Brushless Traxxas Jato
 

Here are a few pics of my latest project:

<img src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/1joeyoung/Jato%20-%20Brushless/Jato_top_right.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/1joeyoung/Jato%20-%20Brushless/Jato_top_left.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/1joeyoung/Jato%20-%20Brushless/Jato_side_right.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/1joeyoung/Jato%20-%20Brushless/Jato_side_left.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

And here's the current setup (as you see it in the pictures).
The Jato is absolutely stock, with the following additions/changes:
Lehner basic xl4200 motor
MGM 12012 speed controller
19-tooth 32-pitch pinion gear
(This matches VERY closely with the Jato stock .8 mod spur. It's not exact, but the spur should last for some time.)
Home-made motor mount
(Made from an aluminum elbow bar I got at Home Depot. Made with a reciprocating saw, cordless drill, and a dremel.)
FMA BalancePro 2s2p lipo pack
(The pack is currently sitting on the top of the chassis plastic. I will be investigating raising the motor so the battery can sit beneath it, flat on the chassis).
Traxxas dish wheels
Losi IFMAR pins (red) in the rear
Losi directionals (red) in the front

I kept the brake servo to provide the braking, rather than using the speed controller. The steering is stock, but I expect to replace the bushings with bearings and install a faster servo. The stock Traxxas 2055 is more than enough power for the steering, but I think I'd like it a little faster.

Performance is pretty impressive with the 2s lipo. I left a couple little ruts in my back lawn last night. I'll try and get a short video tonight so I can share it here.

I also need to get into the tranny to adjust the shift point to occur sooner. Like my MGT, I'd like it to shift into second at about 1/4 throttle. During my 10 minutes or so of driving last night, it didn't shift at all.

Lastly, I did a horrible gluing job on my tires so I don't know what I'll get for a speed run, but I'll try nonetheless and report back what I find.

That's the way a Jato should look like!! no nitro parts..

Do you like the handling, speed and acceleration?

Looks good. I think you are the first to have a brushless Jato!

www.sdp-si.com has the .8 mod gears if u start eating spurs.looks great though now all you need is some one with the nitro one to make a fool of.

I had the same idea except i was going to use a basic 4200 or 5300, i didn't think you could get enough power out of an xl. Thank you for the ideas:cool:

Got a video together tonight. It's not much since I had to hold the camcorder and radio at the same time, but you can get a glimpse of how it ran :)
I hadn't adjusted the two-speed yet, so what you see is first gear only.

http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=62102

Nice, Joe! Looks like it needs a bigger yard, though!

You need an Open road or parking lot, and to teach your little girl to work the camera.

Great vid. I guess there is hope for my jato after all. I've been having trouble with it overheating no matter what i do. this deffinatlylooks like a possible alternitive. Hey mike. Do you think a basic 4200 or 5300 and mgm 8012 will work in this setup?

Yes, the mentioned setup would perform very well in a Jato.

thanks, that is what i will probably try if i can't beat the problems with the nitro

Compressed 2MB video - same as the first, but smaller for low-bandwidth downloads.
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=62204

It'll be a couple days before I can do more with the truck...one of the front turnbuckles didn't like greeting my garage at 15MPH. I did get the GPS up to 27MPH before it happened, though. It was still in first gear, too...I guess my 80ft driveway won't cut it for speed runs, heh.
:)

Hey Batfish, did you use the engine mount or just mount the motor plate to the chassis?

I made an "L"-shaped mount from aluminum. The side of the L has the motor screwed to it and the bottom of the L is attached to the chassis.

I'm hoping to have the replacement turnbuckle today, so I may be able to get more testing done tonight.