RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

Hey everyone, I posted a different thread here on where to buy but now that I've looked at it a little more closely, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the number of choices! SO...I need to know:

1. What types of things should I be looking for in an ESC, a Brushless Motor and a Servo (mine just died today)
2. Specifically on an ESC: Do I want one that is upgradeable? Programmable? What kinds of things are a MUST have and what is NICE to have?
3. On a Brushless Motor: What size do I need for the RC10? 540 or 550? What does that even mean? Do I want sensored or sensorless? Pros and Cons of each? Rebuildable? Waterproof? What else is a MUST have or NICE to have?
4. On a Servo - do I need metal gears? Waterproof? Again whats a MUST have or NICE to have?
5. I totally don't understand pinions and gears and stuff. I've tried reading some of the posts but still don't get it. Can someone explain it to me in total 'gears for dummies' terms please. If I want more top speed, what do I want? More torque? Right now using a stock 6 gear, but I have a stealth waiting to be installed.

Keep in mind that I don't race, just go out on my street and flog the car up and down the street. I might at some point race or find a construction site but otherwise I just like to jump it off the curb and stuff. But I also love the rush of top speed, but also don't mind running it through the grass and up and down my wife's garden So I guess I'm looking for a good balance of speed and torque.

Okay, I feel better now that I've organized my chaotic thoughts here. Sorry if this post has been asked many times before!

dont be overwhelmed.
Depending on what yor budget is, brushless kits are inexpensive (relatively speeking) and can be had for under $100. I have found for the RC10, a good sensorless system works great, staying under 4900Kv. Anything over that is realy kind of overkill, but fun all the same. however, you will flip and bash up your car good on the street with too much power.

If you are just running on the street and not competing, just get a tower hobbies servo. cheep and works great.

550 or 540? meh, it is the can size of the motor itself. both wil fit on an rc10, but the 550 will be snug.

Most importantly, have fun!

Try a MG996R - metal gears (I busted some plastic ones before I got these) - not the fastest thing (compared to $60-80 servos) but you can get em as cheap as $7-8 from HK or $15 on ebay (US) and you arent racing so speed isnt all that necessary anyway.

Have two of them - one in an OFNA Hyper Mini and one in a RC10B4 - they work great and only complaint is they dont center perfectly with big wheels/tires (off maybe 2-3 degrees - not really that noticeable unless you are staring at them).

Gear wise - pick a pinion - run a few minutes feel the motor - if it is on fire you have overgeared it - drop some teeth. When you can run a whole battery and still keep you finger on the motor for a few seconds you have it geared right. Gearing will also vary pavement versus dirt.

So I ended up with just a Traxxas servo, Castle mamba max pro, and a 4600 kv motor. Wow the thing flies! Now I need tires and possibly some lead weights for the front.

Also, I think the shocks are in need of heavier oil. Still have 20 wt oil in there but I'm guessing the newer silicone oil is a lot better?

is this a long arm or short arm rc10?

i only run long arms, try 30wt or 35wt (i run 30) and green springs all around or brown in front, green in back. should give you a decent feel, not too soft, not too hard.

kaiser wrote:is this a long arm or short arm rc10?

i only run long arms, try 30wt or 35wt (i run 30) and green springs all around or brown in front, green in back. should give you a decent feel, not too soft, not too hard.

Umm...I don't know. Its an original RC10 buggy if that helps I think they are short arms if I had to guess. I bought some 30 wt and 40 wt shocks. I have the original gold springs, but also have the original softer silver springs to use as well.

Where would I get the green and brown springs?

short arm:



long arm:



pics pulled from slotcarrod's 25 years of rc10 thread, check it out, it's a great read:
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13059

Ah...its a short arm RC10. I have a parts car chassis that has the long arms. Are there any benefits to using the long arms over the short ones?

floodx wrote:Try a MG996R - metal gears (I busted some plastic ones before I got these) - not the fastest thing (compared to $60-80 servos) but you can get em as cheap as $7-8 from HK or $15 on ebay (US) and you arent racing so speed isnt all that necessary anyway.

Have two of them - one in an OFNA Hyper Mini and one in a RC10B4 - they work great and only complaint is they dont center perfectly with big wheels/tires (off maybe 2-3 degrees - not really that noticeable unless you are staring at them).

Gear wise - pick a pinion - run a few minutes feel the motor - if it is on fire you have overgeared it - drop some teeth. When you can run a whole battery and still keep you finger on the motor for a few seconds you have it geared right. Gearing will also vary pavement versus dirt.

So FEWER teeth on a pinion (and I'm guessing the spur as well) means the gearing is LOWER? ie. easier to move the vehicle?

What about tires - hard or soft compound?

RC104ever wrote:Ah...its a short arm RC10. I have a parts car chassis that has the long arms. Are there any benefits to using the long arms over the short ones?

long arm cars handle better.

So FEWER teeth on a pinion (and I'm guessing the spur as well) means the gearing is LOWER? ie. easier to move the vehicle?

Almost...fewer teeth on a pinion is a lower gear ratio, slower top speed with more low-end toqure.

Conversely, fewer teeth on a spur gear is a higher gear ratio, faster top-speed, less torque, harder on the motor.

If your motor runs too hot you can either use a pinion gear with fewer teeth OR a spur gear with more teeth.

Interesting. I replaced the spur and pinion both with more teeth vs the stock setup on the RC10. It seemed to get a lot more top speed but had less torque, is that right? What gear ratio does the stock setup have (6 gear and stock spur and pinion)?