The wires on the motor end are probably hot due to the motor being so hot. Why the esc wires were cool is beyond me. A hot motor/cool esc situtation is usually a sign of undergearing.

What gearing are you running? What motor (I can't remember)?

Try cranking the start power up to high. It should help. If you are having cogging problems and your motor is so undergeared as to get it that hot, I'm thinking that you have a connection problem. I would first try the largest connectors that you have or hardwiring.

I tried the 4mm connectors and they work fine for a while, but with the rigors of hard bashing and racing on the track, the male connectors loose their spring. I've actually had 4mm connectors just fall out of the female end. This same thing holds true for the 3mm connectors as well. I don't know why Lehner chose those connectors for their motors, but many here do one of two things.

They either order the hi amp versions of the motors, so that they can put their own connectors on the motor; or they just solder the wire directly into the 3mm socket on the motor.

I've been using the 5.5mm connectors. They are hefty and have a pretty high current rating.