Question About Running On Sand

[Olly_Lunchbox]

Hello Tamiya experts!

I am heading to Weston this weekend to visit folks and as they live five minutes from the front I am planning on heading down to the beach to run some cars, weather permitting.

I've never run on sand before but judging from the showrooms it's a popular pastime for many TC members, so, my question to you experts is what do I have to seal?

I expect sand to get into all sorts of places which I am fine about because I'm happy to do complete tear down and rebuild but what about the motor?

I'll bag the receiver and ESC obviously but is there anything I need to do to protect motor, or does it even need protecting?

My current plan is to just put old silver cans on incase they do get ruined but maybe I don't need to.

I'll be using a Blitzer, a Willy and possibly a DF-02.

[loaded]

Hello Tamiya experts!

I am heading to Weston this weekend to visit folks and as they live five minutes from the front I am planning on heading down to the beach to run some cars, weather permitting.

I've never run on sand before but judging from the showrooms it's a popular pastime for many TC members, so, my question to you experts is what do I have to seal?

I expect sand to get into all sorts of places which I am fine about because I'm happy to do complete tear down and rebuild but what about the motor?

I'll bag the receiver and ESC obviously but is there anything I need to do to protect motor, or does it even need protecting?

My current plan is to just put old silver cans on incase they do get ruined but maybe I don't need to.

I'll be using a Blitzer, a Willy and possibly a DF-02.

Part of the reason the Sand Scorcher was so named is without a differential you get better performance on sand. You could try the same. Bigger flatter (less stiff) tyres are also better. Sand gets everywhere, just ask a seal.

Paul.

[Tamiya1/10]

I have run my stock Pajero in golf course sand traps and on the beach, and never used or added any protection or coverings to any parts. After I am done running in the sand, I just use a good 1" paint brush and compress air to remove what ever stuff on the vehicle. To date, my Pajero still runs find and only replaced the drive shaft and repainted her a few times.

No worries using the standard silver can motor, plus cheap to replace. I have seen people using duck tape to seal up the can openings.

[VinceVegaUK]

It will be fine, i run my VLB on Formby beach with the dog, its not so great on the deeper stuff but the flat wet stuff it still pulls wheelies

After im done i leave it a week to dry out, give it a shke down and a brush, if its in the hard to reach places i just take off the front wishbones and rear gearbok and get a brush in all the corners.

Avoid big wet sandy puddels, the big tyres scooped in water and sand into my motor (Tamiya GT TUNED) and it stop it dead. came back to life with a big push and full throttle but i had to clean the motor out which is no biggie, just undo a few screws and a tooth brush and a light sand with some wet/dry paper on the comm. and i was back better & faster than ever.

You can get a foam type endbell cover which might help, the electronics are so high up in the chassis and coverd by the shell they raly get anything on them (unless you smash you windshiled, doh !)

Its awesome fun

[Olly_Lunchbox]

Thank you for your help guys.

It seems the most useful thing I can do is take a brush with me to brush the sand out!

I am just take the Willy 2 and the Blitzer Beetle now as I don't think the DF-02 will cope well on the sand.

The only thing I have done is put silver cans on as I don't mind them getting ruined. I'm using waterproof escs so I presume they'll be sand proof too

I've got some \sand paddle tyres for the back on the Blitzer to help it along, just hope the weather holds out now!

[Ian_Gsi16V]

I had my Hornet on the beach over xmas, as others have said its fine but sand gets everywhere !

I gave mine a mini-strip down after it, all the bearings where clogged up and I had to strip the motor and clean it to get it to run without a push.

[necronomicon]

hi mate,

In my opinion, sand is one of the worst tracks to run on, high wear on components and gets everywhere as already mentioned. Just dont go anywhere near sand with a belt driven, open drivetrain car!. Agree with advice already given about cleaning with large paint brush etc.

Had a grasshopper on the sand at newquay,UK, (See video in my member section) last year, and then stored for 6 months- motor was almost eaten away with corrosion from salt water/sand blasting!- learned my leason to thoroughly clean after use near sea!!!

Cheers

NEil

[lammac]

Some of the best Northwest Nutters bashes have been at the beach. We do not seal or bag anything we just take all the radio gear out before we give it good brush down and hose it but if you are using the wife's shower make sure you do it while she is out and clean it before she gets back After drying it out completely drop a bit of oil on your motor ends and you are ready for the next day's beach bash. Every so often give it a good strip down to make sure there is no sand in the gearbox.

Have fun and happy beach bashing, make a convert of you yet

lammac

[GGtrialer]

Hello Tamiya experts!

I am heading to Weston this weekend to visit folks and as they live five minutes from the front I am planning on heading down to the beach to run some cars, weather permitting.

I've never run on sand before but judging from the showrooms it's a popular pastime for many TC members, so, my question to you experts is what do I have to seal?

I expect sand to get into all sorts of places which I am fine about because I'm happy to do complete tear down and rebuild but what about the motor?

I'll bag the receiver and ESC obviously but is there anything I need to do to protect motor, or does it even need protecting?

My current plan is to just put old silver cans on incase they do get ruined but maybe I don't need to.

I'll be using a Blitzer, a Willy and possibly a DF-02.

i live in a sandy area ( high desert). all i do to my car is i cut up a set of pantyhose and stuck it over my motor. keeps a ton of sand out. with out it my motor barely turns. i dont think you need to bag the ESC or reciever, just plug empty holes on the reciever. keep a can of compressed air handy. other wise all i can say is to just do a through clean is any thing seems to be a bit out of normal. keep an eye on your shells. my 17T in my F150 has sand blasted my shell.