Upgrading Old 380 Size Motors

[casethejoint]

Hi all,

Anyone upgraded a vintage Tamiya with a 380 size motor? I'm looking for a little more punch, and seeing some of the very low cost Speed 400 brushless motors (designed for planes) on eBay I was wondering if they're a suitable fit?

[TA-Mark]

I replaced the 380 in my Grasshopper with a 540 sized MambaMax 5700Kv LOL . Heaps of fun and way way way too much power. I'm using the Lunchbox 540 adapter plate and the Brass 11T pinion from the same, gears it perfect for the high rpm motor. The biggest improvement I'm seeing is in runtime. The other guys that run with me are flattening 3 batteries to my 1 around the track in my yard, almost 1hr for a 3800 pack.

Using inrunner and outrunner brushless motors I've read is not overly successful in surface vehicles. Have never tried it myself though. There are low cost, low power brushless systems for cars out there, some are about the same output if not a touch slower than a standard silvercan 540. Or the other option is a more expensive programmable system you can tune to match the chassis you fit it to as I do with the MambaMax, I even run mine in the SRB chassis without any adverse mechanical affects (Tyres do wear very fast if you use the throttle).

I've seen 1:10 sized vehicles powered by the micro (1:18 scale) systems quite successfully, definitely more power than a 380 from a smaller lighter ESC/Motor combo.

All you can do is fit it and see if it's cheap enough.

[casethejoint]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that info.

I've seen 1:10 sized vehicles powered by the micro (1:18 scale) systems quite successfully, definitely more power than a 380 from a smaller lighter ESC/Motor combo.

Aha, I hadn't thought to look at the 1:18 scale motors. Presumably they use 380 size? I'd prefer to not have to change the mount (this is on a Sand Rover) so looking to retain 380 dimensions but pack a little more punch and runtime (not looking for excessive power or speed, just a performance boost).

Do the 1:18 and 1:16 models all use 380 sized motors, or are there any other designations I can look for that will be of same size?

I see the Teken Mini Rage 955 popping up quite cheap on eBay.

Many thanks.

[TA-Mark]

I'm sure most 1:16/1:18 systems are a 300 size motor can. The Castlecreations Sidewinder Micro system (budget system ~$90US) I bought for my 1:12 boats propels them faster than the 540 19 turn Peak Racing I had fitted to it. A combination of 280 grams saved weight and the efficient brushless system is what gives it the gains I think. I use the same system in my HPI Micro RS4 and Nikko 1:16 Venus buggy which were the same size motor stock. Those 2 cars are crazy fast for their size on 9.6v. RPM = Kv x Voltage

Another one to look at for the Sand Rover would be the systems designed for the TamTechs.

I love the style of the Sand Rover, if I ever get myself one I'll mount the body to a SRB chassis and throw the 'toy' chassis in the parts box as a bad joke.

[dazaa]

I REALLY want a sand rover chassis if you ever get one. I can say that those old metal f1 motor pods will never hold a 540 without some serious modification. If anyone has an old 380 they want to sell please let me know as I cant afford a new one

dazaa

[terry.sc]

To actually answer the original question.

Yes, the Graupner Speed 400 range of motors are all 380 size with a 1/8" diameter shaft, so are a direct fit into the Sand Rover.

Most of the micro systems are the same size as 280/Speed 300 motors with a 2mm diameter shaft, so too small for the Sand Rover. This includes the systems for the Tamtechs.

If you can find the 540 motor mount for the Sand Rover that will greatly expand the range of motors you can use.

[Rayman011]

A 540 motor mount is very easy to fabricate from Aluminium. I had a home made one for my Holiday Buggy.