Novak Brushless: When to go up or down pinion?

[Gutter Ball]

Took my 5800SS for it's maiden voyage today in offroad truck and it ROCKED! However, there was another Novak brushless and he was considerably faster than I was. My XXX-T was geared at 84/17. The other guy was geared at 84/19. 84/19 sounds kinda high to me, buuuuuut....

Someone told me the best way to gear the system is to check how hot the motor and speedo is. If the motor is too hot, go (up or down?) a pinion. If the speedo is too hot, go (up or down?) a pinion. Is that even right? Which way to go?

Any help is appreciated. Should we invest in a temp gun check the temperatures?

[ElectricThunder]

I've discovered that when it's too hot, a one tooth pinion drop helps a bit. Don't go too low because that can undergear it. With the novak, the speedo runs hotter than the motor, so that's normal. 19/84 isn't that high, i run 20/81 in hot weather and it never thermals. Just gets kinda warm.:D You may want to invest in a temp gun, that and maybe a fan for the ESC. I still need a temp gun....grrr :)

[Gutter Ball]

?!?! Hmmmm...thanks for the info ElectricT! I'll borrow a temp gun from one of the gas guys and check. I do have a 5V fan I can mount, I need the extra OOOMPH that the other dude has so I'll try 84/20 for next race day.

[ElectricThunder]

Just experiment with gearing, that's what i'm doing. Maybe a different spur/pinion combo will work better with your truck than your friend's. Now...off to tower to look at temp guns!!!!! :D

[marcelo]

Hi, I am using 84 23 in my b4 with a 5 v fan and it has been running well, would using a 22 pinion make my speed Control run cooler?

[ElectricThunder]

It should make it run a bit cooler. You can try it. It's not like you'll lose too much speed going down one tooth. Give it a shot, should lower it a few degrees.

[marcelo]

I will try it this weekend with a 22

[Gutter Ball]

Okay, here's what one of the more knowledgeable racers told me:

If the ESC is too hot, go up in pinion.
If the motor is too hot, go down in pinion.

[marcelo]

I couldnt try it becauce my SS5800 went bad again, it doesent accelerates,the motor only spins if you push the car a little. I already send it to Novak.
:confused: :confused:

[ElectricThunder]

Gutterball- If you go higher up in the pinion, it'll still over heat the ESC because of higher amp draw from a greater load (higher pinion gear). It also over heats the motor as well. Going down should cool both motor/ESC down the farther you go.

Marcelo- Sounds like your magnet came loose. Novak will probably replace the whole thing for free if it's still under warranty. Keep us posted!

And also, I'm now running 22/81 gearing with some sticky tires, and still get some wheel spin every here and there. Things get hot, but not too badly. Doughnuts seem to overheat things (probably much higher current draw). Runs consistently and what not. May go higher in gearing once I strap a fan on for safety...:D