Help a noob, wouldja?

[knucklebusta]

:D

I have a xx-4, I just bought a GTB 5.5

It has the purple spur in it, which I believe is a 84T. Now with searches in this forum, I've come up with around 20T as what was recommended. However the Novak manual doesn't list a 84T pinion. The closest is a
82 which calls for 16 or 17. Any ideas? I don't want to overheat this motor.

Thanks, Kevin

[SS Pede]

Well, with their torque, brushless motors can sometimes pull taller gearing than you might expect. But it's good to be concerned about your investment. You could run your buggy and keep track of temperature (which I would be tempted to do), or buy a smaller pinion gear (which is the safe thing).

Maybe someone who owns a 5.5 can shed more light on the issue?

[kufman]

From what I have seen with sedans, you will probably want to start out with a small pinion and work your way up. I would say start with a 16 and go up from there. I have run much more powerful motors in my XX-4 and a 20 pinion was used on those systems.

[knucklebusta]

Lowest I got is 18, will that do? The place where I bought my other Novak SS5800 told me to use a 21T in my XXX-4 and the motor got so hot you couldn't touch it. It only thermalled once though and the ESC never got hot, just the motor. I don't race, I just honk up and down the street for 10 minutes till the battery goes dead. Is there anything wrong with doing that?

. What do you suggest for checking temperature, and what should the temp range be around?

Thanks Kevin

[SpEEdyBL]

You can start with any tooth pinion gear as long as you check the temp every 2 minutes or so. If the motor starts to get hot before the end of the run, lower your pinion gear. The motor should be about 165 F max at the end of the run. Fingers my not be able to tell the difference between 150 and 180 so I suggest you use a temp gun.

[kufman]

speedybl has the right idea. you can try the 18, just check temps throughout the run. In my xxx-4, I think I ran like a 17 pinion with the 5800. the XXX-4 drive train has less friction, but the gearing is faster than the xx-4's. An 18 might be okay for rippin up and down the street. Do you have the Hot Weather body for the XX-4? It is the one with the side scoop in front of the motor for cooling.

[knucklebusta]

Yeah it came with the hot weather body. What do you suggest for a temp gun? I've heard of one recently that was giving false temps, I don't want to get that one. Will a nitro temp gun work? What about the one from OFNA?

Thanks, Kevin