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Hello All, Here is a picture of a slipper form a recent purchase. This slipper is different that all of the others that I have seen. It uses a set of balls instead of pads. Does any one know anything about this setup? Where did it come from? I don't ever remember seeing this here in North America. I have seen or owned the Japanese, Canadian and U.S. versions of the Lazer ZX over the years. This is the first time I have seen a Kyosho slipper like this one.

3rd diff?

Didn't the zx have a diff there instead of a slipper?

---looks for manual-----

I confirmed in print but can't find a pic to support it, the original Lazer ZX had a center diff

I had one out of the first batch that came over to the U.S. from Japan. I pre ordered it from Tower Hobbies and waited a long time. After I got it my opinion changed. It was totally worth the wait. My car came with the red pads 100 tooth spur, gear diffs and as an added bonus it had the pulleys for the ball diffs. I also knew a team driver that had the prototype car and it did not have this type of slipper on it. I knew another person that had an early one straight from Japan. he had his 4 months before I got mine. His also had the red pad set up. I had seen many other during the production run but all that I had seen all had the same setup. This is why it is puzzling to me. If you have the manual that show this set up I would be rather eager to see it.

I added an exploded view of the Kyosho Lazer ZX in the Scans section.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=29807

Per aip's scan:

Yeah thats odd as my ZX has the centre differential on it, I thought all ZX Lazers had it as it was a major drawcard of its design.

I have a spare layshaft that has the same setup too.

Anyone have any ideas why they ditched it for the ZX-R?

All Original lazers should have came with this setup. It is a Torque splitting unit really, meant to adjust drive between the front and rear portions of the tranny. The later versions had moved to a more traditional style slipper, as the center diff worked better in theory than practice. -Jeff

I have always been under the impression that any spur gear with balls in them are part of a differential.
I don't think any of these types of set ups were meant to be used as slippers. Any slip in these ball diffs will generate too much heat and result in other componants overheating and melting.
Am I wrong?

Lazer ZX center diff was not just a simple ball diff in middle, there were also two oneway bearings in same middle axle where the diff is. One oneway bearing (part nr: LA-07, http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=29807 thanks aip47-2008 ) was "traditional" to front, similar than e.g. in Yokomo C870, Works 91 etc. but the other oneway bearing (part nr. LA-06) was, if I remember right, installed so that it allowed the diff to operate only to one direction. There was also a alternative part to this LA-06 where the one way bearing was installed other way around and then the diff was able to operate to the other direction than with the standard part. This alternative oneway bearing unit was also 1mm shorter than the stock one way bearing. Somebody with Laser ZX could confirm did how does the center diff actually works.

Jirka

Well I have three different versions of the Lazer ZX including the one in the picture. I will take it apart to see how it works and let you know.

There was also something on Lazer ZX manual Jirka

That pic that you just posted shows a different system, with an asbestos slip style pad from the optima mid. Very strange. I only built one ZX and I would swear it had the bearings in the spur and the front and rear split was adjustable, but it has been many years. I forgot all about the one ways in it as well.

Yeah it was an 3rd diff and it didnt work and you could use the optima mid pads so it was setup as a slipper ...

or what was comon in the days to remove the balls and use it as a slipepr ...

mvh Isobarik