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

The gearbox seals (a thin strip of foam-rubber with adhesive backing on one side) on the Optima series of cars often wear out or dry up and crack. What do you guys suggest as a better or cheaper alternative to the original adhesive sponge strip?

looks like piece of weather strip. Try a local hardware store.

I've always just cut thin strips from 1/8" thick weather stripping and glued it in place. The adhesive backing on the weather strip (and, in my experience, the original Kyosho part) never stayed on long. Some CA takes care of that.

what ive done, which is probably more effort than it is worth, is to take a sheet of hobby foam, like the 3mm stuff
like these
http://www.michaels.com/Creatology%E2%84%A2-Foam-Sheets/gc1328,default,pd.html?cgid=products-kidsteachers-creatology-foamworld&start=38

-Spray a square of it with 3m adhesive foam
-Spray a peice of scrap paper with some adhesive spray, and press gear cover over it to get glue on edges
-Let both peices dry slightly to get real tacky
-Press Gear Cover into foam and slice off excess edges with a sharp exacto knife.
-After that slice outside interior foam with knife again

You will have a perfect flush cut seal, and it wont leak, if dont well, it should look beautiful and perfect. Plus its not like the original foam crap that bends and warps around sharp turns.. this will be custom cut to fit. i like the black foam for this too, but they sell all colors.

Thanks guys, if you have any other suggestions, keep 'em coming. Mike, I love your idea! There's a Michael's on my way home from work.

ive used the thin foam under batteries too, to prevent noise and a bit of shock absorption.

If u are feeling really adventurous with a blade, they sell thicker foam about the same thickness as a RC10 tranny gasket, one could be cut from it, always wanted to try cutting some but never had patience

Since we are on the subject of those gear covers.... Has anyone attempted to mold one? I want one, but I;m not going to pay $20 for one on ebay.. At that price point it becomes worth it to me to at least try my hand at making one..

i would mold some but they would probably cost $10 each to make lol, i think the better option is to have the lexan ones for the torque pinion reproed