Dirt and Gravel in drive train
 

Let me first say, we are having a blast with these two trucks. We own two stock SC18. That said, running these outdoors on loose dirt or gravel is a dangerous affair.

Is anyone else discovering that rocks and dirt get into the drive train very easily through the opening for the steering rack/belt tensioner? AE sells this unit as "Molded composite chassis with sealed drive train", but today we ran the trucks for no more than one minute on a baseball field only to have the steering lock up. Small pebbles got stuck in the steering assembly.

Once that was cleared up, it wasn't more than 30 seconds later that the truck locked up. Rocks and debri got into the drive train through the same openings. We had to shut down and head back to the garage for a total cleaning.

So, is it safe to say, the drive train is not "sealed"?

Sealed Drive-Train?
 

Pics of drive train after running on baseball field for no more than 3 minutes. We even put tape over the air vent for the motor on the bottom of the chassis.

Wow! Yeah, so much for it being "sealed." I guess sealed just means there are lots of pieces to remove to get the debris back out! :eek:

Hmm... Looks like all the dirt is getting in through the gap on either side for the steering cross-bar? What if you taped up the holes and instead made a vertical extension on each lever (sorry for my lack of real terms) to run the cross-bar over the top plate?

Yeah, that's exactly it. what makes it worse are the front tires, which being 4x4, just shovel debris right up past that opening where the steering rack passes through the center drive-train casing. We could hear the rocks and dirt filling the car.

Actually, I was thinking an under-tray would be awesome for this little booger. Even one that had wheel wells. That in itself would just about solve the issue. I think I need to invent one.

Interesting idea. I think putting it above the "sealed" drivetrain would keep the ground clearance, and it should work as long as everything is kept nice and tight. Wheel wells are definitely a good idea; would you attach them to the chassis or to the body?

hey.. been forever since ive been on this site.. but i justgot my sc18 today.. fun truck.. but damn does that motor get hot..:confused:

whats the first mods i should look into for it.. i lengthened the shocks(unscrewed the ball ends a bit) and spaced up the springs.. and ive got a 2 cell lipo battery..what a difference that makes.. and super cheap compared to the larger ones for a 1/10 tc..

i am defiantely lookin into a brushless system.. whats a good one to go with.. i was thinkin the tekin one,( http://cgi.ebay.ca/Tekin-TT1102-Mini...item2a07a42dcb ) as i run their rs pro/17.5 brushless system in my tc, and works great..

anybody have a used or new sc18 body for sale cheap im working on a project and need a body

which one clear or painted?

dont matter either is fine

here are mine http://www.rctech.net/forum/r-c-item...c18-parts.html

so ive finally got my sc18 running nice.

Shimmed the diffs, cut out 2mm from belt tensioner & removed tensioner bearing.

This thing is so smooth now.

I have a turnigy 60A esc with 6200kv motor.

I fitting 3racing 18r shocks & 3racing 18r road tyres and this thing drifts on those tyres.

Im having issue with handling at high speeds, if i touch the steering left or right the backend will just washout.

Do you think that is just badly gripping tyres ? No wing for downforce or would it be my suspension setup ?

The 3racing shocks were running real low on oil & really soft springs.

I have since refilled shocks 35 front & 40 rear.

stock front springs & blue rear.

Any suggestions ?

here is my sc18 with the new factory team carbon fiber chassis.

damn that thing look sick. I did not even know it was out yet lol.


where did you get it from?

my hobby shop order it from associated. its on there website.