LXT original transmission- worth running?

[Lonestar]

Hi Losi loving fellas

I decided that the ridculously corroded LXT I bought on this very forum a while back (seller apologized and provided partial refund, so we're still friends ) and that has been sleeping in the garage forever would be put to good use and made a runner I have PILES of LXT parts accumulated along the years, and corrosion really doesn't hurt performance that bad, so might as well run it like it was 1994 again as I won't have any afterthoughts, as opposed to spending countless hours restoring it and then not daring ever run it again!

My car still has the "original" LXT tranny... I am conscious that the retrofit tranny is way superior to the original design, but I was wondering how "bad" and "fragile" the stock gearbox would be. Is it reasonable considering running that complex piece of (over-)engineering, or must I really really adapt a XX retrofit tranny otherwise it'll blow up in piece at the first mash of the throttle? My car has the hydra btw

Thanks for the perspective

I'll post pics in a little while

Thanks!
Paul

[GJW]

the lrm gearbox with a slipper set-up can handle plenty of power, i run a 9turn brushless in mine and nothing has gone wrong. (use the ball raced centre gear though)

[Lonestar]

the lrm gearbox with a slipper set-up can handle plenty of power, i run a 9turn brushless in mine and nothing has gone wrong. (use the ball raced centre gear though)

allright, thanks for spec'ing this. No idea if my lxt has 3021 or 3006 diff gear in there.

Woohoo I have a new project

soo why exactly was the newer tranny so much greater?

Cheers
Paul

[geeforce59]

the lrm gearbox with a slipper set-up can handle plenty of power, i run a 9turn brushless in mine and nothing has gone wrong. (use the ball raced centre gear though)

allright, thanks for spec'ing this. No idea if my lxt has 3021 or 3006 diff gear in there.

Woohoo I have a new project

soo why exactly was the newer tranny so much greater?

Cheers
Paul

Simply the Retro Fit Tranny just look great! and works flawlessly!

[Lonestar]

Simply the Retro Fit Tranny just look great! and works flawlessly!

well that's my point, how not flawlessly does the LRM tranny work?

Paul

[Chris K]

Tough question..... IF my memory serves me correctly the retrofit tranny was a bit better free wheeling when broken in - less gear surface touching. I also remember the retrofit being a bit easier on the diff - not so many diff re-builds required for 'crunches'.

With that said, the LRM tranny worked really well after we got past the 'grape jelly' days and there are a few guys running oval in this area who are still using them. They just took a while to 'break in' and some of us messed a bit with the 'fit' of the transmission to free it up faster than running it it.

BUT, as others have said and I agree, it should be solid and great for your use!

[Lonestar]

Cool - I'm reassured now

YEs, turning the sliders by hand, one can feel there is a lot more drag than on a 3-gear tranny... good, that'll provide some off-power turn-in!

Ok, I'm done, this will run as-is... and it'll be awesome anyways!

Watch-out for a thread on this baby here soon

Paul

[8rad]

The LRM was never as bad as people say. It was leagues ahead of anything else when the Jrx-2 was released. I ran one for years with no problems. Add a slipper and the BB center gear and you're rockin'.

[bearrickster]

I believe the Retro Fit trans changed the gear ratio to the same one as the new upcoming XX cars and trucks.

[mytimac]

One other positive thing I always found with the LRM transmission is that it tended to stay much cleaner inside than the Retrofit ever did. Much better seal on everything. Dirt and junk gets in the Retro much easier. You could do some tricks to reduce the problem in the Retro.

The Retro did have the mass of the diff lower and that was supposed to be an improvement over the LRM.

[highwayracer]

for off road, I personally like the LRM gearbox better. I found that with a few minor upgrades, it was just as smooth (if not better) than the XX retrofit trans. In addition, the LRM really had LRM vs the XX. The only draw back to the trans was the actual case. Over time, the case would wear out on the top shaft bearing (spur gear side).

I did use the XX retrofit on my oval truck...because the extra mass of the gears helped it along the corners.

That was 20 years ago...with today's motors, it may be a different story. It almost comes down parts availability.

[Lonestar]

for off road, I personally like the LRM gearbox better. I found that with a few minor upgrades, it was just as smooth (if not better) than the XX retrofit trans. In addition, the LRM really had LRM vs the XX. The only draw back to the trans was the actual case. Over time, the case would wear out on the top shaft bearing (spur gear side).

I did use the XX retrofit on my oval truck...because the extra mass of the gears helped it along the corners.

That was 20 years ago...with today's motors, it may be a different story. It almost comes down parts availability.

That's useful too, thanks. I am not planning to run the LXT that often anyway I don't have any spare tranny cases but I have a few bags of gears... that'll keep me running for a while I'd think

Thanks all - getting very excited about all this!

Paul