The Grasshopper Tuning Help:

[JAPJAC]

I would like to slightly upgrade a Tamiya Grasshopper as I remember 20 years ago my one was slightly slower than the rest.  I already have full metal bearings.

However living in Japan and not speaking Japanese it can be difficult to gain advice on such things as opposed to living in ones own country.  However I did manage to get some advice from a shop keeper and just wanted to check it out here from the experts.

Motor wise he said for a Tamiya Grasshopper I should buy a `Yokomo 23T Pro Stock` engine as they are cheaper than the Tamiya versions and powerful enough for a beginner like me wanting a fast car and long battery life.  Was he correct as to be honest I would rather buy a Tamiya branded motor even if they are slightly more expensive. 

I also need a controller and he suggested the Tamiya EXPEC pack (also includes a battery, slow charger and the radio gubbings) but this is the same one bundled with the XB cars and for only 5-10 quid more I was spotting other Tamiya offers (can`t remember there names something like GT2 and GT1) which looked a lot more quality.

I also need a fast charger and was wondering which one people would suggest coming from Tamiya as the Yokomo offering looked a bit minging. 

I also need batteries for this car, which Tamiya ones should I buy that would be well suited?

Thanks in advance. 

[DJTheo]

Yokomo makes good motors, if you want to stay with Tamiya, get a Super Stock RZ or TZ or Gt Tuned, nice stock motors which arent crazily hot, but propably already a bit too fast for GHs poor handling.

Tamiyas TEU-101 stock ESC can handle all those in a GH, if you want a higher spec ESC better look at other brands.

Good batteries are currently 3700+MAh GP or Intellect ones, Tamiya ones are overpriced.

Good also to check dozens of existing topics about motor, battery, charger and ESC recommendations, but I think the biggest limitation will be that Japanese market would have probably mainly different brands.

Cheers

[NYDriver]

Here is what a year of hopping up a Grasshopper looks like, too many upgrades to list, 8 turn Reedy motor, does 40MPH +.

 

 

[JAPJAC]

Yokomo makes good motors, if you want to stay with Tamiya, get a Super Stock RZ or TZ or Gt Tuned, nice stock motors which arent crazily hot, but propably already a bit too fast for GHs poor handling.

Tamiyas TEU-101 stock ESC can handle all those in a GH, if you want a higher spec ESC better look at other brands.

Good batteries are currently 3700+MAh GP or Intellect ones, Tamiya ones are overpriced.

Good also to check dozens of existing topics about motor, battery, charger and ESC recommendations, but I think the biggest limitation will be that Japanese market would have probably mainly different brands.

Cheers

Cheers mate.  Out of the 3 motors, which one be the best in terms of speed compared to handling and battery life.

ESC?  I assumed that means the controller (Electronic Servo Controller?)  Tamiya`s TEU-101 stock?  Is that a model or a range?

In Champ Shop in Akihabara Tamiya Blue Batteries are 5 Quid a pop, well cheap or maybe they are the lowest **** ones? 

[Acto-Tuned]

ESC stands for Electronic Speed Controller. The TEU-101 is ESC model from Tamiya. It has limited capacity (Tamiya doesn’t recommend any hotter motor than a sport-tuned for the TEU-101) but as Theo mentioned in such a light car as the Grasshopper it might handle a little extras.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Blue Tamiya batteries? Do you mean blue stick packs (7.2v) clearly labelled Tamiya? I think the blue Tamiya packs are 2400mAh. If that is the batteries you mentioned then they’re great for bashing around. Tamiya packs are generally overpriced but 5 quid (whether it be Euro, Pound or Dollar) is a really good price for a Tamiya pack. At least compared to the prices I’m used to here in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Norway.

[Tamiya King]

As for chargers, I have a Duratrax Intellipeak Digital, and it is very nice. Can pick them up at Tower Hobbies for $100USD.

I also have a Duratrax Dual Battery peak Charger for charging 2 batteries at once. A must need for me since I own a EZilla. They run around $80 USD on Tower Hobbies.

Batteries that I use and like are the EPIC Dreadnaught. They are 3000mAH and I get 2 for $42 USD. I also use GP 3300mAH batteries that I bought as individual cells and made the packs myself. They are good too!

Good luck and hope to see pic's of the car mod'd soon!

(Remember, all the Hornet and Rockbuster hop ups fit the Grasshopper too.) []

You can look at my Hornet I built in my showroom to get an idea of some stuff that was made that will also fit the Grasshopper.

[Tamiya King]

Please delete this mod's, I hit the post button twice by mistake! Thanks!