Help with set-up
 

This is my first 1/8th BL conversion, I have owned 1/18th BL, but am a hardcore newb at 1/8th BL. Yet I have been into 1/8th nitro for a while.

So far I have:
-TL 8ight-t truggy
-RCM mounts and battery box
-True R/C 14.8V 8000MAH pack
-Spectrum DX3.0 with RX and JR9000T servo
-MRC 989 charger

Now I am running into problems with picking out an esc and motor. Either I am going:

-NEU 1515 1Y/F with modded Mamba Max esc

-Wait it out for the Mamba Monster Max esc/ motor combo with their "Neu Designed" 1515 1Y/F

-Go with the NEU 1515 1Y/F and another controller (MGM, quark, etc.)

-I am on somewhat of a budget, but will spend the money for the right set-up, but would rather save as much as I can. I have not been hearing good rumors about the MMM set-up and am not to confident on the release date in a month to month and a half. I was hoping to see manuals, or more specs by now. I am only running for a max of one battery cycle at a time i.e. about 20 minutes. Yet I will be the only guy with a BL truck at the local tracks, but have gotten approval on certain classes. I am open to cheaper set-ups that would get me by (motor/esc combos). I am using it primarily on the track though. Any suggestions would be great.

I wouldn't hold my breath till castle releases their monstermaxx, that is, if you are planning on running it before this summer.. (this might sound sarcastic, but it's the simple truth)

If you want true power in your buggy, go for the Neu 1515 1y, and an MGM 18120/160 controller. They are available with a dual fan, integrated switching BEC and a healthy support from MGM. the problem with the modified Mambamaxxes is that they cost as much as two mambamaxxes, and a bit more, if you want them converted by GriffinRu (Artur)

What you could do, since this is your first conversion, is get a Feigao/Wanderer type of motor, aim for an 8/9XL for 4S, and see if brushless is your thing. With that setup, you stay well in your budget, since you can simple use a mamba-max controller. Just make sure to get an RC-monster clamp/heatsink for that motor. The endbells tend to fall off for no reason..

I took a look at the 8XL or 9XL and am thinking of going that route instead of going with a NEU motor, maybe upgrading to the MMM when it does come out. I looked on RCM and they had two or three different types, which one is for me? I am running a truggy so I was hoping to get a little more power for that than is needed in a buggy. Also, the mamba max esc is good for it without modding? I have seen guys "modding" by adding a fan, is that needed? Can I use the BEC with that Mamba max also?

I agree with Serum. I think if you go with a Mamba Max and a XL Feigao motor, you'll have a good idea of what BL is all about. I love my MM/Feigao Revo, wouldn't go back to nitro if you paid me! But, you on the other hand, you could run the MM/Feigao until the MMM comes out or in case you don't like brushless.

I can see in your last post this is what you might do. Go for it!

As far as the fan - Yes and No. I run 4s/9XL/Mamba Max in my Revo and it gets hot, but hasn't thermaled yet. I did add a small 12V fan though, just in case. That will be for the hotter weather, that's all. The other thing I love about the Mamba - Castle Link! Yes, you can use BEC, I recommend the Castle UBEC, no "noise", IE, glitching! My last BEC (Starluck RC) does that. Drives for about 25 feet, then stops.

Another guy at racing uses a mm on 4s in a gorilla/ue maxx with a lenher 1940 7t. He had a fan on it to start with and it worked ok. When the fan broke the mm would thermal before the end of the 5 minute race. He drives with a lot of throttle, so a smoother driving style might not be as bad, but I'd still use a fan. His car's geared for ~35mph.

Looks like I know what I am getting, what about a 7XL, any links to a good 8XL or 9XL? I am looking at picking up the first two items on this link,http://www.starluckrc.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=52 would this be a good combo? I'm just not sure if the 7XL is alright or not. Thanks for all of the help, I am hoping to get the wheels turning by mid Jan due to a big event.

the 7xl is too high of a kv and will have serious heat issues. www.unitedhobbies.com has a 9xl for $47. best price there is. here os a link
.http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=4880
also make sure you get this system quickly before your lipo gets old and wont preform as good as it should.

I did a little searching on the forum and found that on the 7XL, would the RCM 8XL be a good choice http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...540C_XL&cat=20, or should I go for that 9XL in the above link, the cases are different and the 9XL is three wire and the 8XL looks like two wire, what is the difference and what would be the most competitive (or better) than nitro? Thanks again for all of the help, I can't wait to get this on the track.

the 8xl would have slightly higher top speed, the 9xl would have slightly better accel, lower temps, and batter runtime.

All the sensorless brushless motors will have 3 wires, it's probably just the angle of the picture that makes it look like it only has 2.
I wouldn't get a 7XL...well I wouldn't get a 7XL again :whistle:. Mine got fairly hot in 5 minute races, but the bad part was that it killed 2 quarks because of the power it used. I haven't used the 8 or 9xl, so I'm not really sure what would be better, but I would get the smooth canned version and an rc monster heatsink clamp to stop it falling apart on big impacts.

I'm going to pick up a 9Xl, with a Mamba Max ESC and a Castle UBEC. I may switch to a 5S lipo, will that MM be able to handle it, or should I stay with 4S? also, will this be competitive with 8th scale nitro truggy? Or will it be blown away by the nitros? I am just wondering if it will have the kick like nitros do hitting a double or clearing a table top. I have a nitro 8ight-t already and I want to run both side by side to see how the conversion is.

I just tried to order and that 9XL is on back order until late january and I am wanting it ready for a big event in mid january. Is this the same motor in a different label: http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...WAND_XL&cat=20

OR: http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=fei-540XL

Any other sitres that have the exact motor united hobbys has on back order for sure has an order coming today or tomorrow. Also, what pinion is everyone running for truggy, I am running 48/13 with nitro, but may be picking up a 46 tooth spur for electric.

They're all the same design, just different tags. Get any XL motor from Feigao/Nemesis/Wanderer and you'll be set.

MM/BEC combo is a good one, go with that. If you have the right setup with good tires, it will kick right up the jumps, doubles, whoops, etc. I run my E-Revo on the same setup with 4s and I can get MORE torque than the nitros with the same speed on my track, and my top end is still around 40mph.

Not true on both accounts. A 7XL, geared appropriately will be fine. You'll lose some runtime though. Only advantage to going with a 8XL will be having lower temps and a wider range of gearing, combination with a little longer runtime. There is NO WAY a 8XL can get faster unless its geared to the moon and gets overly hot. Acceleration will be NOT be better. Also, Lipo's will always perform good...The shelf life is years...Where did you hear that??

Yes, but if he plans to upgrade in the future, can 7XL handle 5s+ LiPo? How about the 8XL? I know 9XL is good for the higher LiPo cells.

Yea, the 8XL is a good choice as well. The 7XL is fine up to 6S LiPo, in all honesty, but thats gonna take a pretty strong ESC and some damn good batteries.

I'm about to place an order for all of this, the esc is already on its way, now I am going for the 9XL, MM ESC, and CC BEC, also I am springing for the RCM heat sink clamp, or is that really needed?

My question is, should I go for the RCM
http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...WAND_XL&cat=20

Or is this what I am looking for:
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=fei-540XL

I am confused between "xl" and "XL", I don't want to drop some money and have the wrong motor show up.

Also, is the RCM heat sink clamp needed, or is there a mod I can do to keep the can on?

Can I run 5S on the MM, or should I stick with/ be fine with 4S?

I am running a 46 tooth spur on the truck, what pinion should I run for racing and what for speed? I am needing a pinion that fits the Feigao/Wanderer shaft.

Thanks for all of the help again, pics will be up when the truck is done, which I am trying by mid January.

You'll want the 5mm bore mod1 pinions. The hardened ones can be used with a steel spur. http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...1pinion&cat=40
I think 14-16 is around what you'll want for racing, depending on temps.

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6832 Don't know if you've seen this thread, but he's using a very similar setup to what you'll be using. He does have extra capacitors on the mm which he says help keep the temps down.

I don't know how common it is for the motors to come apart, but it does happen. I've seen people use long screws and a plate to clamp the motor together, but it won't have the heatsink. You were going to do long races with it weren't you? The feigao will probably need heatsinks for long races.

The xl and XL will be the same thing.

Some people had luck using the older mm's on 5s, but it seems the newer ones are a bit different and don't work above 4s or 12 cells nimh.

I wouldn't go for the 9XL like bl_rvo suggested. Go with a 7 or 8XL for sure. Using the KV times the voltage, aim for around 35,000 RPMs. The 9XL will only be in the 20,000 range I believe. Trust me, the 7XL is a great motor on 4S.

Lots of peeps run the 9XL in buggies and truggies. It's all about gearing and voltage. He could run any of the 3 motors and have a good setup. I've heard of quite a few 7XLs going out after not too long, not to say they're bad, but I believe they're meant for lighter and smaller vehicles. A 8XL or 9XL is ideal for a heavier, 1/8 scale, and more power-hungry machine.

Not to mention a 7XL is going to burn more energy trying to take off, as well as require a lower gearing since it doesn't have the torque a 8XL or 9XL would have. If this was a Nitro MT or some other 1/10 scale truck, it would be fine. However, he has to be able to push the truck easily and without heating issues. In my opinion, he needs a 9XL to be happy and get good runtime as well as the proper torque. Gearing can make up for the loss on the top end and he will still come out on the cool side of Feigaos.

Quite of a few people start out with a 7 or 8XL, only to upgrade to a 9XL later due to heat and torque complications.