Vintage Frog Owner

[WillS]

Hi

First time poster!

I have a vintage Frog. I built and raced it as a kid back in the mid eighties and have just retrieved from the parents attic after 30 odd years! I am planning to restore it to former glory for my boys.

I'm sure I will have many questions but firstly I am planning to strip it, clean and reassemble.

My first question is what new battery and fast charger would you recommend? I don't want to break the bank just get something good that will give us a reasonable drive time.

Looking at this set....

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=400931066374&globalID=EBAY-GB

Thank you.

[Yonez]

Hi WillS, welcome to the forum.

You're in luck!

Modern NiMh and LiPo batteries are high quality and high capacity. There are tons to choose from.

It helps if you say which country you're from as people are good at giving advise on local shops.

The Frog can fit a Nimh or a round case LiPo. Make sure you get a hard case LiPo if you go that route, because the Frog runs with the pack exposed.

Also think about getting a modern Electronic Speed Control to replace the manual one. The resistors will get very hot with the long run times provided by modern batteries.

I'm a bit out of touch on the current batteries and chargers as I've had mine for a few years. But try using the forum search feature.

[WillS]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I am in southern England. The frog is currently in the post from N Ireland!

I was going to try fixing up the old acoms servos, speed controller, battery box etc...

Would you recommend ditching this idea then and go straight for the modern kit?

I'll post some pics when it arrives. I haven't seen it for about 15 yrs so can't remember what condition is like. I imagine it went straight into the attic during my teenage years...sometime around '88 to '90.

I do remember stripping the rc gear to use in a Mardave Ministock that is coming along for the ride!

[KEV THE REV]

Hi WillS . The Frog will run better with an ESC etc . The old battery box / MSC set-up is not so good now . If you wanted to keep the servos and MSC you could just swap out the receiver for a BEC version compatible with your servos (AS7's probably which will mean buying a good used BEC receiver to suit the plugs on the servos) which will eliminate the need for the battery box . If you choose ESC it will also eliminate the MSC servo = less clutter + more reliability . I do run some vintage cars with MSC but with a BEC receiver minimum

[WillS]

Hi WillS . The Frog will run better with an ESC etc . The old battery box / MSC set-up is not so good now . If you wanted to keep the servos and MSC you could just swap out the receiver for a BEC version compatible with your servos (AS7's probably which will mean buying a good used BEC receiver to suit the plugs on the servos) which will eliminate the need for the battery box . If you choose ESC it will also eliminate the MSC servo = less clutter + more reliability . I do run some vintage cars with MSC but with a BEC receiver minimum

Thanks Kev.

I am thinking that getting new rc gear (ESC) is probably the best route.

[WillS]

Sorry...getting confused with the new tech!

Is it possible to keep all my existing rc kit and simply replace my MSC, it's servo and battery box with an ESC?

[KEV THE REV]

Yes , but you will need a receiver with a built in BEC (Battery Eliminater Circuit , it does away with the battery box ) you will need an older type receiver that will accept the larger plug of your older steering servo .you can use Tamiya ESC or similar . I'm running an old TEU101BK in my Frog at the moment and it's up to the job

[Frog Jumper]

Dood, I went through my 30yo Frog early this summer...

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76427

If you have any questions, just ask...

You will be happier (and spend less) if you just go ahead and strip out the vintage electronics and update to modern. I tried to keep my 30yo msc and Rx/Tx going, but it was too much of a PITA...

Terry

[Frog Jumper]

Also, if you plan on running LIPO batteries, find something other than a Tamiya ESC. AFAIK, the Tamiya ESCs don't support LIPO...

I can't make any recommendations - I'm still using old-school tech (NIMH batteries)...

Terry

[WillS]

Also, if you plan on running LIPO batteries, find something other than a Tamiya ESC. AFAIK, the Tamiya ESCs don't support LIPO...

I can't make any recommendations - I'm still using old-school tech (NIMH batteries)...

Terry

Thanks Terry,

Bought some new rc kit and ESC.

Will post pics of the car soon.

[WillS]

Dood, I went through my 30yo Frog early this summer...

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76427

If you have any questions, just ask...

You will be happier (and spend less) if you just go ahead and strip out the vintage electronics and update to modern. I tried to keep my 30yo msc and Rx/Tx going, but it was too much of a PITA...

Terry[/quote

Any advice on best method/ products to use for cleaning all the old gears etc... Would be appreciated. Is it simply a case of an old toothbrush and some detergent?!

[KEV THE REV]

You've raced it , the gears are old and will be worn so it's best to buy new ones , they are cheap enough now

[Frog Jumper]

There are various thread talking about various cleaning methods... I used the dishwash soap and old toothbrush method myself... works just fine...

But like Kev said, you should probably just go ahead and pick up a new set of gears, etc. Parts are cheap enough...

Also, while you're digging around in the tranny, you should upgrade to the Dogbone drive system introduced with the Re-Release... This is an Upgrade to the hex-shaft that used to drive the rear wheels...

Terry

[WillS]

Frog has arrived....looking a little tired.
I had forgotten how much fun I must have had in the mid eighties!

Stripped the chasis already with the help of 6 yr old son.

Will hit the gear box and shocks this weekend.

[WillS]

Sorry, posted twice.

Having a few issues uploading images using tapatalk!

[Hibernaculum]

Any advice on best method/ products to use for cleaning all the old gears etc... Would be appreciated. Is it simply a case of an old toothbrush and some detergent?!

Nothing beats a toothbrush and detergent.

Also, regarding the ESC vs MSC issue...

I'm a stickler for originality, so here's what I think.

If you are nostalgic, use an MSC. Yes they are more problematic and less smooth than ESCs.

But we all used them in the 1980s, they were all we had, and they were good enough to make us all enormous fans of these toys - so much so that we are now wasting money on them in adulthood 30 years later.

MSCs were not THAT bad, if cared for correctly. Not as bad as many will have you believe.

If performance is paramount to you, install an ESC.

If you are restoring and running your Frog for pure love and nostalgia for the 1980s, use an MSC.

You can buy a new in packet, period correct, original issue MSC for the Frog, for about $20-$30.

And the same goes for all other parts used for restoration. Ask yourself what will make you the most happy.

And if keeping the model 100% period correct and original like the 1980s is what you want, it is not at all hard or unaffordable to achieve this with the Frog.

[chevelle]

Any advice on best method/ products to use for cleaning all the old gears etc... Would be appreciated. Is it simply a case of an old toothbrush and some detergent?!

I dissolve laundry powder in a container of hot water then put the parts in to soak for halfa occasionally moving the container around, then I put it all in the ultrasonic cleaner for a cycle and they come out clean as new

[WillS]

Thanks for the advice.

Finally got the car back on the road.

New ESC, 4300 7.2v racing pack and RC gear. Able to use my old acoms transmitter! Tempted to upgrade to a Tamiya BZ motor!

Goes like s**t off a shovel! My 6yr old is loving it!

Awaiting new old stock rear shocks and re re tyres.

[WillS]

I've been enjoying driving the frog but have noticed that the rear diff isn't turning as it should.

When turning one wheel the other doesn't turn smoothly in the opposite direction, it sort of sticks. Sometimes turns in the same direction and sometimes the opposite. Also can make quite a rasping noise when accelerating or turning. I know the frog gear box has it issues...usually with the sides bowing and diff slipping but this feels more like it's too tight ?!

I've stripped the box twice now to try and rectify but with no luck.

I have ordered some shims incase it is the old slipping issue.

Would appreciate advice.

Thanks.

[Frog Jumper]

I've been enjoying driving the frog but have noticed that the rear diff isn't turning as it should.

When turning one wheel the other doesn't turn smoothly in the opposite direction, it sort of sticks. Sometimes turns in the same direction and sometimes the opposite. Also can make quite a rasping noise when accelerating or turning. I know the frog gear box has it issues...usually with the sides bowing and diff slipping but this feels more like it's too tight ?!

I've stripped the box twice now to try and rectify but with no luck.

I have ordered some shims incase it is the old slipping issue.

Would appreciate advice.

Thanks.

You could try and replace all the gears with new... But the problem will just come back... Its the nature of the 3-gear and bevel design... Shims may help keep them together, and there is a mod which replaces the pin with a screw...

But my fix for the same issue in my Frog was to buy an old Hop Up tranny and refurb it...

Terry

[Ozzycat04]

I dissolve laundry powder in a container of hot water then put the parts in to soak for halfa occasionally moving the container around, then I put it all in the ultrasonic cleaner for a cycle and they come out clean as new

dont make mistake i did once,adding laundry powder and washing up liquid together....makes amonia ..not good for your health.i was trying to make homemade swarfega (other products are available )out of washing up liquid and sugar (works well)but ran out of sugar and substituted it with laundry powder

[KEV THE REV]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1441817440.696822.jpg

Frog has arrived....looking a little tired.

I had forgotten how much fun I must have had in the mid eighties!

Stripped the chasis already with the help of 6 yr old son.

Will hit the gear box and shocks this weekend.

The Mardave Mini looks cool too

[WillS]

The Mardave Mini looks cool too

Yeah...its next on the 'to do' list.

Needs a good clean and a new battery.

[WillS]

You could try and replace all the gears with new... But the problem will just come back... Its the nature of the 3-gear and bevel design... Shims may help keep them together, and there is a mod which replaces the pin with a screw...

But my fix for the same issue in my Frog was to buy an old Hop Up tranny and refurb it...

Terry

Ok, so I have pulled the trigger on a Thorp diff, dog bones and hubs. Paid a bit for it but keen to be able to run the old girl for another few years with my new ESC and Tamiya BZ motor!

My question is can I run this diff with the original tamiya stock gears?

Thanks again for all help and advice.

[Frog Jumper]

Ok, so I have pulled the trigger on a Thorp diff, dog bones and hubs. Paid a bit for it but keen to be able to run the old girl for another few years with my new ESC and Tamiya BZ motor!

My question is can I run this diff with the original tamiya stock gears?

Thanks again for all help and advice.

Oh! Was that you I was bidding against?!? Sorry! If I had known, I would have held off!

I ended up picking up the telescoping shaft set that was available...

AFAIK, the Thorp Diff is compatible with the Tamiya Spur...

Terry

ETA: Found this thread per Thorp/Blackfoot/Frog: http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=47359