Tamiya TBLE-04S Reverse

[TrueBlue 45]

I recently acquired the new Ford Escort Custom, that comes with the new TLBE-04S ESC. I've just taken it out for it's first run since I built it, and noticed that reverse seemed to be very hit and miss.

It'll brake immediately, so there's no problems there. But it won't go into reverse after moving the stick down a second time. I have to to this a few times until eventually it does start to reverse. I can see the green LED on the ESC blink when it receives the reverse signal, so it's definitely detecting reverse, but it simply struggles to start reversing.

I temporarily attached a TBLE-02S to the receiver, and it worked fine. Granted I forgot to test it on the floor, when the motor would have had resistance, but it still went into reverse every time. And yes, the battery was fully charged, before anyone asks. And alsoyes, reverse is enabled in the ESC settings. 

No idea if this new ESC is faulty, and I doubt this can be normal behaviour. I'm guessing not to many people have one of these yet, since the Escort Custom was the first kit to include it. But does anyone have any ideas why reverse is a bit of gamble as to when it works? Please and thank you!

[Superluminal 3750]

Did you have to calibrate the forward and reverse end points on it like you do when setting up a Tble02?

Think your the first person here to post anything about the new Tble04 curious to see how it performs

[nel33 870]

When my 02s decided to break it had a similar issue going into reverse but it also went out of control at the same time. No damage done to the body but I'm not sure if Tamiya hired the ghost busters for their ESCs yet... I hope it's not the same issues that occur with 02s but I'm not feeling too confident...

My 02s must have been faulty, it couldn't survive 3 different runs on different dates that lasted 30 min. The 3rd run was when it got crazy.

[TrueBlue 45]

1 hour ago, Superluminal said:

Did you have to calibrate the forward and reverse end points on it like you do when setting up a Tble02?

Think your the first person here to post anything about the new Tble04 curious to see how it performs

I did indeed try to calibrate the ESC, I did it several times to make sure but it still has issues when going into reverse. I threw a HobbyWing 1060 in there quickly, just to test and it reverses just fine.. all the time, every time. So it seems there's something about the TBLE-04S that's isn't quite right, at least for mine.  

30 minutes ago, nel33 said:

When my 02s decided to break it had a similar issue going into reverse but it also went out of control at the same time. No damage done to the body but I'm not sure if Tamiya hired the ghost busters for their ESCs yet... I hope it's not the same issues that occur with 02s but I'm not feeling too confident...

My 02s must have been faulty, it couldn't survive 3 different runs on different dates that lasted 30 min. The 3rd run was when it got crazy.

I've never actually had an 02S fail on me yet, and I'm had plenty of them. Granted, they usually get replaced by a HW 1060 (although those are getting replaced soon as well!) but the cars that I run the 02S in have never gone bad. But I do hope the 04S isn't having that issue.. I like the new ESC and was hoping to keep it in the Escort, but it seems I'm stuck with the HW 1060 for now, unless I slap an 02S in there instead.

[nel33 870]

10 hours ago, TrueBlue said:

I've never actually had an 02S fail on me yet, and I'm had plenty of them. Granted, they usually get replaced by a HW 1060 (although those are getting replaced soon as well!) but the cars that I run the 02S in have never gone bad. But I do hope the 04S isn't having that issue.. I like the new ESC and was hoping to keep it in the Escort, but it seems I'm stuck with the HW 1060 for now, unless I slap an 02S in there instead.

I guess I'm just unlucky. It was a brand new one to boot... when I tried to reflash it by changing motor modes it bit the dust. It didnt want to go brushed and gave error flashes... i got a HW1060 its good but basic. I dont like the default brake % setting of either ESC but i can learn to live with it. Im now sceptical of every 02S now as I had to resort to full throttle in counter reverse or forward as the 2S went bonkers in the other direction. I had it very close by to stop the worst case but still...

+$80 and a chance for it to go bonkers VS $40 HW1060 which is more predictable. I'm converted to option 2 unless the motor demands a better ESC. If a kit comes with a 2S, I will use it but the first signs of trouble aaaannd it's gone!

A +1 if you get that last punchline joke.

[nchellzz 0]

On 5/18/2021 at 8:14 PM, TrueBlue said:

I recently acquired the new Ford Escort Custom, that comes with the new TLBE-04S ESC. I've just taken it out for it's first run since I built it, and noticed that reverse seemed to be very hit and miss.

It'll brake immediately, so there's no problems there. But it won't go into reverse after moving the stick down a second time. I have to to this a few times until eventually it does start to reverse. I can see the green LED on the ESC blink when it receives the reverse signal, so it's definitely detecting reverse, but it simply struggles to start reversing.

I temporarily attached a TBLE-02S to the receiver, and it worked fine. Granted I forgot to test it on the floor, when the motor would have had resistance, but it still went into reverse every time. And yes, the battery was fully charged, before anyone asks. And alsoyes, reverse is enabled in the ESC settings. 

No idea if this new ESC is faulty, and I doubt this can be normal behaviour. I'm guessing not to many people have one of these yet, since the Escort Custom was the first kit to include it. But does anyone have any ideas why reverse is a bit of gamble as to when it works? Please and thank you!

exactly the same thing here. My Monster Beetle rere comes with TBLE-04s and I also have the reverse issue

have re-calibrate and all

[alvinlwh 5894]

That is a typical problem (or one of the many problem with the TBLE-04S. I have the same with the two I have, so your problem is not unique. Calibrate it a million times and it is still the same. I had the same problem no matter running brushed or brushless. 

[DTSCB 96]

I'm having this problem too.  (Two TT-02B Plasma Edge IIs)

No fun with no reverse.  (I'm a basher, not a racer.)

I guess I'll try going through re-calibration. 

[DTSCB 96]

Upon closer inspection, my neutral point was off.  The green light on the ESC was always on.  It was a little toward reverse.  This ESC has been a pain to get happy, so I adjusted the trim on my transmitter a little forward.  And now I have the "double tap" reverse working.  (You have to tap reverse, back to neutral and than go to reverse to actually reverse.) 

[alvinlwh 5894]

35 minutes ago, DTSCB said:

Upon closer inspection, my neutral point was off.  The green light on the ESC was always on.  It was a little toward reverse.  This ESC has been a pain to get happy, so I adjusted the trim on my transmitter a little forward.  And now I have the "double tap" reverse working.  (You have to tap reverse, back to neutral and than go to reverse to actually reverse.) 

Your neutral point can be anywhere (within reason) and it should still work after you had recalibrated (which you said you will do?). Unless thar ESC is that fussy about neutral that it will refuse to accept neutral even if it is just off on the trim. 

[DTSCB 96]

The problem is that the ESC has to see you go from neutral to reverse to neutral to reverse again to actually go into reverse. 

My neutral point (which was a little off), didn't move the car or anything.  But, also wasn't good enough to go into reverse as the ESC still thought it was a little in reverse and never made it into neutral the second time. 

[Kol__ 3377]

I've had this same problem with all my TBLE-04S'. It was certainly the neutral for me, unless it's set spot on for each car, reverse is very hit and miss. After a few mins run time and the odd tweak to get neutral spot on, it's mostly fine. Poor design though imo, but I don't have much to compare it too yet.