Pinion Gear... Whats up?
 

After running this 15t pinion gear for the last month or so with a 48t metal Spur gear, i noticed today that it started making a funny noise. after closer inspection i found this. Did I have the meshing to tight? Or did it just wear out? I ran it alot over the last month and always on the track. Thoughts, Ideals? Stock Losi Electric Conversion Pinion.



http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bLNWMgNn8IU/Sl...s800/Gear1.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bLNWMgNn8IU/Sl...hmsE/Gear2.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bLNWMgNn8IU/Sl...s800/Gear3.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bLNWMgNn8IU/Sl...s800/Gear4.JPG

What brand pinion is that? Is it Hot Racing?

As stated above its a stock losi pinion it came in the Losi Electric Conversion Kit 15T

I dont think that pinion is hardened.

Yeah i dont think it is either, is it normal for a pinion to wear like that against a metal spur gear?

I wouldn't think so, after just a month.
How many packs have you run in a month?

a good 15 or so

Yes if it isn't hardened well - Get an RCM pinion = problem solved

Yep, it does look like it was not (properly) hardened. Just get a pinion from RC-Monster and you'll be fine.

Have seen many of thse, as stated-it comes from a poorly or un-hardened gear


like this:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...1117081706.jpg

Yeps, buy cheap, buy twice. I have RCM pinions a few years old and have little wear. Don't bother w/ Losi, HPI, novak, etc.

Maybe because those pinions are made to work with the Plastic 45T spur gear that comes with the kit.

Bingo...

As stated a rcm pinion will be your best bet. I had a talk with Mike a few weeks ago and he gave me the inside scoop on his pinions, and why they are superior. The metal that they are made of is better than any of the the other pinions, including rrp. Also consider that if you are running a 15t pinion with a 48t spur you have around 3:1 ratio, so you will have 3 times the wear on the pinion teeth vs the spur teeth. That is why the pinions wear out. Your mesh may have been a bit tight, I usually set the mesh by sound, if it is very noisy 10 to 1 it is a bit tight.

RCM pinions are awesome!, works like a charm..

I third that. RCM pinions are the best. RRP are also good, but support the monster! Novak pinions are also OK, they do hold up, but for the price just get a RCM pinion.