start somewhere between 3.5-4 fdr depending on track size, check ur temps every couple laps and gear from there.

Mopar,
I keep reading people talking about 150F being the limit on motor temps. Can you tell me why?

Scott

150?? no clue, I run mine 21.5 at 160-170 no problems.

NOVAK actually puts the maximum temp at 175F

Brushless Motor Gearing & Over-Heating Notice

Novak motors have been designed to handle the rigors of the various forms of electric racing. Through multiple forms of testing, customer reports, and inspection of damaged motors, we have determined the the maximum external safe operating temperature for Novak brushless motors is 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Motors that have been run at higher temperatures have most likely already sustained internal damage.

This internal damage can render the motor inoperable if you continue to run it and will ultimately result in burned or melted coils inside the motor and can in turn result in speed control failure. This type of damage to the motor is not covered under the Novak product warranty.

From our testing and experience, keeping the external operating temperature under 160 degrees F (72 degrees C) will provide the best performance when the car is handling well. At this temperature, the racing life of the motors will be quite a long time and should require only occasional replacement of the bearings and rotors.

Precaution about Advanced Timing:

Use of Novak brushless motors with ESCs that have advance motor timing can reult in excessive current draw, which will rapidly increase the motor temperature above the safe operating limit. As most of these racing ESCs do not have a thermal overload protection for motors, continued operation will result in internal damage to the brushless motor. This type of damage is not covered under the product's warranty.

Precaution about Over-Gearing:

Motor temperature is the ONLY way to properly set the vehicle's gearing. Over-gearing the motor will result in excessive operating temperatures, which may result in internal damage. This type of damage is not covered under the product's warranty.

Results of Overheating a Brushless Motor:

All Novak Brushless Motors are hound-wound, and are assembled and tested at the Novak facility in Irvine, California. Each motor (yes, 100%) is meticulously inspected and tested for internal shorts, and is run extensively before final packaging.

Please follow these important operating temperature guidelines. Thank you.

Mark

hi

Hey Myron!

Awesome! Thanks, Mark! If I read my manuals, I might know, huh? I'll have to call Novak about their "hound wound" motors. Do you think they use Bassett Hounds?

Scott

Just wanted to show my latest entry in the USGT world. It's hard to see, but it is a flipflop paint.

Looks good!

Really is a gorgeous shell. Your paint but also just the shape of it. Is that the Tamiya? I think maybe they are the only ones right now that will pay for the extravagant license. I love painting pretty shells, but I find that if I do an exceptional job and it looks really good then I don't have the heart to race it. On the other hand if I botch it in some way then I'm all too glad to beat the hell out of it as quickly as I can.

Thanks guys, I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. Yes, it is a Tamiya shell. I like their stuff not only because it is a very good looking body, but also because they are 190 and I don't have to run crazy offset wheels or spacers to make them look right. I can't wait to run it this weekend and see how it compares to my R8 that was running. The wing struts are from the HPI wing kit and the wing is from a speed6. I had a couple of those wings laying around so, I cut them down to legal height and used that since the body doesn't come with one. I have one wing with the slots cut out and one that I left solid, I hope now I can tell a difference between the two.

Howdy USGT folks. The USGT class isn't supported in my local region (our club is small so we don't want to have too many classes with only a few cars in each, so we only run VTA and 17.5 blinky touring). I do like the USGT rules though, so my friends and I who parkinglot bash after work on fridays roughly set up our cars around usgt rules.
We aren't implimenenting the spec ride tires, but do use treaded tires in any size. We run on a dusty unprepped asphalt parking lot. What tires have you guys found to work best in these conditions?

probably the HPI x-pattern ones will work best. I know I've used them on parking lot racing (blown off, but not 'prepared') and had good luck with them. the pro-compound ones will give the best grip but will wear out -- the D compound ones have a little less grip and better wear life.

that being said, I've had better luck running the D's then the pro's