[QUOTE=monkeyracing;14087708]Reinforced gears aren't any better, just noisier and they don't fit the m03 very well. They're not terrible - just not better than stock. Regular gears and a good pinion should last ages.

I tried some in a M03 and they didn't fit. They were just too tight, so I took them out and ran stock ones. My son uses the car now and I changed the gears recently, I think for the second time in 5 years ? Someone commented at our last race how quiet the car was !

So what's best for a M05, 3Racing gear diff, or TA03 ball diff ?

I was a little laxed on keep my gearbox super clean, and bearings super clean. When one of the bearings starts to create a little heat due to grit in the races, the shafts heat up when the inner race starts spinning on the shaft and the hot shaft will melt the outer chassis halves. As I wanted to do the LEAST amount of work on my mini, ive kept the stock steel pins, these seem to be better for bearings that are starting to 'loose their smooth'. I have been able to find some gritty bearings in the gearbox, and the holes in the gearbox halves have not been affected at all. Remember, nothing is exactly the same, you could run 4 years on the carbon shafts. I personally don't like them for the previous reasons

IMHO, 3 racing everytime on every surface. Sure tuning the oils can be a pain, but once you get a oil weight that your happy with, the 3 racing diffs last a very long time, and don't change. Great product.

Huh, thanks for the info. In my case, my gears only last a couple of months. Probably last longer now that I have better traction on my track and dont need to brake as hard.

Speaking of track, someone asked me how I made the curbs. I'm off today and was working on it this morning so here are some pictures.

This is a standard gray colored cord tunnel (cord duct) sold at HomeDepot.
I made triangular slits and applied a lot of heat using a standard heat gun
to make the duct stay in this shape. No adhesive used, I just reformed it.

I marked the floor with masking tape to try out the curb radius running
a few of my cars, make adjustments as needed.



Mounted the curb to the floor after a couple of test drives using double sided
carpet mounting tape. Only need to use a few slits of tape.

Then used some white and red duct tape..



I'm going to be working on the one on the lower right next..

Okay, thanks Axle... I'll keep a look out from now on.

Toon.... I'm fairly newb still, but I tried the TA03 ball diff and didn't like it. I put a 3Racing gear diff in and it was a huge improvement in car performance and it's been absolutely maintenance free. No leaks, no squeaks, and certainly not weak. FWIW.

Have you (or anyone else for that matter) tried teflon spray? Not sure why I didn't, but I keep a spray around the house for the odd job. The thought came to me when I found recently two types of spray in the shop, a dry and a non-descript (same company, similar cans). Couldn't find any info of the difference. Made by CRC if it means anything.

I'll try next time I open a mini chassis, but if anyone has experience with it already, here's your chance to save us some experimenting.

I found this spray (non descript type) very useful in lubricating plastics (hinges, sliders, etc).

PS. What about the Spice gear diff? Anyone tried that?

I have, now that you mention it. I put a squirt into a M04 way back when. Worked fine for me

I need to get a new diff for my M03. I hear 3Racing often. So there is this gear oil diff one you speak of and also a ball diff as well that they make?

If the oil doesn't leak, I rather do the gear diff too as ball diffs are kind of a pain and dated.


niznai- From the next gear set I rebuild, I am actually NOT going to use any lubes in the gear box.

The oil-filled gear diff I am referring to is 3Racing's part number M06-06 which I can say fits an M05, 'cuz I'm using it in mine. I've never had an M03, so I can't say for sure, but I think I read somewhere back aways in this thread that this part doesn't fit an M03. Could be wrong though -- frequently am.

Many thanks, I'll order one.

The 3Racing will not fit the M03. The Spec R can be made to fit if you've got skills and a lathe. http://tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model...21229&id=34024

I've used both the dry(White Lightening) and another. They're fine, but don't seem to any better than running w/out a lube. I've been running w/out a lube for some time now, but the teflon type lubes don't seem to hurt or help.

Thanks, monkeyracing. I guess I will just use the Tamiya one again if I decide to get one. Might try that foam jamming technique on the bevels.

Thanks, V-point!

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to use the Tamiya one...



Finally got the other 2 curbs done..