Belt drive or Shaft drive
08-22-2009, 09:03 PM
#1
Belt drive or Shaft drive
Hello all...My question is...why do some 4 wheel drive buggies have a belt drive system (TRF511 or the CAT SX) and others have shaft like my B44? What is the advantage or disadvantage of these systems??? Thanks for enlightening me....Mike
08-22-2009, 09:22 PM
#2
Well who wants to get shafted? 
They say belt drive is a little smoother but I have driven both and I honestly cant tell the difference but I'm no pro so go figure!
They say belt drive is a little smoother but I have driven both and I honestly cant tell the difference but I'm no pro so go figure!
08-23-2009, 10:39 AM
#4
Design perference. It makes a differnce on road, but not off. The benefit to having shaft off road is the belts wont get ruined with dust or small gravel and or sand.
08-23-2009, 11:37 AM
#6
How are they more professional?
Do they have a tie, breif case, degree from MIT mabie?
Do they have a tie, breif case, degree from MIT mabie?
08-23-2009, 11:41 AM
#7
Belt driven cars are smoother on power. Shaft are more responsive on power.
Belt driven are a bit easier to drive just have to keep belt tension compared to shaft driven. Just make sure bearings r a bit more free. Belt driven cars will slip more then shaft driven.
Belt driven are a bit easier to drive just have to keep belt tension compared to shaft driven. Just make sure bearings r a bit more free. Belt driven cars will slip more then shaft driven.
08-23-2009, 01:30 PM
#10
Tech Master
Belts are the future? lmao
I have a B44, and it's going to be a long time before anyone can say that car is low-tech or unprofessional!
I have 2 belt cars, both on-road, and they are fine too, but for off-road the B44 out performs my old XXX-4 and XX-4 any day. Drive shafts are "set and forget". Belts need constant maintenance for off road.
I have a B44, and it's going to be a long time before anyone can say that car is low-tech or unprofessional!
I have 2 belt cars, both on-road, and they are fine too, but for off-road the B44 out performs my old XXX-4 and XX-4 any day. Drive shafts are "set and forget". Belts need constant maintenance for off road.
08-23-2009, 03:04 PM
#12
my xxx4 has been great for two years now, no problems with the belts, it is in a tunnel that makes up the chassis. i like the belt desing a bit better than the shaft, alittle more tuning options, you can set the belt up alittle loose and have antilock brakes, plus makes cool sounds when hammer the brakes on as the cogged belt skips, also if the belt is just right it has better accelleration. the belt type also has a bit better control in air when landing due to the motor spinning the same direction as the wheels. as for which is better, from my experience there is not much difference between the two with proper maintainence, the biggest difference is the drivers, some guys can just drive. i have seen many B44's with torn up diffs, CAT SX's with various problems, my own XXX-4 shatters on impact. the kyosho is the only one i have not really seen much problems with, the kit version, the rtr is cheap plastic. if you were using this to get a kit, see what your LHS has in stock for parts. the B44 is the most popular one out there, i got a Losi mostly to mess with one of our local racers(big time AE fan) and i never gave it up, guess i got used to it.
. the kyosho is the only one i have not really seen much problems with, the kit version, the rtr is cheap plastic. if you were using this to get a kit, see what your LHS has in stock for parts. the B44 is the most popular one out there, i got a Losi mostly to mess with one of our local racers(big time AE fan) and i never gave it up, guess i got used to it.
08-23-2009, 09:14 PM
#13
Hey thanks for all the insight. I was thinking the dirt and dust of off road would have some effect on belts. I have a B44 and love it but the new Tamiya TRF511 just looks beautiful!!!! I won't switch but just wanted thoughts on the two. Thanks to all who posted.....
