Hi, I've recently built up a bunch of parts into a working buggy, but am having major issues with the ESC/motors.
I have both the original 8500kv red motor and the ECO 5600kv blue motor. The blue motor will not even spin the wheels and the 8500kv motor cogs exceptionally badly:
Thinking that a FET has blown as both motors are struggling?
When not in contact with the ground the wheels spin fine and free - there's no binding in the transmission and I've swapped the clutch from 3 arm to 4 arm with no difference...
Nothing seems to be overheating and using the Scorpion programming cable (connects fine) settings all stay saved etc.
Oh. make that over voltage. I don't think the board is any good beyond 6.6V. If you are running a pair of blanks and the 3.7's in series you may have your answer. Kyosho made a LIFe pack for mini Z use. I would look for a set of those with all the appropriate harnesses and another board too. You have probably let the smoke escape from the one shown in the photo.
I also have a standard buggy with a Chilli brushed motor which is fine (mental) on the LiPo's and with standard NiMh (sane-ish). Previously using the same NiMh cells on the brushless resulted on lots of heat and major cogging.
None of the FETs are smoked (sight or smell) and I can get the ESC working again (temporarily) by holding the FETs back on their pads - they just melt off again when driving.
I think this must just be a faulty ESC, but for the cost of a new one and finding it in stock, (Japan seems the only option) I could replace all the electrics with standard hobby parts!
What gear ratio are you pulling? Pinion tooth count? Try putting a MUCH smaller pinion on it and see if it changes anything. RC Kenon has plenty of parts and accessories for the buggies and they are Stateside.
I am not all that familiar with the spur gears on a buggy but I would be looking to gear the thing nearrer to 6.0:1 than 3.00:1. I don't believe you are looking to set a land speed record. At that gearing I doubt it would climb a small incline let alone muster up enough torque to make a jump. That gearing is likely the cause of the excessive heat you have mentioned as well as the cogging.
11/35 gearing on a buggy works out at 11.13:1 - it's the lowest it can be.
TBH, it's a really nice bit of engineering, but the brushless setup sucks. I've been running Micro-T's, a GT-24B and larger scales without issue for years and this just didn't work out of the box.
Thinking that the below would be far cheaper and 'simplify' things considerably:
Thanks arch2b, I agree and it's a refreshing change!
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