Monster Beetle Rejuvenation Tips Please

[Grumpy pants]

I bought a M.B a couple of months ago and it is time to do some thing useful with it...

But I'm having a 3 basics problems with it-

The car will not switch off using the on/ off switch. It looks like a standard set up with an MSC, am I right in thinking swap MSC with a replacement one?

My guess is that the switch is faulty.

2nd problem- the motor smells when running, my thinking it must be dusty from years of sitting around as it is a hot/burning smell- should I blow the dust out or run for a bit and burn off the crud, or is it better to ditch the motor and replace it?

Last one, the gearbox clicks which I think is going to be a typical related MB problem, should I get some fresh grease in there and repair when it finally gives up or is it a must do now open heart surgery moment?

I had planned to sell this model, although I do really like it I have others I really want to spend the time and money on. So the scales of time/money are at force here!

Thank you T.C team for having a look at my topic.

[Tamiya1/10]

Your deduction appears to be correct. Swap another switch if you have one and blow out dirt and dust in the motor. Open up the gear casing and see if any parts are worn or loose . Nothing like getting your hands dirty and learn 1st hand of the problems.

[GregM]

A slipping differential is indeed a typical issue with worn out Monster Beetle/Blackfoot gearboxes. The metallic sideplates will also bend over time, especially when used with powerful motors.

[beefmuffin]

basically this is true of all vintage cars you pick up: you need to completely disassemble it, clean all the parts, fix any apparent problems, and reassemble it swapping in new hardware (screws, etc) and replacement parts where needed, and making sure to apply fresh grease wherever needed - as if you were building the car from the instructions, and it helps to have them out or open while doing this.

as for the MSC switch my personal preference is to almost always run ESCs. if i want to keep the MSC installed i'll ziptie the battery and motor leads and install an ESC wherever there is space - there's plenty of space in the Monster Beetle/ORV chassis. or for my pure runners i just go all ESC, but i leave resistors installed purely for looks.

if i'm not going to run it at all i'll leave the MSC or install a new one but i almost never even test them. most of my bad experiences as a kid with RC cars had to do with MSCs and hot resistors.

[OldSchoolRunner]

For sure update your electronics with new ones. They are cheap. The motor sounds like it is dirty. So if you want to keep it just hit it with an electronics solvent of some sort to clean your brushes. The nice thing is that you can get re-re frog parts to replace any worn out pieces that you might find in that gear box. Enjoy your build.

OSR

[Grumpy pants]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I'll be sorting out the issues this week.

I'm very unlikely to dismantle the gearbox as I want to sell this one and if I can sort out 2 of the 3 problems if will

be less for the next owner to take on.

[Grumpy pants]

Its gone well today sorting out the M.B.

A lot of head scratching, I'm sure as I do this more often it will become easier and less fiddly.

The gearbox has now had some grease and I replaced 2 of the bolts that hold the rear guard on with something better than the odd screws that were holding it together, much quieter and hopefully problem free.

I swapped the MSC and switch and this seems to have done the trick, also I realised that If the handset is turned on before the car then the servo twitches onto speed around the floor out of control mode.

I've blown the dust out of the motor and there is no nasty burning smells now either now.

It will go on to the shelf now as I plan to sell it during the next couple of months.

Thank you for the tips and help everyone, I really appreciate it.