Super Astute TTC Gear Train Set....What Does It Do?

[Grumpy pants]

I bought a King Cab recently and it has this Hop up fitted to it.

I was going to fit it to a shelf queen K.C sometime in the future, but what does it do?

Is it a rare bit of kit?

Is is worth selling on?

I know you will know....

[z00ter]

Very nice hop up, as I have found its a slipper clutch not cheap, not sure about the King Cab, but a NIB goes for about 120GBP for a Astute

I need one for the shelf (have one in a astute) but I want a NIb for display, neat looking piece of kit

[Grumpy pants]

Very nice hop up, as I have found its a slipper clutch not cheap, not sure about the King Cab, but a NIB goes for about 120GBP for a Astute

I need one for the shelf (have one in a astute) but I want a NIb for display, neat looking piece of kit

Thanks z00ter for the info.

Have you any idea how it works, I've got no idea what a slipper clutch does?

Am I better off selling it on or sticking it a model that I use do you think?

[z00ter]

that would be a better question for the racer type guys, but as far as I can tell its like the clutch in a car and helps not to brake gears when throwing on the speed from stop etc.

the way I see it, my Dyna storm has a slipper clutch although not ttc less wheel spin etc, and it takes off a little slower compared to my madcap when I throw on the power with the same motor (that may be gearing I duno) I havent had a chance to use t he Astute yet, work work work

I love the way they have the dyntech 02 in the boxart

[Grastens]

For a runner, there are alternative companies that produce slipper clutch assemblies for the Astute/King Cab/Hilux Racer. They are expensive, but a worthwhile upgrade given the amount of trouble the original gearboxes gave.

For a shelf queen, it depends on personal taste: having a slipper clutch for the sake of having one would mean the aftermarket option is better, but if you want your display model to feature authentic Tamiya hop-ups, then there can only be the TTC.

The system itself reduces the shock on the gear train from sudden acceleration/deceleration or (potentially) hard landings (where a sudden change in loading on the wheels mean changes in gear loading; mostly the former, though). If I understand correctly, a slipper clutch gives the gear set another means for 'give;' the excess energy that goes into changing the rotation of gears under deceleration and acceleration is dissipated through the slipper clutch, which allows for more efficient energy transfer during these phases and saves excess wear.

... Is comparing its function to a 'shock absorber for the gearbox' too far-fetched?

[berman]

I have one fitted to my king cab and one to my hilux MR and one nib spare, and spare clutches etc for both. They use the same gearbox as the original astute/kingcab but with the aforementioned slipper arrangement on the a new spur gear and a planetary diff in place of the poorly designed ball diff.

slipper clutches provides protection for the gearbox from excessive shock (say, having the throttle wide open when landing) but also is useful as a tuning tool to help keep a 2wd car from becoming excessively squirrely on and off throttle.

[kontemax]

This slippery clutch has been the Tamiya's first one and it's an Astute upgrade.

You can find it as standard on the Super Astute kit.

I ran a lot with this transmission so I know everything about it.


The original Astute transmission has a not so good ball diff. The problem is not the diff itself but it's the diff housings made of poor pot material. They loose their shape and so they are unable to squeeze the balls of the diff so they always slip. The problem is not so big on the Astute but really big on the King Cab due the bigger tires. Anyway this diff is too tight (also to avoid to slip) so the Astute is a totally understeering car.

On the King Cab another problem is added at the diff. It's very easy to breake the iddle gear, the diff gear or the center support.


With the TTC Tamiya tried to solve all these problems with a redesigned transmission.


At first the gear module changed from 0.6 to 0.5, smaller teeth mean less noise and more efficience.

Than the bigger improvement, the slippery clutch.The slippery clutch separates the main bigger spur gear from the second smaller gear of the spur gear.

A clutch disk is located between the two gears. The clutch disk has a limited slippery movement. This allows to protect the second little gear (and all the other ones) from the excessive motor torque. This also help the traction on the slippery surfaces.

The 3th mod is the ball diff that become a geardiff with internal parts from Avante/Vanquish. The geardiff needs less maintenance and don't slip. It is very free (maybe to much, is totally free) so the car is no more understeering.


The advantage of the Tamiya Traction Control is to have a faster and more efficient transmission, a better handling and less skidding car and a virtually bomb proof transmission.

But this transmission has some disavantage.


1) Until the arrive of the Dark Impact that has the same gear module there was a lack of pinion gear sizes, only six from 10T to 15T if I remember well. This means that if you have a really hot motor (14T, 12T 10T or less) it's all ok, if you wanted a mild motor like 17T the car was slow.


2) The lexan cover protect the internal parts from the dust less than the solid plastic cover so you need to make maintenance every time you use the car on the track.


3) Smaller teeth means bigger pressure on them so they wear faster than 0.6 module gears. Delrin gears would been the right choice imho.


Without doubt the piece is race oriented.


I never used it on the King Cab but I think that every advantage and every disadvantage remain the same but bigger due King Cab bigger wheels.


It's a rare part and it's more rare find the spares like the gears.

I suggest to clean it and mount on a shelf queen and buy a modern Asso or Losi or Traxxas transmission for the King Cab or a Vintage hop up like the Lethal Weapon 2 belt drive with slippery clutch.


Max

[kontemax]

I forgot to say about another disadvantage.

Due the first attempt the design of the slippery clutch there's a little problem.

The spring system to set up the clutch is very difficoult to use.

The next design (Dyna Storm) uses a coil spring, the TTC uses five spring plates that work well as the coil spring but need more attention to find the right set up.

Will I use again the TTC on the track? Yes, I'll do it.

Max

[Grumpy pants]

Thank you z00ter, Grastens, berman and especially kontemax for a phenomenal response.

Amazing detailed, informative and with such speed.

I couldn't have wished for better.

[z00ter]

No problem mate, not that I know much at least I got it kinda right eh! kontemax is a **** Tamiya encyclopaedia

oh btw grumpy, if you end wanting to get shot of it, I have another madcap I wana throw a used TTC in please keep me in mind

[Grumpy pants]

No problem mate, not that I know much at least I got it kinda right eh! kontemax is a **** Tamiya encyclopaedia

oh btw grumpy, if you end wanting to get shot of it, I have another madcap I wana throw a used TTC in please keep me in mind

Will do, my plan is too strip out and sell it on.

I'll pm you when it is ready to go.

[z00ter]

Nice one mate!

[kontemax]

I will soon complete my articles on the Astute and will write also on the TTC. You can read my first two in my showroom. At the end they will be four probably.

Max

No problem mate, not that I know much at least I got it kinda right eh! kontemax is a **** Tamiya encyclopaedia

[EddScott]

I have a TTC box set to go on my Astute - what it doesn't have is the Lexan cover.

If, and I know its a big if, anyone has a spare I would be very interested in buying.

Ta

[berman]

Unfortunately as you know it is the hardest part to find, EddScott, I have seen a few people get all the remaining parts in the TTC gearbox off ebay etc (including the slipper shaft) and get stumped on this cover Best of luck

[kontemax]

Fortunatelly I've a couple of lexan cover spares.

Max

[berman]

We are all you best friend now Maximo, you know that, right?

[kontemax]

Eheheheh!!! I seem lucky cause I have two new TTC Lexan Cover but have no money to buy the Rere Egress... so not so lucky.

Max

[Grastens]

With the money that comes from selling the covers, you could potentially buy a re-re Egress

I seem to remember the TC member that sold me his TTC system asked me to wait for shipping, since he was lending the gear cover out to somebody to dimension and hopefully reproduce as an aftermarket piece. I wonder if anything is coming of that...

[kontemax]

This would be a very nice solution to find money for the Egress and the Avante too but, believe me, my home is like a super massive black hole, everything that enters in it will never exit forever...

Max

With the money that comes from selling the covers, you could potentially buy a re-re Egress

[berman]

believe me, my home is like a super massive black hole, everything that enters in it will never exit forever...

Max

Max you may already have a NIB Egress at the bottom of that black hole

[kontemax]

I need to check it in the bottom of the black hole, I'm making the inventory, I've something like 60 to 75 cars, I don't remember well, plus spares.

I remember to have a runner Egress and a restored Egress but I don't believe a nib.

I just remember now that I have also a nib 1988 Chevy Badged Clod Buster I yet not posted on my showroom. DOHH!!!

Will post it asap.

Max

Max you may already have a NIB Egress at the bottom of that black hole

[z00ter]

Kontemax, as we are abusing your brain for a moment, can I ask, does the TTC need a special pinion?

thank you again for your help.

[Grastens]

It is a good question - I know that the Super Astute uses 0.5 module pinion gears, but will just any fit?

[z00ter]

Indeed grastens, the Astute I purchased came with a TTC and the TC seller gave me a pinion and said they are very hard to find, which lead me to believe a "special" pinion is needed which = the 0.5 which Grastens says.