annoying little problem

[minilover]

soo i bought a mo3 rover mini cooper and it was fine the fist couple runs[] and then i hit a bump [:0] and hear screeching noises from the gearbox.[](stripped spur gear) i got new gears of towerhobbbies for 5 bucks pretty cheap and then i was driving my car at a engagment party of my moms friends and it has slanted curbs in this neighborhood and i wasnt looking for a sec and my car catapulted again weeeeeeee land.......screeech[!] i stripped the spur gear again. can someone help wit this prob so i dont have to keep spending my precious 5 dollar bills. and oh yeah do u know if they sell a metal gears set so they dont strip.(plastics sucks)

[theshopkeeper]

Check you've got all the bearings in there and that if you're using the nylon ones in the kit that they're not worn out - seen these cars without bearings on the transfer gear and it causes this exact problem, yet the car seems to run OK before the gear strips.

I don't think they make metal spurs - in any event, you need a weak spot somewhere in the gearing and drive train, if you replace one gear with metal the next gear in turn would fail and so on.

[Tamiya1/10]

I am no expert in the M03 chasis but I would first check the gap/distance between the pinion gear and the spur gear are set correctly, follow Tamiya's instruction with the paper test if applicable. The gear usually get stripped is due to the 2 gears are too far apart or you have installed a very hot motor or as theshopkeeper mentioned of wearing of the nylon bearings. Don't forget to grease the gears.

[cardesigner]

I have a M03 Mini that I race often with a 13x2 motor, ball diff and sticky tires and my gears last a while. The one thing with the M03 chassis is it requires a rebuild every so often because rocks seem to find their way into the gearbox quite easily and that will prematurely wear your gears. Also, if you're going to get air with your M03, then remember to let off the gas before you touch down- this will prevent the torque from ripping your gears apart. Oh, and make sure all your screws are tight, if they're backing out then your gear mesh will surely be off.

[Taiko]

Also make sure you have the motor aligned using the correct holes; if you are using a stock pinion (20T), mount the motor using the 20 holes. or 16, 18 depending.