Third time is a charm indeed. I finally got my repaired ESC and a new motor. I'm convinced now that it was totally the motor that shorted out the last two speed controllers and probably was coggin on the mamba because of it. I put it in, geared it up two teeth than previously and cruised around with it some. Pretty decent power, pulls wheelies and stuff which kinda sucks, but I can control it at low speeds real nice and smooth with that hall sensor. I didn't run it very much and it was out in the cold dead of night. ESC never hit 70, and the motor I think got up to 90. I'll be sure and see how I am with gearing/temps after I really get to run it. But for now a loose slipper made me tighten it a little and blew out the tranny. I really didn't think that the plastic gears wouldn't hold up to <300 watts, but I knew I was going to replace it with steel gears soon anyways, so I already have a complete transmission awaiting the swap.