad build his! That would be absolutely amazing thank you so much! His birthday is next week, so was planning on getting him the wheels and other parts to upgrade his GH.

I've just private messaged you my details and can discuss how much it'll cost etc. Thank you again!

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

On 3/9/2022 at 9:43 PM, ThunderDragonCy said:

@MonsterBeetler0603 and post pics once it's done. Big wheel grasshoppers look so rad

And here it is! (He wanted to do his own paint job design) 

 

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

New 540 motor (thank you @Kol__) 10T pinion gear, longer front axles and the Lunchbox wheels to complete the build!

[Kol__ 3387]

Looks badass mate, nice one! Your Grandad has good taste (nice lawn too btw)

How does it run on grass now? Is it a match for your MB?

[ThunderDragonCy 8126]

@MonsterBeetler0603 Yes. 

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

1 hour ago, Kol__ said:

Looks badass mate, nice one! Your Grandad has good taste (nice lawn too btw)

How does it run on grass now? Is it a match for your MB?

Thank you mate, your advice aswell as everyone else's was what made it all possible! Yeah, it runs with ease now on grass, so much better than it was before! Pretty close to my MB, but I like to think mines still a bit faster 😎

 

Think the other upgrades he would need is better shock absorbers and maybe something to do with the suspension or turning arms (idk if that's the technical term for them)

[Frog Jumper 3807]

1 minute ago, MonsterBeetler0603 said:

 

Think the other upgrades he would need is better shock absorbers and maybe something to do with the suspension or turning arms (idk if that's the technical term for them)

 

The correct technical term is "another car".

 

[El Gecko 1432]

Looks beastly but do the front tires scrub the bumper when they steer?

[MonsterBeetler0603 18]

14 minutes ago, El Gecko said:

Looks beastly but do the front tires scrub the bumper when they steer?

Aah they did yes, so we had to cut each side down on the bumper.