Mud Blaster/beetle Is Not Well

[hoppi05]

Hi guys i have an original Blaster along with a beetle and Brat, but the blaster is running soooo slow in comparisons to the brat i mean its hardley moving (about 5mph) when on the ground if i go from reverse to forwards i get loads of clicking noise from either the wheels or the gear box?... if i hold the wheels off the ground and do the same it runs fine (no clicking anyway) is this a good sign the gears are gone?.... if not has anyone had the same? I am going to strip it back down again in the next few days so a heads up would be nice if i need some new parts...

another things is it also goes much faster in reverse than in forwards?......

Cheers.....

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

Very common (in fact i wish i had 1 for every time i've wrote about this problem lol!)

The most likely reason for the clicking is that the differential has worn out. This is usually caused by the metal bevel and planet gears wearing down. The play created once the gears are worn causes the diff to begin to separate.

Along with the wear, every time you nail the throttle, the aluminium gearbox side plates bow out slightly (very slightly) but over time they become deformed, allowing excess play in the differential gear.

This double problem causes the diff to wear out and separate under load - causing the clicking you hear. Lift the truck up and there is no load, so no click can be heard.

The plastic bearing carriers either side of the diff also wear over time, and again cause the diff to come apart.

All these problems are related to the nature of the "open differential" design, which relies on the side plates to keep the differential together.

You can reduce the problem by shimming the diff gear with thin washers, but its easier now days to by a diff from the re release frog or brat. Buy new side plates and bearing carriers too, and upgrade the hex drive shafts to dog bones from the re release kit while your at it

Hope this helps

[hoppi05]

Thanks mate i thought as much looks like a few more bob on ebay wooooo lol

[mongoose1983]

Yes, mymonsterbeetleisbroken's right.

The metal bevel gears are worn out. These gears wear easily specially when you like to do wheelies. Fortunately, a new set of bevel gears isn't expensive. Just be sure to grab a hold of two or three sets of them, 'because if you like to go out and run your Tamiya models you might be in need of them one way or another.

By the time you get the replacements, open the gearbox and be sure to clean it very well. Then place the gears and use plenty of Tamiya grease. That will prolong the life of the gears.

Have fun with the Brat!

EB

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[B.M.T.]

Could also be the driveshafts, too.

Hoppi, if it's the bevel gears in the diff... When you have it apart, see if the aluminium sides of the gearbox have swollen out, around the diff area. Only needs to be a tiny bit. If it has, that's loosening the mesh of those little gears, and the new ones won't last any time. Either order those parts from the rere Frog, or try to press yours slightly concave, only .2 of a mm, to keep good mesh in the diff. I did this with my Blackfoot, and it's handled jumps with a Sport Tuned in it, and no diff problems, after the run.

If it's the drive shafts, get the rere Frog out drives, dog bones and wheel axles and 5 o rings, and fix it that way.

[Blacque Jacque]

If you want the gearbox to really last, it's probably best to use the oldfrogshot mod.

I've done several of these now & it makes a world of difference to the gearbox, really beefs it up.

[hoppi05]

I may do the old frog mod but is that not the same as a Brat gearbox anyway? (the original one), can you still buy the original brat gears, as they have a gold bit that goes into the cog that the drive shafts fit into and i cannot find one of them on ebay as i would just do that... if anyone know what i am on about do you know where i can get one or a part number? if i am to use the new frog re re parts can some one point me in the right direction i am pretty sure i have them on ebay but there looks to be full kits and half kits and some sells just selling cogs?... I have loads of original Brat cogs around some of which have never been used?.... (infact i will get a pic of them all to so you guys)

Cheers

oh i have already ordered somw new side plates anyway will strip it down at the weekend

[TAZ-NZ]

I may do the old frog mod but is that not the same as a Brat gearbox anyway? (the original one), can you still buy the original brat gears, as they have a gold bit that goes into the cog that the drive shafts fit into and i cannot find one of them on ebay as i would just do that... if anyone know what i am on about do you know where i can get one or a part number? if i am to use the new frog re re parts can some one point me in the right direction i am pretty sure i have them on ebay but there looks to be full kits and half kits and some sells just selling cogs?... I have loads of original Brat cogs around some of which have never been used?.... (infact i will get a pic of them all to so you guys)

Cheers

oh i have already ordered somw new side plates anyway will strip it down at the weekend

Done correct the oldfrogshot mod doesn't lock the diff, the original brat had a locked diff (or spool) which had a negative effect on it's handling.

The only way your likely to to get the original brass e4 part and the brat 46t spool gear is by getting an original brat wreck off ebay. (the brat e4 part looks a lot like the SP4 parts on the clod buster, but they are not the same.)

[billg4]

the original brat had a locked diff (or spool) which had a negative effect on it's handling.

That's not true at all, offroad it handled much better due to better traction. Onroad it tended to ''push'' a bit but backing off the throttle helped it turn

[hoppi05]

I know what you are both saying on road it wants to flip you all the time and push the car but off road its great just brute force behind the wheels its great! Cheers for the helps guys

[hoppi05]

Heres a pic of all the gears i have found in my box all of which are from Brats, Blasters and beetles one set of the bevel gears looks in pretty good the other is pretty bad all the teeth are shaven and skinny

[mongoose1983]

Heres a pic of all the gears i have found in my box all of which are from Brats, Blasters and beetles one set of the bevel gears looks in pretty good the other is pretty bad all the teeth are shaven and skinny

I've just got a new Frog/Brat transmission to replace some pieces of my Monster Beetle's. There are parts I think I won't use. Are you interested in trading? I'd take pictures of them bit and pieces tonight if you're interested.

Have a nice day.

EB

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[hoppi05]

Hiya, thanks for the offer but i am unsure until i strip it down at the weekend, i have a few spares here (more than i thought) and a few bits coming from ebay so ill go from there but if i do ill drop you a PM and thanks again........