Added Full Bearings

[Guest Greg67]

Added a set of Yeah! Racing bearings today to my TT-01/ Very happy . Sounds a lot better and seems to be faster too. The difference in sound is quite amazing, so I have to think that it puts less strain on the motor. Drifitng is much easier now, and more fun.

Also got in the mail a Skyline shell I ordered a month ago or so from Europe. It was a little over $11, but shipping was about $17. It's beat up in the front, or opened up anyway to show the previous owners intercooler. I think it looks great.

Pretty sure it is a Yokomo shell. I like the stickers on it, and I'm not so worried about bashing it, although now there seems to be more control with the bearings. It is way worth it to upgrade to full bearings ($8 or so)! Thanks guys for the advice on upgrading these first!

[HunterZero]

Bearings are the best upgrade you can do for a TT-01.

Bearings reduce friction, so you'll notice the car will be quieter, faster and you'll get longer run times.

Oil dampers are worthwhile, and the metal motor mount, chassis brace and metal prop shaft are good if you upgrade the motor.

Other than that, there's not much else you can do to a TT-01 that will give you as noticeable a benefit as these.

- James

[taliesin]

The best upgrade you can do to any Tamiya kit is to add bearings; followed by oil dampers and an ESC for those kits that don't already have them. The rest is gravy, but those three things are must haves in my book. I understand why Tamiya doesn't include them as stock equipment - it allows people to buy the kit and upgrade as time and money allow, but ... every kit needs them IMHO.

[TA-Mark]

Don't forget the steel pinion. Friends don't let friends drive with Tamiya aluminium AV pinions.

[Percymon]

The best upgrade you can do to any Tamiya kit is to add bearings; followed by oil dampers and an ESC for those kits that don't already have them.

Good to hear - yesterday ordered a full set of bearings for my Manta Ray rebuild, and today will be new seals and oil for the shocks.

[taliesin]

Don't forget the steel pinion. Friends don't let friends drive with Tamiya aluminium AV pinions.

How could I forget that???? Thanks Mark! You gotta watch me.

Out of laziness I have left plastic bushings in an XB kit for ages. For lack of money I've run pogo sticks for a few months until I could order proper dampers. Since that 1st time ruining a whole gear set in my DT-02 because of a crummy kit pinion, I've never left one on the car. If I buy a car off Evilbay the 1st thing I do is replace it. And then I forget to mention it?

Okay, I just thought of an excuse - it's not an upgrade it's absolutely required.

[Guest Greg67]

Don't forget the steel pinion. Friends don't let friends drive with Tamiya aluminium AV pinions.

Do you mean a steel pinion that attaches to the end of the motor shaft?

Good to hear - yesterday ordered a full set of bearings for my Manta Ray rebuild, and today will be new seals and oil for the shocks.

It does make a huge difference with real bearings. You won't be disappointed

Bearings are the best upgrade you can do for a TT-01.

Bearings reduce friction, so you'll notice the car will be quieter, faster and you'll get longer run times.

Oil dampers are worthwhile, and the metal motor mount, chassis brace and metal prop shaft are good if you upgrade the motor.

- James

Thanks James. Dampers are next on my list. I have an aluminum prop shaft right now, and upgraded motor than the stock silver one. Those came with the car when I bought it. Eventually I'll get a motor mount too, and possibly the chassis brace.

The best upgrade you can do to any Tamiya kit is to add bearings; followed by oil dampers and an ESC for those kits that don't already have them. The rest is gravy, but those three things are must haves in my book. I understand why Tamiya doesn't include them as stock equipment - it allows people to buy the kit and upgrade as time and money allow, but ... every kit needs them IMHO.

I like how it is like that. It's nice to upgrade over time I think. Adds to the fun. Plus after taking the chassis apart a few times, I don;t need to look at a manual now. I have it memorized. Also I get faster at repairs, and maintanence. Which is fun too. Great hooby it is!

[TA-Mark]

Do you mean a steel pinion that attaches to the end of the motor shaft?

Yes. The kit one is very soft aluminium. They wear quickly and destroy the spur gear (the big one that runs from it).

RW Racing or Robinson Racing make 0.6mod sized pinions suitable for the TT01. (Robinson Racing call them "metric 48dp"). Modelsport.co.uk has RW Racing .6 steel pinions.

I won't run a new kit until it has steel pinion fitted to the motor. I've had to replace too many gearsets in my time before I realised what was causing it.

[Guest Greg67]

I ordered a set of 18t and 19t tamiya pinion gears, I think they are steel. I'll go check now.

Edit: The pinion gears I bought are 50355, 18t and 19t AV pinion gear set I am thinking that the A in AV is aluminum though.

So far not much wear to the spur gear or pinion. I keep it well greased though, the edges seem to be rounded fine. I am not sure if the previous owner upgraded the pinion or not.

[MadInventor]

Yes. The kit one is very soft aluminium. They wear quickly and destroy the spur gear (the big one that runs from it).

RW Racing or Robinson Racing make 0.6mod sized pinions suitable for the TT01. (Robinson Racing call them "metric 48dp"). Modelsport.co.uk has RW Racing .6 steel pinions.

I won't run a new kit until it has steel pinion fitted to the motor. I've had to replace too many gearsets in my time before I realised what was causing it.

The only problem I found with the RR pinions is that the grub screw is not a metric item, and you need a imperial allen key if you want to get it undone after tightening (or to get it properly tight). I rounded off a couple of metric allen keys before I sussed this.

[TA-Mark]

The only problem I found with the RR pinions is that the grub screw is not a metric item, and you need a imperial allen key if you want to get it undone after tightening (or to get it properly tight). I rounded off a couple of metric allen keys before I sussed this.

I found this out too the hard way. I keep a 1/16" hex key in my tool kit now as nearly all my cars have RR pinions fitted.

[Guest Greg67]

I try to stick with tamiya parts, because the wrenches that come with the kits seem to work across the board on parts.

[TA-Mark]

I ordered a set of 18t and 19t tamiya pinion gears, I think they are steel. I'll go check now.

Edit: The pinion gears I bought are 50355, 18t and 19t AV pinion gear set I am thinking that the A in AV is aluminum though.

So far not much wear to the spur gear or pinion. I keep it well greased though, the edges seem to be rounded fine. I am not sure if the previous owner upgraded the pinion or not.

AV Tamiya pinions are aluminium, same as what comes in the kit. The only 0.6mod pinion I know of that comes from Tamiya that is steel is the DF02 kit 19T pinion.

If you use grease on the gears, you will notice a grey metallic paste on the inside of the gearbox and gear cover. Without grease it just leave a grey metallic powder in the gearbox. This once was the pinion.

[Guest Greg67]

AV Tamiya pinions are aluminium, same as what comes in the kit. The only 0.6mod pinion I know of that comes from Tamiya that is steel is the DF02 kit 19T pinion.

If you use grease on the gears, you will notice a grey metallic paste on the inside of the gearbox and gear cover. Without grease it just leave a grey metallic powder in the gearbox. This once was the pinion.

Was wondering what that gray stuff was. I'll see if I can find a df02 pinion for sale, and if not look into the one you mentioned above.

How often do you guys go through pinions on your cars?

[MadInventor]

Was wondering what that gray stuff was. I'll see if I can find a df02 pinion for sale, and if not look into the one you mentioned above.

How often do you guys go through pinions on your cars?

The ally ones wear out quickly, I've never worn out a hardened steel one.

[TA-Mark]

How often do you guys go through pinions on your cars?

AV pinion... one battery and it's toast!

Hardened steel I get about 100 runs out of. That is when using extreme power though. Running steel pinion with a tame motor I'm yet to wear one out.

[Guest Greg67]

Hmm...I wonder if because i am using a 27T motor that mine hasn't worn much. I use it quite a bit, but evenything is well greased with anti-wear grease. It seems like you guys are using race systems, or at least high performance systems.

[taliesin]

Hmm...I wonder if because i am using a 27T motor that mine hasn't worn much.

It will, trust me. And it usually destroys the whole gear set. Even a lowly silver can motor is enough power - granted a Mamba Max 7900kv system will destroy it in .003 seconds - but the silver can will get the job done and it'll end in tears.

Historical Note: I believe it was William Shakespeare who first noticed that Tamiya AV pinions suck, and the reason they are called "AV pinions" was from his disgusted exclamation. "Away Vile Pinion".

[Guest Greg67]

you guys have me convinced! Is nickel plated ok? Or should it say 100% steel?

[taliesin]

Is nickel plated ok?

Sounds like somebody has been visiting the handgun counter at the sporting goods store.

Honest Santa, all I want for Christmas is a nickel plated 9mm and a couple of nickel plated metric 48 pitch steel pinion gears.

[Guest Greg67]

lol

I can read between the lines. LOL. Thanks mate!

[WillyChang]

AV pinions first appeared for the AVante.

AV Tamiya pinions are aluminium, same as what comes in the kit. The only 0.6mod pinion I know of that comes from Tamiya that is steel is the DF02 kit 19T pinion.

there's also this

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=53509

RC 0.6 Alum Pinion Gear - Hard Fluorine Coated 20T

Item #53509

the HFCing really helps these last as long as steel pinions, meant for F201 but we use them in the brushless M03/5s

[Guest Greg67]

If it's 20T, it should fit in a tt-01? Or is it a different pitch then? I know you didn;t mention a tt-01, but just wondering. If steel helps save the spur gear and then that other gear thing set-up, I'm all for it.

[WillyChang]

yep TT01 uses 0.6mod (most cars after the AVante used 0,6 except for TRF/PRO cars which use finer 0,4mod)

i think TT01 can take 19/20/21/22 on the stock 61 spur

unfortunately the 20 seems to be the only HFC they sell; i buy RW's 0.6 pinions for other sizes

on TT01 make sure you use the right pair (A/B/C/D) of motor holes, wrong mesh is bad.

Wornout pinions grow sharp teeth which chewup the spurgear.

[TA-Mark]